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LANDMARKS 



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STEUBEN COUNTY 



NEW YORK 



EDITED HV 

HON. HARLO HAKES 

ASSISTED m 

I. C. ALDRICH AND OTHERS 



SYRACUSE, N. Y. 
U. MASON .V COMPANY, PUHl.lSHbKS 



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PREFACE. 



In the preparation of this historical and biographical record earlier 
works bearing on the history of this section of the State have been 
consulted, and also many original sources of information. A careful 
review of the work, from beginning to end, disclose? the fact that 
more than two thousand persons have been interviewed in the quest of 
authentic data, hence it cannot be assumed that the present volume is 
a mere compilation from previous jiuhlications. 'i'he work is now 
])la(jed before the people of the county, and the editor, writers and ])ub- 
lishers have no apology to make, believing none is needed. At the 
same time they have not the temerity to claim this to be a faultless 
volume, but assert for it reasonable and substantial accuracy. The 
arrangement of the subject of the county's history will be found 
novel, yet convenient and interesting. 

The editor and the writers take this opportunity to express thanks 
for generous as.sistance on the part of the best informed men of the 
region, and the publishers also acknowledge a debt of gratitude to the 
public spirited citizens of the county at large for the hearty support 
that has made the work possible. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

County Organizations — Albany — Tryou — Montgomery — Ontario — Steuben- 
Claims to Pre-historic Occupation — Early Discoveries and Explorations- 
The French— The Dutch— The English 



CHAPTKR II. 

French and English Rivalry — The Indian Occupation — Iroquois Confederacy — 
The Senecas — The Jesuit Fathers among the Indians — Events Precedingand 
During the French and English Wars — Overthrow of French Power in Amer- 
ica — The Delaware Village near Canisteo i] 

CHAPTER III. 

Events Preceding the Revolution — Pontiac's League — Action of the Senecas — 
The Revolutionary War — Sullivan's Campaign — Brief Reference to the Indian 
History and Antiquities of Steuben County.. _ 14 

CHAPTER I\'. 

After the Revolution — An Era of Peace — Controversy between Massachusetts 
and New York — The Hartford Convention — The Phelps and Gorham Pur- 
chase — The Lessee Companies — Settlement of Difficulties — The Surveys — 
Sale to Robert Morris — The Pulteney Association — Charles Williamson — 
Foundation of Land Titles in Steuben County — The Anti-Rent Conflict. . . •i(\ 

CHAPTER V. 

Division of Montgomery County — Creation of Ontario and Steuben Counties — 
Brief Allusion to Baron Steuben — His Life and Services — The Original Terri- 
tory of Steuben County Divided into Towns — First County Officers — County 
Buildinys — Second Jury District — Steuben County Civil List M 



vi CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VI. 
The Civil Divisions of the County - - - 39 

CHAPTER VII. 
The Civil Divisions of the County. — 82 

CHAPTER VIII. 
The Civil Divisions of the County - 104 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Civil Divisions of the County — 1H(I 

CHAPTER X. 
The Civil Divisions of the County.. - 150 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Civil Divisions of the County. . 1<)4 

CHAPTER XII. 

Events Preceding and During the War of 1812-15— Companies Organized in 
Steuben County— Results of the War— The Conflict with Mexico— The Steu- 
ben Companv — Population of the County by Decades 185 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Steuben County in the War of 1861-65 15*0 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The Bench and Bar.. - - 205 

CHAPTER XV. 
The Press '^^" 

CHAPTER XVI. 
The Medical Profession. - — -- 



337' 



Churches 



PART II. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



PART III. 



FAMILY SKETCHES 



INDEXES. 



Historical 

Biojjraphies 

l-'aniily Sketches. 
Portraits 



CONTKNTS. vii 

CHAPTER XVIl. 
Cities, Villages and Hamlets. .,4;; 

CIl.\I''|-i:i< .Will. 
Cities, Villages and Hamlets. . q()o 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Cities, Villagesand Hamlets .j.,.^ 

CHAPTER XX. 
Cities, Villages and Hamlets 

ClIAl'TER XXI. 



387 



■.i-A 



1-70 



I .5(11 



507 
514 
515 
529 



LANDMARKS 



OF 



STEUBEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER I. 

County Organizations— Albany— Tyron — Montgomery — Ontario — Steuben — Claims 
to Pre-historic Occupation — Early Discoveries and Exjjlorations — The French — The 
Dutch— The English. 

The State of New York, for the purpose of more conveniently admin- 
istrating the affairs of local government, is divided by law into counties, 
and the latter are further subdivided into towns. Municipal govern- 
ments, Hkewise, are provided for cities and villages, securing to them 
separate officers and tribunals for the management of their peculiar 
affairs, and other privileges, varying with their respective charters. 
Under the Dutch dominion the only divisions were the city and towns. 
Counties were erected, for the first time, by the act of 1683, and were 
twelve in number, Albany being farthest west in the colony of New 
York and in its jurisdiction extending over the region now of Steuben 
county, although no civilized occupancy was then known in this part of 
the province. 

Tryon county was erected in '1772, from Albany, and comprised the 
country west of a north and south line extending from St. Regis to the 
west bounds of the town of Schenectady; thence running irregularly 
southwest to the head of the Mohawk branch of the Delaware, and 
along the same to the southwest bounds of the present county of 
Broome; thence in a northwesterly direction to Fort Bull, on Wood 
Creek, near the present village of Rome. All the region west of the 
1 



2 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

line last mentioned was Indian territory, unoccupied by the wiiites, 
except incidentally, and not subject to county jurisdiction. 

On the 27th day of Januarj-, 1789 (after the close of the Revolution, 
and after the settlement of the controversy between the States of Massa- 
chusetts and New York, growing out of conflicting grants and charters 
by the cfown), the county of Tyron, then known, however, as Mont- 
gomery, was divided, and that part of the State which had been ceded 
to IMassaciiusetts, so far as the pre-emption right was concerned, was 
erected into a separate county by the name of Ontario; and from the 
latter, on March S, 1796, the count} of Steuben was formed and there- 
after duly organized. 

The history of Steuben county properly begins with the time of its 
creation, and a narrative of the events of the territory within its bound- 
aries, previous to such erection, must be associated with the history of 
the older counties of whicli it once formed a part. In fact the aboriginal 
occupation of this region is inseparably connected with that of the whole 
Phelps and Gorham purchase, and is auxiliary to though not co-ex- 
tensive with it. 

The claim has been made on the part of many well-informed persons 
that there have been found in various localities in Steuben county 
evidences of a pre- historic occupation; that there have been discovered 
certain relics and implements of peculiar construction the like of which 
are now unknown, and that they must have been left by a race of peo- 
ple different from the red sons of the forest, the period of whose occu- 
pancy long antedated the coming of the ancestors of the famed Iroquois. 
Tins claim, in the writer's view, is a mistaken one True, there have 
been unearthed tools and utensils which were never in common use 
among the Indians, but we must remember that the Jesuits and their 
followers traversed this region more than a century and a half before 
any civilized white settlement was made; and we must also remember 
that the crude and to us unaccountable implements were then in the 
hands of comparative ancients, and were the product of a period in 
which was known but little of the mechanical arts as we see and under- 
stand and use them at the present time. None of the Indian tribes had 
a tratlition that run to the time of the Mound builders, and while there 
may be ill-dcfined outline possibilities of such a presence from which 
the student of arcluuology may theorize on this subject, we see nothing 



/^ 



EARLY DISCOVERIES. 3 

in the claim referred to wliich is inconsistent with the modern theory 
of continuous Indian occupation. 

Four hundred years ago the first Spanish adventurers landed on the 
shores of the American continent. S;iih'ng under the patronage of 
Spain, Cliristopher Columbus, the Genoese, in 1492 made his wonderful 
discoveries, an event generally designated as the discovery of America, 
although the first Europeans to visit the western hemisphere were 
Scandinavians, who colonized Iceland in A. D. 875, Greenland in 983, 
and about the year 1000 had cruised soutluvard as far as the Massachu- 
setts coast. 

During the ages tliat preceded these events, no grander country in 
every point of view ever waited the approach of civilization. With 
climate and soil diversified between the most remote extremes ; w ith 
thousands of miles of ocean shores indented by magnificent harbors to 
welcome the world's commerce ; with many of the largest river.s of the 
globe draining its territory and forming natural highways for commerce ; 
with a system of lakes so immense in area as to entitle them to the name 
of inland seas; with mountains, hills and valleys laden with the richest 
minerals and almost exhaustless fuel ; and with scenery unsurpassed for 
grandeur, it needed only the Caucasian to transform a wilderness in- 
habited only by savages into the free, enlightened republic, which is 
to day the wonder and glory of the civilized world. 

Following close upon the discoveries of Columbus and other earl)' 
explorers, various foreign powers fitted out fleets and commissioned 
navigators to establish colonies in the vast but unknown continent. 
These events, however, will be briefly treated in this work, and only 
those will be mentioned which had at least an indirect bearing upon our 
subject. 

In I 508, Aubert discovered tile St. Lawrence Rivei, and 1524, Francis 
I, king of France, sent Jean Verrazzani on a voyage of expl(, ration to 
the new world. He entered a harbor, supposed to have been that of 
New York, where he remained fifteen daj's ; and it is believed that his 
crew were the first Europeans to land on the soil of what is now the 
State of New York. The Gallic explorer cruised along the coast about 
2,100 miles, sailing as far north as Labrador, and giving to the whole 
region the name of " New France " — a name by which the French 
possessions in America were ever known during the dominion of that 



4 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

power. In 1534 the same king sent Jacques Cartier to the country, and 
he made two voyages, on the second bein<^ accompanied with a number 
of French nobihty, all of whom were filled with high hopes. and bearing 
the blessings of the church. This party was determined upon the col- 
onization of the country, but, after passing a severe winter at the Isle 
of Orleans, abandoned their scheme and returned to France. As a be- 
ginning of the long list of needless and shameful betrayals, treacheries 
and other abuses to which the too confiding natives were subjected, 
Cartier inveigled into his vessel an Indian chief who had been his gen- 
erous host, and bore him with several others into hopeless captivity 
and final death. 

Cartier again visited New France in 1540, but no further attempts 
in the same direction were made until about 1589, when the re- 
gion, particularly its Canadian portion, was made a place of banish- 
ment for French convicts; but even thii scheme failed, and it remained 
for private enterprise to make the first successful effort toward the 
permanent occupation of the country. The real discoverer and founder 
of a permanent colony in New France was Samuel de Champlain, a 
man born with that uncontrollable instinct of investigation and desire 
for knowledge of distant regions which has always so strongly charac- 
terized all great explorers. His earlier adventures in this country have 
no connection with this work, and it is therefore sufficient to merely 
mention that in 1608 he was sent to the country and founded Quebec. 

To satisfy his love for exploration, Champlain united with the Cana- 
dian Indians and marched into the unknown country to the southward, 
and the result was the discovery of the lake that bears his name. The 
party also invaded the land of the Mohawks, in the country of the Iroquois, 
and a conflict followed between the Algonquins, aided by Champlain, 
and a portion of the Iroquois, in which the latter were defeated with 
the loss of two of their chiefs, who fell by the hands of Champlain him- 
self. 

Thus was signalized the first hostile meeting between the white man 
and the Indian. Low as the latter was found in the scale of intelligence 
and humanity, and terrible as were many of the subsequent deeds of 
the Iroquois, it cannot be denied that their early treatment could foster 
in the savage breast any other feeling than that of bitterest hostility. 
It seems like a pathetic page of romance to read Champlain's statement 



CONFLICTING GRANTS. r, 

that "The Iroquois are greatly astonished, seeing two men killed so 
instantaneouslj'," one of whom was their chief; wliile the ingenuous 
acknowledgment of the Frenchman, " I had put four balls into my 
arquebus," is a vivid testimony of how little mercy the Iroquois nation 
were to expect from their northern enemies and the pale-faced race 
which was eventually to drive them from their domain. It was an age, 
however, in which inii^ht was appealed to as right more frequently 
than in later years, and the planting of the lowly banner of the Cross 
was frequently preceded by bloody conquests. It is in the light of the 
prevailing custom of the old world in Champlain's time that we must 
view his ready hostility to the Indian. 

Let us also turn briefly to other events which have had an indirect 
bearing on the settlement of this part of the country. A few weeks 
after the battle between Champlain and the Indians, Henry Hudson, a 
navigator in the service of the Dutch East India Company, anchored 
his ship (The Half-moon) at the mouth of the river which now bears his 
name. This took place September 5, 1609. He met the savages and 
was hospitably received by them ; but before his departure he sub- 
jected them to an experimental knowledge of the effects of intoxicating 
liquor — an experiment perhaps more baneful in its results than that in- 
flicted by Champlain with his new and murderous weai)()n. Hudson as- 
cended the river to a point within less than a hundred miles of that 
reached by Champlain, then returned to Europe, and, through the 
information he had gained, soon afterward established a Dutch colony, 
for which a charter was granted in 1614, naming the region "New 
Netherlands." 

The Dutch dominion, however, was of brief duration. Indian hos- 
tilities were provoked through the illatlvised action of Governor 
Kieft, whose official career continued for about ten years, being super- 
seded by Peter Stuyvesant in May, 1647. The latter was the last of 
the Dutch governors, and his firm and equitable policy had the effect of 
harmonizing the discontent existing among the Indians. On the 12th 
of March, 1664. however, Charles II of England granted by letters 
patent to his brother James, the Duke of York, all the country from 
the River St. Croix to the Kennebec in Maine, together with all the 
land from the west bank of the Connecticut River to the east side of 
Delaware Bay. The duke sent an English squadron to secure the 



6 LANDMARKS OP' STEUBEN COUNTY. 

gift, and on the 8th of September following, Governor Stuyvesant capit- 
ulated, being constrained to that course by the Dutch colonists, who 
preferred peace, with the same privileges and liberties accorded to the 
English colonists, rather than a prolonged and perhaps uncertain con- 
test. The English changed the name of New Amsterdam to New 
York, and thus ended the Dutch dominion in America. 

Meanwhile, in 1607, the English had made tlicir first permanent 
settlement at Jamestown, Va., and in 1620 planted their liistoric colony 
at Plymouth Rock. These two colonies became the successful rivals 
of all others in that strife which finally left them masters of the country. 

On the discoveries and colonizations thus brief!)- noted, three great 
European powers based claims to a part of the territory embraced in 
the State of New York; first, England, by the reason of the discovery 
of John Cabot, who sailed under commission from Henry VII, and on 
the 24th of June, 1 497, reached the coast of Labrador, also that made 
in the following year by his son Sebastian, who explored the same 
coast from New Foundland to Florida, claiming a territory eleven 
degrees in width and indefinitely extending westward; second, France, 
from the discoveries of Verrazzani, claiming a portion of the Atlantic 
coast, and also (under the title of New France) an almost boundless 
region westivard ; tiiird, Holland, which based on Hudson's discoveries 
a claim to the entire country from Cape Cod to the southern shore of 
Delaware Bay. 



CHAPTER n. 

French and English Rivalry — The Indian Occupation — Iroquois Confederacy — The 
Senecas- The Jesuit Fathers Among the Indians— Events Preceding and During 
the French and English Wars— Overthrow of French Power in America — The Dela- 
ware Village near Canisteo. 

After the final overthrow of the Dutch in the New Netherlands, the 
region now included within the State of New York was still held and 
claimed by three powers — one native and two foreign The main 
colonies of the French (one of the powers referred to) were in the 
Canadas, but through the zeal of the Jesuit missionaries their line of 



INDIAN OCCUPATION. 7 

possessions had been extended south and west of the St. Lawrence, and 
some attempts at colonization had been made, but as yet witli only- 
partial success. Indeed, as early as 1620, the Jesuit fathers labored 
among the Senecas in this re<^ion. and evidences are not wanting to 
show that missionaries carried the banner of the Cross into what is now 
Steuben county. In the southern and eastern portion of the province 
granted to the Uuke of York were the English, who with steady yet 
sure advances were pressing settlement and civilization westward, 
gradually neariiig the French possessions. 

The French and luiglish were at this time, and also for many years 
afterwards, conflicting [)Owers, each studying for the mastery on both 
sides of the Atlantic ; and with each succeeding outbreak of war in the 
mother countries, so tiiere were renewed hostilities between their 
American colonies. Directly between the possessions of the French 
and the territory of the English lay the lands of the famous Iroquois 
Confederacy then more commonly known as the Five Nations. By 
the French they were called " Iroquois," but by the Dutch they were 
known as " Maquas," while the English called them "Mingoes;" but 
however variously they may have been designated, they were a race of 
savages whose peculiar organization, prowess on the field of battle, 
loyalty to friends, as well as barbarous revenge upon enemies, together 
with eloquent speech and stoical endurance of torture, have surprised 
all who are conversant with their history. 

When, during the latter part of the fifteenth and early part of the 
sixteenth centur\-, the foreign navigators visited the American con- 
tinent, they found it in possession of two formidable races of savages, 
between whom there was no unity ; and yet while open hostility was 
suppressed, they were nevertheless in a constant state of disquiet, each 
being jealous of the other and at the same time doubtful of its own 
strength and fearful of the results of a general war. One of the nations 
occupied the region of the larger rivers of Pennsylvania, and also that 
on the south and west To the Europeans they were known as the 
" Delaware?," but styled themselves " Lenni Lenapes," meaning 
" Original People." The other nation occupied, principall)-, the terri- 
tory which afterwards formed the State of New York, and is known in 
history as the " Iroquois Confederac)'," or the hive (and subsequentlj ) 
the Six Nations. 



8 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The confederacy originally comprised five nations, which were located 
from east to west across the territory which now forms our State, be- 
ginning with the Mohawks on the extreme east, the Oneidas next, and 
the Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas following in the order named. 
Each of the nations was divided into five tribes, and all were united in 
common league. The Senecas occupied the territory west of the lake 
named from them, and were the guardians of the western door of the 
"Long House," from which we correctly infer that they were the most 
numerous and likewise most formidable in battle of any of the con- 
federates. 

The government of this remarkable confederacy was exercised through 
councils, and in the peculiar blending of their individual, tribal and 
national interests lay the secret of the immense power which for more 
than a century resisted the hostile efforts of the French, which caused 
them for nearly a century to be alike courted and feared by the con- 
tending French and English colonies, and which enabled them to sub- 
due the neighboring Indian tribes, until they became really the dictators 
of the continent, gaining indeed the title of "The Romans of the New 
World." There is, however, a difference in the opinions of writers as 
to the true military status of the Iroquois. In the forest they were a 
terrible foe, while in the open country they could not successfully con- 
tend with disciplined soldiery ; but they made up for this deficiency, in 
a large degree, by their self-confidence, vindictiveness and insaitable 
desire for ascendency and triumph. 

While the Iroquois were undoubtedly superior in mental capacity and 
more provident than their Canadian enemies, and other tribes, there is 
little indication that they were inclined to improve the condition in 
which they were found by the Europeans. They, and especially the 
Senecas, were closely attached to their warrior and hunter life, and 
devoted their energies to the lower, if not the lowest forms of enjoyment 
and gratification. Their dwellings, even among the more stationary 
tribes, were rude, their food coarse and poor, and their domestic habits 
and surroundings unclean and barbarous. Their women were degraded 
into mere beasts of burden, and while they believed in a Supreme Being, 
they were powerfully swayed by superstition, by incantations, by medi- 
cine men, dreams and visions, and their feasts were exhibitions of 
debauchery and gluttony. 




^ffra^i/y^^iJ^ 



THE JESUITS. 9 

Such, according to the writer's sincere belief, were some of the more 
prominent characteristics of the race encountered by Champlain when 
he came into the Iroquois country nearly three centuries ago, and wel- 
comed them with the first volley of bullets, a policy that was pursued 
by all his civilized successors. It is not denied that the Indians possessed 
a few redeeming traits, but they were so strongly dominated by their 
barbarous manner of life, that years of faithful missionary labor by the 
Jesuits and others were productive of but very little real benefit. It 
may be added that whatever is true of any one of the Five Nations, or 
(as they became in 17 12) the Si.x Nations, is equally true of all others. 
The Senecas occupied the region of Western New York, and it is with 
them that we have particularly to deal in this narrative. They were, 
perhaps, as peaceful and domestic as some others of the confederacy, 
yet all the early efforts for their civilization and conversion to Christian- 
ity were unsatisfactory and discouraging. No strong, controlling influ- 
ence for good was ever obtained among them previous to the time of 
Sir William Johnson, and even then it is doubtful whether they were 
not moved more by the power of purchase than by love of right. 

When Champlain opened the way for French dominion in America 
the task of planting Christianity among the Indians was assigned to the 
Jesuits, a name derived from the Societ)- of Jesus, founded by Ignatius 
Loyola in 1539; but while their primary object was to spread the 
gospel, their secondary and scarcely less important purpose was to ex- 
tend the French dominion. In 1736 Canada was restored to F"rance, 
and within three years from that date there were fifteen Jesuits in the 
province. They increased rapidly and extended their influence to a 
large number of Indian nations in the far west, but more particularly to 
the Mohawks and Senecas, they being the more powerful tribes of the 
Iroquois, and holding positions of influence in the confederacy. Still, 
energetic as they were, the French carefully avoided for a longtime any 
close contact with the Senecas, and while the Jesuits came to the region 
about 1620, it was not until 1640 that Fathers Breboeuf and Chaumo- 
not succeeded in establishing a foothold among them. In 1667 Went- 
worth Greenhalgh, an Englishman, visited the Indians, counted their 
villages and inhabitants. He reported the Senecas as having one 
thousand warriors, and the confederacy [^about twenty- si.x hundred. 
2 



10 LANDMARKS 01 STEUBEN COUNTY. 

However, in 1669, under the influence of La Salle, the Seneca country 
was thoroughly explored, and in 1678 the same adventurous Frenchman 
was commissioned by Louis XIV to discover and occupy the western 
part of New France, to build forts and defenses, though at his own 
expense, being granted in return the right to trade in furs and skins. 
Under La Salle's authority, Father Hennepin, the famous priest and 
historian, visited the Seneca country, and from his record has come the 
greater portion of all that has been written by later authorities on the 
subject of Seneca history and tradition. 

For a period of nearly half a century after the discoveries of La Salle 
the French maintained a nominal though not substantial ascendency in 
this region of country. They gained favor with a few of the Senecas, 
but the great body of the tribe, true to their league, were little inclined 
to forget, much less to forgive, the wrongs done by Champlain, and every 
movement of the French was watched with suspicious interest During 
this period the Iroquois invaded Canada and plundered Montreal, and 
in retaliation Denonville visited vengeance upon the Seneca country in 
1687, burned the villages and destroyed much property. This victory 
was a great achievement for the French, for it gave them a strong foo>- 
hold in the lake region and made them for the time masters of the 
country, and the Indians concentrated their population in the eastern 
part of their domain. This advantage, however, was only temporary, 
and upon the withdrawal of the French troops the Senecas repossessed 
their former territory. 

Repeated invasions by the French and Canadian Indians at last 
awakened the English colonists to the conviction that they must unite 
in an effort against the enemy, and accordingly a convention was held 
in New York in 1600, at which it was resolved to combine their strength 
for the subjugation of Canada; but through lack of efficient organiza- 
tion the expedition for the first year was a failure. During this period, 
known as the English revolution, the Iroquois continued their incur- 
sions against the French and were perhaps more dreaded than the Eng- 
lish. The Jesuits were driven from the Seneca country and for many 
years abandoned the field through fear of the thoroughly maddened 
Indians. 

The war was terminated bj' the treaty of Ryswick, in 1697, and while 
it established a peace between the French and English, it practically 



GROWTH OF FRENCH INFLUENCE. U 

left unsettled the status of the Iroquois, and there were no certain pro- 
visions concerning the land of the Seiiecas, which were directly in dis- 
pute between the contending nations. Both claimed sovereignty over 
the whole Iroquois country, and treaty indentures were offered in sup- 
port of the claims of each ; but the Iroquois themselves repudiated 
alike the claims of Yonondio and Corlear, as they denominated the 
respective governors of Canada and New York. When France disputed 
the claims of luiglatid and appealed to the council at Onondaga, a stern, 
savage orator exclaimed: "We have ceded our lands to no one; we 
hold them of heaven alone." Thus the powers wrangled over the 
country which was but a little time before the undisputed domain of 
the Iroquois. 

Whether much importance should attach to the treaties in which 
these untutored savages were pitted against the intelligent Europeans, 
either French or Englisii, is questionable, and especially so when we 
consider the methods often adopted in later years to induce the Indians 
to sign away their domain. Be this as it may, it is now generally be- 
lieved that in the intrusion of France upon the possessions of the Iro- 
quois, " at the sacrifice of so much blood and treasure, justice and the 
restraints and faith of the treaties were subordinate to the lust of power 
and expediency." (Watson.) 

On the accession of Anne to the British throne as successor to King 
William, in March, 1702, what was known as Queen Anne's War was 
soon begun. It continued until the treaty of Utrecht, April 11, 1713, 
but though felt in the colonies, the province of New York fortunately 
escaped its bloody consequences. During this conflict, the Iroquois 
maintained a strict neutrality, thus gaining the respect of the contend- 
ing governments. The French, however, profited by this neutrality, 
and were given an opportunity to strengthen their line of positions and 
fortifications. Moreover, being at peace with the Iroquois, their mis- 
sionaries and political leaders visited the Indians in safety, and the 
result was a friendly relation between them and the Senecas and a por- 
tion of the Cayugas. So firmly indeed did the wily F"rench emissaries 
ingratiate themselves into the Seneca confidence that the latter were 
nearly persuaded to take u[) arms against the English, and only the 
wonderful power of the bond of union existing in the confederacy re- 
strained them. 



12 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Tlie encroachments by the French upon the territory of the Enghsh 
and their alHes (the Iroquois), was one of the chief causes of the so- 
called French and Indian War. As early as the year 173 i, the surveyor- 
general of the Canadas made extensive surveys of the region claimed 
to be New France, and on the early French maps were shown some of 
the important streams and localities now within the county of Steuben. 
The territory was divided into vast tracts, and granted as " seigniories'' 
to various proprietors, as rewards for service to the crown, or for other 
consideration. 

While the French were in possession of New France their influence 
over all the Indians within its limits became paramount, and they at 
last disputed with the English the alliance of the latter with the Iro- 
quois. WHether due to the influence of Joncaire, or to some other 
cause, is not fully known, but the French succeeded in lodging them- 
selves firmly in the affections of the Senecas, and while they were poor 
colonizers their missionaries possessed the peculiar faculty of ready 
assimilation with the savage and half-civilized races, thus gaining an 
influence over them. The efforts of Joncaire were materially aided by 
his half-breed sons. Chabert and Clauzonne. 

Among the earlier Jesuits and French emissaries among the Iroquois, 
some of whom visited the Seneca country, were Fathers Breboeuf, 
Chaumonot, who have been mentioned, and also Fathers Bablon, Isaac 
Jogues, Simon Le Moyne, Francis Joseph Bressani, Julien Garnier, 
Jacques Fremin, Jean Perron, Francis Boniface, Father Hennepin and 
Francis Vaillant de Gueslis. These were followed in later years by such 
noble and wholly unselfish workers as Talbot, Henry Barclay, John 
Oglivie, Spencer, Timothy Woodbridge, Gideon Hawley, Eleazer 
Wheelock, Samuel Kirkland, Bishop Hobart, Eleazer Williams, Dan 
Barnes (Methodist), and others of less distinction, all of whom labored 
faithfully for the conversion of the Indians. All, however, were forced 
to admit that their efforts as a whole were unsatisfactorj- and discourag- 
ing ; and even subsequent eftbrts to establish education and Christianity 
among the Indians, while yielding perhaps sufficient results to justify 
their prosecution, have constantly met with discouraging obstacles. 

In March, 1744, war was again declared between Great Britain and 
France, and the former power at once prosecuted measures for the 
conquest of the French possessions. The Mohawks took up arms with 



EXTINCTION OF FRENCH POWER. 13 

the English, while the Senecas, notwithstanding their affection for the 
French, were uinviUing to mak-e war against their friends at tiie eastern 
extremity of the Long House. 

The contest from 1744 to 1748 had an important object in the pos- 
session of tile Mississippi Valie\-, which the English claimed as an ex- 
tension of their coast discoveries, and the French by right of occupancy, 
their forts already extending from Canada to Louisiana, and forming 
"a bow, of which tlie English colonies were the string." At this time 
the English colonies contained more than a million inhabitants, while 
the French had only about sixty thousand. The Iroquois would not 
engage in the war until 1746, and were disappointed at its termination, 
as they had compromised themselves with the allies of the French (the 
Canadian Indians), and therefore the question of Iroquois supremacy 
was renewed- and intensified. 

In April, 1748, was concluded the ineffective, if not actually shameful 
treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and while it was a virtual renewal of the 
treaties of Ryswick and Utrecht, it left unsettled the disputed questions 
regarding the Iroquois territory. After two years of nominal peace the 
nations again had recourse to arms, and while the French were at first 
everywhere victorious, the tide of contest turned in favor of tlie I^nglish 
with Sir William Johnson's invasion of western New York, the result of 
which was the fall of Niagara and the evacuation of the entire region by 
the now humiliated French. 

The domination of France was ended by the fall of Quebec, Septem- 
ber 18, 1759, thus leaving the English masters of all Canada, for the 
surrender of Vaudreuil on the 8th of the next September was an inev- 
itable result. However, a formal peace was not established until 1763, 
when, on the lOth day of February, the treaty of Paris was signed, by 
which h'rance ceded to Great Britain all her possessions in America. 

Applied locally, this war had but little importance except as the ter- 
ritory of Steuben county formed a part of the French possessions. The 
chief seat of operations was farther west and north and any pilgrimages 
to this locality were merely incidental. 

Records and tradition both inform us that during the period of the 
French and English wars, there came to dwell in the vicinity of Canisteo 
a fragment of one of the tribes of the Delawares, and that to their num- 
ber were added several deserters from the British army and other 



14 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

renegades from the eastern colonies. They were the source of much 
annoyance to the colonists and especially to the Indian traders, for 
they maintained themselves chiefly by a system of outlawry and 
plunder, and did not hestitate at committing murder in accomplishing 
their nefarious work. In 1762 these brigands were charged with the 
murder of two traders, British subjects, which offense, with other an- 
noyances, so aroused the colonists that Sir William Johnson dispatched 
a force of one hundred and forty of his faithful Iroquois, and a few sol- 
diers, to punish the offenders, destroy their habitations and drive them 
from the region. 

In this connection the statement may be made that the Delawares 
were permitted to come among the Iroquois after they had been con- 
quered and completely subjugated. The conquest of the Delawares 
was made between 1640 and 1655, and from the latter year the Iroquois 
were masters and recognized as the owners of all the territory formerly 
held and occupied by the Delawares and their ancestors, the Lenni 
Lenapes. 



CHAPTER III. 



Events Preceding the Revolution — Pontiac's League — Action of the Senecas — The 
RevoUitionary War — Sullivan's Campaign — Brief Reference to the Indian History 
and Antiquities of Steuben County. 

Notwithstanding the results of the war between the French and the 
English, and the disappearance of the former from the region, the west- 
ern Indians were still disposed to remember them with affection and 
were yet inclined to wage vvar upon the English. The celebrated 
Pontiac united nearly all these tribes in a league against the redcoats, 
immediately after the advent of the latter ; and as no such confederation 
had been formed against the French during their years of possession, 
the action of Pontiac must be attributed to some other cause than mere 
hatred of all civilized intruders. In May, 1763, the league surprised 
nine out of twelve English posts and massacred their garrisons, and 
there is no doubt that the Senecas were involved in the slaughter, and 



THE JOHNSONS. 15 

were also active in the fruitless attack upon Fort Niagara. They were 
unwiih'ng to fight against their brothers of the Iroquois, but they had 
no hesitation in killing I^nglish soldiers when left unprotected, as was 
soon made manifest in the awful butchery at Devil's Hole in Septem- 
ber, 1763 

Becoming at length convinced that the F"rench had really yielded 
tlicir possessions in this country, and that Pontiac's scheme was a 
failure, tiie Senecas agreed to aljandon their Gallic friends and be at 
peace with the English, and in April, 1764, Sir William Johnson had 
little difficulty in concluding a peace treaty with eight of the refractory 
chiefs; and at the same time Sir William succeeded in winning the 
affections of all the Six Nations and enlisting tliem under the banner of 
the king But the Senecas, true to their instincts, sullenly held aloof 
and only ratified the treaty under compulsion of threatened annihila- 
tion. However, the baronet proved the firm friend of the Senecas and 
did his utmost to redress their grievances, and besought them to remove 
their isolated villages to their chief seats in the province, that they 
might be more completely under his protection. Ere this could be 
done, however, public attention was attracted by unmistakable disturb- 
ances in the political sky, low at first, but growing rapidly louder and 
more angry until at length there burst upon the country that long and 
desolating storm known as the Revolutionary war. This contest had 
an important bearing on the early history and settlement of Steuben 
county, yet the events of that memorable period may be briefly nar- 
rated in this chapter 

The war in fact began with the battle of Lexington, in April, 1775, 
but before the actual outbreak, as the danger of hostilities increased, 
the Johnson influence showed itself clearly on the side of the king. 
Sir William loved America and was himself an important factor in its 
early and best history. Had he lived his interests and affiliations might 
have impelled him to espouse the American cause, but his sudden death 
ended an im[)ortant career, and his position and influence descended to 
his son and nephew. Sir John Johnson, and his brothers-in-law, Guy 
Johnson and Daniel Glaus, were creatures of the king, having no senti- 
ment in common with the people, being evidently imbued with aristo- 
cratic notions Sir John succeeded to his father's military title and 
position among the Iroquois, though never to his popularity and influ- 



16 LANDMARKSS OF TEUBEN COUNTY. 

ence, and in his efforts was seconded by Colonel Guy and Claus, all of 
whom sought to completely alienate the Indians from the whig colon- 
ists, and also to bring into submission all of the settlers who might yield 
to their influence. Prominent among the latter were John and Walter 
Butler, and also Joseph Brant (the Mohawk chief), all of whom became 
infamous from their bloody deeds during the Revolution, and yet their 
pillage and slaugiiter were generally ascribed to the instigations of the 
Johnsons. 

The •' Continental Congress," as it has ever been termed, was held at 
Philadelphia in September, 1774, and having adopted a declaration of 
rights, it added a petition to the king and an appeal to the people of 
Great Britain and Canada. The New York Assembly alone did not 
sanction these proceedings, and instead addressed a remonstrance to 
parliament, which was treated with disdain. 

In 1776 the war had become national instead of colonial, and on the 
4th of July American independence was formally declared. The policy 
of the Americans had been simply to secure the neutralit)- of the 
Indians, but their success was limited to the Oneidas, while the British 
made undisguised efforts to unite them in close alliance with the royal 
cause. One of their officers exclaimed, " We must let loose the savages 
upon the frontier of these scroundrels to inspire terror and make them 
submit." The Senecas held off for a while, but the prospect of both 
blood and British gold was too much for them to withstand, and in 1777 
they, with the Cayugas, Onondagas and Mohawks, made a treaty witli 
tiie British at Oswego, agreeing to serve the king through the war. 
John Butler established himself at Fort Niagara and organized a regi- 
ment of tories Icnown as Butler's Rangers, at the same time inciting the 
Indians to deeds of violence on the American frontier. 

The most prominent chief of the Iroquois during the war was Brant, 
or Thayendenaga, a Mohawk, who had received a moderate ICnglish 
education under the patronage of Sir William Johnson. The conspicu- 
ous Seneca cliiefs during the same period were Farmer's Brother, Corn- 
planter and Governor Blacksnake. At the massacre at Wyoming the 
author of the " Life of Brant " says the chief in command of the Senecas 
was Guiengwahtoh, supposed to mean the same as Guiyahgwahdoh, 
" the smoke-bearer." This was the title of the Seneca afterward known 
as " Young King," but the latter was then too young to have been at 



SULLIVAN'S EXPEDITION. 17 

Wyoming, yet his predecessor (maternal uncle) might have been there. 
Hrant was certainly not there. At Cherry Valley the Senecas were 
present in force, together with a body of Mohawks under Brant, and 
also a parties of tories under Walter Butler. 

These sudden and unexpected attacks upon the frontier settlements 
and the merciless slaughter of their inhabitants, determined Congress 
and General Washington to set on foot an expedition, having for its ob- 
ject a retaliation upon the Indians, and especially the Senecas. The 
campaign of August and September, 1779, devolved upon General 
John Sullivan, who at that time was an officer in the American army. 
The full force organized for the expedition amounted to 5,000 men, who 
were formed in three divisions. Sullivan commanded in person the 
division that marched through and laid waste the Indian villages in the 
Seneca region, and in the execution of his plans, sent a detachment of 
troops within the limits of the present county of Steuben and destroyed 
a small settlement supposed to have been located near the site of the 
present village of Painted Post. According to established authorities, 
other points within the county were visited, buildings burned and grow- 
ing crops and orchards destroyed. 

However, the invaders were determined to lay waste the larger and 
more populous Seneca villages, and soon passed on up Seneca Lake to 
Kanadesaga and thence westward into the heart of the Genesee country. 
No opposition was encountered except at Newtown, and as a result of 
the expedition forty villages were reduced to ashes, 160,000 bushels of 
corn destroyed, besides large quantities of vegetables of various kinds. 
Another and more beneficial result of the campaign was the temporary 
though entire evacuation by the Senecas of the eastern part of their 
domain, and they were compelled to seek protection from the British 
at Fort Niagara ; nor could they be persuaded to return to their former 
habitations during the remaining years of the war. The warriors, how- 
ever, were kept active by Butler and frequently marauded frontier 
settlements, though without the serious results of former years. 

The other events of the war had no important relation to this imme- 
diate vicinity, other than to acquaint the eastern people with the value 
and general fertility of the whole Genesee country, and this materially 
hastened settlement and dcvel(>i)ment in later years. The surrender of 
3 



18 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Lord Cornwallis in October, 1781, was followed by a virtual cessation 
of hostilities, but not until the fall of 1783 was peace formally agreed 
upon between Great Britain and the revolted colonies, the latter hence- 
forth to be universally acknowledged as the United States of America. 
By the terms of the treaty the boundary line between the British pos- 
sessions and the territorj' of the United States was established along the 
center of Lake Erie and the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St. 
Lawrence, and thence northeastward to the Atlantic coast. For several 
years afterward, however, the British maintained armed posts on the 
United States side of the line and their officers continued to exercise an 
influence over the Indians which was both prejudicial and annoying to 
the State and general government. 

Thus far in our narrative little has been said of the Indian occupants 
of the immediate territory now forming Steuben county. In truth this 
locality was an unimportant portion of a vast country, located between 
the possessions of the Delawares and the Iroquois, and prior to the con- 
quest of about 1650 was debatable ground. Mr. Minier, in his historical 
address, says the valley ofthe Cohocton, prior to the invasion of Sullivan, 
was little known, but informs us that the Moravian missionaries prose- 
cuted their labors in the vicinity as early as 1750; also that in the 
locality ofthe present village of Painted Post was the Indian village of 
Assinisink, where dwelt Jacobus, the Muncy chief, which fact confirms 
our previous statement that the Delawares were suffered to live in the 
valley after their subjugation. In the valley Zeisberger found the 
" pyramids of stone which appeared to have been made with human 
hands," the largest of which was about " three stories " in height. These 
pyramids were at what is known as the Chimney Narrows, and are still 
preserved. 

The county possesses few antiquities and has never been specially 
rich in aboriginal history. The valleys ofthe Chemung, Tioga, Conhoc- 
ton and Canisteo Rivers, and also the vicinity of Lake Keuka, were 
favorite resorts of the Indians for fishing and hunting, and along the 
banks of each, and elsewhere in the region, were well defined Indian 
trails. In a preceding paragraph we have noted the destruction of one 
ofthe villages ofthe region by Sir William Johnson's Mohawk warriors, 
and reference has also been made to Sullivan's campaign in 1779, the 



THE "PAINTED POST." 19 

result of which was the devastation of all that was valuable to the Indian 
occupants at that time. 

In this connection mention may also be made to the historic landmark 
which has been preserved in name and fact to the present day, the 
famous post from which the village of Painted Post received its name. 
The " post by the river" was in tlie Indian tongue called Te-can-nes-to, 
and concerning it Stone says: "The Painted Post was a noted landmark 
in the early settlement of Western New York, and in the history of 
Indian affairs long before. It was literally a post of oak timber planted 
in the ground upon the bank of Cohocton Creek, within the boundary 
of New York, but near the Pennsylvania line. It was painted in the 
Indian manner, and tradition avers that it was a monument of great 
antiquity, erected to commemorate the death of some celebrated war 
chief whose name has been lost in the lapse of years." A second ac- 
count has it that the post was erected by the Indians to designate a spot 
where councils were held, and was painted a bright retl that it might 
be more easily discovered. This account, however, is regarded as 
purely mjthical, as no councils of any importance were known to be 
held in this locality. 

The investigations of Judge McMaster undoubtedly brought to light 
the true story of this historic landmark, but according to his narrative, 
the post was erected to mark the burial place of Captain Montour, the 
son of Queen Catiiarine, who was wounded during the summer of 1779, 
and who died at this point while his party were returning from an ex- 
pedition to the settlements on the Susquehanna. The original post 
was standing in 1792, though much decayed. The white settlers 
erected a new post in 1803, and at various times during later years the 
people of the town have done some act of public spiritedness in pre- 
serving this interesting relic and its memories. 

In the vicinity of Avoca the early settlers found abundant evidences 
of the former occupation, among them fragments of weapons, utensils, 
implements and other indications of the Indian period. It is also claimed 
that a village was within the limits of the town, which is undeniably 
true although it must have been small and of little importance. 
Wiien this town was first settled by the whites the Indians were quite 
numerous, and the same may also be said of many other localities in the 
county ; but wherever found they were of little or no benefit to the 



20 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

pioneers and are remembered as a generally shiftless, begging and an- 
noying class. The town of Canisteo abounds in Indian recollections, 
and the reminiscences of the Stephens family are well known by nearly 
all the older residents. The valley of the Canisteo was a resorting place 
of some note among the Indians as fish and game are said to have been 
abundant in the locality. The vicinity of Hornellsviile also has its In- 
dian traditions and reminiscences though they were unimportant in his- 
tory. Here dwelt the noted chief Shongo, who took part in the 
massacre at Wyoming, and who was regarded with some fear about the 
time of the second war with Great Britain. In Greenwood was a salt 
spring of great value to the early settlers, while the Indians made use 
of its water many years before, and even after the advent of the whites. 
In the Indian language the Conhocton River was known as Ga-ha-to, 
meaning "log in the water." The valley of this stream was called 
" Do-na-ta-gwen-da," and meaning " an opening within an opening." 
Lake Keuka in the Seneca, was " Ogoyago," " a lake with an elbow." 



CHAPTER IV. 

After the Revolution — An Era of Peace— Controversy between Massachusetts and 
New York — The Hartford Convention — The Phelps and Gorham Purchase — The 
Lessee Companies— Settlement of Difficulties— The Surveys — Sale to Robert Morris 

The Pulteney Association — Charles Williamson — Foundation of Land Titles in 

Steuben County— The Anti-Rent Conflict. 

The close of the Revolutionary war and the return of peace marked 
the beginning of a new era in the history of the vast Genesee country, 
for the Indian occupation soon afterward terminated, and the pioneers 
from New England, Pennsylvania, with many others from the eastern 
part of this State, and a few foreigners, became the possessors of the 
territory. They were a hardy and patriotic class, and under their 
energetic efforts lands were cleared and the forests gave place to farms 
of rare fertility, thus developing the agricultural resources at least to 
the extent which supplied domestic requirements. 

However, soon after the war was ended it was found that the treaty 
agreement had made no provision for the Indian allies of Great Britain. 



CLAIMS OF MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW YORK. 21 

The English authorities offered them lands in Canada, but all the tribes 
except the Mohawks preferred to remain in New York. The United 
States treated them with great moderation. Although they had twice 
violated their pledges and without provocation had plunged into a war 
against the colonies, they were readily admitted to the benefits of 
peace, and were even recognized as the owners of all the lands in New 
York over which they had previously ranged. The property line, as it 
was called, previously drawn between the whites and the Indians, ran 
along the eastern boraer of Broome and Chenango counties, and thence 
to a point seven miles west of Rome. 

In October, 1784, after two other ineffectual attempts, a treaty was 
made at Fort Stanwi.x (Rome) between three commissioners of the 
United States and the sachems of the Six Nations. The Marquis de 
La Fayette was present and made an address, though not one of the 
commissioners. Red Jacket, the noted Seneca, was present, but did 
not really take part in the council. Brant was not present, though he 
had been active in a council with Governor Clinton a short time before. 
Cornplanter spoke for the Senecas, but Sayengeraghta or " 04d King" 
was the recognized Seneca sachem. This treaty fixed the western 
boundary of the Iroquois territory, beginning at Lake Ontario, four 
miles east of the Niagara River, and running thence southerly across 
the lands of the State to the Pennsylvania line. The several councils 
held with the Indians resulted in the purchase of vast tr;icts of their 
land, but in each case the authorities made them just compensation 

In this manner matters progressed favorably for a time, but rather 
unexpectedly there arose a controversy involving questions of title and 
right to purchase from the Indians, all of which was due to the imper- 
fect understanding on the part of the crown regarding the situation or 
extent of the territory of America. The colonies of Massachusetts and 
New York had charters under which each could claim not onl\' all cen- 
tral and western New York, but also a strip of land running from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The charter to the Pljmouth colony of 
Massachusetts was made in 1627, while that to the Duke of York was 
made in 1664, and after the overthrow of the English dominion in the 
United States and the organization of the States themselves, the au- 
thorities of each naturally began an inquiry into the extent of their 
possessions, that definite and permanent boundaries might be estab- 



22 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

lished. The conflicting character of these grants was known even 
before the Revohition, but not until after the formation of the States did 
the matters in dispute become at all complicated. However, that a 
settlement might be reached both States ceded to the United States all 
.claim to the territory west of a line drawn south from tlie western ex- 
tremity of Lake Ontario, being the present western boundary of Chau- 
tauqua county. 

After divers negotiations regarding the remaining part of the dis- 
puted territory, commissioners from the two States interested, and from 
the general government, met at Hartford in December, 1786, to en- 
deavor to harmonize their claims. It was then and there agreed that 
Massachusetts should yield all claim to the land east of the present east 
line of Ontario and Steuben counties, while west of that line New York 
should have the political jurisdiction and sovereignty, while Massachu- 
setts should have the title, or fee simple, of the land, subject only to the 
Indian right of occupancy. That is to say, the Indians could hold the 
lands as long as they pleased, but were only allowed to sell to the State 
of Massachusetts or her assigns. This title, thus encumbered, was called 
the pre-emption right, literally, the right of first purchase. 

While, these events were taking place a combination (a "ring," it 
would now be called, or perhaps "a syndicate") was formed by 
capitalists in New York and Canada, to obtain control of the Indian 
lands in this State. Two companies were organized, the one known as 
the New York and Genesee Land Company, of which John Livingston 
was the manager, and the other the Niagara Genesee Land Company, 
composed largely of Canadians, with Col. John Butler at the head, and 
associated with him were Samuel Street, Captain Powell, William John- 
son and Benjamin Barton. 

As the State forbade the sale of Indian lands to individuals, these 
companies, working together, sought to evade the law by a lease, and 
so great was the influence of Butler and his associates that in 1787, the 
Six Nations, or some chiefs and sachems claiming to act for them, gave 
the New York and Genesee Company a lease of all their lands, except 
some small reservations, for a term of nine hundred and ninety nine 
years. The consideration was to be $20,000, and an annual rental of 
$2,000. At the next session of the Legislature the lessees applied for 



PHELPS AND GORHAM PURCHASE. 23 

a confirmation of their lease, but tlie intent to evade the law was too 
plain ; the petition was promptly rejected and the lease declared void. 

The lease having been annulled, the promoters of the scheme next 
proposed to procure a conveyance by the Indians of all their lands in 
the State, provided the latter would reimburse Livingston and his asso- 
ciates for all their expenses, and to convey to them half the land ; 
which specimen of efifrontery can seldom be surpassed in these pro- 
gressive days, considering that Livingston, Hutler and company would 
have secured several million acres of the finest lands in America as a 
free gift. However, this proposition was also rejected. 

In 1788 Massachusetts sold all her land in New York, about six and 
one-half million acres, to Oliver Phelps and Nathaniel Gorham, acting 
on behalf of themselves and others, for $1,000,000, to be paid in three 
equal annual payments, the purchasers having the privilege of paying 
in Massachusetts currency, then worth about twenty cents on the dol- 
lar. The purchase was of course subject to the Indian right of occu- 
pancy. 

Oliver Phelps, the active manager of the " Phelps and Gorham Pur- 
chase " enterprise, made an arrangement with Livingston, who agreed, 
doubtless for consideration, to assist in negotiating a treaty with the 
Indians. But meanwhile there arose a disagreement between Living- 
ston's and Butler's companies, and when Phelps reached Geneva, or 
Kanadesaga, where the council was to have been held, he learned that 
Butler and his associates had assembled the Indians at Buffalo Creek, 
and had persuaded them not to meet with either Livingston or Phelps; 
and learning that Butler had greater influence with the savages than 
Livingston or himself, Phelps proceeded to Niagara, came to a satis- 
factory arrangement with them, and then procured a council at Bufifalo 
Creek. 

Although in no manner pertinent to this narrative, the statement may 
be made incidentally that this council was in many respects a notable 
assemblage, and a meeting in which that shrewd Yankee, Oliver Phelps, 
found himself pitted against not only a number of the most cunning 
land sharpers of the whole country, but as well against the most crafty 
representatives of the Indian race. Among the notables present, whose 
names can be recalled, were Joseph Brant, the Mohawk chief, famed 
both for his cunning and inhuman ferocity; John Butler, the once active 



24 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

man o{ the lesser land company, and formerly colonel of Butler's Rang- 
ers ; Rev. Samuel Kirkland, the agent of Massachusetts, a man of 
noble character and varied experience. At this meeting he also acted 
as one of the interpreters. William Johnston was another of the inter- 
preters present. 

Oliver Phelps was a Connecticut Yankee by birth, a son of the Bay 
State by adoption, and a New Yorker by subsequent residence. He 
was an active participant in the Revolution, and was now, as the agent 
of an association of Massachusetts speculators, negotiating for the pur- 
chase of a principality. He was a shrewd, persistent, enterprising, 
politic, typical business man of the day, and to the time of his death was 
regarded with profound respect by the residents of the Phelps and Gor- 
ham Purchase. In his representative capacity, and associated with Na- 
thaniel Gorham, Mr. Phelps once owned all the territory now compris- 
ing Steuben county, and the titles established by him have been the 
foundation for all subsequent real estate transactions in the shire. Still, 
Steuben county was but a small part of the vast purchase negotiated by 
this remarkable proprietary. 

Among the Indian owners of the land were present Honayewus, the 
Seneca chief, who had then lately received the name of " Farmer's 
Brother." There, too, was also Sagoyewatha, "The Keeper Awake" (a 
tribute to his oratorical powers), the far-famed Red Jacket. Another 
was Capt. John O'Bail, or Abeel, more widely known as Cornplanter, 
half white by blood, yet thoroughly Indian by nature. Sayengeraghta, 
"Old King," or "Old Smoke," was also present but not active in the 
council. 

As is well known, the eastern boundary of the purchase began at the 
eighty-second milestone on the Pennsylvania line, thence ran due north 
to Lake Ontario. The west line ran from the lake up the Genesee to 
the mouth of the Canaseraga, thence due south to the Penns)'lvania line. 
This was the " Phelps and Gorham Purchase," and included about 
2,600,000 acres. The price was left by the complaisant aborigines to 
Colonel Butler, Joseph Brant and Elisha Lee (the latter Mr. Kirkland's 
assistant), and was fixed at $5,000 in hand, and $500 annually, forever. 
This was about equal to $12,000 in cash, or half a cent an acre. Within 
two weeks after the council Colonel Butler called on Mr. Phelps by 
letter for a conveyance of 20,000 acres of land, in accordance with a 





fii^ /2)* Q^ji^^'^yyf-^ 



PHELPS AND GORHAMS SURVEY. 25 

previous arrangement, to be deeded to persons desi<^nated by Rutler; 
from which it is fair to infer that as the colonel had been one of the com- 
missioners to fix the price of the main purchase, this transfer looks as if 
some of the Indian operations of that era would not bear more close 
investigation than those of later years. 

While Oliver Phelps was busily employed in his negotiations with 
the Indians, and in compromising with the annoying claimants in tiie 
lessee companies, Mr. Gorham was engaged in preparing for the sur- 
vey of the east and west boundary lines of the purchase as preliminary 
to the survey of the general tract. I-'or this work the services of Col. 
Hugh Maxwell, an engineer of good repute, were engaged, and the 
work was done during the year 1788; not, however, by Colonel Max- 
well, or even under his immediate direction, for he was taken ill about 
the time the work was begun, and the line was in fact run by his assist- 
ants and subordinates. The survey into townships was also begun in 
1788, and completed in 1789, and was made from the eastern boundary. 
So far as the character of the surface would permit, the townships were 
supposed to contain the contents of six miles square. Running from 
south to north, and six miles apart, were first surveyed the range lines, 
and throughout each of these, at the end of every six miles, monuments 
were placed, and by running lines at right angles with the range lines, 
at the designated points, there would be included six miles square, 
(thirty-six square miles) or a township. 

The statement may be made in this connection that the survey into 
townships in the southeast part of the Phelps and Gorham purchase was 
made by Augustus Porter, F"rederick Saxton and their assistants. In 
explanation of the sjstcm of surveys adopted for the Phelps and Gor- 
ham purchase, which, by the way, was afterward employed generally in 
the Western States and Territories, it may be stated that the present 
town of Caton comprises, substantially, township i, range i ; Lindley, 
township I, range 2; Tuscarora, township i, range 3 The town of 
Corning comprises township 2, range 1 ; Erwin, township 2, range 2. 

In 1789 the Phelps and Gorham proprietary found themselves in a 
financially embarrassed condition. The Massachusetts currency, which, 
at the time the purchase was made was worth only about twenty cents 
on the dollar, had, through the organization of the affairs of the State 
and the assistance afforded by tiie general government, advanced in 



26 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

value to nearly par, and the proprietors themselves had made enormous 
outlays and expenditures in surveying and developing their lands. In 
addition was the unlooked for expense of the contingent of persons who 
claimed to have assisted in bringing about a peaceful settlement of difiR- 
culties, and who were persistent in their demands for money and lands. 
The result was that the proprietors were unable to meet their obliga- 
tions, although at this time they had disposed of nearly one- half of their 
vast estate. Many of the townships, however, had been conveyed to 
stockholders in the association in exchange for their interests in the 
company. 

In this emergency Phelps and Gorham petitioned the Massachusetts 
Legislature, asking that they be released from [payment of the entire 
principal sum, and e.xpressed a willingness to pay lor that part of the 
land to which the Indian title had been extinguished, and surrender the 
tract west of the Genesee and the mill seat tract. This proposition was 
acceded to. Again, in the early part of 1790 our proprietors effected 
a sale to Robert Morris, the financier of the Revolution and a man of 
large means and influence, of all the unsold portion of their purchase 
within the lines we have previously described. At this time Phelps and 
Gorham had disposed of about fifty townships, among those in what is 
now this county being Campbell, Canisteo, Corning, Erwin. Hornells- 
ville and Lindley. The lands transferred to Mr. Morris embraced about 
one million two hundred and sixty-four thousand acres, for which he 
paid ^30,000, New York money. 

After becoming fully possessed Mr. Morris proceeded to investigate 
the character and condition of his purchase, and soon discovered that a 
fraud had been practiced in running the eastern boundary line. For 
the purpose of accurate information, he engaged Adam Hoopes to ex- 
plore the country, and particularly to re survey the east boundary and 
determine ■ upon the accuracy of the disputed line. However, before 
this could be done, Mr. Morris's agent in England negotiated a sale of 
the tract to a company of English capitalists, comprised of Sir William 
Pulteney, John Hornby, and Patrick Colquhoun. Charles Williamson 
acted in the capacity of agent for the purchasers and received the deeds 
in his own name, which the actual vendees, being aliens, could not 
hold. (This prohibition, however, was soon afterward removed.) The 
deed to Williamson was executed April 11, 1792, and in March, 1801, 



CHARLES WILLIAMSON. 27 

the then unsold lands were conveyed to the Pulteney Association. The 
titles to land in this coiinr)', other than in tiie towns specially mentioned 
in the preceding parayiraph, have generally descended from the Pulte 
ney Association, Pulteney estate, the Pulteney heirs or the Hornby 
estate, as variously termed. 

Under the new proprietorship the eastern boundary line was resur- 
veyed, though at the e.xpense of Mr. Morris. A material deflection 
from the correct course was discovered, more serious north than in this 
county, which, as is well known, is bounded b\' the line on the east. 
In the association the Pulteney interest was nine-twelfths of the whole, 
the Hornby two twelfths, and the Colquhoun one twelfth. 

Captain Williamson was a Scotchman by birth, and in 1792 became 
a citizen of the United State<. He had served in the British army and 
during the war then recently ended had gained a fair knowledge of 
America and the natural resources of the country. In connection with 
the trust reposed in him by the English capitalists, Captain Williamson 
came to the United States in December, 1791, remaining for some time 
in Pennsylvania, and locating for his business operations at Bath in the 
early part of 1793. We have no place in this chapter for the thousand 
and one enterprises set on foot and carried to a successful completion 
by Captain Williamson, but it may be said in this connection that the 
early settlement and development of what is now Steuben county was 
largely due to his efforts To be sure he had at his command almost 
unlimited resources and means, and he made generous use of both. In 
fact his principals soon complained of the seemingly prodigal expendi- 
tures made by their agent and were disposed to call him to account, but 
whatever was done in the way of improvement was of great benefit to 
the inhabitants of the region in general, and of the townships owned 
by the association in particular. The town and village of Bath owed 
all their earl)- prosperity to the generosity of Captain Williamson. 
Howe\er, this subject will be further mentioned in connection with our 
allusion to the several towns of the county, hence may be only casually 
treated in this chapter. 

An interesting and quite important element of local history was the 
outgrowth of the Pulteney and Hornby titles, although the period of its 
occurrence was more recent than that referred to in the preceding narra- 
tive. We refer to the event which has ever been known as the "Anti- 



28 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

rent Conflict," which was occasioned by the inability of the settlers to 
pay for their lands under the contracts of purchase made with the 
agents of the proprietors. And we may also add that the sentiment 
prevailing at the time was not confined wholly to Steuben and Allegany 
counties, but e.xisted in the region known as the Holland Purchase, and 
also in other localities in the eastern part of the State. 

The causes which led to this unfortunate situation were numerous, 
and chief among them was the construction of the Erie Canal, thus 
affording to the settlers north of us superior facilities for the transporta- 
tion of agricultural products to market in which the inhabitants of this 
region could reap no benefit. The lands here were generally poorer in 
quality than those to the northward, and were cleared and fitted for 
cultivation only after much labor and expense. The price of all pro- 
ducts of the soil was much depreciated and the \ ield not abundant. 
The proprietary contributed to the distress of the struggling purchasers 
by the practice of adding to the principal sum to be paid all arrearages 
of interest and charging interest on the whole. In fact the inhabitants 
became discontented with their condition, and the sentiment became 
rampant throughout the region ; and being utterly disheartened, showed 
little disposition to effectually relieve themselves, but rather were given 
to the habit of commiserating one with the other until the situation be- 
came really serious. In their distress thej- assembled a convention, to 
meet at the court-house in Bath on the 19th of January, 1830, " to take 
into consideration the condition of the settlers on the Pulteney and 
Hornby estates " in the counties of Steuben and Allegany. In the 
convention were delegates from many of the towns of this county, as 
follows : 

Addison. — William Wombough, Lemuel B. Searls, David Shumway, 
Eber Scofield and Daniel Burdick. 

Alfred. — Edward Green, Daniel Babcock, Spencer Sweet, Richard 
Hall and Clark Crandall. 

Bath. — William Woods, James Warden, John Corbitt, Peter Hunter, 
Melvin Schenck, Caleb P. Fulton and Elisha Hawks. 

Cameron. — Jacob Thayer, Joseph Loughry, Isaac Santee, Sheldon 
Porter and Hiram Averill. 

Coliocton. — Paul C. Cook, David Weed, Elnathan Wing, Peter Haight 
and Alfred Shattuck. 



THE ANTI-RENT CONVENTION. 29 

Canisteo — Henry D. Millard, William Stephens, Jeremiah J^aker, 
George Santee and Moses Hallett. 

Dansville. — Thomas M Bourn, Peter Covert, Annis Newcomb, Leeds 
Allen and Martin Smith. 

Erwin. — John E. Evans, Samuel Ervvin and John Cooper, jr. 

Greenwood. — Levi Da\is, Thomas Johnson, Anson Cook, VVilliani J. 
Strong and Randall Pease. 

Hornby. — Isaac Goodsell. Samuel Oldfield, Josiah Wheat, Francis 
Northway and Levi Nasii. 

Horttellsville. — Oliver Coon, Othniel Call, Oliver Pettibone, Jabez 
Lamphere and John J Sharp. 

Howard. — Daniel U. Bennett, Byram L. Harlow, William Goff, John 
D. Collier and Jacob G Winne. 

Jasper. — William Hunter, Benjamin Heliker, Ira Smith, Uzal M. 
Mynderse and Hincklej' Spencer. 

Pai'ited Post. — Robert H. Hoyt, Joseph Gillett, Charles Wolcott, jr., 
William Webster and Henry D. Smith. 

Prattsburg. — Stephen Prentiss, Gameliel Loomis, Josiah Allis, Ira 
C. Clark and Joseph Potter. 

Pulteney. — David Hobart, William Sagar, Barnet Retan, Daniel I^en- 
nett and Seth Weed. 

Troupsburg. — Samuel Cady, Samuel Griggs, Joshua Slater, Jesse 
Wilden and Nathan S. Ha)'es. 

Urbatia. — Henry A. Townsend, John Sanford, jr., John Powers, Elias 
Ketchum and Dyer Cranmer. 

Wheeler. — Jonathan Barney, Nathan Rose 2d, Abram J. Quacken- 
bush, David Barney and John C. Overhiser. 

Waytie. — Latham F"itch, John H. Sherwood and Thornton F. Curry. 

Woodhull. — Caleb Smith, Samuel Stroud, Asher Johnson, Jeffrey 
Smith and Martin Harder. 

Representatives were also present from several towns in adjoining 
counties, and in many respects the assemblage was one of the largest 
and most noteworthy of any held in the count)' during its early history. 
The court-house was not large enough to hold the delegates and inter- 
ested spectators, hence the meeting was held in the Presbyterian cluircli. 
An organization was effected by the selection of Henry A. Townsend, 
chairman, and Edward Howell and George C. Edwards, secretaries. 



30 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

After mucli deliberation and discussion and the adoption of a series of 
resolutions setting forth the unhappy condition of affairs, the convention 
caused to be sent to Col. Robert Troup, agent of the Pulteney estate, 
and to John Greig, agent of the Hornby estate, a memorial or petition 
asking that the proprietary take some action for their immediate and 
effectual relief 

The memorial was dated January 20, 1S30, and on the 14th of March 
following Colonel Troup replied at length and suggested a plan of re- 
lief ; and while the latter tended to lessen the burdens of the settlers, it 
did not in fact satisfy their desires. Further meetings vvere held, some 
of them general and others local, and the ultimate result was generally 
beneficial to the suffering inhabitants, although the hoped for blessing 
was so long delaj'ed by the detail of proceedings and formalities as to 
have lost much of its savor. The settlers succeeded in obtaining a 
moderate reduction in the price of tiieir lands, and the product of 
their farms was accepted as payment of principal or interest at fair cash 
values. Still, there has ever been expressed a doubt as to the propriety 
of the proceeding or whether any substantial and lasting benefit was 
derived therefrom. 



CHAPTER V. 



Division of Montgomery County — Creation of Ontario and Steuben Counties — Brief 
Allusion to Baron Steuben — His Life and Ser\-ices — The Original Territory of Steuben 
County divided into Towns— First County Officers— County Buildings— Second Jury 
District — Steuben County Civil List. 

On the 27th day of January, 1789, the Legislature passed an act 
dividing the mother county Montgomery, and out of its territory the 
region of coimtry in this State west of Seneca Lake was erected into 
a separate county by the name of Ontario. This vast tract of rich and 
fertile land became known to the American colonists during the closing 
years of the French war, and the constant passage of troops along the 
frontiers during the Revolution likewise afforded an excellent opportu- 
nity for the observing New Englander to determine upon the general 
desirability of the whole region as a place of permanent residence and 



ERECTION OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 31 

profitable agricultural employment. Indeed, so well known was the 
character of the Genesee country, that within two years from the time 
Phelps and Gorham concluded their historic purchase, we find the hardy 
pioneer clearing the forests, developing the lands, and paving the way 
for future prosperity. So rapidly were the towns taken and settled, 
that the proper management of affairs made necessary the creation of a 
new county west of the lake, and the act mentioned was the result. 

After the lapse of seven short years the same necessity led to the 
erection of another county, and, therefore, through the energetic efforts 
of Charles Williamson, agent of the Pulteney association and others, 
Steuben count)- was formed from Ontario, the act therefor being passed 
and approved on the 8th day of March, 1796. At the census taken in 
1790 the districts comprising the new jurisdiction contained only two 
hundred inhabitants; in 1795 about one thousand, and in 1 800 a total 
of two thousand. Within its present boundaries Steuben county con- 
tains about one thousand three hundred square miles of land, and is 
among the largest civil divisions of the State. 

The county was named in honor of F"rederick William Augustus, 
Baron Steuben, who with several other titled and honored foreigners 
gave substantial aid to the American cause during the first war with 
Great Britain. The life and services of this distinguished and patriotic 
" Knight of the Order of Fidelity " are worthily recorded in the pa<;es 
of history and need no reproduction here, yet, as a brief tribute to his 
memory, we may state that Baron Steuben, previous to his departure 
for America, was aid de camp to Frederick the Great, Kins; of Prussia. 
Under Congress and General Washington he was major-general and 
inspector- general in the American army, serving during the Revolu- 
tionary war. " Fsteemed, rtspected and supported by Washington, he 
gave military skill and discipline to the citizen soldiers, who (fulfilling 
the decrees of Heaven) achieved the independence of the United 
States." 

Baron Steuben was born in one of the German provinces about the 
year 1730. He came to the United States on the 1st of December, 
1777, where he ever afterward lived. He died on the 25th of Novem- 
ber, 1795. 

Steuben county, as originally constituted, was materially larger in 
area than at the present time, having surrendered portions of its territory 



32 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to other jurisdictions, which we may briefly note. On March 1 1, 1808, 
the seventh range of townships was set off to Allegany county, which 
was created April 7, 1806. The part in the fork of Lake Keuka was 
annexed to Ontario county, February 25, 1814. A part of Dansville 
was attached to Livingston county, February 15, 1822, and a part of 
Reading to Yates county in 1824. Another part of Reading was set off 
to Schuyler county on the creation of the latter, April 17, 1854. When 
Steuben was erected its territory was divided into six towns or provi- 
sional districts, and known respectively as Bath, Canisteo, Dansville, 
Frederickstown, Middletown and Painted Post. Of these original divi- 
sions the names of only two are now preserved as towns of the county. 
Bath originally comprised the entire northern portion of the county, 
including the towns now known as Bath, Urbana, Wheeler, Prattsburg, 
Pulteney, Avoca, Howard, and a portion of Cohocton Dansville com- 
prised all that is now Dansville. F"remont, Wayland, and part of Howard 
and Cohocton. Frederickstown included Wayne and Bradford in this 
county, and also Harrington and Starkey in Yates county, and Tyrone, 
Reading and Orange in Schuyler county. Middletown comprised all 
that is now Addison, Rathbone, Thurston, Tuscarora, Woodhull, and 
parts of Troupsburg and Jasper. Canisteo comprised the present town 
so named, also Greenwood, West Union, Huntsville, Hornellsville, and 
parts of Jasper and Troupsburg. 

After the erection of the county a complete organization was effected 
with little difficulty. The first officers were William Kersey, first judge ; 
Abraham Bradley and Eleazur Lindley, associate judges ; George D. 
Cooper, county clerk ; William Dunn, sheriff; Stephen Ross, surrogate. 
In accordance with the determination of the most influential element of 
the county, the village of Bath was designated as the seat of justice, 
and the agents of the proprietary made generous provision for the 
county buildings and other public purposes. 

The first court-house was completed and occupied for court purposes 
on the 1st of June, 1796. The building was of frame, one and one- 
half stories high, with two wings, and served the necessities of the 
county until 182S, then being superseded by a more substantial brick 
structure, the latter, however, being destroyed by fire in October, 1859. 
Following the disaster, in i860, the present attractive court-house was 
erected. In 1796, also, the fir.st county jail, a log building, was erected 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND INSTITUTIONS. 33 

and stood in the rear of the subsequent stone jiiil, the latter standing at 
the northwest corner of the square. The next jail was built in 1845, 
and, in turn, was replaced with the present brick building, erected 
in 1882, at a total cost of nearly $30,000. The new clerk's office 
was built in 1872, at a cost of about $1 1,000, and the surrogate's office 
in 1886, at an expense of $8,707.77. 

As the county increased in population and commercial importance, 
the convenience of the inhabitants demanded a division into jurj' dis- 
tricts for court purposes. Consequently, on the 19th of July, 1853, an 
act was passed making the desired division, and designating the now 
city of Corning as the seat of justice of the second jury district of the 
county. From that time courts have been held alternately at Bath and 
Corning. However, during the legislative session of 1888-89 ''" at- 
tempt was made to secure the passage of an act establishing a western 
jury district in the county, the proposed seat to be at Hornellsville, and 
although the act was passed by both houses of the Legislature the bill 
failed to become a law through lack of the executive approval. The 
court-house at Corning, a substantial and attractive brick building, was 
built during the years 1853 and '54, and cost $14,000. 

Having referred to the general buildings and properties, in this con- 
nection we may also properly make some brief allusion to another im- 
portant institution of the county, that in which are kept and supported 
the unfortunate poor. At the annual session of the Board of Super- 
visors held in November, 1833, it was "Resolved, that a poor-house 
shall be established in the county of Steuben for the reception of the 
poor of said county, and that all distinction between the county poor 
and town poor be abolished, etc.;" also " that Messrs. Knox, Reynolds 
and Towsley be a committee to ascertain where a farm can be had for 
the use of the poor, etc." In December following the supervisors 
directed the superintendents of the poor to purchase the farm offered 
by Ephraim Barney, and also appropriated tlie sum of $4,000 for the 
purpose of paying for the farm and the erection of a poor-house build- 
ing. The county farm is located in the town of Bath, about two miles 
north of the village. From the humble beginning noted above the 
present excellent institution for the care of the county poor has grown. 
The property consists of a large and well tilled farm, while the build- 



34 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

ings, of brick, stone and frame, are ample and comfortable. This de- 
partment of the county government receives the same careful attention 
as do all others. 

Now, having referred to the various properties and interests of Steu- 
ben county, it is proper that a record be made of the names of persons 
who have been identified with the county in its civil and political his- 
tory. In other words, it is fitting that we publish a complete list of 
officers who have represented this county in Federal, State or local 
government ; 

Presidential Electors — John Lloyd, 1828; Grattan H. Wheeler, 
1840; John D. Higgins, 1844; Ferral C. Dininny, 1852; JamesAlley, 
1864; Horace Bemis, 1868; John McDougall, 1876; Amory Hough- 
ton, jr., 1880; Anthony L. Underbill, 1884; James B. Day, 1892. 

Representatives in Congress. — Daniel Cruger, 18 17-19; William 
Woods, 1823-25; John Magee. 1827-29, and 1829-31; Grat'an H. 
Wheeler, 1831-33; Edward Howell, 1833-35; John T. Andrews, 
1837-39; Williams Hubbell, 1843-45; David Rumsey, jr , 1847-49, 
and 1849-51; Robert V. Van Valkenburgh, 1861-63, and 1863-65; 
C. C. B.Walker, 1873-75; John N. Hungerford, 1S75-77; David P. 
Richardson, 1878-80, and 1880-82; John Arnot, 1882-84; Ira Daven- 
port, 1884-86, and 1886-88; John Raines, 1888-1890, and 1800-92; 
Charles W. Gillett, 1892-96. 

Lieutenant-Governor — Robert Campbell, of Bath, elected November 
2, 1858. Mr. Campbell was also regent of the university, appointed 
February 2, 1846, vice John A. Dix, resigned. 

Canal Commissioner. — Stephen T. Hayt, of Corning, elected No- 
vember 6, 1866. 

Canal Appraiser. — Henry H. Hull, of Bath, appointed April 5, 1855. 

Superintendent of Banks. — Daniel C. Howell, of Bath, appointed 
February 3, 1870. 

State Senators — Vincent Matthews, 1798-1804; Henry A. Towns- 
end, 1811-15; Grattan H. Wheeler, 1829-32; George Huntington, 
1836-40; William M. Hawley, 1848-49; William J. Gilbert, 1851; 
Andrew B. Dickinson, 1854-55 ; John K. Hale, 1856-57; Samuel H. 
Hammond, i860 61 ; Stephen T. Hayt, 1 864-66 ;G.T. Harrower, 1872- 
Tl ; George B. Bradley, 1874-76, and 1876-78 ; Ira Davenport, 1878- 
80; Charles E. Walker. 1892-93. 



CIVIL LIST. 35 

Members of Assembly — Charles Williamson, 1798-1800; James 
Faulkner, 1804; John Wilson, 1805-07; George Hornell, 1808; Henry 

A. Townsend, 1809; John Knox, 1810-11; Jacob Teeple, 1812-13; 
Daniel Criiger, 1814-16; William B. Rochester, 1817-18; John Dow, 
1819-21 ; Grattan H. Wheeler, 1822; George McClure and William 
Wooils. 1823 ; George McClurc and Grattan H. Wheeler, 1824; John 
Kennedy and Janus McBurney, 1825 ; D. Cruger and G. 11. Whecltr, 
1826; Paul C. Cook and George iMcClure, 1827; Dugaltl Cameron and 
William Woods, 1828; Randall Graves and Henry Phocni.v, 1829; 
Andrew H. Dickinson and Josiah Dunlap, 1S30; Paul C. Cook and 
Josiah Dunlap, 1831; Edward Howell and John McBurney, 1832; 
William Hunter and William Kernan, 1833 ; Joshua llealey and Will- 
iam Kernan, 1834; Jeremiah Baker and Joshua Healey, 1835 ; Lemuel 

B. Searles and Henry Switzer, 1836; Henry G. Cotton, John I. Pop- 
pins and Benjamin Smead, 1837 ; Samuel Griggs, David Hall and 
Mannini^ Kelly, 1838; Andrew G. Chatfield, Abram M. Lybolt and 
Johnson N Reynolds, 1839; Richard Brower, Andrew G. Chatfield and 
Abram M. Lybolt, 1840; A. G. Chatfield, William S Hubbell and 
Samuel A. Johnson, 1841 ; Aaron W. Beach, P'rancis E. Erwin and 
Ziba A Leland, 1842 ; Morris Brown, Francis E. Erwin and Ziba A. 
A. Leland, 1843; John Jamison, Asa McConnell and JelTrey Smith, 
1844; William C. Rogers, Ansel C. Smith and Jacob Van Valken- 
burgh. 1845 ; A. G. Chatfield, Otto F. Marshall and William C. Rogers, 
1846; Hiram Chapman, William Diven and William Hunter, 1847; 
Abel Kendall, John G Mercereau and Alex. H. Stephens, 1848; 
Abram J. Quackenboss, John G. Mercereau and John K. Hale, 1849; 
Edwin F. Church, Ferral C. Dininny and James Alley, 1850; Charles 
G. Higb>-, James M. Miles and Joel Carrington, 1851 ; R. B. Van 
Valkenburgh, l^enajah P. Bailey and Nathaniel M. Perry, 1852 ; Dryden 
Henderson, John McBurne}- and Henr)' H. Bouton, 1853; John F. 
Williams, B P. Bailey and Obediah Stephens, 1854; Seth B. Cole, 
Sylvester Smith and Peter C. Ward, 1855; Goldsmith Denniston, 
Albert C. Morgan and Harlo Hakes, 1856; R. B. Van Valkenburgh, 
George T. Spencer and Solon O. Thacher, 1857; R. B. Van Valken- 
burgh, Washington Barnes and William B. Jones, 1858 ; Abel Flveland, 
Wickh.im R. Crocker and John T. Plato, 1859; David B. Bryan, 
Henry Sherwood and Samuel M Alley, 1862 ; John W. Taggart, Henry 



36 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Sherwood and Horace Bemis, 1863; William E. Bonham, Alexander 
Olcott and J. Harvey Stephens, 1864; William E. Bonham, Alexander 
Olcott and Horace Bemis, 1865 ; William B. Boyd, Aniaziah S. McKay 
and Frederick M. Kreidler, 1866; William B. Boyd and Christian 
Minier, 1867; John F. Little and Lyman Balcom, 1868; Monroe 
Brundage and Samuel Mitchell, 1869; James G. Bennett and John 
Davis, 1870; Thomas M. Fowler and James B. Murdock, 1871; 
Thomas M. Fowler and Stephen F. Gilbert, 1872 ; Stephen D. Shattuck 
and Charles F. Houghton, 1873; Stephen D. Shattuck and Lucius C. 
Pierson, 1874; William B. Ruggles and Jerry E. B. Santee, 1875 ; 
William B. Ruggles and Jerry E. B. Santee, 1876 ; Azariah C. Brundage 
and George R. Sutherland, 1877-79; John W. Davis and Russell M. 
Tuttle, 1880; Charles S. Longwell and Russell M. Tuttle, 1881; 
Orange S. Searle and Allen A. Van Arsdale, 1 882 ; Orange S. Searle and 
Andrew B. Craig, 1883; George E. Whitman and Andrew B. Craig, 
1884; George E. Whiteman and Charles D. Baker, 1885; Franz S. 
Woll and Charles D. Baker, 1886; Azariah C. Brundage and Charles 
D. Baker, 1887; Azariah C. Brundage and Milo M. Acker, 1888; 
Charles H. McMaster and Milo M. Acker, 1889; Peter B. Pealer and 
M. M. Acker, 1890 ; Grattan H. Brundage and M. M. Acker, 1891 ; Gor- 
don M. Patchin and Herman E. Buck, 1892-93; Willoughby W. Bab- 
cock and Merritt F. Smith, 1894-95. 

Justices of the Supreme Court. — Thomas A. Johnson, April 7, 1847, 
to November 7, 1865 ; David Rumsey, appointed January 7, 1873, vice 
Johnson, deceased; elected for full term in November, 1873; William 
Rumsey, elected November 2, 1880; re-elected; George B. Bradley, 
elected November 6, 1883 ; appointed judge Second Division, Court of 
Appeals, January 21, 1889 ; now on General Term bench, 

County Judges. — William Kersey, appointed March 31, 1796; James 
Faulkner, February 16, 1804; Samuel Baker, January 18, 1813 ; Thos. 
McBurney, April 15, 1816; James Norton, h'cbruary 7, 1823 ; George 
C. Edwards, January 13, 1826; Ziba A. Leland, January 9, 1838; 
Jacob Larrowe, April 17, 1843 ; William M. Hawley, January 30, i S46 ; 
David McMaster, elected June, 1847; Jacob Larrowe, November, 1851 ; 
David McMaster, 1855 ; Washington Barnes, 1859 ; Guy H. McMaster, 
1867; George T. Spencer, 1871; Guy H. McMaster, 1877; Harlo 
Hakes, 1883 and 1889; Frank H. Robinson, 1892. 



CIVIL LIST. 37 

Surrogates. — Stephen Ross, appointed Marcli 31, 1796; Henry A. 
Tovvnsend, March 24, iSoo; George McClure, March 25, 1805 ; John 
Metcalf, April 6, 1813; James Read, April 8, 1815; Samuel Baker, 
April 10, 1817; VVni. Read, March 20, 1821 ; James Brundage, March 
28, 1823; Wm Woods, January 8, 1827; Robert Campbell, January 
31, 1835: David Rumscy, jr., January 24, 1840; Ansel J. McCail, 
February 3, 1844, county judge from June, 1847, to January, 1884; 
Guy H. McMaster, elected November, 1885; John F. Little, appointed 
to fill vacancy, September 19, 1887 ; M. Rumscy Miller, elected No- 
vember, [888, and November, 1894. 

County Clerks. — George D Cooper, appointed March 31, 1796; 
Henry A. Tovvnsend, February 1 i, 1799 ; John Wilson, March 21, 1807; 
Henry A. Townsend, February 8, 1808; Dugaid Cameron, February 
16, 1810; Henry A. Townsnd, February 11, 181 1 ; John Wilson, Feb- 
ruary 13, 1815; Edward Howell, March 19, 1818; John Metcalf, Feb- 
urary 19, 1821 ; and elected in November, 1822; David Rumsey, 1829; 
VVm. H. Bull, 1832 ; Wm. Hamilton, 1838 ; Paul C. Cook, 1844; Philo 
P. Hubbell, 1850; Chas. W. Campbell, 1853 ; Samuel M. Alley, 1856; 
Orson Moshier, 1859; Oscar J. Averell, 1862; Allen Van Orsdale, 
1865 ; Nirom M. Crane, 1868; Henry C. Faucett, 1871 ; Archie E. 
Baxter, 1874; Lucius A. Waldo, 1877; Wm. W. Wilson, 1880; Jacob 
H. Lansing, 1883; James A. Drake, appointed to fill vacancy, Novem- 
ber 12, 1885; Robert K. Faulkner, 1886; Edward P. Graves, 1889; 
James H. Giffin, 1892. 

Sheriffs. — William Dunn, appointed March 31, 1796; John Wilson, 
March 3, 1800; Dugaid Cameron. February 22, 1804; Jacob Teeple, 
February 16, 1808; Howard Bull, March 22, iSiO; Cornelius Young- 
love, March 25, 181 1 ; Thomas McBurn^y, March 7, 1812 ; Benjamin 
Wells, February 23, 1813; Lazarus Hammond, March 2, 1814; Geo. 
McClure, February 28, 181;; Henry Sliriver, March 2, 1819; John 
Magee, February 19, 1821, and elected November, 1822; John Ken- 
nedy, 1825; Alva Ellas, 1828; Geo. Huntington, 1831; Jno. T. 
Andrews, 1834; Henry Brother, 1837; Hiram Potter, 1840; Hugh 
Magee, 1843; Henry Ikother, 1846; Oliver Allen, 1849; Gabriel T. 
narrower, 1852; Lewis D Fay, 1855; Orange Seymour, 1858; Ed- 
win R. Kasson, 1861 ; Wm. N. Smith, 1864; Willis E. Craig, 1867; 
Wm. B. Boyd, 1870; Holland B. Williams, 1873; Frank D. Sherwood, 



38 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1876; Erastus P. Higgins, 1879; PLsek Page, 1882; Henry Baldwin, 
1885; Oscar B. Stratton, 1888; George Hollands, 1891; Leslie D. 
Whiting, 1894. 

District Attorneys — This office was created April 4, i8oi,andthe 
State comprised seven districts (Steuben county bting in No. 7). Each 
county was constituted a separate district in April, 18 18. Previous to 
this year the seventh district was represented as follows : Wm. Stewart, 
appointed March 2, 1802; Daniel W. Lewis, March 9, 1810: Wm. 
Slewatt, February 12, 1811 ; Vincent Matthews, March 12, 1813; 
Daniel Cruger, April 17, 181 5; Daniel Cruger, June 11, 1818; John 
Cook, February 19, 1821 ; Henry Welles, October 22, 1824; Edward 
Howell, February 7, 1829; B. W. Franklin, 1834; Edward Howell, 
June 21, 1836; Lazarus H. Read, March 4, 1840 ; Andrew G. Chat- 
field, December 2, 1845; Morris Brown, June 20, 1846; Alfred P. 
Ferris, elected June, 1847; Robert L, Hrundage. November, 1850; 
Jos. Herron, 1853 ; John Maynard, 1856 ' Chris. John McDowell, 1859 ; 
Harlo Hakes, 1862; John H. Butler, appointed 1865, elected Novem- 
ber, 1S65 and 1868; Alphonso H. Burreli, 1871 ; Ellsworth D. Mills, 
1874 and 1877; Daniel L. Benton, 1880; Irving W. Near, 1883; 
Frank H. Robinson, 1886 and 1889; William W. Clark, 1892. 

County Treasurers — An act of the Legislature, passed December 16, 
1847. authorized the election of a county treasurer in each county of 
the State; previous to that time the office was appointive by the super- 
visors. James R. Dudley, elected November, 1848 ; Perry S. Donahoe, 
185 I ; Alex. Hess, 1857; Peter Halsey, 1858 ; John T Allen, 1861 ; Peter 
Halsey, 1864; Theodore A. Silsbee, 1873; Sebastian G. Lewis. 1876; 
Frederick L. French, 1882; S. Smith Fairchild, 1885; Zenas L. Parker, 
1888; Gameliel T. Conine, 1894. 

School Commissioners — By an act passed April 17, 1843, supervisors 
were directed to appoint county superintendents of common schools, 
but the office was abolished in 1847. During its operation, Ralph K. 
Finch and Alanson S. Phillips filled the office in Steuben county. 
Previous to 1857, school commissioners (an office which succeeded county 
superintendent) were appointed by the supervisors, but since that year 
have been elected. The incumbents of the office in the several districts 
of this county have been as follows: 

First District. — Geo. McLean, Stephen Vorhis, Eli H. Brown, R. R. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 39 

Calkins, ]<is B. Westcott, Geo. P. Aver}-, Jno. C. Higbee 2d, Zenas L. 
Parker, Geo. H. Guinnip, Edgar A. Higgins, Loriiig H. Barnuin, Albert 
W Fenton, Clark W. Halliday and Edwin C. Smith. 

Second Distiict. — P. J. Farrington. Noble H. Rising, Edmund A. 
Peckliam, Wm. M. Sherwood, Jacob H. VVolcott, Reuben H Williams, 
Abner Morrill, Wesley W. Smith and Howard B. Harrison. 

Third District. — (Created in 1859, abolished in 1874, and restored in 
1890) Wm. S Hall, Horatio Pcttingill, Rodney Dennis, Albert T. Park- 
hill, Edwin Whiting, William P. Todd, Charles Moore, 1890; Charles 
Marlatt, 1893. 

Having furnished a brief civil and political history of Steuben county, 
and having referred to each of its public buildings, properties and depart- 
ments of government, and also to its representatives in public offices, it is 
deemed appropriate that .'succeeding pages be devoted to the several 
civil divisions of the count}', that the reader may acquire some tangible 
idea of the settlement, organization, growth and development of each. 
However, in treating of the towns only incidental reference will be made 
to the villages and haralets, and in another department of this work will 
be found more extended histories of each. Churches, also, are made 
the subject of a separate chapter in this volume, classification being 
considered desirable for purposes of reference. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 

Addison. — Addison is not only one of the most progressive and 
prosperous interior towns of Steuben county, but it is one of the oldest 
of its civil divisions. It was formed under the name of " Middle- 
town " in March, 1796, and was one of the original provisional dis- 
tricts created at that time, that some form of authority might be 
exercised over the sparsely settled region. The old name was 
preserved until 1808, and then changed to Addison; and so called, we 
are told, in respectful allusion to Joseph Addison, the English author of 
note in his time. 



40 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Tlie old town of Middletown embraced a large area of territory, in- 
cluding all that is now Addison, Rathbone, Thurston, Tuscarora, Wood- 
hull, and a part of Troupsburg and Jasper. In fact, the district included 
the entire southern portion of the county, chiefly hill lands, yet so inter- 
spersed with valleys and elevated fiats as to invite early settlement and 
consequent subdivision. As now constituted, under the present name, 
the town contains 16,500 acres of land, small indeed, comparatively, but 
rich in resources and enterprise, hence one of the best divisions of old 
Steuben. 

Samuel Rice was the pioneer of what is now Addison. He was a 
Connecticut Yankee by birth, a farmer by occupation, a hero and sur- 
vivor of the Revolution by patriotic instinct and love of country, and 
a worth}' pioneer in the Genesee country. Mr. Rice made his settle- 
ment on Tuscarora Creek, near the so-called Wombaugh mills, in 1791, 
and built the first house in the town. Other pioneers soon followed 
Rice, and among them we may mention Reuben and Lemuel Searles, 
George Goodhue, Oliver Miller, John Martin, Jonathan Tracy, Isaac and 
James Martin, Abel White, James Benham, Silas Morey, Asahel Stiles, 
Lemuel Stiles, Elisha Gilbert, William Wombaugh and Martin Young. 
These pioneers were farmers and lumbermen, kindred pursuits in the 
then wilderness region. They came prepared to fell the forests, manu- 
facture lumber for domestic use, and also to ship to market, but the 
ultimate purpose of the majority of them was to build up comfortable 
farms and homes in the new country. That they were successful is 
fully attested in the fine farms and beautiful homes that line the streams 
in this town of hills and valleys. Later generations, perhaps, have im- 
proved upon the condition of things left by the pioneers, yet the founda- 
tion for this after prosperity was laid by the first comers during the last 
years of the eighteenth century. 

The beautiful Tuscarora valle\- extends south from Addison village ; 
the equally charming valley of the Canisteo stretches away to the west, 
while to the northward is the lesser valley of Goodhue Creek. The 
little body of water called Goodhue Lake lies in the extreme northwest 
of the town. At the village the Tuscarora unites with the Canisteo, 
while to the eastward the creek from the north adds its volume to the 
general flow, and :he Chemung River eventually receives the combined 
waters of the three. These " beatable " streams were large enough to 




NELSON COWAN. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 41 

permit running large rafts during the early history of the region 
and as lumbering and rafting were important and profitable industries 
of the time, this was a central locality, and one widely known to lumber- 
men and speculators. Therefore we are not surprised at the very early 
settlement of the town, nor at loss to account for early evidences of 
thrift and comfort which distinguished this from some other localities less 
favored by nature. 

The inference tiiat Addison, or Middletown, was comparatively well 
settled at a very early day seems to be borne out by fact, for the census 
reports show that the population of the district in 1800 was 174, and in 
18 1 3 had increased to 369, and that despite the fact that a large part of 
Troupsburg was taken off" in 1808. Although the records throw no 
light on the point, it is confidently believed that when this district was 
formed in 1796, there were one hundred inhabitants on the territory. 
At all events there was population sufficient to perfect the town organi- 
zation. 

The first town meeting was held on the first Tuesday in February, 
1797, at which time officers were elected as follows: Reuben Stiles, 
supervisor; Oliver Miller, town clerk; Lemuel Searle, constable; 
Jonathan Tracy and Asahel Stiles, poormasters ; John Martin, George 
Goodhue and Stephen Dolson, highway commissioners; Lemuel Searle, 
collector; Abel White, Oliver Miller and Jonathan Tracy, school com- 
missioners ; Elisha Gilbert and Silas Morey, fence viewers, and Reuben 
Searles, poundmaster. 

From this it will be seen that the governmental affairs of the town 
were placed in proper condition in the year next following the creation 
of the county, but it would appear that the first meeting of electors was 
rather poorly attended, for there were not enough incumbents for the 
several offices without " thrusting double honors " upon some of the 
freemen present. 

Pioneer Reuben Searle held the office of supervisor until 1804, and 
Clerk Miller had charge of the town records until 1800. However, as 
is done in each of the town chapters of this work, we may also in Addison 
furnish the succession of supervisors from the organization meeting to 
the present time, viz.: Lemuel Searle, 1 797-1 803; George Martin, 1804; 
Semuel Searle, 1805; George Martin, 1806-09; David Dickinson, 
iSio; Timothy Searle, 1811-13; VVm. B. Jones, 1814-16; Samuel 



42 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Colgrove, 1817-20; Wm. B. Jones, 1821-22; Samuel Colgrove, 1823 
-27; Edward Nichols, 1828; Wm. Wonibaugh, 1829-30; John Loop, 
1831-32; Jas. Baldwin, 1833-35; Jno. H. Thompson, 1836-37; Wm 
Hamilton, 1838; Jno. H, Thompson, 1839-42; L.A.Jones, 1843-44; 
Frederick R. Wagner, 1845 ; Wm. Wombaugh, 1846 ; Rufus Baldwin, 
1847; W.W.Smith, 1848; Jas. H. Miles, 1849-50; H. Ross Jones, 
1851-52; K. D. Root, 1853; Geo. W. Carr, 1854; Abram Dudley, 
1855; Edwin J. Horn, 1856; O. Seymour, 1857-58; Thos. Paxton, 
1859; Henry Baldwin, i860; E. J. Horn, 1861-63; F. C. Dininny, 
1864-71 ; Henry Baldwin, 1872-73 ; S. V. Lattimer, 1874-77 ; Albert 
G. Crane, 187S-80; Henry Baldwin, 1881-85; D. C. Hagar, 1886; E. 
D. Root, 1887-93; James S. Harrison, 1894-95. 

The town officers for the year 1895 are: James S Harrison, super- 
visor ; Frank B. Orser, town clerk ; Philander C. Daniels, Eugene Wade, 
Charles TurnbuU, W. A. Bartlett, justices; J. J. Martin, F. H. Wheaton 
and C. O'Connor, assessors ; R. B. Orr, collector ; Oliver D. Stewart, 
overseer of the poor; Jos. Thompson, highway commissioner; Frank 
Bliss, C. Conno'.s and A. Allison, excise commissioners. 

The town of Addison, inclusive of the village, had a population in 
1890 of 2,908. In the history of the town there has ever been shown 
a gradual increase both in population and business interests, though the 
frequent reductions in areas, taken for other towns, makes it difificult to 
present any comparative tables showing actual progress in all directions. 
As we have mentioned, the inhabitants in 1800 numbered 174, and 369 
in 1810. In 1820 the number was 652, and in 1830 was 944. It was 
1,920 in 1840, and the greatest number, 3,721, was reached in 1850. 
1856 Rathbone was taken off, and the census of i860 gave Addison a 
population of 1,715. From this time no further reductions in territory 
were made, and subsequent years have witnessed a constant increase as 
follows: 2,218 in 1870; 2,534 in 1 880, and 2,908 in 1890. 

In the early history of the town it appears that Addison had in its 
population a number of enterprising men, who were firm believers in 
improvement of the region as well as personal gain, and from well 
preserved records we learn that George Goodhue built the first saw mil] 
in 1793, while William Wombaugh's saw mill was built in 1805, and his 
grist mill one year later. Samuel Smith was the first storekeeper. 
Stephen Rice, son of Samuel, was the first white child born in the town, 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTT. 43 

wliile the first marriage was that of Rrown Gillespie and the daughter of 
Klisha Gilbert. A post-office was establi-;hed in 1804. Slavery was 
not an unknown institution of the town, although the number of slaves 
owned here was far less than noticeable in some other localities. The 
records show occasional entries of ownership and birth of slaves, yet 
this custom of the past was found not to be congenial to the interests of 
proprietors, and the bondmen were soon set free. 

The first settlers also found a few straggling Indian occupants still in 
the region, and the latter reluctantly withdrew before the steady ad- 
vance of civilization. Little trouble was occasioned by their presence 
and (cw indeed are the Indian traditions and stories of a century ago. 
A little later, during the war of 18 12-15, much e.xcitement prevailed in 
the region, growing out of the discussions of the events of the time, and 
there seemed to be a small though determined element of Federalism 
pervading this community. However, public feeling seldom went be- 
yond animated controversy and the patriotic pioneers enrolled them- 
selves on the side of " home and country," joined the militia and m;ide 
read)' for war and the threatened possibilities of an invasion. 

About the )ear 1825, and from that time on to 1855, Addison was 
the very center of a vast lumber region. Indeed, this was one of the 
most famous pine lumber localities in the State, and also a place of 
resort for all the lumbermen on the northern border of Pennsylvania 
and Southern New York. " In the spring of the year," says a cotem - 
porary writer, " the surface of the Canisteo was a complete sheet of 
rafts from Hornellsvilie to the ' Deadwater,' as Addison was then called; 
and the story has often been told that during the rafting season that 
one could almost walk from Hornellsvilie to Addison on rafts, except 
where there were dams across the river." 

A few years before lumbering was at its height in this region, the 
settlers passed through the period remembered as the anti rent conflict, 
and all local interests were more or less affected by it ; and at one time, 
it is said, business was practically at a standstill. Many of the foremost 
men of the town were active participants in the events of the period, 
and in the Bath convention, in January, 1830, the local delegates were 
William VVombaugh, Lemuel B. Searlcs, David Shumway, Eber Scofield 
and Daniel Burdick. 

Another interesting subject for perusal and reference in the history 



44 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of this town is found in the record made by her contingent of volun- 
teers enhsted and sent into the service during tlie war of i86i— 5, by 
which it is known that the early martial spirit of the ancestor was in- 
herited by the later generation of descendants. By the acts of the lat- 
ter the patriotic reputation for which this town has long been noted 
was upheld and elevated. A brief reference to the roster of volunteers 
from Addison discloses the fact that during the period of the war the 
town furnished two hundred men for the service, who were scattered 
through the several regiments recruited in the county and in this part 
of the State. In another chapter the reader will find a complete list of 
the several commands, and also a record of their service at the front, 
wherefore the subject may be briefly mentioned in this place. 

In matters pertaining to the spiritual and educational welfare of the 
youth of the town, the first settlers gave full heed, and their example 
has been accepted as a rule of action for .the authorities during later 
years. The church and religious societies will be found mentioned in 
another department of this work, hence repetition here is unnecessary. 
Unfortunately, the early records afford but little reliable information 
concerning the first schools of the town, or the division of the territory 
into districts, yet well verified tradition informs us that the schools have 
kept even pace with progress in other directions. As at present con- 
stituted the town is divided into five districts, each of which is provided 
with a good school. In the town, including the village, sixteen teachers 
were employed during the last current year, and the whole number of 
children attending school was 646. The value of all school property is 
estimated at $33,715, and the assessed valuation of the districts is 
$879,870. There was apportioned to the town public moneys to the 
extent of $2,313.34, and the town raised by tax the sum of $8,387.38, 
all used for maintenance and support of schools. 

AVOCA. — On the 12th of April, 1843, the towns of Bath, Cohocton, 
Howard and Wheeler surrendered portions of their territory to a new 
formation by the name of Avoca ; and so called, it is said, in allusion 
either to Moore's poem " Sweet Vale of Avoca," or " Meeting of the 
Waters." However, to the pioneers this locality was known as Bu- 
chanan, from the fact that William Buchanan was the first settler in the 
region. The locality also bore the designation of "Eight Mile Tree," 
being eight miles distant west from the county seat, from which point 
all early reckonings were made. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 45 

Speaking briefly of the natural features of the town, the statement 
may be made that Avoca is to be numbered among the hilly divisions 
of the county, a few of the summits reaching a height of nearly 500 feet. 
Nearly north and south across the town runs the Conhocton, which, with 
its principal tributaries, Twelve-Mile, Ten- Mile and Niel's Creeks, form 
beautiful valleys and scenery unsurpassed in the county. Notwithstand- 
ing the rough and hilly character of the land surface, Avoca is regarded as 
one of the first towns in the entire Conhocton valley in point of general 
fertility and productiveness ; and during comparatively recent years an 
additional importance attaches to the town, for its villages and hamlets 
on the lines of railroad are shipping points of much note. Although 
very irregular in surface and boundary, the 21,300 acres of land which 
comprise the town are in favorable comparison with any similarly 
situated division of historic Steuben. 

Going back a hundred years and more the sole occupants of this part 
of the Conhocton valley were Indians, scattered fragments of the once 
powerful Iroquois tribes who were loth to leave their favorite resorts 
and fishing grounds, although the voice of the savage nation had spoken 
in favor of a sale of the land. Pioneers William and Michael Buchanan 
found a considerable Indian settlement in the valley in 1794, while as 
late as 1808, Abram Towner came and described from 50 to 100 lodges 
on the flat lands below his house. All settlers, early and late, referred 
to these occupants as a lazy, shiftless set, and occasionally inclined to 
create trouble, but about 1818 they had departed for the reservations 
generously provided for them by the State. 

As we have stated. William Buchanan and his son Michael were tiic 
pioneers in this town, having been sent into this part of the then town 
of Bath in 1794 to open ami maintain a public house for the entertain- 
ment of prospective settlers. These pioneers made various improve- 
ments, among them putting u[) a log inn and planting an orchard. 
From his settlement the locality became known as Buchanan's, although 
the name " Eight Mile Tree " was more suggestive of the distance from 
the settlement to the village at Bath. Following soon after the Buchan- 
ans, came James and Hugh McWhorter, James and George Moore, 
Gershom Townley and Finley McClurc, all of whom were here previous 
to 1800, and who were active in clearing and improving the region in 
one direction and another. McClure was a farmer and opened a road 



46 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

from Kanona to his cabin home. Towner was an inn keeper and kept 
a resort of much fame in early days, and was noted for his generosity 
and hospitality. 

The other early settlers who came to this region between the jears 
1801 and 1815, and were scattered over the entire district, were Abram 
Towner, Asa Pliiilips, James Babcock, Richard and John Van Buskirk, 
James Davis, Henry Smith, Daniel McKenzie, William Moody, Jon- 
athan Tilton, John Donahue, Allen Smith, Samuel Burnham, Oliver 
Rice and Eleazor Tucker, all of whom settled in that part of the town 
which was set off from Bath 

The Howard contribution comprised Isaac Baldwin, William Allen, 
Timothy Parkhill, Charles Robords, Henry Kennedy and William Goft". 
Still later comers, yet worthy to be mentioned among the pioneers, were 
Gershom Salmon, John B. Calkins, Joseph Matthcwson, John Putnam, 
James Silsbee, Hugh Briggs, Van Heusen Hopkins and others. Being 
taken from older and )>rominent towns, Avoca has little to present in 
the way of important early events, yet it is said that William McWhor- 
ter and Michael Buchanan 2d, were the first children born ; that Michael 
Buchanan died in 181 1; that James McWhorter and the widow 
Buchanan were married in 1812 ; that in 1809 Henry Kennedy built 
the saw mill at the place called Goff's Mills, while Eleazur Tucker is 
credited with having built the first saw mill in the town, though at a 
now unknown date. William Goff built the first grist mill in 1812. 
Alonzo Simmons kept the first store. Tucker, above mentioned, built 
a saw mill on the river in 1825. Previous to 1S12 there were but two 
teams of horses in the town. The first framed dwelling in Avoca was 
built by James McWhorter. Iilders Buzzell and Elisha Brownson were 
the first preachers. 

Such were the early events of town history in Avoca, but they took 
place long years before the town itself was formed or even contem- 
plated. Settlement here was of much the same character as in other 
parts of Bath and Howard ; there were the same hardships and the 
same pleasures as attended pioneership elsewhere in the county. Dur- 
ing the war of iS 12-15, the same excitement existed here as lower 
down the valley, and the immediate presence of the Indians occasioned 
a feeling of fear and uncertainty not experienced in some other locali- 
ties. But the period passed without serious disturbance and the return 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY". 47 

of peace witnessed great strides in settlement and prosperity. A little 
later came the anti-rent conflict, but this was the cause of not more 
than temporary embarrassment to local interests. 

Settlement, growth and development in this part of Conliocton valley 
was so rapid that as year.'^ passed a new town was considered desirable, 
yet not until about I 840 \vas the subject seriously discussed; and still 
three years more passed before the older towns were called ujjon to 
yield portions of thtir teriitory to the new formation. Thus, when the 
organization was in fact effected the affairs of the locality were all in 
order, the hamlets had been built up and established, and the simple 
act of election of town officers was the only necessary thing to be 
accomplished 

The records show that the first town meeting was held at the house 
of James G. Barto, on May 12, 1S43, at which time these officers were 
elected : Henry A. Louck. supervisor ; Jesse Louck, town clerk ; 
Oliver Rice, Sinuon Holmes, Luther Tilton, justices; John Donahe, 
John L. Robords. Marcus Peck, assessors; James Gorton, John Collier, 
John T. Allen, highway commissioners ; Jonathan Silsbee and Abram 
Turner, overseers of the poor; Perry S. Donahe, collector. 

In this connection it is also interesting to note the succession of 
supervisors from the time of organization to the present, viz.: Henry 
A. Lourks, 1843; George W. Burnham, 1844-48; Henry H. Bouton, 
1849-52; Jos. I. Burnham, 1853; H. H. Bouton, 1854; Henry Goft, 
1855 ; Salmon Waterbury, 1856-57; Joel Carrington, 1858-59; Henry 
A. l.oucks, i860; A. M. Waterbury, 1861 ; J. H. Nicholson, 1862-63 ; 
Salmon H. Palmer, 1864-66; Joel Carrington, 1867-68; I.J. Haskin, 
1869; S. E. Haskin, 1870; I J. Haskin, 1871 ; F. N. Barney, 1872; 
I J. Haskin, 1873; D. E. Hoadley, 1874; Thomas Cotton, 1875-76; 
N. B. Chase, 1 877-80 ; Thomas Cotton, 1881-82; C.Patterson, 1883; 
Lawrence Saltsman, 1884; C Patterson, 1885; Jerry Hall, 1886; A. 
J. Arnold, 1887-88; Lemuel Matthewson, 1889-90; A.J. Arnold, 
1891-92; A. L. Zielley, 1893-95. 

The town officers for the year 1895 are Alex. L. Zielley, supervisor; 
J. L Ilunii, town clerk; George C. Silsbee, Thomas J. Redhead, 
George A. Fo.x and Ripley C. Oxx, justices ; A. C. Wagner, Martin 
Brown and James Robinson, assessors; Joseph Ells, collector; Ljman 
Arnold, overseer of the poor; John E. Olmsted, highway commis- 



48 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

sioner ; Orton Dye, Frank Shultz and Fred L. Peck (did not qualify) 
commissioners of excise. 

When set off and organized in 1843, the inhabitants of Avoca num- 
bered about 1,660, and, according to the enumeration of 1845, the 
number was 1,668. In 1850 it had fallen to 1,574, but during the suc- 
ceeding ten years increased to 1,885, the greatest population in the 
history of the town to that time. In 1870 the number was 1,740, and 
in 1880 was 1,843 I" 1890 Avoca contained 2,242 inhabitants, show- 
ing a somewhat surprising growth in the pretty little village of Avoca, 
a historical sketch of which will be found elsewhere in this work. 

From what has been stated in this brief chapter it will be seen that 
the early and perhaps the most interesting history in this town was 
made while its territory formed a part of the older divisions from which 
it was created. Yet, notwithstanding this, it may truthfully be said 
that the greatest strides in advancement and prosperity have been 
made during the last half century, and many of them may be placed 
to the credit of the last twent}' five years. The construction of the 
railroad (now the Erie) through Conhocton valley was the one event 
which above all others contributed to local welfare, and the more recent 
building of the D. L. & VV. road only added to the progress then being 
made, and also stimulated the inhabitants to greater exertions. The 
result of local energy and thrift are apparent, for Avoca enjoys the 
pleasant reputation of being one of the best and most productive towns 
in all Steuben. It lies well within the "potato belt" and produces 
remarkably in that and also in general farm crops under careful atten- 
tion. This condition of things has built up and made Avoca village 
what it is, and the hamlets of the town have shared in the general pros- 
perity. 

The only event of general importance in the history of the town, 
outside of ordinary affairs, was the period of the war of 1861-65, dur- 
ing the terms of office of supervisors Waterbury, Nicholson and Palmer, 
all of whom were prominently identified with the "war measures" 
adopted and the hearty support accorded to all efforts of raising troops 
and creating bounty funds. During the war, Avoca sent into the 
service a total of one hundred and twenty three men, and exceeded her 
quota by a fair number. Of a truth it may be said that no town in the 
region displayed more patriotism or public-spiritedness during that 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 49 

terrible four years than did Avoca, and none niaiie more free and gen- 
erous provision for the payment of bounties to recruits. 

The early history of the schools of Avoca was a part of the record of 
the older towns and furnishes little of interest to this chapter. At the 
organization meeting, John B. Stevenson and John Conner were elected 
commissioners, and Charles W. C. Howard and Addison Niles inspec- 
tors of common schools. After the erection of the town its territory 
was regularly divided into new districts, formed to suit the con\enitnce 
of the inhabitants, and these have been changed in later years as neces- 
sity required. As now constituted the town contains eleven school 
districts, and fifteen teachers are annually employed. During 1894, 
four hundred and sixty nine children attended school. The value of 
school property is estimated at $9,445. The town received of public 
moneys, $1,852.14, and raised by local ta.x $3,582.09. Four trees 
were planted during the year. 

Bath. — On the 15th of April, 1793, Charles Cameron and a party 
of pioneer woodsmen landed from their flat boats and made a camp 
near where the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western station now stands 
in the village of Bath. This was the advance guard of civilization in an 
uninhabited and comparatively unknown region, and the adventurers 
themselves were sent hither at the direction of Charles Williamson, the 
latter the owner of almost a principality, though in fact he was only the 
representative of a syndicate of capitalists whose only aim was personal 
gain. Yet Charles Williamson was vested with almost extraordinary 
authority and power and lavishly did he expend his principals' money 
in improving and developing the country in which he afterward lived 
for several years. 

Captain Williamson reached Bath very soon after the arrival of 
Cameron and companions. They came from Northumberland, Penn- 
sylvania, by water and brought supplies and provisions for both sub- 
sistence and the founding of a settlement. At that time we are told 
this region was a vast, dense forest, inhabited only by wild animals and 
a few scattered fragments of the once powerful Seneca Indians. The 
latter had signed away tiicir domain to the Phelps and Gorham proprie- 
tary, and through a series of transfers the lands had come into the 
ownership of the Fulteney associates, whose agent Williamson was and 
7 



50 LANDMARK.'^ OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

under whose direction was now to be undertaken the development and 
sale of this vast estate. 

If we correctly interpret his character there was nothing of the nig- 
gard in Captain Williamson, nor did he enter half-heartedly into any of 
his many enterprises; and while he was ever mindful of the rights and 
interests of his principals, he also kept faith with his promises to settlers, 
thus gaining their respect and admiration. True, he was charged with 
prodigality and unnecessary expenditures in the use of the revenues of 
his principals, yet no person who knew the genial captain ever believed he 
acted or dealt solely for personal purposes or gain. The Pulteney as- 
sociates, being foreigners and non-residents, were never in a position to 
fully appreciate the situation of affairs on their territory in New York, 
nor the fact that their agent was engaged in an effort to settle quite un- 
desirable land in competition with some of the most fertile and beautiful 
tracts for which Western New York is and ever has been noted To 
accomplish this it became necessary for the agent to make outlays in 
building a principal thoroughfare of travel from far across the Pennsyl- 
vania border into the very center of the region sought to be disposed 
of at best advantage. And it became necessary, too, to found a new 
village in the region, and to this end the pioneers were sent up the 
Conhocton and pitched their camps on the site of the village of Bath. 
Captain Williamson had previously made headquarters at Northumber- 
land, from which point he did effective work, but the necessities of the 
occasion and the situation of the lands in New York demanded a change, 
hence his action in founding the settlement which soon afterward be- 
came the shire town of one of the largest and most important inland 
counties of this great State. 

"The first comers," says Mr. McCall's address.^ "were not roman- 
cers, but .s-tern workers who braced themselves for the toils and priva- 
tions before them. Thomas Rees, jr., the surveyor, with his corps of 
assistants, began at once to plot the village, locate the streets and 
squares, and number the lots, while Cameron and his helpers, after 
clearing the ground and making rustic cabins in which to shelter them- 
selves, proceeded to erect a log building on the south side of Pulteney 

* Ansel J. McCall is conceded authority on all matters of local histury, and the writer has 
made free use of his valuable manuscripts and excellent memory in the preparation of this 
chapter. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THK COUNTY. 51 

Square, of sufficient capacity for the accommodation of Captain William- 
son's family and the transaction of his official business. On the north 
side of Morris street, about twenty rods west of the square, they erected 
a log structure for John Metcalf's hostelry. James Henderson, the 
mill- u rit;ht, sought a mill site on the Conhocton (now owned by John 
Baker and occupied b\' his flour mill) and with his crew began building 
a saw mill to furnish boards for tloors, doors and roof for the new land 
office, hotel and other structures being put up. It was the first saw 
mill in the town, and was completed on the 25th of August. 
Captain Williamson in a few days was on the ground in person, super- 
intending operations and cheering the faint hearted by his presence and 
stirring words " 

In the Cameron party of pioneers and builders of a county town were 
these persons: Andrew Smith, familiarly called " Muckle " Andrew, 
in allusion to his remarkable size and strength, and grandfather to John 
L. Smith ; William McCartney, the pioneer of Dansville ; Hector Mc- 
Kenzie, who died in the West Indies and Henry Tower, an afterward 
prominent business man, all of whom came from the vicinity of Cap- 
tain Williamson's home near Balgray, Scotland. There were also 
Thomas Corbett, pioneer at Mud Creek ; Thomas Rees, jr , the sur- 
veyor who plotted the village and likewise made many surveys in the 
vicinity, all of which have ever been regarded as a standard ; Alexander 
Ewing, who afterward settled at Mt. Morris ; William Ewing, also a 
surveyor, who moved to Ohio ; John Metcalf, the pioneer tavern-keeper, 
and one of the village worthies ; James Henderson, the millwright • 
Samuel Doyle, an old patriot of the Revolution, and whose descendants 
still live in the vicinit}-, and Joseph Arbour, Richard Armour, John 
Scott, Charles McClure, Peter Loop, Mr. Upton, Benjamin Patterson, 
the hunter, and Joseph Bivens, who kept the first tavern at Bloods, 
now Atlanta. Most of these were Scotch Irishmen from the West 
Branch, and came to the new settlement chiefly as laborers and me- 
chanics, yet many of them became permanent residents, developed into 
useful and capable men, and were in all respects worthy citizens and 
upright men. 

But these were not all, as well verified records, the results of untiring 
research, have preserved the name of still other pioneer town builders 
under the direction of the active agent of the Pulteney associates. In 



52 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

this connection may be named Hector McKay, William Lemon, Samuel 
Ewing, John and Samuel Ewart, George Moore, George Baittie, Francis 
Conway, William Carroll and Robert Biggars, the latter the tanner who 
in 1793 purchased thirteen acres on the south side of Morris street, 
west of the cemetery, whereon he built a tannery. Otliers of the same 
period were Obediah Osborn, the mill builder; George McCulIough, 
the blacksmith ; Robert Hunter, the schoolmaster; Jacob Gleiidenning, 
Andrew Shearer, Dr. Schott, Gottleib Dougherty and one Paul. 

Henry McEUvee, " a stalwart young Scotch-Irishman," as described 
by Mr. McCall, " (always called Harry) made his entry into the new 
town on New Year's day, 1794." and thus describes the condition of 
municipal settlement as he found it: "I only found a few shanties in 
the wood. Williamson had his house near the site of the present land 
office, and the Metcalfs kept a log tavern on Morris street nearly oppo- 
site the (present) Mansion House. I went to the tavern and asked for 
supper and lodging; they said they would give me neither, for their 
house was full. I could get nothing to eat. An old Dutchman was 
sitting there, and he said to me: 'Young man, if you will go with me, 
you shall have some mush and milk and a deer-skin to lie on, with your 
feet to the fire, and another to cover yourself with.' We went up 
through the woods to where St. Patrick Square now is. There the 
Dutchman had a little log house." In the following spring this same 
McElwee made the first substantial clearing, being the Pulteney Square, 
also four acres in rear of the agent's house for a garden. (For the culti- 
vation of this garden Williamson imported a gardener from England, 
named Dominic Ouinn.) McElwee left a single pine tree in front of 
the agent's house for a " Liberty Tree." It was trimmed so as to leave 
a tuft at the top, and it " bid defiance to the elements until after 1820," 
and was soon afterward blown down. 

The pioneers who came to the settlement during 1794 may be men- 
tioned about as follows: George McClure and James Moore, from 
Northumberland ; Isaac Mullender, with his wife, three sons and three 
daughters, direct from Scotland ; Richard Cuyler, John Shearer, Rich- 
ard Carpenter, Dr. William Petrie (the surgeon of the settlement), John 
Wyman, William McElwee, Frank Scott, Gustavus and Brown Gilles- 
pie, Joseph and Robert Dunn, Robert Sterret, James McFarland, Sam- 
uel and John Mettler, Samuel Baker, Amos Stone William Barney, 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 63 

William and Eli Read, and Samuel McKenzie. These settlers were 
both mechanics and farmers, tlie former seeking work in the little ham- 
let, and the latter selecting lands in the region on which they might 
establish houses and farms. All, however, before acquiring title, were 
of necessity compelled to repair to the land office and make their con- 
tracts. Williamson treated them with the greatest generosity, offering the 
land at reasonable prices and extending help to those not able to build 
for themselves. By his uniform kindness Williamson won the esteem 
of all who came to his settlement. 

When Charles Williamson began his work of improvement and settle- 
ment there was little civil organization or jurisdiction attempted in this 
remote part of Ontario county. In 1 79 1 the provisional district of 
Painted Post was fojmed, yet, being practically uninhabited, there was 
no need of the exercise of civil authority over the region. The district 
mentioned included all that is now Steuben county, and in 1793, Jede- 
diah Stephens, of Canisteo, was elected supervisor. However, in 1794, 
at the January sessions, through Williamson's influence, a new district 
was created embracing all the territory west of the second range of 
townships, and was named Williamson. Bath was included in the new 
formation, but where or when the district meetings were held is not now 
known. 

The now growing settlement was much in need of post and stage ac- 
commodations, for down to this time Captain Williamson had employed 
his own post-riders to and from Northumberland, 140 miles distant; 
and the trips were made once in two weeks. A permanent post office, 
with all necessary facilities for transmission of mails, was established at 
Bath in 1800. This year. 1794, was eventful in still another direction, 
for the new yet now flourishing settlement was threatened with l^ritish 
invasion and subjection ; but through the energetic and determined 
action of Captain Williamson, suggested by the governor of the State, 
the proposed invasion was sta)xd until the federal government took 
charge of the affair and effected a speedy settlement of the dispute. 
However, in protecting his rights and interests. Captain Williamson 
caused a block house to be built in Bath, while young McClure raised a 
company of militia for defensive purposes. 

The succeeding year, 1795, "opened brightly," using Mr. McCall's 
words, for the Genesee country, the doughty agent vigorously 



54 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

pushed improvements, and settlers came pouring in from all quarters. 
Among them were Robert Campbell, Alexander McDonald, John Mor- 
rison, DugaJd Cameron, Daniel Cruger, Dr. D. B. Stockton and William 
Kersey, all of whom were prominently identified with subsequent events 
of local history, and some of whom, as well as their descendants, occu- 
pied positions of trust and importance. 

In March, 1796, the county of Steuben was erected from the south 
part of Ontario, and was named in honor of Frederick William Au- 
gustus, Baron Steuben, through the influence of Col. Benjamin Walker, 
a close friend of Charles Williamson. The colonel had been the aide of 
Baron Steuben, who had just died, and Walker was residuary legatee 
under his will. 

Through the undisputed influence of Captain Williamson, Bath was 
designated as the shire-town of the new county, and forthwith provis- 
ion was made for the erection of county buildings. Fully mentioned 
elsewhere, no extended reference to them is necessar\- at this time. 
However, in accordance with the authority of the erecting act, the Court 
of Sessions divided the territory of the county into six towns, one of 
which was the town of Bath, the subject of this chapter. As constituted 
at that time, it was bounded on the north by the county line; east by 
Lake Keuka and Fredericktown ; south by Painted Post and Middle- 
town, and west by Dansville. 

Bath was now the capital town of Steuben county, and was so named 
in token of respect for Lady Henrietta, Countess of Bath, the daughter 
of Sir William Pulteney, the chief owner in the land association, whose 
representative and agent was Capt. Charles Williamson. The first 
move of the land agent was to establish a newspaper, not only for the 
dissemination of news, but for the main purpose of properly advertising 
the new county and setting forth the desirable qualities of land and 
climate, in the hope of inducing settlement and increasing the revenues 
of his principals. (Even at this early day the owners were annoying 
their agent with demands for returns, and were indirectly charging him 
with unnecessary expenditures). William Kersey, the newly appointed 
judge, an attache of the land office, was sent to Pennsylvania to pur- 
chase the necessary equipment for a printing-office, and the result was 
the issue October 19, 1796, of the first number of the B;ith Gazette and 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 55 

Genesee Advertiser, the first newspaper printed in this State west of 
Oneida county 

In the same year, also, the colonel erected a frame building on the 
northwest corner of Puiteney Square for use as a public school, and so 
completed the race track that widely advertised fairs and races were 
held on the 20th of September. A public hall or theater was likewise 
built in due season and Bath was brou<^ht into prominence as a desira- 
ble place for all kinds of entertainments; and to the present day the 
county town of Steuben is noted for the excellence of its annual fairs. 
The chief object of these improvements was. as Mr. McCall says, "to 
attract attention to the purchase and its new metropolis." He was anx- 
ious to make rapid sales of the land in his charge, and he knew that it 
was necfssary to create some excitement which would draw strangers 
to look at them. Weld, an English traveler, visited the town in 1796, 
and described Bath as the "principal town in the western part of the 
State, containing about thirty houses, and increasing verj- fast." 

Among the settlers in the town in 1796 were Dr. B. F Young, Dr. 
Sluilts, Philip Gilman. George D. Cooper, William Cook, Daniel Curtis, 
James Edie, James Miller, Fisher Whitney. John Woodward, Josiah 
Wright, David Jones, James Love, Leonard Beaty, George Dixon and 
Finla McClure. 

Organization and Officers. — The first town meeting in Bath was held 
at the house of John Metcalf, on the 4th day of April, 1797, at which 
time these persons were elected to office: Charles Cameron, supervisor; 
James Edie, town clerk ; William Aulls. Patrick McKell, Hector Mc- 
Kenzie, commissioners of highways; Gustavus Gillispie, collector; 
Amos Stone, George Dixon and Abijah Peters, constables ; Daniel 
Cruger, and Patrick McKell. overseers of the poor; Amos Eggleston, 
Joseph Inslie, William Read, John Woodward, Henry Bush, Henry 
McElwee and Jacob Phillips, overseers of highways ; Eli Read, Andrew 
Sinith, James McKell and Thomas Streeter. fence viewers ; Robert 
Bigger, Samuel Miller and Samuel Baker, assessors ; Samuel Baker and 
Silas Beers, poundmasters ; George D. Cooper, John Sheather, Charles 
Williamson and Benjamin F. Young, commissioners of schools. 

However interesting for purposes of reference might be a complete 
succession of all town officers, such is deemed inadvisable in this work, 
and the reader will therefore be content with the list of supervisors 



56 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

clerks and justices of the peace, these being recognized as the chief 
offices in the town government. 

Supervisors. — Charles Cameron, 1797-98; George McCIure, 1799- 
1801 ; Henry A. Townsend, 1802 ; Samuel Baker, 1803-5 ! George 
McClure, 1806-7 ; Howell Bull, 1808; Henry Kennedy, 1809; James 
Faulkner, iSio; Cornelius Younglove, 1811 ; Thomas Aulls, 1812-14; 
Howell Bull, 181 5; Elisha Hanks, 1816-17; William Woods, 1818 ; 
Samuel Baker, 1819-20; Elisha Hanks, 1821-23; Henry Wells, 1824; 
John W. Fowler, 1825-26; James G. Higgins, 1827-28; George C. 
Edwards, 1829-30; Reuben Robie, 1831-32; William J. Neally, 1833- 
34; Henry W. Rogers, 1835; William Hamilton, 1836-38; D. Mc- 
Master, 1839 ; Robert Campbell, jr., 1840-44 ; Chester Whitaker, 1845 '• 
John W. Fowler, 1846-49; John Ostrander, 1850-51; Paul C. Cook, 
1852-54; David McMaster, 1855 ; William Howell, 1856-57; Alva E. 
Brown, 1858-60; H. H. Hull, 1861 ; William Howell, 1862; John L. 
Smith, 1863-64; Uavid Rumsey, 1865-71; Samuel Balcom, 1872; 
William Rumsey, 1873; G. H. Brundage, 1874-75; Henry Faucett, 
1876; James Faucett, 1877; Orange Seymour, 1878-82; John F, 
Little, 1883-85; James Faucett, 1886; John F. Little, 1887; W. H. 
Nichols, 1888-90; J. F. Little, 1891 ; W. H. Nichols, 1892-95. 

Town Clerks. — James Edie, 1797-98; Charles McClure, 1799; Henry 
A. Townsend, 1800-1 ; Charles McClure, 1 802-3; Henry A. Town- 
send, 1804; Howell Bull, 1805; Henry A. Townsend, 1806; Howell 
Bull, 1807 ; Thomas Metcalf, 1808; Howell Bull, 1809-14; John Met- 
calf, 1815-18; William H. Bull, (819-21; John W. Fowler, 1822-24; 
Reuben Robie, 1825-28; Lewis Biles, 1829; Reuben Robie, 1830; 
William S. Hubbell, 1831 ; William H. Bull, 1832; Franklin Metcalf, 
1833; William Hamilton, 1834; Alex. Hess, 1835; N. W. Gardner, 
1836-37; George Edwards. 1838-42; Alex. Hess, 1843; Peter 
Swart, 1844; Perry S. Donahe, 1845-51; James R Dudley, 1852; 
John Palmer, 1853; Charles H. Howell, 1854; Peter Halsey, 1855; 
James Lindsay, 1856-57; James R. Dudley, 1858; James Lindsay, 
1859-1884; William W. Lindsay, 1885-95. 

Justices of the Peace. — Henry W. Rogers, 1830; Oliver Rice, 1831 ; 
William Hamilton and George Wheeler, 1832 ; George Wheeler, 1833 ; 
John D. Higgins, 1834; Oliver Rice, 1835; William Hamilton, 1836; 
George Wheeler and Henry Pier, 1838 ; Oliver Rice and A. D. Read, 




(^j ^ /^y-^yzy\ ^ 



'-^ crn. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 57 

1839; Ziba A. Leland, 1840; Chester VVhitaker, 1841 ; George Hunt- 
ington and William S. Mullioilen, 1842; Nathan Barney, 1843; Will- 
iam S. Mulhoilen, 1844; Chester Whitaker, 1845; James Shannon, 
1846; Arnold D. Read, 1847; William S. Mulhoilen, 1848; Chester 
Whitaker and Luther R. Hopkins, 1849; Nathan Sawyer, 1850; 
Arnold D. Read, 1851 ; Henry Pier, 1852; Chester Whitaker, 1853; 
James Lindsay, 1854; Arnold D. Read, 1855; Henry Pier, 1856. 
Chester Whitaker, 1857; James Lindsay, 1858; Arnold D. Read^ 
1859; Henry Pier, i860; E. W. Buck, 1861 ; James Lindsay, 1862; 
Joseph B. Westcott, 1863 ; Abram C. Bryan, 1864; Charles L. Bailey, 
1865: Dwight Ostrander and James Lindsay, 1866; Augustus F. 
Barnes, 1867 ; Frank Hardcnbrook and Abram C. Bryan, 1868; F"rank 
Hardenbrook and Henry J. Norris, 1869; James Lindsay, 1870 ; Hiram 
R. Hess, 1871 ; Hamilton Lane, 1872 ; Frank Hardenbrook and Henry 
J. Norris, 1873; James Lindsay, 1874; Hiram R. Hess, 1875; Horace 
L. Lewis, 1876 ; Prank Hardenbrook and Henry J. Norris, 1877 ; James 
Lindsay, 1878; Hiram R. Hess, 1879; Frank Orcutt, 1880; Frank 
Hardenbrook, Frank Wayland and Frank Orcutt, 1881 ; James Lindsay, 
1882; Edwin R. Kasson, 1883 ; Otis H. Smith, Valentine Brother and 
Edgar Knight, 1884; Frank Hardenbrook, Edwin R. Fuller, William 
W. Lindsay and Daniel Brian, 1885 ; John S. Bosenbark, 1886; Otis H. 
Smith, 1887; William W. Lindsay, 1888 ; John K. Bancroft, Edwin R. 
Fuller and Frank Hardenbrook, 1889; John K. Bancroft, 1890; Clar- 
ence Willis, Frank Hardenbrook and Edwin R. Fuller, 1891 ; William 
W. Lindsay, 1S92 ; Frank Hardenbrook and William H. Kearney, 1893 \ 
John K. Bancroft, 1894; John A. Adams, 1895. 

Town Officers, 1895. — In the present connection may also properly 
be given the names of the town officers as the list stands at this time, 
viz.: William H. Nichols, supervisor ; William W. Lindsay, town 
clerk ; Frank Hardenbrook, of Savona, William W. Lindsay, of Bath, 
John Bancroft, of Sonora, William H. Kearney, of Kanona, and John 
A. Adams, of Bath, justices of the peace ; John Hedges, Thomas Rob- 
inson, jr., and George K. Bowlby, assessors; Stephen Read, collector ; 
James M. Thomas, highway commissioner; James Faulkner and Joseph 
Kleckler, overseers of the poor ; William H. Davison, Jacob E. Bedell 
and Washington Sutherland, excise commissioners 



58 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Returning again to the events of early history, all authorities con- 
cede that the greatest growth and benefit accrued to the town through 
the designation of Bath as the seat of justice of the county, while the 
organization of the town itself was an important though auxiliary factor 
in promoting its early welfare. The name " County Seat " alone was 
a sufficient inducement to attract settlement, and professional men, 
merchants, mechanics and agriculturists alike hastened to the village^ 
hoping to be first in their class and thus became early established in 
general favor and popularity. 

The court-house was completed in 1797, and during the same year 
Captain Williamson organized a splendid regiment of militia, he being 
appointed its lieutenant- colonel, from which fact he was ever afterward 
styled "Colonel" Williamson. In 1798 the first bridge across the 
Conhocton was built at Bath, and in the same year a raft of lumber was 
safely sent down the river to Baltimore market. Among the settlers in 
this year were Henry A. Townsend, Joseph Grant, William Howe 
Cuyler, John Wilson, James Woodruff and Daniel Bennett. In March^ 
1800, Swing & Patterson built an ark eighty feet long by twenty wide, 
loaded it with wheat and lumber and shipped it to market at Baltimore. 
Other similar ventures followed, with equal success, to the great satis- 
faction of Colonel Williamson and the entire towns people, and the re- 
sult was the construction of several storehouses at convenient points 
along the river. 

In 1 801 the Legislature having passed an act authorizing aliens for 
three jears to take title to land in this State, Colonel Williamson con- 
veyed the unsold portions of the townships, previously held by him in 
trust, to his principals, and then resigned his agency position. In 1799 
he had begun the erection of a grand country seat on his so-called 
Springfield Farm, a mile and one half below the village, near Lake 
Salubria (now Lake Williamson). It was the largest private dwelling 
in Western New York, and when completed was placed in charge of 
Major Presley Thornton, a kinsman of General Washington and a former 
officer in the Revolution, who had just come from Virginia with a young 
wife of rare beauty and attainments. She was long known as " The 
Madam," from her graceful and commanding ways. The colonel made 
his home with them after he retired from the agency, and dispensed 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 59 

hospitality with a generous hand, and the place became famous for its 
brilliant assemblies. Major Thornton died in 1806, and Colonel Will- 
iamson soon afterward left for Europe and never returned. He died in 
1808. 

As we have stated, Major Thornton came to Bath in iSoi, and was 
placed in charge of Colonel Williamson's mansion. He brought with 
him X'irginia customs and many of the adjuncts of southern life and 
manners. Among the family belongings were several house slaves, 
servants rather than laborers, yet bondmen and women. This is be- 
lieved to have been the first formal introduction of slavery into Bath, 
although other and perhaps earlier settlers may have numbered a slave 
man or woman among their servants. And in this statement there is 
nothing surprising, not even unusual, for slaves were then the property 
of owners, the subjects of sale and traffic in the South and some other 
States, yet is understood as contrary to the statute laws of New Yoik. 
However, in the town of Bath slaves were treated as chattel property, 
and were bought and sold, occasionally under process of law and the 
apparent sanction of the courts. 1 his practice, too, was continued for 
several j'ears. 

Capt. William Helm came to the town in 1801, from Prince William 
count)', Va., with his family and a retinue of about forty slaves. He 
purchased a number of farms, and set his slaves cultivating them. He 
built a fine mansion on the site of the present First National Bank, and 
also rebuilt the old grist mill near the bridge. Captain Helm was un- 
fortunate in business, his property was seized by the sheriff and several 
of his slaves were sold to satisfy executions. One was purchased by 
Dugald Cameron for $30, and was set free in 18 19. This slave was 
Daniel Cooper. 

This is only one of the many instances of slavery existing in this 
town during the earl)' years of the century, and the fact reflects no dis- 
credit or stain upon any person or family. It was the recognized cus- 
tom of the period, and that there were more slaves owned in Bath 
than in many other localities only shows that a large number of the 
aristocratic and wealthy early residents of the town came from slave 
States, as commonly called. In the year I 800 there were twenty-two 
blacks in the county, and all were slaves. In 1810 the colored in- 



60 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

habitants numbered Ii6, of whom 87 were slaves. The early town 
records, noticeably from 1800 to 1820, contain frequent reference to 
slave ownership, as births, sales and acts of manumission were required 
to be recorded. 

Among the other slave owners in Bath, there may be mentioned 
John Fitz Hugh, Samuel Hanson Baker, Howell Bull, Dugald Cam- 
eron, Henry McElwee, Capt. Samuel Erwin (of Painted Post), Ira Pratt, 
Daniel Cruger, Thomas McBurney and others. 

From all that is stated on preceding pages the reader will discover 
that the town of Bath was early and rapidly settled, and with a class of 
pioneers who were in all respects desirable to a new community. 
Under theinspiring influencesof Williamson the result was to be expected, 
and in the brief space of less than ten years he succeeded in building 
up a fine and substantial village, a county seat, while within its boun- 
daries, and those of the town surrounding it, were accumulated nearly 
five hundred inhabitants. As shown by census statistics, the town of 
Bath, in 1800, had a population of 452, the result of only seven years 
colonization. In 18 10 the number had increased to 1,036, and in 1820 
to 2,578. The inhabitants in 1830 numbered 3,387, and 4,915 in 1840. 
Ten years later there were 6,185 persons living in the town, and 5,129 
in i860. In 1870 the number was 6,236, and in 1880 was 7,396. The 
census of 1890 showed the town to contain 7,881 inhabitants, though 
the count of 1892 gave but 7,057 population. 

As now constituted Bath is by far the largest in area of the civil 
divisions of Steuben county, containing by actual survey 57,100 acres 
of land. The original town was even larger, but, like many others, 
has surrendered portions of her territory to later creations. Pulteney 
was taken ofif in 1808, and parts of Howard and Cohocton in 1812. A 
portion was set off to form Wheeler in 1820, and another part to Urbana 
in 1822. Still another reduction helped to form Avoca in 1843, and 
and in 1852 Cohocton received an annexation from the mother town. 
Savona was organized as a town, December 30, 1859, 3"^ was con- 
solidated with Bath, April 8, 1862. 

The early history of Bath was uneventful except as the usual mo- 
notony of pioneership was varied by the rapid strides which marked the 
settlement of the region. The settlers were peaceable and law-abiding, 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 61 

yet fond of entertainment and pleasure. Public houses and places of resort 
were numerous, and in the year 1824 no less than twelve persons were 
licensed to keep tavern and sell " strong and spirituous liquors ;" the 
number of licensed places in the town in 1825 was fourteen. 

The war of 1812-15 was an event of much importance in local 
annals, and tiie occasion of some excitement and alarm. Bath was the 
rendezvous for the newly organized companies and regiments raised in 
the county, and several of her citizens played prominent parts on the 
frontier. General McCiure, Majors Cruger and Gaylord, Captain Read 
and Lieutenant Kennedy rendered efficient service. Two companies 
were drafted on Pulteney Square in 181 3. 

The town and village of Bath were also the chief seat of operations 
and discussion during that period in which took place the anti-rent con- 
troversy, and although the people of this immediate vicinity were but 
little affected by the tumult and e.xcitement of the occasion, this was the 
central point and the place of meeting of the disaffected element. Tlie 
town was represented in the convention of January, 1830, by William 
Woods, James Warden, John Corbitt, Peter Hunter, Melvin Schenck, 
Caleb P. Fulton and Elisha Hawkes. However, this embryo strife was 
soon passed into history and peace and general prosperity prevailed. 
Nothing further of importance occurred to disturb the serenity of domes- 
tic life until the outbreak of the war of 1861-5, and during that long 
and disastrous struggle the town of Bath made a record which stands 
through all time as one of the brightest pages in her history. Still we 
cannot in this place refer at length to the military records of the town, 
the subject being fully covered in another chapter of this work. Yet, 
the statement may be made that during the war the town furnished for 
the service a total of 500 men. 

Before closing this chapter it is appropriate that at least passing men- 
tion be made of the schools of the town at large, although much that 
might be said in a general way will be found in the history of the vil- 
lage of Bath in another part of this volume. However, on this im- 
portant subject the old records afford little reliable information, and of 
the character and condition of the districts previous to 1847 nothing is 
known. At the first town meeting in 1797 George D. Cooper, John 
Sheather, Charles Williamson and Benjamin F. Young were elected 



62 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

commissioners of common schools, yet, in 1793, the year in which tlie 
town was founded, a school was opened in Bat!) and Robert Hunter 
was the master. The first school house stood on tiie northwest corner 
of Pulteney Square, and was built previous to 1800. The first convey- 
ance of land for school purposes was that of October 4, 1803, by Sir 
William Pulteney to Samuel Baker, William Read and Eli Read, being 
fifty acres in Pleasant Valley. That region then formed a part of Bath. 
On February i, 1815, the Duke of Cumberland and others conveyed 
to the trustees of District No. 5 two acres of land in lot 33, now in the 
town of Wheeler. On December 29, 1812, Henry A. Townsend con- 
veyed to the trustees of Bath school a lot on the north side of Steuben 
street, and here a school house was built in 18 13. 

The territory of Bath was divided by the first board of commissioners 
into five school districts, and each district had three trustees. Later 
records are imperfect and defective, but from the results of Mr. Kings- 
ley's research we learn that a school was early established at Kanona, 
and that in the " White School house " in old district No. 2, William 
Howell taught in 1826. The first school house in the southeast part of 
the town was built of logs, near the four corners, where the Marshall 
Stewart house stands John Wicks was one of the earliest teachers in 
that section. In 1847 the number of school districts in the town was 
twenty- seven, of which sixteen were entire and eleven joint with districts 
of other towns. As at present constituted the districts number twenty- 
five, located and known, respectively, as follows : No. i, Savona, 
organized 1891 ; No. 2, Harrisburgh Hollow; No. 3, Irish Hill; No. 4, 
Unionville ; No. 5, Bath; No. 6, East Union; No. 7, Chamberlain's; 
No. 8, Kanona; No. 9, Mt. Washington; No. 10, Wolf Run; No. 11, 
Babcock Hollow; No. 12, Eagle Valley; No. 13, Spaulding's Bridge; 
No. 14, Sonora ; No. 15, Freeman Hollow; No. 16, Veley District; 
No. 17, no distinguishing name; No. 18, Oak Hill; No. 19, Cossville ; 
No. 20, Campbell Creek; No. 21, West Union ; No. 22, Knight's Settle- 
ment ; No. 23, Buck's Settlement ; No. 24, Moore Settlement ; No. 25, 
Bowlby District. 

The total value of school property in the several districts is estimated 
at $56,745. During the last current year the town received public 
moneys to the amount of $5,660.51, and raised by local tax for school 
purposes $6,547.13. Sixty trees were planted by pupils in 1894. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF TBE COUNTY. 63 

The villages and hamlets of the town are subjects of special mention 
in another department of this work. However, we may state in this 
connection that the town has two incorporated villages, Bath and 
Savona, both conveniently situated on the line of the Erie and Delaware 
and Lackawanna Railroads, and well known among the municipalities 
of the county. Kanona is in the northwest part of the town, also on 
the railroads and a place of importance in the region. Unionville is a 
small hamlet situated about three miles southwest of Bath. 

In the department of this work devoted specially to ecclesiastical 
history, will be found a record of each of the church organizations of 
the town. 

Bkadkord. — On the eastern border of Steuben county, lying north 
of Campbell, south of Wayne, and east of Bath and Urbana, is a district 
known as Bradford, having an area of 14.500 acres of land. This town 
was created as a separate division of the county on the 20th of April, 
1836, and was formed from the uld town of Jersej', now known as 
Orange in Schuyler county. The surface is a hilly upland, broken by 
the valley of Mud Creek. Mud Lake is a small though pretty little body 
of water situated in Schuyler county, near the Steuben line, and it was 
on the outlet of this lake that Philip Bartles and John Harvey made a 
settlement in 1793, and two years later, at the suggestion of Charles 
Williamson, built both saw and grist mills. These industries had 
much to do with the development of the region. During the early 
period of the history of the region the outlet was a navigable stream, 
and in 1798 Mr. Bartles rafted one hundred thousand feet of lumber to 
Baltimore. Benjamin Patterson and one Brocher were noted hunters in 
this locality and supplied many of the settlements with both bear and 
deer meat. Tliey were said to have killed during a single season as 
man_\- as two hundred deer and a dozen bears. 

Among the other pioneers and early settlers in this then wild and un- 
inviting region were John Hemiup, Samuel S. Camp, Abram Rosen- 
berg, Capt. John N. Hight, Henry Switzcr, John Schrinner, Thomas 
Rolls, Michael Schott, Daniel Bartholmew, Henry A.xtelle, Ezekiel 
Sackett, George Schnell, Stephen Edwards and a Mr. Smith, the 
christian name of the latter having been forgotten. These pioneers 
were chiefly lumbermen, though their ultimate purpose was the de- 



64 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

velopment of the land for farming purposes. Several of them built 
mills and became proprietors. Nearly all were from the lumber regions 
of Pennsylvania and came to the new region hoping to better their 
condition. They were chiefly Germans by birth or extraction, and 
were, withal, a hardy, persevering and industrious class of men and 
women. The descendants of many of them still live in the county, but 
the pioneers are all gone. 

Another element of the early settlers were New Englanders, while 
still others were from New Jersey. Lacy Hurd, John Moore and Jesse 
Munson were Vermont Yankees ; Capt. John Phelps came from Con- 
necticut ; James Longwell was from New Jersey, though an Irishman 
by birth. Still other settlers were John Zimmerman, David Woodward, 
Caleb Wolcott, John Inscho, Abel Eveland, Elias Thomas, James D. 
Morris, Rumsey Miller, David Dennis, E^van F. Thomas, John Kish- 
paugh, Charles and Benjamin Whithead, Daniel Taylor, John Stilts, 
Caleb Roch, Philip Morse, and others perhaps equally worthy of men- 
tion but whose names are lost with the lapse of years. 

The land being at length cleared of its valuable timber growth, good 
farms were developed, and this part of the old town of Jersey became 
an agricultural region, and while it produces well in return to the proper 
efforts of the husbandman, it has never been noted for superior excellence 
in this respect. However, the farmers are generally prosperous and 
many fine farms are found in the town. 

During the early history of the town, and while its lands formed a 
part of the older town of Jersey, the inhabitants felt the serious effects 
of the so-called anti-rent war. In the Bath convention Jersey was rep- 
resented by her strongest men, a portion of whom lived in the district 
afterward forming Bradford. They were Abraham M. Lybolt, Gilbert 
Reed, Caleb Wolcott, Peter Houck and Henry Switzer. 

Six years after this event, or in 1836, the town was set off and made 
a separate division of Steuben county, and was named in allusion to and 
in honor of General Robert Bradford. A portion of its territory was an- 
nexed to Orange, April 17, 1854. The first town meeting was held at 
the dwelling of John Zimmerman on the fourth Tuesday in Ma>, 1836, 
at which time these officers were cho.sen : Supervisor, S. Snell ; town 
clerk, Charles McFane ; collector, Thomas Rowles ; justices, James 
Wolverton and James Bradley. 



THE CiriL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 65 

The supervisors of Bradford, from tlie time of its organization to the 
present, have been as follows: S. Snell, 1836-37; William H. Seybolt, 
1838-39; J. C. Cameron, 1840; Joseph S. Fenton, 1841 ; James 
Barkley, 1842-43, and 1849; Hosea Longweli, 1844; William l-!ovier, 
1845-46, and 184S ; John Phelps, 1847; Charles Hubban, 1850; Will- 
iam Phelps, 1851-52; John D. Seybolt, 1853-54, and 1860-61 ; John 
F. Havens, 1855-56; Lewis Bennett, 1857, '(>•], and '71 ; Jesse Mun- 
son, 1858-59, and 1863-66; Edgar Munson, 1862; B. B. Switser, 
1868; Frank AuUs, 1869-70; Theron Cole, 1872; Alonzo Eveland, 
1873-74, and 1881-86; J. M. Gilmore, 1875-76; Isaac Esterbrook 
1877; Ephraim Bennett, 1878-80 ; P>ank Aulls, 1887 ; Philip Vawger, 
1888 and 1891 ; Frank Hedges, 18S9-90; S. A Zimmerman, 1892-95. 

The officers of the town for the year 1895 are S. A. Zimmerman, 
supervisor ; David Whitehead, Albert W. Dodge, W. C. Stetler and L. 
E. Bartholmew, justices ; John C Svvitzer, Arthur Gilmore and John 
O. Dennis, assessors. 

Bradford is one of the few towns of Steuben county in which there 
has been a noticeable decline in population, indicating clearly that the 
agriculturists of the region have suffered in common with those of the 
whole country. When fir.<t set off from Jersey in 1836 the inhabitants 
numbered about 1,500, and increased to 1,885 '" i860. From that 
time until the present there has been a general decline in population, 
hence in productiveness and value of property, and the population of 
the town in 1890 was only 765 ; a less number than any town in the 
county, sa\'e Hartsville. Notwithstanding all this, Bradford possesses 
natural resources equal to many other outlying towns, and her people 
are energetic, thrifty ami persevering. The institutions of the town are 
as firmly rooted and as substantial as in other similar districts. During 
the period of its history there have been built up two small villages, 
Bradford, in the northeast part of the town, and South Bradford in the 
southeast, both of which are elsewhere mentioned in this volume. 

The early settlers were fully mindful of the educational and spiritual 
welfare of their families, and made generous provision for schools and 
the support of the public worsliip. A flourishing school was main- 
tained as early as 1 8 14, and after tlie separation of the town from Jersey 
the new territory was arranged in convenient districts and scliools pro- 



66 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

vided for in each. F"rom this beginning has grown the present system 
of the town, more complete in arrangement than ever before, yet possi- 
bly not as strong in point of number of pupils attending school. There 
are now five districts having school houses, and during the last current 
year six teachers were employed. Of public moneys the town received 
$720.70, and raised by local tax $1,006 go. 

Cameron. — Within its present boundaries this town contains 27,700 
acres of land ; as originally formed on April 16, 1822, it included all 
its present area, and also the 22,000 acres set off to Thurston, as well 
as a portion of Rathbone. The former was created in 1844, and the 
latter in 1856. Geograpically, Cameron is located a little south of the 
center of the county, and its surface is high rolling upland, broken by 
the deep and quite narrow valley of the Canisteo, which stream crosses 
southeast through and near the center of the town. The soil is a clayey 
and gravelly loam, fertile and reasonably productive in many localities, 
but quite barren in others by reason of the stony and rock\' character 
of the slopes. 

When created, Cameron was named in allusion to and honor of 
Dugald Cameron, an early settler of Bath, at one time agent of the 
Pulteney estate, and withal one of the foremost men of the county dur- 
ing the period of his active life. 

Directly, this town was formed from the original town of Addison, 
and its early settlement was made while the territory was a part of that 
jurisdiction. The pioneers of this locality were Richard Hadley, who 
afterward became known by the odd title of " The Second James," and 
Phones Green. Hadley first settled on the village site, near the rail- 
road crossing, and is said to have been ousted from his domicile by a 
landslide. He built the first saw mill, while the honor of building the 
first grist mill fell to Capt. Samuel Baker, who came to the town in 
1 8 16. Phones Green made his improvement about a mile below Baker's 
mill. Both these pioneers made their settlement in 1800, and it seems 
they must have been alone in this wild region for some time, for the 
next settlers, Joseph Butler, John Sauter and John Hollet did not reach 
here till several years later. Hollet kept the first tavern, while the 
first storekeeper was Andrew G. Erwin of still later settlement. James 
B. Wheeler was the grandchild of Mr. Baker, and was but seven years 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 67 

old when lie came to the valley. He lived to witness wonderful 
changes in the town, and was himself afterward owner of the mill, which 
he rebuilt several times. About 1816 Amos Caldwell built a carding 
mill which was later on operated by John Place. John Dean soon came 
in and also located near the mills, the latter being a center of trade and 
settlement. 

Still later settlers were Isaac Santee, in 1820, followed by the Hal- 
letts from the North of Ireland, originall)-, but hardy and enterprising 
men, whose descendants are still numerous in the valley. Silas Wheeler, 
a Scotchman, was here early, as also were Joel Clark, Amasa Downs, 
Isaac Jones, James Lawrence, Capt John White, William Moore, Skel- 
ton and Joseph Robinson, Nathaniel Bundy, and others. 

On South Hill Elisha Leach settled in 1825, and Reuben Drake in 
the Swale about the same time James and Henry Knickerbocker set- 
tled on the north ridge in 1826 and Elias Mason came about the same 
time. Thomas Allen came in 1827, Richard Smith in 1831, John W. 
Barrows in 1832, and so on until even early settlement ceased. Still, 
in the same connection, justice demands mention of Andrew Bates, 
John Shaw, Timothy Carpenter, Joseph Plaisted, N. Rouse (the fiddler 
and an important functionary on all public occasions), Samuel Pugsley, 
John Barber, Harley Sears, Hiram Averill, John French, David Ames 
and Amos White as early and worthy residents, all willing to brave the 
dangers and privations of pioneership in a new and then certainly un- 
inviting region. Some of these men were farmers while many others 
were lumbermen, and in fact the latter pursuit prevailed for many years. 
Indeed, this whole \alley was primarily covered with a splendid forest 
growth and the lumber shipped down the Canisteo from Cameron and 
vicinit)' amounted to millions of feet annually. But as the lands were 
cleared the town became an agricultural region, while the water power 
of the river turned the wheels of many mills of various kinds. 

The advocates of a new town project became earnest in their discus- 
sion as early as 1820 although it was not until two years afterward that 
the matter took definite form. The act was passed April 16, 1822, 
and the first town meeting was held at the house of Samuel Pierson, a 
mile and a half north of Cameron village, in February, 1823. Unfortu- 
nately, the early town records have been lost or destroyed. However, 



68 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

it is known that Elias Mason was the first supervisor ; Moses L. Pierson 
town clerk and collector, and James Brownell, constable. At this time 
the local population could not have exceeded 400, as in 1825 the num- 
ber of inhabitants was but 553. As evidence of later rapid growth we 
may state that in 1830 the population had increased to 924, and in 1840 
to 1,359- Ten years later the greatest population in the town's history 
was reached, being 1,701 in 1850. In i860 it had fallen to 1,569, and 
in 1870 to 1,334. The next ten years, however, showed an increase to 
1,611, but in 1890 had decreased to 1,564. In 1892 the population of 
the town was 1,455. ' 

The anti-rent conflict, as it has been commonly called, was not with- 
out its disastrous effects upon the people of this town, though local 
interests sufifered no more seriously than did those of other localities 
whose settlers held their land under the Pulteney and Hornby titles. 
The delegates to the Bath convention from Cameron were Jacob Thayer, 
Joseph Loughry, Isaac Santee, Sheldon Porter and Hiram Averill, the 
latter serving on the committee which prepared the memorial presented 
to the agents of the proprietar}'. However, after the period of disturb- 
ance had passed, and after the settlers had become quieted in the posses- 
sion of their lands, all affairs resumed their natural channels, and thence- 
forth the history of the town was uneventful. 

During the period of the Rebellion the town of Cameron furnished 
eighty-three men for the service, who were scattered through the vari- 
ous companies and regiments recruited in the county, notably the 86th, 
23d, the 107th and the 189th regiments of infantry. 

The supervisors of Cameron, in succession, have been as follows : 
Elias Mason, 1823-27; Joseph Loughry, 1828-30; Moses L. Pierson, 
1831 ; Andrew G. Pierson, 1832; Isaac Santee, 1833-36; C. P. Hub- 
bard, 1837; James H. Miles, 1838; Joseph Loughry, 1839-40; Moses 
De Pue, 1841 ; James Lawrence, 1842-44; H. L. Swift, 1845 ; Luther 
White, 1846-47; H. J. Hyatt, 1848; John Miles, 1849-50; H. J. 
Hyatt, 185 I ; William N. Smith, 1852-53 and 1856-59; Peter Chase, 
1854; John Mitchell, 1855 ; Samuel D. Sellick, 1860-61 ; Orange W. 
Hinds, 1862-64; Luther White, 1865; Heman S. Swift. 1866-67; 
Jesse Santee, 1868 and 1881 ; A. J. Lawrence, 1869-70; Charles A. 
Bateman, 1871 and 1877-78; Lucius C. Pierson, 1872-73 and 1882-85; 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 69 

Grattan H. Wheeler, 1874-75 ; S. A. Gardner, 1876; John E. Dicky, 
1879-80; Royal S. White, 1886-8S; Joel Clark, 1889-90; Almon 
Waters, 1891 ; Joel Clark, 1892-95. 

Half a century ago Cameron had more and greater indu.stries than dur- 
ing recent years, for the lumbering operations were of great magnitude 
in this valley and brought to the town a class of people who possessed 
means and circulated it freely. Taverns and public houses were num- 
erous and each arriving stage coach brought its contingent of new- 
comers and buyers In 1850 the New \'ork and Krie railroad was 
built through the town, but even this great thoroughfare of travel had 
not the effect of keeping alive the interest of former years. Cameron 
village, West Cameron and North Cameron were places of note and 
importance at that time, yet only one has maintained its standing to 
the present day. West Cameron is now a hamlet of half a dozen dwell- 
ings, a church and a school, and its post-office was discontinued in 1874. 
Here was once the home of Isaac Santee, David Ames and Luther 
White. North Cameron now consists of a few dwellings, and other 
evidences of the days of stage travel, especially the old buildings once 
used as hotels, for there were four of them on the old Bath road. The 
post-office, however, has been maintained here, the present postmaster 
being Galen A. Clark. Cameron Mills is also a post station on the 
railroad, in the east part of the town. The postmaster is James Craw- 
ford. 

The town of Cameron has several organized church societies, being 
four Methodist h^piscopal and located at Cameron, West Cameron, South 
Hill and North Hill ; also a Baptist church at Boyd's Corners, and a 
Christian church located in the Gardner district, so called. 

Cameron has thirteen school districts, with 355 children attending 
school. l'"or their instruction fourteen teachers are employed annually. 
The public moneys apportioned to the town in 1893-4 was $1,628.53, 
and there was raised by town ta.x $3,533.88. 

The town officers of Cameron for the year 1895 are as follows: Joel 
Clark, supervisor; J. D. Wheeler, town clerk; James A. Smith, W. E. 
Ferguson, Mowry Stuart and G. M. Reese, justices of the peace ; P. P. 
Mason, M. G. Dickey and J. Halliman, assessors ; George Gunderman, 
highway commissioner; R. K Wilson, overseer of the poor; F. E. 
McKenzie, C. E. Stuart and Z. D. Stuart, excise commissioners. 



70 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Campbell. — Adjoining the town of Bath on the southeast is a dis- 
trict of land containing 25,500 acres, known by the name of Campbell, 
though previous to white settlement and civil organization the same 
district was called township 3, range 2, Phelps and Gorham purchase. 
The proprietary just mentioned sold this township to Prince Bryant, a 
Pennsylvanian, and conveyed it by deed dated September 3, 1789, in 
consideration of ^1,000, New York currency. On October 2d, fallow- 
ing, Bryant sold the township to Elijah Babcock, and the latter in turn 
sold in parcels, and at divers times, to Roger Clark (7,680 acres), 
Samuel Tooker, David Holmes and William Babcock. However, by 
some process of law the title to a large portion the township reverted to 
Oliver Phelps, who afterward sold Joshua Hathaway, Zalmon Tousey, 
Robert Campbell and Gideon Granger. Campbell purchased half the 
entire tract, his deed bearing date November 21, 1801. Tousey had 
1,132 acres, under deed dated December 2, 1801. Hathaway became 
possessed of 2,037 acres, paying therefor $5,092.52, his deed bearing 
date October 2, 1801. Under these land operators the first settlements 
were made. 

The pioneers of this town were Joseph Wolcott, Eiias Williams, 
Samuel Calkins and David McNutt, who came in 1801 or '82, Pre- 
vious to this, however, Abram and Isaac Thomas had built a cabin 
in the town, but they were hunters and trappers rather than pioneer 
settlers. James Pearsall and one Sailor are also said to have been 
among the earliest settlers. In addition to these, many of the pur- 
chasers mentioned in the preceding paragraph also became settlers in 
the town, and were among its most inflential and useful men. 

Conspicuous among the pioneers were the Campbell family, of whom 
Rev. Robert Campbell was the recognized head, and while the town 
was named after the family in general, he was regarded as the leader of 
them all and was in the minds of the organizers of the town when that 
event took place. Robert Campbell and his nephew, Samuel Campbell, 
the latter having served with credit during the Revolution, came to the 
Conhocton valley from Saratoga county in 1803. Robert brought with 
him four sons, Robert, jr.. Miner, Bradford and Philo. Bradford died 
in 1804, and was the first person buried in the Campbell cemetery. 
Joseph Stevens settled in the town in 1805, and his sons, Joseph and 
John, were also early settlers. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 71 

The Mead Creek colony, as it has been called, was brought to the 
town in 1816, through the influence of David and William Holmes, 
who traded lands here for Vermont farms, thus inducing settlement 
by several sturdy sons of the Green Mountain State. They were Jonas 
and Jacob Woodward, Hinsdale Hammond and Stephen Corbin, all from 
Windham county. They were followed by Sampson and Amasa Bi.\by, 
and still later by others now forgotten. These Vermonters were chiefly 
Baptists, and as early as 1823 organized the " First Baptist Church of 
Painted Post," Rev. Jonathan Stone, pastor. Later on they were 
also instrumental in organizing the Baptist church at Cooper's Plains. 

Recalling briifl)' the names of some others of the early settlers in 
Campbell, we may mention Selah Hammond, who built an early saw 
mill on Mead's Creek ; also Samuel Beslv, Reuben W. Millard, Capt. 
John P. Knox, an extensive lumberman ; John D. Hamilton, who with 
others built a tannery in 1854, and the Campbell tannery in 1857, ^"<^ 
was also an early storekeeper ; Daniel B. Curtis, also a tanner ; and 
Joel Orlando Comstock, Clark Bassett and others. The first birth in 
the town was that of Bradford Campbell ; the first marriage that of 
Asa Milliken and Rachel Campbell, and the first death that of Fred- 
erick Stewart, in 1806. Campbell & Stephens built the first saw mill, 
and Campbell & Knox the first grist mill. Robert Campbell kept the 
first tavern, and Frederick Stewart the first store. 

In local history in the county Campbell has always been regarded as 
one of the rough, mountainous towns, but notwithstanding this it was 
as early settled, and by a class of inhabitants as thrifty and determined 
as found in any town in the entire region. The first settlers here 
found the timber as good and as abundant as they could desire, hence 
gave their first attention to lumbering. The more important tribu- 
taries of the Conhocton, such as Wolf and McNutt Runs, Mead's Creek. 
Dry Run, and Stephens's and Michigan Creeks, together with the main 
stream, furnished abundant water power and rafting facilities, and dur- 
ing the first quarter of a century of the town's history the business in- 
terests were equal to those even of the present day. As the forests 
were cleared away fine farms were developed, for the bottom lands are 
a rich alluvium, while the elevations have a strong clay and gravelly 
soil. 



72 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Ill 1830 this township, then and previously a part of Hornby, con- 
tained about 500 inhabitants, and measures were soon taken for the 
erection of a new town. The desired act was passed April 15, 1831, 
and Campbell was brought into existence. At the first town meeting 
held in the spring of 1832, these officers were elected: Daniel Clark, 
supervisor; Milo Hurd, town clerk; William Stewart, Samuel Cook, 
Daniel Horton, assessors ; Adin J. Pratt, collector. The first justices 
were Parley Seamans and Alvin Corbin. 

The supervisors of Campbell have been as follows : Daniel Clark, 
1832 ; William D. Knox, 1833-34; Benjamin Farwell, 1835-37 ; Will- 
iam Stewart, 1838-39; S. A. Campbell, 1840-42 ; William Stewart, 
1843-44; Willis McNeil, 1845-46; J. P. Knox, 1847-48; S A. 
Campbell, 1849; W. P. Knox, 1850; Willis McNeil, 1851-52; Joseph 
Hammond, 1853; S. J. Teeple, 1854; Alson Pierce, 1855; Daniel 
Curtis, 1856; Samuel Balcom, 1857-60; George W. Campbell, 1861- 
.65 ; Charles Cass, 1866-69; Charles H. Bemis, 1870-72 ; E. J. Arm- 
strong, 1873-74; G. R. Sutherland, 1875-77; Elias A. Overhiser, 
1878; John D. Hamilton, 1879-84; George R. Sutherland, 1885-87; 
N. H. Piatt, 1888; E. B. Ross, 1889-91; H. B. WiUard, 1892-93; 
John S. Curtis, 1894-95. 

The town officers for 1895 are John S. Curtis, supervisor; Ira M. 
Piatt, town clerk ; Daniel A. Stark, Harmon Stevens, John Wilcox and 
and Obed Nute, justices of the peace ; Myron A. Beard, Miles J. Wood- 
ward and Benjamin Balcom, assessors; W. Bradley McNeil, collector; 
James Greek, overseer of the poor ; John King, highway commissioner ; 
Thomas A. Sawyer, Josiah T. Burrows, Floyd Fuller, excise commis- 
sioners. 

The population of Campbell, by decades, has been as follows : 1840, 
852; 1850, 1.175; i860, 1,622; 1870. 1,989; 1880, 1,881, and in 
1890, 1,533. The population in 1892 was 1,539. 

In 1852 the Buffalo, Corning and New York Railroad was built 
through the Conhocton valley, and a station was established in this 
town, but it is doubtful if even this great thoroughfare of travel and 
transportation brought to the vicinity a more prosperous period than 
existed during the days of stage travel and river traffic. During the 
war of 1861-65, the town of Campbell sent into the service a total of 
175 men, twenty-three of whom were enlisted in other towns. 




/7a\ 




THE CrVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 73 

Well verified tradition informs us that the first school in this town 
was opened by Rhoda Simmons in 1817, in what was known as the 
" hunter's cabin," also that the second school was kept in a barn, and 
that Betsey Woodward and Mrs Davis were the earliest teachers there. 
The first school house was a log building. After being set off from 
Hornby, in 1831, the territory of Campbell was divided into school 
districts and provision made for the support of a school house in each. 
As now constituted, the town contains nine districts, each provided with 
a school house During the current year, 1893-4, twelve teachers were 
employed. The number of children of school age was 309. The 
amount of public moneys received was $1,374.43, and the town raised 
by tax, $2,355.82. 

Canisteo. — The originial town of Canisteo, erected cotemporane- 
ously with Steuben county, contained the territory of the present town 
of that name, and also Greenwood, West Union, Hartsville, Hornells- 
ville, and portions of Troupsburg and Jasper. A part of Troupsburg 
was taken off in 1 808, and a second portion in 181 8. Hornellsville was 
set off in 1820, and portions of Jasper and Greenwood in 1827. Re- 
duced to its present area, Canisteo contains 32,200 acres of land, being 
sixth in size among the existing towns of the county. In the survey 
and subdivision of the vast Phelps and Gorham purchase, Canisteo was 
township 3, range 5, and was purchased conjointly with township 4 of 
range 6 (now Hornellsville), the early history of each being common in 
many respects, and also rich and interesting. 

Previous to the advent of the white man this town, and in fact the 
whole valley of the Canisteo, was the abiding place and favorite hunt- 
ing and fishing grounds of the American Indians. The region was 
originally the land of the Senecas, but by sufferance the Delawares 
were permitted to occupy portions of it. We are told that within the 
limits of this town was once the Indian village of " Kanestio," where 
also lived a number of deserters from the British army and other rene- 
gades from the white settlements. The murder of two Dutch traders 
by these outlaws brought upon them the vengeance of Sir William 
Johnson, and the result was the destruction of their settlement. 

According to the oft- repeated story, the valley of the Canisteo was 
discovered by the whites early in the year 1788, by Solomon Bennett, 
10 



74 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Capt. John Jamison, Uriah Stephens, Richard Crosby, and we may add 
possibly Ehsha Brown, all of whom left their Pennsylvania homes on 
an exploring expedition into the southeastern part of the Phelps and 
Gorham purchase. After examining several localities in the Conhocton 
valley the party crossed the hills to the south and entered the Canisteo 
valley. Here they found land suited to their desires, and the result 
was the formation of a company and the purchase of township 3 of 
range 5, and township 4 of range 6, now known respectively as Canisteo 
and Hornellsville. Each of these townships was surveyed and divided 
into great lots, twelve in number, and were drawn for by lot. In 
Canisteo the lots were drawn in this order: Arthur Irwin, No. i ; 
Christian Kress, No. 2 ; Solomon Bennett, Nos. 3 and 4; Joel Thomas, 
No. 5 ; John Stephens, No. 6 ; John Jamison, No 7 ; Uriah Stephens, 
No. 8; Uriah Stephens, jr. No 9; William Wynkoop, No. 10; James 
Hadle}', No. i i ; Elisha Brown, No. 12. 

This disposition of the lands having been made the company sent a 
party of men to cut and stack the hay found growing on the extensive 
Canisteo flats. This was in 1789, and in the fall of that year Uriah 
Stephens, sen., and Benjamin Crosby, with portions of their families, 
came from Newtown (Elmira) and made the first permanent settlement. 
Their personal effects were brought up the river on flatboats, while 
Elias, Elijah, Benjamin and William Stephens drove the cattle along the 
shore to the new settlement. These pioneers passed the following 
winter in the town, and in the spring of 1790 were joined by Solomon 
Bennett, Uriah Stephens, jr., Col. John Stephens and their families. 
Soon afterward there came Jedediah Stephens, John Redford and 
Andrew Bennett. 

Thus was made the pioneer settlement in the town of Canisteo. One 
of the most active and wealthy of the settlers was Solomon Bennett, 
who in 1793 built the first grist mill in the town, it being located on 
Bennett's Creek about half a mile above its mouth. The building was 
soon burned, after which the settlers were obliged to go to Hornell's 
Mills for their " grist." Mr. Bennett also opened the first store, while 
Jedediah Stephens kept the first tavern. The first birth was that of 
Olive Stephens, November iS, 1790; the first marriage that ot Richard 
Crosby and Hannah Baker, and the first death was that of Henry 
Stephens. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTV. 75 

Referring still further to the subject of early settlement in this town, 
the statement maj' be maiie that Solomon Bennett came from Wyoming, 
and that his wife was a sister of Col. John Stephens. Daniel Jamison 
was a native of Scotland. His wife was Mary M. Baxter, and in their 
famil)' were eight children, a number of whom were intimately associ- 
ated with the early history of this locality. Col. John Stephens married 
Olive Franklin, and was for many years an important man in the new 
settlement. He and Rev. Jedediah Stephens were natives of Connecti- 
cut. Recalling the names of other prominent men and families in the 
town, we may mention Capt Nathan Stephens, Joshua C. Stephens, 
Jeremiah Baker, sen., the Moore families, nicknamed respectively " Big 
John " and " Little Johnn\'," William S. Thomas, James McBurney, 
Uriah Upson, James Moore, John Stearns, Nathan Hallett and others, 
all worthy of mention among the substantial men of the town at an 
early day. 

Once fairly begun, settlement in this part of the valley increased 
rapidly, and in 1800 the town had a population of 510. Ten years 
later, Troupsburg having in the meantime been set ofif, the population 
of Canisteo was 656. In 1S20, its territory being reduced to substan- 
tially its present limits, the town contained 891 inhabitants. In 1830 
the number was 619, and 941 in 1840. During the next decade the 
population was more than doubled, being in 1850, 2.030. In i860 it 
increased to 2,337, '" 1870 to 2,435, 3"^^ •" 1880, principally on account 
of the growth of Canisteo village, to 3,694. In 1890 the population of 
the town was 3,629, and in 1892 was 3,593. 1 he population of the vil- 
lage of Canisteo in 1890 was 2,071. 

In 181 2 Judge Hurlburt, of Arkport, wrote a descriptive history of 
Canisteo in which he said the town then contained 266 square miles, 
and was nineteen miles long, north and south, by fourteen miles wide. 
Speaking of the streams, he said that the Canisteo was " boatable" as far 
up as Arkport. He also described Canisteo village as having twenty 
litmuses and stores, a post office and considerable trade. 

As we have already stated the early settlement of the town was ac- 
complished rapidly, and indeed the organization was effected at the 
time of the creation of the county. Rut, unfortunately, the first records 
of this pioneer town are not to be found, nor any other reliable data 



76 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

from which we may learn the names of its first officers. This, however, 
cannot be regarded as important, for at that time the town was so large 
that the present Canisteo comprises comparatively little of its original 
territory. At the town meeting held in the spring of iSoi, at the house 
of Benjamin Crosby, (Hornellsville), these officers were elected : Uriah 
Stephens, supervisor ; Joseph A. Rathbone, town clerk ; Obediah 
Ayres, Richard Crosby and Nathan Hallett, assessors ; Samuel Hallett, 
jr., collector ; James Hadley and Nathan Hallett, overseers of the poor. 

In this connection also it is interesting to note the succession of super- 
visors from the year 1801 to the present time, viz.: Uriah Stephens, 
1801-10; William Hyde, 181 i; William Stephens, 1812; Christopher 
Hurlbut, 1 8 13-15 ; Uriah Stephens, 1815-19; Thomas Bennett, 1820- 
22; William Stephens, 1823-26; Joshua Chapman, 1827; William 
Stephens, 1828-29; William Bennett, 1830-32; William Stephens, 
1833-34; Elias Stephens, 1835-37; Finley McClure, 1838; Daniel 
Jamison, 1839-40; H. C. Whitwood, 1841-42; Finley McClure, 1843- 
44; William H. Mead, 1845-46; Obediah Stephens. 1847-50; Hart 
Eason, 1851-52; W.B.Jones, 1853-54; Hart Eason, 1855-56; Joshua 
C. Stephens, 1857-58; Lucius C. Waldo, 1859-60; Nelson Hallett, 
1861-62; William H. Mead, 1863-64; N. C.Taylor, 1865-66; George 
Riddell, 1867-68; Thomas Hallett, 1869; John H. Brown, 1870-72; 
George Riddell, 1873-74 ; Miner Sammons, 1875-76 ; Albert J. Carter, 
1877 ; Smith Eason, 1878; Leroy Riddell, 1879-82 ; W. E. Stephens, 
1883-84; Nathan J. Stephens, 1885-86; H. E. Buck, 1887; M. D. 
Ellison, 1888; Harrison Crane, 1889-91; James Roblee, 1892-93; 
Julius M. Hitchcock, 1894-95. 

The town officers of Canisteo for the year 1895 are as follows: 
Julius M. Hitchcock, supervisor; Jay Patchen, town clerk; Almon W. 
Burrell, Emmet Stephens, Adalbert Rosa, James Eben Wilson and 
Albert Sunmer, justices of the peace; D. W. Comfort, D. C. Thomas 
and Ney Wilson, assessors; Stearns Jamison, collector; Daniel Ordway, 
overseer of the poor ; J. M. Peterson, highway commissioner ; Elijah 
Hallett, Jacob Vickers and W. P. Goff, commissioners of excise. 

The civil liistory of the town of Canisteo, although uneventful, has 
nevertheless been a continuous record of growth, development and pros- 
perity. Naturally, settlement began in the region of the Canisteo 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 77 

River, thence extended up the vallej'sof tlie lesser streams, Bennett's and 
Col. Bill's Creeks, and finally spread throughout the entire town. All, 
however, was practically accomplished during the first thirty-five years 
of the town's history, while pioneership ceased with the last century. 
The "Swale" region was settled before 1825, and most of the town 
lands were fully settled within the ne.xt half score of years. The war of 
18 1 2 had little effect on the people here, though the attitude and 
disposition of the Indians was carefully watched, for the inhabitants 
feared an outbreak from them. However, the whites had by this time 
thoroughly impressed the natives with their superiority, and although 
an occasional demonstration was made by the savages, they were at all 
times under reasonable control. 

The greater portion of the settlers were farmers, whose time and 
energies were devoted to clearing and tilling the land, paving the way 
for future successes by their descendants, and as a result of this early 
industry Canisteo is now regarded as one of the best agricultural towns 
of the valley. The soil generally is a clayey and gravelly loam, and not 
all the fertile lands are found in the valleys, but even on the hills are 
some of the most productive farms in the town. General agriculture has 
been the chief pursuit of the farming element of population, and the 
most profitable crops of the present day are hay, oats and potatoes. 

For their personal convenience the settlers at an early day built up 
several small villages, the principal one of which, Canisteo, has grown 
to importance in commercial and business circles, and has become an 
incorporated municipality. However, this village is made the subject 
of special mention in another part of this work. The others we may 
briefly mention here. 

Bennett's Creek is a post-office (established 1845) ^n<^' hamlet situate 
in the southeast part of the town, on the stream of the same name. A 
store has generally been maintained here, and the place now and for 
some years past has had an additional industry in the possession of a 
good cheese factory, the latter known as the Bassett cheese factory. 
The postmaster and merchant here is Elihu D. Conklin. 

Swale is located in the southeast part of the town, and has a post- 
office (established i860) and one or two business enterprises, 'lliis 
region is somewhat extensive and was settled between 1820 and 1825. 



7(\ LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The ofifice was established here for the convenience of the people of this 
part of the town. The postmaster is Orren I. Jones, and E. O. Downs 
is local tinsmith. In this locality is a Union Methodist and Universalist 
church, built by the people of the vicinity. 

South Canisteo is also a post office in the southeast part of the town, 
for local accommodation. The postmaster and storekeeper is Elmer D. 
Van Ormen. 

Spring Brook is the name of a locality in the vicinity of Col Bill's 
Creek. This is an agricultural portion of the town and has no village 
settlement. However, here are two Methodist Protestant churches, 
each of which has a good membership and a comfortable church home. 
Both of these societies, as well as that at Swale, are under the pastoral 
care of Rev. S E. Matthews. 

Adrian and Crosbyville are the different names of a little hamlet on 
the- Erie road, less than two miles east of Canisteo. The former is the 
post-office and railway designation, while the latter suggests the name 
of one of the old families of the town. Here are two stores, a black- 
smith shop and a wagon shop. The postmaster is Hiram Crosby, and 
the merchants are Messrs. Crosby and Delaney. 

Canisteo Center is between Canisteo and Adrian. Its only industry 
is the grist mill of J. V. Carman. 

The inhabitants of the town and village of Canisteo, ever mindful of 
the spiritual and educational welfare of their families and children, have 
made generous provision for the erection and maintenance of churches 
and schools throughout the town. Those of the former in the outlying 
districts we have already mentioned in this chapter, while those of the 
village will be found referred to in the church history in this work. Of 
the early schools little is known except in a general way, and even 
unreliable tradition furnishes us no data from which can be deter- 
mined the location of the first schools. Still, the fact is well known 
that about 1800 a primitive school was opened in the village, and as 
settlement advanced into the more remote localities, the town was 
divided into districts and good schools provided for each. According 
to the present disposition of school interests, there are thirteen 
districts, each of which is provided with a good school. The whole 
number of children attending during the school year 1893-94 was 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 79 

783, for whose instruction nineteen teachers were employed. There 
was received of public moneys from the State, $2,506 oS, and the 
amount raised by local tax was $3,609.21. The value of school build- 
ings and sites in the town is estimated at $8,770. 

C.\T()N. — On the 28th of .March, 1839, the Legislature passed an ;ict, 
by which "all th.it part of the town of Painted Post, in the count)' of 
Steuben, bein<j township No. i, in the first range," etc., "shall con- 
stitute a new town of the name of Wormley." However, on the 3d of 
April, 1840, the erecting act was amended and the name of the town 
was changed to " Caton," in memory of Richard Caton, one of the orig- 
inal land proprietiiis in the reyion. The first name — Wormley — was 
given to the town in allusion to Samuel Wormley, the first postmaster 
at the office having his name. 

This town is situated in the extreme southeast corner of the county, 
and contains 22,700 acres of land. The surface is a rolling upland, yet 
more nearly level than most lands in the county. Its soil is a clayey 
and shaly loam, and the streams are small brooks flowing northward. 
At an early day lumbering was extensively carried on in the town, and 
the forests were not generally cleared away until a comparatively recent 
date. From that time the chief pursuit of the inhabitants has been 
farming and sugar making, and as an agricultural town Caton ranks 
well among the divisions of the county. The farms as a rule are well 
cultivated, the buildings neat and attractive, and the general appear- 
ance of things throughout the town indicates thrift, energy and prosperity 
on the part of its people. 

The pioneer of township i is said to have been one Ford, who built a 
log cabin and made a clearing a little east of the Center in 1 8 1 o, although 
during the same year other woodsmen made a clearing in the town, but 
no settlement. However, Ford left the vicinity after two years of hard- 
ships, and was succeeded by the first permanent settler, Isaac Rowley, 
a native and former resident of Bradford county, Pa., though previous 
to locating in Caton he had lived in Lindley. In 18 19 this doughty 
pioneer cut a road from over the Pennsylvania line into the southwest 
part of Caton, to the point where he made his location The ne.xt 
settlers were Stephen and Simeon Hurd, Uriah Wilmot, John Rowe and 
Krastus Kidder, all of whom came to the town in the spring of 1821. 



80 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Salmon Tarbox came in 1S22, and about the same time Elias P. Bab- 
cock, E. Robbins and Abner Gilbert purchased 4,000 acres of land near 
the Center. Mr. Gilbert built a saw mill near where the Baptist church 
was afterward erected. The settlers in 1824 were Ephraim Hill, Levi, 
Willj's and Eli Gridley and their families. In 1025 Dr. Gregory located 
southeast of the Center. Isaac Thompson settled in 1827. In 1832 
Frederick and Gershom Bernard built a saw mill near the Corning line, 
and in the same year Bennett Breeze built the first grist mill in the 
town, and located on Barnard's Creek, about two miles north of the 
Center. The first steam mill was put in operation in 1842 by Dexter 
and Daniel Davis, and was located in the heavy pine woods above 
Barnard's Mills. James Davison was another of the early settlers of 
Caton, while among the many others may be mentioned Jonathan S. 
Hurd, Simeon Hurd, Joshua Russell, Titus Smith, Samuel F. Berry, 
Henry D. Smith, Benoni Johnson, John Gillette, Salmon Tarbox, 
Orlando Gregory, Ephraim Robbins, Rufus Howe, Horatio Gorton, 
George Bucher, Amos Lewis, and others of later date, but all of whom 
were devoted to the best interests of the town by building up substantial 
homes and farms for themselves and their families 

In 1840, when first set oflf from Painted Post, Caton had only 797 
inhabitants, but during the next ten years, the population increased to 
1,214. In i860 the inhabitants numbered 1,550, and 1,554 in 1870. 
In 1880 the number increased to 1,642, but during the next ten years 
fell off to 1,445. The population of Caton in 1892 was 1,388, or less 
than at any census enumeration since 1850 

The act creating the town provided that the first meeting for the 
election of officers should be held on the second Tuesdaj- in February, 
1840. In fact, the new town itself did not have an organized existence 
previous to the first Monday in February of the year mentioned. The 
first officers were Amos Lewis, supervisor ; Orlando Gregory, town 
clerk ; John Gillett, Russell Stanton and Zimri B. Robbins, asses- 
sors ; Israel Woodworth, Jacob Robbins, George Westcott and N. C. 
Babcock, justices of the peace. 

The town officers in 1895 are Alonzo Deyo, supervisor; P. F. Grid- 
ley, clerk; Alonzo Deyo, F. W. Speer, John Wellman and Edgar 
Matteson, justices of the peace; J. S. Holmes, E. W. Barnard and E. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 81 

A. Hill, assessors ; B. S. Niver, collector; Jonas Johnson, overseer of 
the poor; H. D. Davis, highway commissioner; H. J. Farran and 
Henry Russell, excise commissioners. 

The supervisors of Caton, in succession, have been as follows: Amos 
Lewis, 1840; John Giliett, 1841 and '43; Naboth C. Babcock, 1842; 
James L. Whitney, 1844-45 I Amzi English, 1846; Orlando Gregory, 
1847-48; Henry D. Smith, 1849 '53 ; Christian Minier, 1850, '54, 
1860-62, '66; James Lawry, 1851-52; D. Clinton Westcott, 1855-56; 
P. H. Brown. 1857, and 1864-65; William D. Gilbert, 1858-59, '63 
and '6^ ; J. B. Rathbun, 1869-71 ; Levi Force, 1872; Edwin C. Eng- 
lish, 1873-74; Alonzo Deyo, 1875-77 and '893-95; Abram J. Whit- 
ney, 1878; W. O. Matteson, 1S79-92. 

During the period of its history, there have been built up within the 
limits of the town two small hamlets or trading centres, each established 
for the convenience of the inhabitants. They are named, respectively, 
Caton and West Caton, the former located near the center of the town, 
and the latter near the northwest corner. However, both these ham- 
lets are specially mentioned in the department of the work devoted to 
municipal history. The same may also be said of the churches of the 
town, which are referred to in the chapter on ecclesiastical history. 

The town of Caton has a military record equal if not superior to any 
other civil division of the countj% for if statistics be accurate there were 
sent into the service during the war of 1S61-65 a total of 196 men, 
as reference to the ofificial roster will disclose. In i860, a single year 
before the outbreak of the war, the town's population was only 1,550. 
Few towns in the county can equal this record. Also in this little town 
are twelve school districts, with twelve teachers employed annually. 
The value of school property is $6,41 5. During the school year 1893-4, 
the town received of public moneys $1,379.09, and raised by town tax 
the further sum of $1,613.05. 



82 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



CHAPTER VIT. 
THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUXTV. 

CoHOCTON. — About the year 1794, that enterprising pioneer and 
colonizer, Charles Williamson, sent Joseph Biven to build a tavern and 
found a settlement at the "Twenty-two Mile Tree," on the Conhocton 
River. The result of this early effort was the establishment of a ham- 
let known to the early settlers as " Biven's Corners," and so designated 
until the settlement was made a post station under the name of North 
Cohocton. This was done in 1825. Richard Hooker is also credited 
with having been a pioneer of the same locality, but recollections of 
him are meagre. James and Aruna Woodward, Vermont Yankees, 
came to this part of the valley in 1802, the former settling on the after- 
ward called Waldron place, where he built a cabin. Obediah Wood- 
ward was a son (as also was Aruna) of James, and was a stalwart young 
man when the settlement was made. 

Another of the pioneers, and one whose surname has been preserved 
by substantial landmarks until quite recently, was Frederick Blood, a 
native of Germany but who came here from the older settlement at 
Saratoga. Blood's Station was named from this family, for Frederick 
had several sons, all earnest and industrious men and of great assistance 
in developing the resources of the new country. Jonas and James 
Cleland, father and son, came into the region from old, historic Pom- 
pey, in Onondaga county, in 1805, and the Cleland cabin was the first 
dwelling between Cohocton and Avoca This pioneer built the first 
saw and grist mills in Cohocton, the former on the site of the Warner 
mill of later years, and the latter opposite the Cleland dwelling. The 
saw mill was built about 1808, and the grist mill at a later date. 

Alvin Talbot and Ezra Parker were early settlers, as also was Job 
Briggs, the cooper and otherwise useful man at that time. Other early 
settlers were Stephen Burrows and Ebenezer Kceler, the latter a man of 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE CODNTr. 83 

means and influence. In the Loon Lake locality Joseph Jackson, Eleazer 
Tucker, John, George and Paul Wilson, and also Salmon Rrovvnson and 
his sons, were the first comers. Joseph Chaniberlin came from Herkimer 
county in 1805, and settled near Liberty (now Cohocton), and in the 
jear following Levi Chaniberlin, Joseph Shattuck and Deacon Horace 
Wheeler were added to the now rapidly increasing roll of pioneers. Still 
others worthy of mention were Timothy Sherman, James Bernard, 
Samuel Rhodes, Jesse Atwood, Isaac Morehouse, Charles Burlingham 
and Richard Hooper, all of whom were in some manner identified with 
the early and interesting history of the valley. Mr. Hooper's death is 
said to have been the first event of its kind in the town. 

Among the other principal first events may be noted the marriage of 
Joseph Biven and Sarah Hooker in 1798, and their child, Bethiah 
Hooker Bi\'en, was the first born in town, in the year 1800. Sophia 
Trumbull taught the first school, about 1810, in the house built by 
James Cleland. William Walker built the first tannery, about 1S16, 
and Rudolphus Howe put in operation the first distillery. The latter 
was an industry of much note, if not of importance, in the region and 
many are the anecdotes connected with it. In 1823, Gabriel Dusenbury 
and his sons, Seth and John, built a saw mill on the site of the later 
Hoag mill, and run it nearly twenty years, when Stoning & Brown con- 
verted the building into a paper mill. During the period of its history, 
Cohocton has been the home of many transient industries, several of 
them useful in the time of their erection, but afterward passing away 
and giving place to more profitable and enduring interests. 

In the North Cohocton locality were a number of substantial and 
prominent settlers, among whom was Richard Hooker, from Baltimore, 
Md., former owner of a plantation and imbued somewhat with southern 
ideas and notions. He brought several slaves to the town, but when he 
united with the Society of Friends he manumitted his blacks and made 
suitable provision for their welfare. Henry and Richard Crouch were 
also early settlers, and in the same connection may be mentioned the 
Moultons and Tylers, Daniel Raymond and sons, John and Duty Waite, 
John Bush, Chauncey Atwell, Elijah Wing, David and Abijah Fowler, 
John Nicholson, Samuel Salisbury, Dr. F". H. Blakeley, Solomon Hub- 
bard, an early storekeeper, Benoni Danks, Jerry W. Pierce, " Uncle " 
Reuben Clason, Caleb Boss, and others whose names are now lost. 



84 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN' COUNTY. 

As will be seen from this narrative, the settlement of this part of 
Bath and Dansville was accomplished rapidly. Indeed, as early as the 
year 1S14 the newly formed town contained 746 inhabitants, hence it is 
little wonder that they sought the formation of a separate district, for 
public convenience demanded that they have the same town facilities as 
were possessed elsewhere in the county. The act erecting the town 
was passed June iS. 1S12, and the first town meeting was appointed to 
be held at the house of Joseph Shattuck, jr. 

The electors met at the designated place on the 13th of April, 1813, 
and chose these officers : Samuel Wells, supervisor ; Charles Bennett, 
town clerk; Stephen Crawford, John Slack and William Bennett, asses- 
sors; Jared Barr, John Woodward and Isaac Hill, highway commis- 
sioners ; John Slack and Samuel D. Wills, poormasters ; James Barnard, 
collector and constable. 

The town records in which were kept the proceedings of town meet- 
ings, between the years 1S13 and 1S39, have been lost, thus making it 
impossible to furnish a complete succession of supervisors. However, 
having recourse to other records extant, a reasonably accurate list can 
be furnished from 1823, viz.: Paul C. Cook, 1S23-26; David Weld, 
1827-28; Paul C. Cook, 1829-30; David Weld, 1831 ; John Nichol- 
son, 1832; Paul C. Cook, 1833-35 ' Elias Stephens, 1836; Paul C.Cook, 
1S37-38 ; Calvin Blood, 1839; John Hess, 1S40-41 ; Paul C. Cook, 
1842; John Hess, 1843-44: Calvin Blood, 1S45 ; Zephman Flint, 1846 ; 
John Hess, 1S47; Calvin Blood, 1848; Zephman Flint, 1849; C. J. 
McDowell, 1850-52; David H. Wilcox, 1853 ; C. J. McDowell. 1S54; 
A. Larrowe, 1855-57; James Draper. 1858; Stephen D, Shattuck, 
1S59 ; David Wilcox. 1860-62 ; F. N. Drake. 1863-64 ; D. H. Wilcox, 
1865 ; John H. Butler, 1866-67 ; C. E. Thorp, 1868 ; S. D. Shattuck, 
1S69-70; J. M. Tripp, 1871 ; S. D. Shattuck, 1872 ; Thomas Warner, 
1873-74; James P. Clark, 1875 ; O. S. Searle, 1876; Myron \V. Har- 
ris, 1877; Byron A. Tyler. 1878; Myron W. Harris, 1879-80; C. E. 
Thorp, 1S81 : Dwight Weld, 1S82-83; James M. Reynolds, 1 S84 ; 
Asa McDowell, 1885 : W. T. Slattery, i886; C. E. Thorp, 18S7; H. 
W. Hatch, 1888; Charles Oliver, 1889; Dwight Weld. 1890; A. H. 
Wilcox. 1891-92; H. C. Hatch. 1893-95. 

The officers of the town for the year 1S95 are as follows: Hyde C. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 85 

Hatch, supervisor ; VV. K. Fowler, j. L. VVaugli, J. J. Crouch, and E. 
A. Draper, justices of the peace; William Craig, William Hammond 
and Henry Schvvingel, assessors; Eugene Slayton, collector; Martin 
M. Wilcox, highway commissioner; MelchoirZeh, overseer of the poor ; 
Murray Tripp, Philip Folts and George I. Shoultice, commissioners of 
excise. 

As we have before stated, Cohocton was formed from the still older 
towns of Bath and Dansville, and was, originally, much larger in area 
than as now constituted. A part was taken off in 1843 to form Avoca, 
and a considerable area was taken for Wayland in 1848. In 1874 a 
portion of Prattsburg was annexed to Cohocton. The town was named 
in allusion to the principal stream which crosses its territory in a rather 
tortuous course, but the framers of the town project, either for brevity 
or euphony, dropped the " n " in the first syllable, from which we have 
the name " Cohocton " instead of Conhocton. 

As at present constituted, this town has an area of 34,600 acres of 
land, as good, fertile and generally productive as can be found in Steu- 
ben county. In fact Cohocton has long been classsd among the best 
towns of the entire valley, and the volume of business, in all branches, 
exceeds that of some of the larger towns. Cohocton, Atlanta and North 
Cohocton are villages of some note and shipping points of more than 
ordinary importance. These villages, however, are made the subject 
of special mention in another department of this volume, to which the 
attention of the reader is directed. 

When this town was formed in 18 12, the public mind was consider- 
ably agitated by the events of the war then in progress ; and the inhab- 
itants of this particular region had an additional element of disturbance 
in their very midst, for the Indians were still in the valley and some 
attempts were made to incite them to deeds of violence against the set- 
tlers. A number of the men of the town joined the army and saw 
service on the frontier, and nearly all the able-bodied men were among' 
the enrolled militia and prepared for military duty on call. However, 
the storm of war passed without disaster to local interests, and the In- 
dians were restrained by the determined attitude of the settlers. Soon 
after 18 15 the last remnant of them withdrew from the valley and went 
to the State reservations. 



86 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

In 1 8 14, two years after the creation of the town, the inhabitants 
numbered 746, and in 1820 the number had increased to 1,560. Ten 
years later, (1830) the population was 2,544, the town then being the 
most populous in the county, with the single exception of Bath. In 
1840 the number had increased to 2,965, but the formation of Avoca 
and Wayland during the succeeding decade, reduced the number to 
1,993, 3s shown by the census of 1850. The next ten years witnessed a 
continued increase and the population in i860 was 2,535, and in 1870 
was 2,710 In 1880 the number was 3,346, and in 1890 was 3,444. 
Thus we note a constant increase in population from the formation of 
the town, a fact not noticeable in the majority of interior and agricul- 
tural towns in the State. Yet the statement must be made that much 
of this enlargement is found in the villages, with their ever-increasing 
interests, rather than in the town at large. 

An interesting and at the same time quite exciting period in local 
history was that known as the anti rent conflict, mentioned at greater 
length in another chapter; and while of much importance to the settlers 
in this valley, those of Cohocton felt but little of the unfortunate effects 
of the event. We refer to this period as one of the incidents of local 
history, although the controversy with the land proprietors was rampant 
throughout the Genesee country. The active representatives of Cohoc- 
ton in the Bath convention of January, 1830, were Paul C. Cook, David 
Weld, Nathan Wing, Peter Haight and Alfred Shattuck, all " good men 
and true," and well qualified to represent the interests of our town. 

After the settlement of this controvers\' the inhabitants turned again 
to the work of clearing and developing their farm lands. At that time 
no railroads had been built and the Conhocton was the principal thorough- 
fare of shipment to market of both lumber and farm produce. Lumber- 
ing, as a distinct feature of local history, began almost as early as 
settlement itself, but between the years 1830 and 1855 was carried on 
\o a large extent. The older residents well remember the operations of 
the firm of H. D. Graves & Co., whose first mill was between Liberty 
and Loon Lake. The later firm of F. N. Drake & Co. were large lum- 
bermen, as also was Thomas Warner. However, soon after 1850 the 
railroad was constructed and with the increased facilities for shipping 
thus afforded, so, also, were lumbering interests enlarged until the de- 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 87 

sirable forest growths were practically exiiausted. These operations 
led to the founding of settlements, with stores, public houses, shops and 
other adjuncts of villages, and while lumber making is virtually a thing 
of the past the settlements have remained, and grown, fostered and sup- 
ported by a rich producing agricultural region, and the latter cultivated 
by a thrifty and forehanded class of inhabitants. 

From somewhat incomplete records the fact appears that during the 
period of the war of 1861-65, the town of Cohocton sent into the ser- 
vice a total of two hundred men, who were scattered through the several 
commands recruited in the county. At that time the town population 
was about 2,500, from which it is clear that about ten per cent of the 
inhabitants were in the service. In another chapter will be found a 
record of the services of the companies represented by Cohocton vol- 
unteers, hence a brief mention is all that is required in this connection. 

Of the early schools of Cohocton little is known except the fact that 
Sophia Trumbull opened the first in the cabin built by pioneer Jonas 
Cleland, also the further fact that the first school house stood on the 
Dusenbury farm, near the river, and was built about 1810. The loss of 
town records prevents us from furnishing the action of the early school 
authorities or referring accurately to the first apportionment of the ter- 
ritory into districts. However, speaking of the town at large, the state- 
ment may be made that in the matter of schools, those of Cohocton 
have kept even pace with others of the county, and to-day there are at 
least two organized union free schools within its boundaries. As now 
disposed the town contains twelve districts, each having a good school. 
During the last year, twenty teachers were employed in instructing 
the 731 pupils attending school. The value of school property is 
estimated at $21,095, ^"'i the total assessed valuation of the district is 
$994,943. During the same year (1894-5) the town received $2,592 59 
of public school moneys, and raised by local tax the additional sum of 

$5.436.43- 

Corning. — In the latter part of the year 1789 Frederick Calkins and 
Ephraim and Ichabod Patterson made the first settlement in the town 
of Corning. Frederick Calkins, a Vermonter, had, in the summer be- 
fore, made an improvement in what is now l'>win, but soon learned that 
he was on Colonel Erwin's lands, consequently he left that locality and 



88 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

built a new cabin opposite the Chimney Narrows, on the south side of 
the Chemung. Thus was made the pioneer settlement in the present 
town of Corning, although many years elapsed before this name was 
applied to the region. 

The town was originally a part of one of the provisional districts of 
Ontario county, and was organized in 1793 under the name of Painted 
Post Three years later Steuben county was created, the old district 
name was retained, and its territory included all that is now Hornby, 
Campbell, Erwin, Corning, Caton and Lindley. By reason of important 
early events the present central portion of the township of Corning was 
a locality of much note, although no hamlet worthy the name was built 
up until nearly half a century afterward. The important events alluded 
to were in the nature of land operations and had a direct bearing on the 
early history of the town. 

In the spring of the year 1 790 an association was formed for the pur- 
pose of purchasing from the Phelps and Gorham proprietary a large 
tract of land in this part of Ontario county. The members comprised 
Frederick Calkins, Caleb Gardner, Ephraim Patterson, Justus Wolcott, 
Peleg Gorton and Silas Wood, and their purchase, substantially, was 
the present town of Corning, or township 2, of range i. All of these 
purchasers, except Mr. Wood, settled on the land and began improve- 
ments as early as the year 1792. However, there appears to have been 
some dissatisfaction in the company, growing out of what was said to 
be an unequal division of the land, and on the 15th of March, 1792, a 
number of the members, with others who purchased from the company, 
reconveyed to Mr. Phelps 10,040 acres of land ; and on April 4, fol- 
lowing Peleg Gorton likewise deeded to Mr. Phelps 2,000 acres of land 
in the town. 

During their brief ownership, the proprietors caused a survey of the 
town to be made, after which the apportionment was effected, and when 
the feeling of disaffection arose the matter was referred for settlement 
to William Jenkins, Eleazer Lindley and John Bendy. The adjustment 
made b>' these arbiters proved satisfactor_\- to the interested owners, and 
thereafter the question of land titles in Corning was permanently settled. 
Then improvements began, one of the first and most needed of which 
was the erection of a grist mill on Post Creek, near Ephraim Patterson's 




DWIGHT A. FULLER. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 89 

house, by Colonel Henderson and Mr. Payne. Two years later, 1795, 
Benjamin Eaton opened a store on the highway between Corning and 
Knoxville. The next year Charles Williamson, ever alert in the inter- 
est of his estates, puichased a tract of land on the north side of the 
Chemung and began the erection of a large and well-appointed public 
house, one which in appearance and size far outstripped any then in the 
Genesee country ; and one which has withstood the ravages of time for 
almost a century. This hostelry was long known as the "Jennings 
Tavern," John Jennings having been its owner and proprietor from 1813 
to 1834, but the original landlord was Henjamin Patterson, the famous 
hunter and guide of the region in after years. Patterson came to the 
house in June, 1797, and on his arrival found these residents in the 
vicinity: David Fuller, Stephen Ross, Eli and Eldad Mead, George 
McCullough, Howell Bull, afterward prominent in Bath history; Benjamin 
I-laton, Mrs. Nehemiah Hubbell, widow of Ichabod Patterson ; Jared 
Irwin, Jonathan and Jeduthan Rowley, Abraham and Dr. Phineas Brad- 
ley, Eliakim Jones, Enos Calkins, Frederick Calkins, and the Grotons, 
Wolcotts, Rowleys, the latter three living farther east. Besides these 
settlers there were in the valley and elsewhere James Turner, William 
Knox, Hezekiah Tlunber, Samuel Shannon, David Hayden, Joseph 
Grant, Jonathan Cook and David Trowbridge. 

Knoxville (now part of the city), says a cotemporary writer, " was 
founded and named after Hon. John Knox, who came to the place 
about 1795. He led a distinguished and active life, reflecting the high- 
est honor upon the community in which he lived. His residence, in 
which he kept public house, was located on the second lot below the 
Methodist church (1876) in Knoxville. It was in this house that the 
original Painted Post Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons occupied 
rooms, and where it flourished till 1827." 

Ansel McCall moved into the town in i S04, and in the next year 
erected both saw and grist mills, on the south side of the river, near and 
below the canal dam. 

Centerville, according to the same authority as noted above, formed 

part of the large farm of Judge Thomas McBurney, who, in 1824 or '25, 

laid out village lots, and also set up a high post which he claimed to be 

on the site of the original Painted Post. Hon. Philo P. Hubbell kept a 
12 



90 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COONTY. 

large hotel, while other early business men were Fidelis Ferenbaugli, 
saddler and harnessmaker ; Z. F. Wilder, blacksmith; John Arnot and 
H. H. Matthews, storekeepers ; Charles L. Mills and Charles E. Osborne 
were also prominent business men of the place. At Centerville Judge 
Thomas A. Johnson began his legal career, and Ansel J. McCall, now 
of Bath, taught the first school. The old " Mallory House" was built 
about 1824. and in one of its wings the "Bank of Corning" began 
business in 1839. The act authorizing the construction of the Chemung 
Canal was passed April 15, 1829, and the work of building was finished 
in 1833. -^ State dam was built across the river at the lower end of 
the village, and a "feeder" was constructed to Horseheads, a distance 
of fifteen miles. 

Thus have we briefly narrated the events by which this town was 
brought into e.xistence and subsequently developed and built up, until 
it became in all respects the most progressive and firmly established 
town in Steuben county ; not, perhaps, the most populous, but one 
which from every point of view may justly lay claim to the title of 
metropolis of the shire. In general fertility of soil, natural advantages, 
thrift, enterprise and general progressiveness, the town of Corning, in- 
cluding of course the chartered city within its limits, is one of the best 
civil divisions in this part of the State. 

However, retrospecting briefly, let us note some of the changes in 
the original territory of the town called Painted Post. The first reduc- 
tion in area was made in 1826, when Erwin and Hornby (including 
Campbell and Lindly) were set oft', after which the town contained but 
two townships, numbers i and 2, range i, or, a§ now constituted, Corn- 
ing and Caton. The latter was separated from the mother town in 1839, 
leaving to Painted Post a single township, number 2, range i. The old 
name was continued until March 31, 1852, and then changed to Corn- 
ing, in honorable allusion to the enterprise of the " Corning Company," 
the acknowledged leader in which was Erastus Corning, of Albany, N. 
Y. This subject, however, will be more fully treated in the history of 
the city of Corning. 

Reduced to its present area. Corning contains (inclusive of the citj') 
24,200 acres of land ; and land which agriculturists regard as ricli and 
fertile as can be found in all Steuben county. Noting its physical char- 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 91 

acteristics, the wide valley of the Chemung, extending northwest and 
southeast through the center of the town, together with several lateral 
valleys, divide the uplands into rounded hills and narrow ridges. Its 
principal stream is the Chemung River, tributaries of which are Borden, 
Post, Narrows, Clump Foot and Wiiifield Creeks, as known a quarter 
of a century and more ago. The soil on the liills is a heavy, slaty 
loam, and in the valleys a fine quality of sandy and gravelly loam, occa- 
sionally intermixed with clay. These elements are desirable for suc- 
cessful agricultural pursuits, and in response to the proper efforts of the 
husbandman yield abundantly in general crops, and as well in vegeta- 
bles and tobacco. The assessed valuation of the town, in real and per- 
sonal property, is $761,760 ; in real, $719,260, and personal, $42,500. 

One of the most noticeable incidents of local history in Corning has 
been the constant and healthful increase in number of inhabitants in the 
town. In proof of this we may have recourse to the census tables, by 
which we learn that in 1800 the sparsely settled town of Painted Post 
had a population of 262, and during the next ten years the number had 
increased to 950. The census of 1S20 gave Corning 2,088 inhabitants, 
but the reductions in territory which were made in 1826 also took 
many inhabitants, and the consequence was that in 1830 the town had 
974 population. However, during the succeeding ten years the num- 
ber was increased to 1,674, while the census of 1850 showed the popu- 
lation to be 4,372. In i860 it was 6,003, '" '870 was 6,502, in 1880 
was 7,402, and in 1890, was 10,188. The city of Corning was created 
by act of the Legislature in I 890, and, according to the count of 1892, 
had a population of 10,025. In the same year the town had 1,838 in- 
habitants. 

As we have noted, the town was organized under the name of Painted 
Post, in the year 1793, then comprising one of the districts or towns of 
Ontario county. When Steuben county was erected, in 1796, and its 
towns formed. Painted Post was continued though somewhat reduced 
in area. In 1826 still other and greater portions of territory were 
taken in forming other towns. Previous to this time officers had been 
regularly elected and were chosen from the township at large. A com- 
plete Siiccession of these early ofificers, or at least the supervisors, would 
be desirable, but it is impossible owing to the absence of reliable records. 



9S LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

However, having recourse to published documents, and relying some- 
what upon verified recollections, we are able to furnish a reasonably 
accurate list of supervisors from the year 1823, as follows ; 

Thomas McBurney, 1823-24; John Knox, 1825; Thomas McBur- 
ney, 1826-27; John Knox, 1828-29; Henry H. Matthews, 1830-32; 
Daniel Gorton, 1833-34; William Bonham ; 1835; Samuel K. Wol- 
cott, 1836; John McBurney, 1837-38; Henry H. Matthews, 1839; 
Thomas A. Johnson, 1840-41; John McBurney, 1842-43; John Sly, 
jr., 1844; Thomas A. Johnson, 1S45-46; H. B. Noyes, 1847; Jona- 
than Brown, 1848; Benjamin P. Bailey, 1849-50; Daniel B, Cump- 
ston, 1851; William Irvin, 1852; Simeon Hammond, 1853 ; John May- 
nard, 1854; Charles Packer, 1855; Benjamin P. Bailey, 1856; Stephen 
T. Hayt, 1857; Charles C. B. Walker, 1858; Stephen T. Hayt, 1859- 
63; Nelson Cowan, 1864-66; Henry Gofif, 1867-68; John Vischer, 
1869; Austin Lathrop.jr , 1870-77; Nelson Cowan, 1878; S. C. Robert- 
son, 1879-80; L. C. Kingsbury, 1881-83; Stephen T. Hayt, 1884; L. 
C. Kingsbury, 1885 ; H. C. Heermans, 1886-87 ; L. C. Kingsbury, 1888 ; 
B. W. Wellington, 1889; James L. Packer, 1890-92 ; R. F. Clark, 1893 ; 
Myron W. Robbins, 1894-95. 

The town offiers for the years 1895 ^""^ ^s follows : Myron W. Robbins, 
supervisor ; Frank H. Johnson, town clerk ; Egbert Shoemaker, W. H. 
Sweetland, H. W. Van Etten, and Wm. Gofif, justices of the peace; 
Henry Teak, commissioner of highways; P. A, Rouse, Peter Coven- 
hoven, and G. W. Barnard, assessors ; J. W. Calkins, overseer of the 
poor. 

About the time the town of Painted Post was divided (in 1826) the in- 
habitants of the county were much disturbed on account of the feeling of 
unrest and dissatisfaction occasioned by the attitude of the Pulteney As- 
sociation in the land controversy just beginning. However, in this par- 
ticular locality little of the prevailing distress was felt, for the lands of 
Painted Post generally were very desirable and much sought. Still, act- 
ing in common with the entire region, this town assembled in meeting 
and selected representatives to the historic Bath convention, as follows : 
Robert H. Hoyt, Joseph Gillett, Charles Wolcott, jr., William Webster 
and Henry D. Smith. 

From this time (about 1830) forth no disturbing event occurred to 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 93 

mar rlie harmony of local growth and progress. Soon after ihc settle- 
ment of the controversy the Corning Company was organized and laid 
the foundation for what is now a flourishing city, and on every hand 
were evidences of prosperity. All interests were enlarged, railroads, 
one following another, were constructed through the town and Corning 
became indeed an important community in the southern part of New 
York. 

The ne.xt period of importance in local and general history was that 
commonly mentioned as the war of 1861-65, during which the martial 
spirit of this town was put to the test and not found wanting. A reference 
to the military roster of the town discloses the fact that Corning, town and 
village, furnished for the service a total of 324 men, who were scattered 
through the several regiments raised in southern New York. During 
the war the village was an important seat of operations and its close 
proximit}' to Elmira gave an additional interest to rapidly occurring 
events. In another chapter particular reference is made to the several 
companies recruited in the town and to their service at the front. 

Record and tradition alike are almost silent regarding the early 
schools in this important town, and the unfortunate loss of town books 
leaves us quite in the dark as to the time when the town was first ap- 
portioned into school districts. Yet we know that the pioneers were 
not neglectful of the educational welfare of their youth, for as early as 
the year 1793 Samuel Colgrove opened a school in the town. In later 
years, as the town was divided and other jurisdictions created, it became 
necessary to as frequently redistrict the remaining portions of Painted 
Post, or Corning, and when the village assumed proportions of impor- 
tance excellent academic institutions were established. These naturally 
drew attendance from the town at large, a condition of things which ex- 
ists even to tlie present time, for the superior excellence of Coming's 
schools is known throughout the southern tier. 

As at present disposed, the town is divided into sixteen districts, and 
during the last school year 2,428 pupils attended school in both town 
and city. The value of school buildings and property is estimated at 
$108,230, and the assessed valuation of the town and city is $4,200,445. 
Forty-eight teachers are employed annually. The joint town and city 
received public moneys to the amount of $7,981.06, while there was 



94 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

raised by local tax the additional sum of $24,143.24 Eleven trees 
were planted in 1894. 

DansVILI,E — Originally, this town composed all the territory that 
is now Dansville, Fremont, Wayland and portions of Howard and Co- 
hocton It was one of the original towns of the count}-, formed in March, 
1796, and was named from Daniel P. Faulkner, an early and spirited 
citizen familiarly known as Captain Dan. Parts of Cohocton and How- 
ard were taken off in 18 12, a part of Wayland in 1848, and of Fremont 
in 1854. A portion was also annexed to Sparta in 1822, and a part of 
Cohocton was re-annexed April 26, 1834. Reduced to its present 
limits, Dansville contains 30,000 acres of land. The surface is chiefly 
upland divided into ridges by the narrow valleys of small streams. 
The declivities of the hills are steep and their summits are 300 to 400 
feet above the valleys. The streams are the head branches of Canas- 
eraga Creek, flowing north, and of Canisteo River, flowing south. The 
soil is a sandy and gravelly loam in the east and north, and gravel 
underlaid by hardpan in the southwest part of the town. 

Notwithstanding the fact that the early settlement of this town was 
much delayed by reason of the uninviting character of the land, it ap- 
pears that when once begun the population increased rapidly, and in 
1810 there were 666 inhabitants in the district. There seems also to 
have been made a mistake regarding the fertility of the land in this 
region as later years and persistent effort developed the fact that Dans- 
ville possessed natural resources almost equal to any portion of the 
county. To-day, as a potato pioducing section it leads all others in 
this part of ihe State ; and William C. Healey is one of the most ex- 
tensive farmers and growers. 

In proof of this statement we may quote from the words of a writer 
of local history in 18 12, as follows: "This is an excellent tract of land, 
well and variously timbered, and the soil is various though commonly 
good for a rich farming country. There is a large marsh in the west 
part, and Loon Pond, near the center, is about one mile broad. There 
are three grain mills, four or five saw mills, an oil mill, paper mill, full- 
ing mill, and a carding machine." Speaking of the locality of Dans- 
ville village, the same writer says: "The valley embracing this settle- 
ment contains 3,000 acres of choice lands and the soil is warm and pro- 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 95 

ductive. There is a road from Bath to Dansville that leads diagonally 
across the center of this town, and another between Dansville and On- 
tario county leads across the northern part." At about this time there 
were lOO taxable inhabitants in the town. 

The pioneers of Dansville were Isaac Sterling and Samuel Giison 
(some authorities say Gibson) who made a settlement about a half mile 
■east of Burn's Station in the year 1804. These settlers were followed 
very soon afterward by James, John and Major Jones, Frederick Fry, 
William Young, Thomas and Nathaniel Brayton, Tisdale Haskin, 
Thomas and John Root, Joshua Healey, Charles Oliver, Joseph Phelps, 
Hlisha Robinson, William C. Rogers, Jesse Bridge, Jqsiah Pond, Joseph 
Cobb, Martin Smith, Newman Bell, Putnam Rich, better known as Put. 
Rich, Judge David Demeree, Jehial, Gross and James Gates, Arad 
Sheldon, Silas Brookins, Isaiah Goodno and Venare Cook. The settlers 
were principally Vermonters from Addison and Rutland counties, from 
the old towns of Pittsford, Benson, Orwell, Shoreham, and Salisbury. 
They were descendants of Green Mountain stock and left their homes 
in that rich localit}' for an uncertain future in an undeveloped countrj'. 
However, as Vermonters, they were men of great determination and by 
their efforts early succeeded in placing Dansville among the first towns 
in Steuben county. 

As early as 1806 pioneer Isaac Sterling opened a public house on 
the old Arkport and Dansville road, and as this was a much traveled 
highway it is said that within a very few years there was a tavern at 
every mile on the road, and the woods were alive with noisy oxteamsters 
who hauled staves to Arkport, from which point they were boated down 
the Canisteo to market. Indeed settlement must have been rapid for 
in 1811 James Jones opened a school not far from Doty's Corners. 
Rufus Fuller built a saw mill in 18 16, and four years later built a grist- 
mill and another saw mill, taking the stones from Oak Hill. The grist 
mill was carried away by high water about 1823. The settlement by 
the Vermont colony was begun in 18 15 and continued for the next 
five years at which latter time pioneership ceased, as the population in 
1820 was 1,565. 

However, among the other pioneers and early settlers we may men- 
tion the names of Osgood Carleton, 181 5, Jesse Churchill, tavern- 



96 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

keeper in 1 8 16, Timothy Atwood, surveyor and schoolteacher, William 
S. Lemen, whose son James P., born March, 1816, was the first white 
child born in the town. Chauncey Day settled in 1816. The locality 
known as Sandy Hill was settled principally by Germans, among whom 
Alexander Leib, John Hayt, Alexander Green and Jacob Kurtz, sen. 
and jr., were the first comers. The patriarch of this locality was John 
Brail, whom every one knew as " Grandpap Brail." He came to Dans- 
ville in 1817. Among the early German families in this locality were 
the surnames of Bolinger, Rider, Kersh and Schu. On Oak Hill a set- 
tlement was made in 1816-17 by Moses Hulbert, Joshua Williams, 
Daniel, George and Hubbard Griswold, William C. Rogers, Thomas 
Buck, George Butler and Joshua Woodward. One of the first mar- 
riages in the town, June 16, 1818, was that of Cyril Buck and Philena 
Hall. Dr. Thomas M. Bowen settled east of Beachville in 18 19 and 
was an early postmaster at South Dansville. Eli Carrington, Timothy, 
Nathaniel and Meyer Wallace, Vermonters, joined the settlement in 
1820. Here Arad Sheldon opened a tavern, and the place soon became 
a business center. It was named Beachville, after Aaron, Robert and 
John Beach, brothers, who were prominent tavern and store keepers. 

With settlement thus rapidly accomplished, Dansville earl)' became 
an important division of the county. Its greatest population was at- 
tained in 1840, the inhabitants then numbering 2,725. However, by 
subsequent reductions in its territory, and the natural decline in popu- 
lation and interest noticeable in nearly all purely agricultural towns, 
Dansville has a population, according to the enumeration of 1892, of 
only 1,544. 

The organization of Dansville was effected on April 4, 1797, at which 
time the town contained its original area, and before anj' reductions to 
its territory had been made. At that time the population could not 
have numbered more than 200 inhabitants. The meeting was held in 
the village of Dansville at the house of Samuel Faulkner, at which time 
James Faulkner and Isaac Van Deventer were elected overseers of high- 
ways, and David Fuller, collector. The first records of the town are 
somewhat obscure and imperfect, yet we know that in 1799 Daniel P. 
Faulkner was elected supervisor, James Hooker, town clerk, and Alex- 
ander F'ullerton, William Porter and John Phoenix, assessors. The first 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF TFIK COUNTY. 97 

justices, who of course at the time were appointed, were Isaac Van De- 
venter. 1807, Jonas Cleiand, 1809, Stephen Haight, 18 10, and Jolin 
Metcalfe, 181 1. 

The town officers for the year 1895 are as follows: Lorenzo Hul- 
bert, supervisor ; C. C. Wood, town clerk ; L. K. Robinson, D. G. 
Haynes, Philip Webb and C. Byron Wallace, justices of the peace ; D. 
H. Griswold, Alexander Smart and Wendell Gessner, assessors ; Valen- 
tine Weber, collector; Daniel Eveland, highway commissioner ; John C. 
Grobe, overseer of the poor; John Haight, Peter Schubmehl and Charles 
O. Currey, excise commissioners. 

The supervisors of Daiisville, in succession, have been as follows : 
Daniel P. Faulkner, 1799; Alexander Fullerton, 1799, to fill vacancy; 
Jacob Van Deventer, 1800; Amariah Hammond, 1800, to fill vacancy ; 
Samuel Faulkner, 1801 ; Amariah Hammond, 1802-06 ; Richard W. 
Porter, 1807-08 ; Jared Irwin, 1808, to fill vacancy; Samuel Cuthbert- 
son, 1809; Jared Irwin, iSio; Jonathan Rowley. 18 1 1-12 ; Wm. R. 
Rochester, 1813; Thomas McWliprton, 1813-15; James Faulkner, 
1816-18 ; Joshua Hcaley, 1819 and i 82 1-26 ; James Faulkner, 1820; 
Charles Oliver, 1827-32; Natiianiel Brayton, 1833; Aaron W. Beach, 
1834-36; Joel Carrington, 1837-39 ; Timothy Wa'lace, 1840-42; Joshua 
Healey, 1843 ; Charles Oliver, 1844 and 1847-48 ; Leeds Allen, 1845- 
46; Joel Carrington, 1849-50, and 1854; Luther White, 1851-53; 
Wm. W. Healey, 1855, '58 and '60; Eli Carrington, 1856-57; Wm. A. 
Woodard, 1859; Chas. S. Ackley, 1861-62; Wm. W. Healey. 1863; 
Dyer L. Kingsley, 1864-68 ; Benj F. Kershner, 1869 ; Warren Wallace, 
1870-71; Fred. M. Kreidler, 1872; Morgan H.Carney, 1873-74; 
Lewellyn S. Healey, 1875-76 ; Chas Oliver, 1877-80 ; D. Campbell, 
1881; J. McWoolever, 1882-83; Morgan L. Miller, 1884; Peter S. 
Pealer, 1885-86; C. M. Ackley, 1887-89; C. S. Kreidler, 1890-91; 
Lorenzo Hurlburt, 1892 ; Ira G. Day, 1893 ; Lorenzo Hurlburt, 1894-95. 

From first to last, the social and industrial history of Dansville has 
been rich and inttresting, although during the last thirty years there 
has been witnessed a gradual decline in population in the town. The 
first important event in local annals was the anti-rent conflict, in which 
the people felt a deep anxiety, for their interests were greatly affected 
by the distress prevailing at tluit time throughout the region. In the 
13 



98 LjiNDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

measures for relief the leading men were actively engaged, and in the 
]5ath convention of January, 1830, the town was represented by Thomas 
M. Brown, Peter Covert, Annis Newcomb, Leeds Allen and Martin 
Smith. However, this disturbing period had hardly passed before there 
was visited upon the people here the dreadful cholera scourge of 1834, 
as H result of which many persons in the town met premature death. 
Nothing further of a serious nature took place to disturb the serenity of 
town affairs and progress until the outbreak of the war of 1 861-5, dur- 
ing which period the patriotism and loj'alty of Dansville were tested 
and found true. Many of the brave sons of the town were enlisted 
among the volunteer regiments of the county, and several still sleep in 
southern graves. 

Due care and attention have also been given to the spiritual and edu- 
cational welfare of the youth of the town, and during the period of its 
history no less than five church societies have been organized and edi- 
fices provided for religious worship. In 181 1 James Jones opened a 
primitive school in the town, although several years passed before dis- 
tricts were formed and schools provided for each. However, at a much 
later period, two academic institutions were founded at Rogersville, the 
principal village of the town, and from that time Dansville occupied a 
front rank among the educational localities of the entire region. As at 
present disposed, the town is divided into fourteen districts, each of 
which is provided with a comfortable school house. During the school 
year 1893—4, fourteen teachers were employed, and 357 children were 
in attendance. The value of school property in the town is estimated 
at $6,000. The town received of public moneys, $1,610 83, and raised 
by tax, $1,701.94. Fourteen trees were planted in 1893. 

Among the religious societies of this town which have passed out of 
active existence, we may mention the Evangelical cliurch, organized in 
the German settlement on Oak Hill in 1863, and also the Catholic 
mission, established in the same locality as early as 1834. A Baptist 
society was also formed in Dansville about 1S20, but this, too, is among 
the things of the past. 

Erwin. — On the 27th day of January, 1826, the town of Painted Post 
(formed March 18, 1796,) was divided and a portion of the territory set 
ofT was erected into a new town by the name of Erwin; and so called in 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTV. 93 

allusion to Col. Arthur Erwin, formerly of Bucks county, Penn., who 
had been an officer in the Revolutionary army, and by whom tiie town 
was purchased from the Phelps and Gorham proprietary. However, 
from the original town of Erwin, Lindley was taken off in 1837, and a 
part of Corning was re annexed in 1856. As then constituted and now 
existing, this town -contains 23,300 acres of land, of as good quality for 
general agricultural purposes as can be found in Steuben county. 

The physical features and natural characteristics are remarkable and 
quite dift'erent from those of the county at large. The land surface is 
nearly equally divided between high rolling uplands and the low valleys 
of streams. The more elevated lands are from 400 to 650 feet above 
the valleys. In the southern part of the town the waters of the Canisteo 
unite with the Tioga, and in the northeast part the latter stream unites 
with the Cohocton and forms the Chemung River. In all respects Er- 
win may justly be regarded the best watered division of this large 
county. The valley.s of the streams vary in width from one to two miles, 
and the soil is a fine quality of alluvium. 

However, notwithstanding all the various advantages of location, and 
the general fertility of soil, both on hills and in the valleys, it is only 
within the last score of years that the forest growths have been removed, 
and there are still in the town a few desirable timbered tracts. 

This town contains, according to accredited authority, one of the most 
historic landmarks of Steuben county — the famous " Painted Post," the 
subject of rhyme and story ; and concerning which all students of arche- 
ology and the Indianologists as well, were at loss in satisfactorily basing 
and proving their theories. However, this subject is so fully treated in 
one of the early chapters of the present work that nothing more than a 
brief allusion to it is necessary at this time. The town abounds in In- 
dian history and traditions, well authenticated in many cases, and purely 
mythical in others, and all have been treated and frequently enlarged 
upon by past writers, wherefore in this narrative we propose to deal 
only with the civilized white settlement, tracing briefly the interesting 
record of growth and development to the present time. 

In the summer of 1789, Col. Arthur Erwin set out from his home in 
Bucks county, Pennsylvania, accompanied with a good number of help- 
ers, bound for Canandaigua, the seat of operations of the Phelps and 
LofC. 



iOO LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTy. 

Gorham proprietary. This adventurous pioneer came with a determi- 
nation to locate in the Genesee country, and brought with him a fair 
drove of cattle to be turned into cash or used as stock on his proposed 
purchase. At that time the fact was well known that Samuel Harris, 
trapper and Indian trader, had a cabin within the limits of the pres- 
ent village of Painted Post, and here Colonel Ervvin stopped to rest 
his cattle. The location and general outlook pleased the colonel, and 
he immediately resumed his journey to Canandaigua, reaching which 
he at once enquired if township number two, range two, was in the 
market, and, if so, at what price. Phelps charged and Erwin paid the 
gross sum of ^^1,400 New York money, for the township, turning his 
cattle in part payment and cash for the balance and thus became the 
owner of the town afterwards named for him, the subject of this 
chapter. 

Three years previous to this event, or in 1786, Samuel Harris built a 
cabin on the village site, and employed himself in trapping, curing and 
dealing in furs, and trading among the Indian occupants of the region. 
He was not in any sense a pioneer and made no attempt at clearing or 
improving the land. According to Judge Mcl\Iaster, the Harris cabin 
was subsequently burned. In 1789 this pioneer adventurer moved to 
a point near the foot of Cayuga Lake. Augustus Porter, surveyor for 
Phelps and Gorham, made the Harris cabin his headquarters while lay- 
ing out the townships in this part of Ontario county. 

The settlement in fact of the town began in 1788, for account of 
which we have recourse to a previously published narrative, as follows : 
In 1788 came Eli Mead and George Goodhue and their families. In 
1789 came David Fuller and family; in 1790, Bradford Edgeton. Will- 
iam Hincher. James Shaw, with their families, and David Cook, whose 
family came in 1792. Col. Arthur Erwin, the owner of the township, 
came in the very early spring of 1791 with the intention of making it 
his permanent home. On his return to Bucks county for his family, he 
had reached his possessions then in Luzerne county, and while sitting 
in the house of his tenant, Daniel McDufife, he was assassinated by a 
squatter, who immediately made his escape on a stolen horse. In 1791 
came John Wyman and family, Capt. Samuel Erwin, then unmarried, 
and Major Arthur Erwin, both sons of Colonel Erwin. In 1793 Eldad 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTT. 101 

Mead became a settler, and in the following year John Mulliollen and 
several others were added to the settlement along the rivers. The year 
1796 witnessed the arrival of Hugh I'',rvvin, another son of Colonel 
Erwin, while among the settlers of 1797 were Joseph Grant, Jacob 
Turnei-, Homer and Asher Lane and John Kemp, nearly all of whom 
brought families. 

Among the other early settlers in our town were Benjamin Patterson, 
famed throughout the region for his hunting proclivities, and as well for 
liis generous hospitality as a tavern-keeper; and as a story teller and 
general entertainer he was without a peer in the town. Prominent also 
among the pioneers were John E. Evans, who taught the first school in 
the town, and was at one time postmaster, also George Young and 
Edward Cooper, all of whom were identified with the town in its early 
history. 

Referring briefly to some of the first events of local history, it may 
be stated that Samuel Erwin built the first saw mill, in 1820, and the 
the first grist mill in 1823, while David Fuller opened the first public 
house in 1792. John E. Evans began teaching school in 1812, and 
among his pupils were Robert and John Patterson, Gen. F. E. Erwin, 
Gen. William D. Knox, John Erwin, Col. F. E. Young, Thomas Wheat, 
Arthur H. Erwin, John McBurney, Samuel Shannon, Philander Knox 
and others, each of whom occupied positions of trust and responsibility 
in after years. 

The war of 1812-15 was an important period in local history, and one 
not without interest to the people of the town. Among those drafted 
for service were Abner Trowbridge, Edmund C. Cooper, James Gillen 
and Thomas Wheat. Joseph Gillett held a lieutenant's commission, and 
was wounded in battle. Judge Thomas McBurney was another com- 
missioned officer. Edmund C. Cooper sent a substitute in his place. 
Uaniel MuUhoUen enlisted twice, and finally lost an arm in the service. 

The town of Erwin, having within its boundaries parts of four con- 
siderable rivers, has several times been subjected to serious inundation, 
and some of these occasions have passed into history as notable events, 
hence worthy of at least passing mention. In the fall of the year 1817 
there came what has ever been known as the "pumpkin" flood, by 
which crops, cattle and many buildings were swept away. In 1833 the 



102 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

waters of both Conhocton and Tioga were swollen to an unusual de- 
gree, and some damage and still more excitement was the result. Next 
came the great flood of 1857, which also proved disastrous, and finally 
that of St. Patrick's day, 1865. 

The interest of Colonel Erwin in this town was an entire one, and 
had that worthy pioneer lived to witness the execution of his plans here 
indeed would undoubtedly have been a municipality of considerable 
commercial importance; but his unfortunate and untimely taking off 
unsettled all plans for the future of the town, although his sons sliowed 
commendable ability and zeal in settling the affairs of the estate and 
holding intact its value. After Colonel Erwin's death the property was 
divided among his ten children, of whom Samuel, Francis, Arthur, 
Rebecca and Mrs. Mulhollen became residents of the town The estate 
was divided by a commission comprising John Konkle, Eleazer Lud- 
ley and Henry McCormick. 

In this narrative thus far progressed we have generally alluded to the 
town under its present name — Erwin — although as a matter of fact the 
territory remained a part of Painted Post until 1826. After being set 
off, the first town meeting was held March 7, of the year mentioned, 
at the dwelling of Daniel Rooks, jr. Ethan Pier presided on this occa- 
sion and Capt. Samuel Erwin was elected supervisor, and John E, Evans, 
town clerk. From that time it is interesting to note the succession of 
supervisors, the principal town office, viz.: 

Samuel Erwin, 1826-29; Abner Thurber, 1830-32; John Cooper, 
jr., 1833; Chauncey Hoffman, 1834-35; A.C.Morgan, 1836; Francis 
E. Erwin, 1837-38; Arthur Erwin, jr., 1839-42; William J. Gillett, 
1843-48; Arthur H. P>win, 1849-50; Ira P. Bennett, 1851; Uri 
Balcom, 1852-53; Samuel Erwin, 1854; Arthur H. ILrwin, 1855-62; 
William J. Gilbert, 1863 ; Wm. C. Bronson, 1864-67 ; Alanson J. Fox, 
1868; W. C. Bronson, 1869; Lyman Balcom, 1870 ; Ira P. Bennett, 
1871 ; Charles J. Fox, 1872-74; Francis Erwin, 1875; W. S. Hodg- 
man, 1876; Francis Erwin, 1877-80; Charles Iredell, 1881-33; Thomas 
R. Peck, 1884; W. S. Hodgman, 1885-88; F. E. Bronson. 1889-90; 
George W. Campbell, 1891-95. 

In this connection we may also properly furnish the list of town of- 
ficers for the present year, 1895 '• George W. Campbell, supervisor; J. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 103 

D. Orcutt, town clerk ; J. S. Tobias, S H. Howell, W. C. Morse and 
George Uunklee, justices ; Hiram P. Badger, L. Kinsella and C. D. 
Rouse, assessors ; Frank Berry, collector and overseer of the poor; F. 
C. Wilcox, iiighway commissioner; E. D. Bonhani. W. A. Allen and 

E. E. Erwin, excise commissioners. 

Soon after the separate organization of Erwin, the inhabitants of the 
entire region were much disturbed on account of the land controversy 
of about 1830, but as this town was entirely outside the interests of the 
Pultney Association, the serious effects of the conflict were not felt here. 
However, the event was the subject of much discussion in the accustomed 
resorts, and the town was represented by delegates in the famous Bath 
convention. This duty was delegated to John E. Evans, Samuel Erwin 
and John Cooper, jr. 

In i860 Erwin contained 1,859 inhabitants, yet, during the war of 
1861-65, the town is credited with having furnishing a total of two 
hundred and ten men for the service, or about ten and one-fourth per 
cent of the population. A history of the several companies in which 
were Erwin volunteers will be found in another chapter of this work. 

During the period of its history, there have been built u]) and estab- 
lished within the limits of this town several villages or hamlets, known, 
respectively, as Painted Post, an incorporated village and as well one of 
the most interesting and historic localities in the county ; Gang Mills, 
a hamlet southwest of the principal village and brought into existence 
about 1832 ; Cooper's Plains, a hamlet and post-office in the north 
part of the town ; and Erwin, a station on the Erie road and established 
about 1873. The village of Painted Post and also each of these ham- 
lets will be found mentioned in the chapter devoted to municipal hi.'^tory. 

In concluding this chapter we may with propriety refer briefly to the 
census reports and from that source glean some facts relative to the 
population of Erwin at different periods. In 1830 the inhabitants in 
the town were 795 in number, while in 1840 it had decreased to 785. 
During the ne.xt ten years the increase was remarkable, the census 
showing the population to be 1,435. ^" 1S60 the number increased 
to 1,859, and in 1870 to 1,977. The greatest number of inhabitants 
was reached in 1880, being 2,095, but a decrease followed, the number 
in 1890 being 1,884. According to the count of 1892, Erwin's popula- 
tion was 1,843. 



104 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 

Fremont. — In the year 1854, about the time of the organization of 
the Republican party, the creating powers were petitioned to form a 
new town in Steuben county, and in accordance with the request there 
was erected the present town of Fremont, so named in allusion to John 
C. Fremont, who at that particular time was a conspicuous figure in 
national politics. The town was erected on November 17, and the 
older divisions Hornellsville, Dansville, Wayland, and Howard surren- 
dered portions of their territory to the new formation. The new town 
contains 19,600 acres of land, and is located in the northwest part of 
the county. Its surface is a hilly upland and forms a part of the divid- 
ing ridge between the Canisteo and Conhocton Rivers. The soil is 
chiefly a shaly loam, derived from the disintegration of the surface 
rocks. 

The pioneer of this town was Job B Rathbun, a native of Connecticut, 
but a former resident of Dansville in this county. Mr. Rathbun moved 
into what is now Fremont in 18 12 and built the first dwelling house in 
the town, and from his settlement the locality soon became known as 
" Job's Corners." About the same time Abel H. Baldwin moved in 
from Otsego county, e.xchanging one hilly region for another. Next 
came Thomas Buck and family from Washington county. John A. 
Buck married Rebecca Baldwin, and their son, Charles E , born Novem- 
ber 12, 1816, was the first birth in the town. The first death was that 
of the wife of Amos Baldwin, December 12, 181 5. 

Among the other early settlers may be recalled the names of Ira 
Travis, in the valley of Big Creek ; Solomon and Jacob Conderman, 
from whom has descended several prominent men in the county; John 
Bartholomew, in the southeast part of the town ; Lemuel Harding, in 
1816; Oliver Harding, a patriot of the Revolution ; Samuel Sharp, who 




^?^^, 





^ 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 105 

located west of Harding's. Harding's Hill was so named from the fam- 
ilies just referred to Eiislia Strait was the first settler in the north part 
of the town, coming here in 1815, and was followed in 1816 by Edward 
Markham and Francis Drake, who located south of him. In 18 19 
Jerry Kinney, George Nutting, Barnet Brayton, Henry Cotton, and 
Leonard Briggs made a colony settlement at the head of the west branch 
of Neil's Creek. Here they found a camp of about twenty Indians, who 
were engaged in hunting and fishing. Alexander Kelly made the first 
clearing where Haskinville is located. 

Other and later settlers, yet worthy to be mentioned in these annals, 
were James Rider and William Haskins, from Saratoga count\', also 
William Holden, Gideon Majnard, Silas Benjamin, Stephen Holden 
(1816), Lewis Canfield, Daniel Upson, Michael G. Helmer, Edward Pat- 
terson, Elisha G. Stephens, founder of the village called Stephen's 
Mills, Richard Timmerman, and others who were in some manner iden- 
tified with the history of the town while its territory formed a part of 
the older divisions. 

As we have noted the town was organized as a separate jurisdiction 
in 1854, then having a popidatioii of about i, loO inhabitants. The first 
town meeting was held in Mr. Stephen's hotel at the Center, on Febru- 
ary 13, 1855, at which time these officers were elected: Elisha G. 
Stephens, supervisor; Franklin Dart, town clerk; Jason Ranger, Solo- 
mon Gates, Ebenezer H. Mason, justices of the peace; Randall F. 
Beecher, Isaac P. Haskins, Morrison Harding, assessors; Hiram Culver, 
Norman Eldridge and William Haskin, highway commissioners ; James 
R. Babcock, collector; Cornelius Condernian, overseer of the poor. 

The town officers for the year 1895 ^^""^ ^^- J- Harding, supervisor; 
E. R. Kilbury, town clerk ; J. M. Kelly, Seymour Jones, D. D. Wild and 
Melvin Nipher, justices of the peace; A. D. Huvener, assessor; E. H. 
Helmer, collector; R. C. White, overseer of the poor; Clark Haight, 
highway commissioner; Smith E. Harding, A. D. Osborn and Levi B. 
ICvans, excise commissioners. 

The supervisors of Fremont have been as follows: Elisha G. Stephens, 
i855-i;6; Lorenzo N. Rider. 1857-59; Jason Ranger, 1860-61 ; 0th- 
niel Preston, 1862-63 ; Samuel E. Haskin, 1864; William B. Stephens, 
1865-66; W. B. Rathbun, 1867; William B. Stephens, 1868; Esek 

14 



106 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Page, 1869-72; Ira Carrington, 1873-74; De Merville Page, 1875; 
Calvin Bullock, 1876; L. H. Benjamin, 1877-78; W. H. Bowen, 1879- 
80; S. S. Cotton. 1881-82; C. K. Mason, 1883; S. S. Cotton, 1884; 
M.J. Harding. 1885-86; Joel Killbury, 1887; G. S. Van Keuren, 1888- 
89; Harrison Russell, 1890-91; S. S. Cotton. 1892; M.J. Harding, 

1893-95. 

In 1855 P'remoiit had a population of 1,1 19, and in i860 had 1,117. 
In 1870 the number of inhabitants was again 1,119, ^"<^ i" 1880 had 
increased to 1,274, but in 1890 had fallen to 1,047 I" 1892 the popu- 
lation was i,o8S. 

This is peculiarly an agricultural town, and as such compares favor- 
ably with other adjoining divisions; and while there has been made 
some attempt at manufacture this pursuit has never added materially to 
local prosperity. In the growth of hay, grain, potatoes, apples, and 
dairy products lies the success of the people of Fremont. 

Unlike many towns of the county, Fremont has not suffered seiiously 
from disturbing causes. To be sure the anti rent conflict had an effeet 
somewhat prejudicial to local interests, yet at that time settlement was 
not far advanced and the territory of the town belonged to the older 
divisions of the county. The sturdy agriculturists steadfastly ad- 
hered to their legitimate occupation in life and gave small heed to 
the annoyances of the period. However, during the war of 1861-65, 
a truly martial spirit pervaded the entire community, and Fremont sent 
into the service no less than one hundred and three men, who were 
scattered through the different companies organized in the county. 
This was certainly a remarkable record, especially when we consider the 
fact that in i860 the population of the town was but 1,117. 

Previous to 1855 the school interests of Fremont were a part of the 
history of older towns, but in the year mentioned, under the local com- 
missionership of George Collins, jr., the town was divided into districts, 
nine in number, while the children of school age numbered 457. From 
this beginning the present school system of Fremont has developed. 
The districts now number ten, and the children about 300. Ten teach- 
ers were employed during the last current year. The value of school 
property is $4,395. The town received of public moneys, $1,183.78, 
and raised by tax $1,43 1.61. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 107 

Among the several nanied liamlets or settled localities of P'remont, 
that known as Stephen's Mills or Fremont Center, is the largest. It is 
located near the center of the towr.. Ilaskinville is in the northeast 
part, Niel's Creek is in the southeast part. Big Creek in the south part, 
and Job's Corners in the east part of the town. Big Creek is a post- 
office station, D. D. Weld, postmaster. Neil's Creek is also a post- 
office, Matthew N. Silsbee, postmaster. Here also is tiie feed and cider 
mill of P. Pettis. Job's Creek has a grocery kept by B. R. Chiibbuck. 
Haskinville and Stephen's Mills and also the churches of this town are 
elsewhere mentioned in this volume. 

Greenwood. — This town was formed from Troupsburg and Canis- 
teo, January 24, 1827, and inchuletl all that is now West Union as well 
as Greenwood. The former was taken oft" in 1845, "i"*^ -^ P'"t "f^ Jas- 
per was annexed in 1848. As at present constituted Greenwood con- 
tains 24,700 acres of land, the greater part of which is rolling upland. 
Bennett's Creek flows northerly through the east part of the town, in 
a valley from two to six hundred feet below some of the hilltops. The 
soil is a clayey and gravelly loam. 

When the land proprietors began to develop this region, for the pur- 
pose of inducing settlement in what was then supposed to be an unin- 
viting wilderness of forests, they cut a road up the creek through this 
town to the Pennsylvania line. However, no settlement was made im- 
mediately after the completion of the work, nor until after the construc- 
tion of the highway leading from the Thomas neighborhood to the 
then famous salt spring in the town we now call Greenwood. The In- 
dians made salt at this spring long before the advent of the whites and 
the locality was a favored spot in the aboriginal period ; and the spring 
was no less prized by the white-faced pioneers, and at an early day an 
attempt was made to manufacture salt here by PZzekiel Burger and a 
Mr. Matthews. 

The second road was cut through in 1820, and in the spring of the 
ne.xt year we find Alexander H. Stephens and Anson Robinson clear- 
ing land and building a saw mill within the limits of the town. This 
was the pioneer settlement, though the family of our chief adventurer, 
Mr. Stephens, did not come till the mill was completed. P^zra and 
John H. Stephens next came up the valley to the town, after which 



108 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

settlement progressed rapidly, for the lands were cheap and well tim- 
bered, and the soil fertile. In 1823 the family of Deacon Daniel Man- 
ning came, and in the same year Eleazer Woodward became a settler, 
and built a small tannery near the Stephens mill. Both of them came 
from New Hampshire. 

The next settlers were Dennis Sanford, Seth Norton, Stephen Pow ell, 
all along the ridge, and Hiram Putnam, John H. Hayt, Joseph and 
Josephus Batchelder and Jacob Manning, along and near the creek. 
Guy Wardwell settled on the strip annexed from Jasper. Collating and 
noting briefly some of the other early families we may recall the names 
of Levi Davis, Ira and Randall Pease, Christian Cobey, John Holt, 
James Henshaw, Daniel Ward, Benjamin Chamberlain, Hugh Carr 
(whose wife taught the first school), Phineas Stephens, Uriah F. 
Stephens, Col. John Stephens, Enoch Ordway, Ezra Lovejoy, Amos 
Lewis, Josiah Richardson, Stephen, Lyman, Amos and Jesse Wilmot. 
Lyman Wilmot built a grist mill at the place called Rough and Ready. 
Still later comers were George Updike, Benjamin Edwards, William 
Atkins, John Rogers, John J. Ducher, Enos Smith, John Balsby, Rich- 
ard Krusen ( a pioneer tavern-keeper and also land agent, and witlial 
a man who did much to bring settlement into the town), Ezekiel and 
Hiram Burger, William Burrows, Joshua Goldsmith and others, all of 
whom were located in the town as early as 1830. 

So rapid indeed was early settlement in this extreme portion of the 
county that the convenience of the inhabitants demanded a separate 
organization and a new town, and the result was the division of Canis- 
teo and Troupsburg and the creation of Greenwood, comprising orig- 
inally the territory we have previously described. The population of 
the new formation at that time did not exceed 700, notwithstanding the 
extent of territory, about 55,000 acres. 

The first town meeting was held at the house of Levi Davis, on 
March 6, 1827, and the following officers were elected: Levi Davis, 
supervisor; Anson Cook, town clerk; David Murray, Randall Pease, 
and Uriah F. Stephens, assessors ; Richard Kruzen, Uriah Ingley and 
Aden Lewis, commissioners of highways ; Jacob Manning and Jacob 
Bess, overseers of the poor ; Abram V. Olmsted, Joseph Batchelder, 
Thomas Johnson, commissioners of schools ; Francis Strong, Josiah 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 109 

Haywood and Moses Clausen, inspectors of schools ; John H. Stephens, 
collector. The town was named by Alexander H. Stephens, one of its 
most influential early citizens, and through his efforts the strip from 
Jasper was annexed to Greenwood. 

Referrinij briefly to some of the important ear!)- events of town his- 
tory, may be mentioned the first mill, built by Alexander Stephens in 
1821-23 ; Levi Davis built a log house in 1824, and opened tavern in 
1825. He also kept a small stock of goods, and dispensed good whis- 
key at twenty cents per gallon. The first post-oflice was in Mr. Davis's 
store, and mail was brought from Hornellsville on horseback. This 
was about 1828 or '29. Mr. Davis was for a time partner with Ira 
Davenport. In 1 830 David Foote and Redmond Ferguson began the 
manufacture of furniture and coffins, and in the same year B. F. 
Brundage built a carding and fulling mill. This was burned in 1846, 
and was replaced with the flouring mill. In 1835 James (" High 
Jimmy ") McCormick shipped to market the first butter from Green- 
wood. Alvin Mead is said to have brought the first wagon into the 
western part of the town, in 1827. Daniel McCormick built a grist 
mill at Rough and Ready about 1832. The first birth was that of 
Charles C. Stephens; the first marriage that of Hiram Putnam and 
Lucinda Stephens; the first death that of Ezra Cobey. 

The supervisors of Greenwood have been as follows : Levi Davis, 
1827-29 and 1831-32; Thomas Johnson, 1830; Randall Pease, 1833; 
Anson Cook, 1834-36 ; Jos. Davenport, 1837-38 ; John J. Holt, 1839- 
40; Alex. H. Stephens, 1841-47; Elijah Guyon. 1848-51; John 
Davis, 1852-54, 1856-59, 1864, 1869, 1872-73; Augustus Mailory, 
1855; Israel M. Brundage, i860. 1862-63, 1870; Daniel Manning, 
1861 ; H. H. Mailory, 1865-66, 1875-81 ; R. H. Sheffield, 1867-68; 
John S. Hartrum, 1871 ; Merrit F. Smith, 1874; P. A. Mead, 1882; 
Valentine Reiman, 1883-85; G. D. Woodward, 1886-87; N. E. 
Coston, 1888. 1890; M. F. Smith, 1889; John S. Young, 1890-91 ; 
L. G. Burton, 1893-95. 

Town officers, i8.;5: Lynn G. Burton, supervisor ; Eugene Brun- 
dage, town clerk ; John S. Young, George M. Woodward, John K. 
Miller and Edward H. F"erris, justices ; H. W. Young, J. D. Northrup 
and W. H. Taylor, assessors; Willis Scribner, collector; John N. 



110 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Hovey, overseer of the poor ; Dudley B. Ersley, highway commis- 
sioner ; Ira Clark, Reuben Stephens and Freeman Rogers, excise com- 
misioners. 

There lias been little change in the population of Greenwood during 
the last half century, and the number of inhabitants has not increased 
or diminished to the extent of two hundred in the last thirty- five 
years. In 1830 the town had 899 inhabitants, and 1,138 in 1840. Ten 
years later the population was 1,185, ^""^ '" i860 was 1,306. In 1870 
the number was 1,394, and 1,386 in 1880. It was 1,312 in 1890, and 
1,241 in 1892. 

Three j'ears after the separate organization of Greenwood, the people 
of the region were much disturbed and directly affected by the anti- 
rent conflict and the discussions of its period. In the convention at 
Bath in January, 1830, we find as delegates from Greenwood a num- 
ber of her leading men, among them Levi Davis, Thomas Johnson, 
Anson Cook, William J. Strong and Randall Pease. Mr. Davis was 
one of the committee appointed to prepare and present to the agents 
of the proprietary the memorial for the relief of the distressed settlers. 

During the war of 1861-65, Greenwood furnished a total of seventy- 
five men for the service. A history of the various companies to which 
belonged volunteers from the town will be found in another department 
of this work. 

In the course of its history there has been built up and established 
one thriving and prctt)- little village, and also two hamlets of less note, 
known, respectively as West Greenwood and Rough and Ready. The 
first mentioned village, and its institutions, will be treated especially in 
the municipal history, in this volume. 

Hartsville. — On the 7th of February, 1844, the town of Hornells- 
ville was divided, and township No. 3, of range 6, Phelps and Gorham 
purchase, was erected into a separate town by the name of Hartsville. 
Either by design or mistake this township was originally sold by Oliver 
Phelps to the company of proprietors who purchased Canisteo and 
Hornellsville. These purchasers sought to secure Nos. 3 in the fifth 
and 4 in the sixth range, but through some cause the deed of convey- 
ance described townships three in the fifth and sixth ranges. However, 
before many improvements were made in this town the error was dis- 
covered and corrected. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. Ill 

Geographically, I lartsville is located on the western border of Steuben 
county and south of the center. It contains 23,200 acres of land and is 
regarded as one of the best dairy towns of the county. Tlic land sur- 
face is generally hilly and somewhat broken, though there is compara- 
tively little waste or useless land in the town. Bennett's Creek flows 
northerly through the east part and Purdy Creek has its course from 
west to east across the north part and discharges into Bennett's Creek 
in the town of Canisteo. 

The first settler in this locality was Benjamin Brookins, who made an 
improvement in the year 1809, but, becoming discouraged, left for other 
parts before the pioneer in fact of the town made his beginning. Joseph 
Purdy, an earnest and hard working Irishman, located in the north 
part in 1810, and for a time occupied the cabin abandoned by his 
predecessor ; and records inform us that Purdy was the onl)' settler 
in this then remote region until the year 1819. Still, during'this period 
the pioneer made a good beginning and cleared a good farm. His 
name is worthily preserved in the town, by the name of the principal 
stream and also the name of the post office at the Center. In 18 19 
Jesse Palmater, Perry and Andrew Potter and William D. Burdick came 
to the town, settling in the northwest part. Daniel P. Carpenter came 
in 1822, driving with an ox team, and located half a mile south of the 
Center. Frank Powell came the same year and settled near the site of 
the cemetery as afterward established. The settlers in 1823, as near as 
can be determined, were William Hudson, John Granger and Ebenezer 
and Robert G. Martin, while in the next year came Joseph and James 
Thompson. John Hood came in 1826, and is remembered as having 
been and old "war of 1812 " survivor. He organized the town militia 
company and was its captain ; Nathaniel Williams was its lieutenant, 
and Oliver Coon ensign ; F"erris Clawson, sergeant. General training 
day was a notable occasion, and Carpenter's lot was the scene of many 
a hard fought battle against the common foe — Yankee ginger-bread 
and hard cider. 

In 1825 William Allison, the head of a numerous and prominent 
family in the county during later years, settled near the Carpenter place. 
James Howell and John Martin joined the settlement in 1828. Othniel 
Call came during the same year and located on what was named for 



112 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

him " Call Hill." He was followed later on by Joseph, David and 
Orlando Call, thus creating the Call settlement. Francis and Micah 
Kennedy came in 1829, and James Classen, John Henry, and David 
Whiting in 1830. Among the later settlers were Henry Acker, Reu- 
ben and Charles N. Hart, Simeon Baker and h's sons James, Ephraim 
and Simeon, jr., Thomas Stout, Ralph Amidon, George L. Puffer, David 
Phelps and others, all coming in gradually and adding to the settlement 
until the lands were quite well taken up. Many of these settlers gave 
their first attention to clearing the lands, hence were engaged more or 
less extensively in lumbering ; and it has been claimed that between 
1825 and 1840 there were no less than fourteen saw and shingle mills 
in operation in the town. The forests were reasonably well cleared 
about 1850, after which Hartsville became an agricultural district. To 
this end nature has favored the people here, for the soil, a shale and 
clay loam," is good and yields well in return to proper cultivation. The 
lands are especially adapted to grazing and the growth of hay, hence 
here we have an important dairy town in this part of the county ; and 
the village of Canisteo and the city of Hornellsville are always good 
markets. 

According to conceded authority, the first events of town history in 
Hartsville were these: the first birth, that of Sarah A. Carpenter; the 
first marriage, that of Robert G. Martin and Mary A. Gleason ; the first 
death, that of an infant child of Ebenezer Martin, all in 1823. The first 
school was taught by the daughter of Joseph Purdy. Daniel P. Car- 
penter opened a store in 1825, and built the first saw mill in 1827. 
Robert G. Martin built a mill, where the recent Allison mill stood, in 
1832, and soon afterward William Allison built another. R. F. Allison 
put in the first steam power in the town. The first tavern keeper was 
Henry P'risbee, 1849; the second, Joseph Henry, in 1851. The town 
was organized in 1844, and in 1845 had a population 759, or just 
twenty- three less than the population as shown by the census of 1892. 
The greatest number of inhabitants was in i860, being i 154. 

Hartsville was so named in honor of Charles N. Hart, for many years 
one of its foremost men and identified with its best history. The first 
town meeting was held in February, 1844, and the officers elected were 
Charles N. Hart, supervisor; F,rastus S. Beard, town clerk ; James 



THE ClVir, DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 113 

Beard, Jonatlian Pettibone and Elizur Sage, assessors; Silas Palmater, 
Jonathan B. Ptirdy, Reuben W Willard and Henry Acker, justices of 
the peace ; Israel Adams, Edmund Cook and Levi C. Henry, highway 
commissioners. 

The supervisors of HartsviUe, in succession, Iiavc been as follows: 
Charles N. Hart, 1844-45; James Beard, 1846-47; I'diiiund Cook, 
1848-49; Erastus Beard, 1850; Francis Kennedy, 1850-51; James 
Beard, 1852-53; E. Cook, 1854; Jas Beard, 1S55 ; C. C. Purdy, 
1856; Jas. M. Cook, 1857-58; Shepard Amidon, 1859-60; Richard 
F. Allison, 1861-66; Silas Palmer, 1867 ; R. F. Allison, 1868 ; Lyman 
A. Cook, 1869-70; R. F. Allison, 1871-72; James A. Almy, 1873; 
Joseph Vickers, 1874-75; James B. Hendee, 1876-77; Langford 
Whitford, 1878; Milo M. Acker, 1879-80; James A. Almy, 1881-82; 
Charles Amidon, 1883; Jacob Vickers, 1884-85; S. B. Van Buskirk, 
1886; Wm. Clark, 1887-88; Wm. C. Acker, 1889-90; N. P. Flint, 
1891-92 ; Wm. C. Acker, 1893-95. 

The officers for the year 1895 are as follows: William C. Acker, 
supervisor ; Floyd E. Carney, town clerk- ; Aaron Kennedy, R. Clark, 
Scott Van Buskirk and M. S Amidon, justices of the peace; James A. 
Almy, Fremont Hendy and W. A. Vickers, assessors ; J. W. Norton, 
highway commissioner; M. D, Westcott, collector; Leroy Johnson, 
overseer of the poor; Alexander Todd, Eli Woodworth and Charles 
Comstock, commissioners of excise. 

The martial spirit with which Captain John Hood inspired his citizen 
soldiers during the good old daj's of general training seems to have 
been enduring and to have awakened a spirit of patriotism truly com- 
mendable, for we find that during the war of 1861-65 'he town of Harts- 
viUe contributed a liberal quota of men. They were attached to several 
regiments formed in the county, and a more complete record of their 
services will be found in another chapter. 

When first formed from Hornellsville the schools of this town were a 
part of the system then in operation, but after the separation was re- 
arranged in districts to suit the convenience of the inhabitants. The 
districts were nine in number, each provided with a school. As at 
present arranged HartsviUe has eight districts, and the total number of 
children in the town of school age is about 225. Eight teachers are 



114 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

employed during the school year. The value of school property is 
$3,190, and the assessed valuation of the districts is $251,535. In 
1893-94 the town received from the public school funds the sum of 
$907.26, and raised by local tax $1,027 67. 

Hornby. — About the closing years of the war of 1812-15, a few 
families of limited means, yet filled with determination and energy, 
sought to make a settlement in the extreme eastern jjart of the town of 
Painted Post. Asa and Uriah Nash, former residents of Otsego county, 
came to this region in the year 1814, and located in townsiiip number 
3, of the first range, thus founding what became known in later years 
as the " Nash settlement." This part of the town \\ as then supposed to 
contain much undesirable land, for which reason sales were slow and 
few indeed were the pioneers who cared to undertake its settlement and 
improvement. However, the Nash families began their improvement 
in the nortli part of the township, and after testing the quality of the 
land it was found wholly desirable, altliough hilly and rolling. Other 
settlers soon came in, among those of the year 18 15 being Edward 
Stubbs, Samuel Adams, Ezra Shaw and Jesse Underwood. In the 
same year the " Piatt settlement " was founded in the southwest part of 
the town, the settlers in which locality being Jesse Piatt, John Robbins 
and A masa Stanton. In 1816 the "Palmer settlement" was likewise 
established, its pioneers being Aden Palmer, James Gardner and Ches- 
ter Knowlton. 

In this manner these pioneers, and their followers soon afterward, 
made not only a complete settlement of what is now Hornby, but also 
succeeded in developing the natural resources of a comparatively unde- 
sirable region, .making many good farms and comfortable homes. 
This beginning had the effect to attract others to the vicinity, and dur- 
ing the next few \ears there came Penjamin and Hiram Gardner, Isaac 
Goodell, John St. John, Aaron Harwood, John Sa}er and Jacob Good- 
sell with his two stalwart sons Daniel and Henry. Still, these determ- 
ined pioneers had to contend against many difficulties. Theirs was a 
wild region, the habitation of wild animals of manj- kinds, some of 
which were particularly destructive to growing crops and yard fowls 
and occasionally to cattle. To exterminate them the settlers devoted 
much time to hunting and from this region has been handed down many 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 115 

famous stories of wonderful achievements on tlie part of local nimrods. 
However, after the forests were cleared and farms opened tlie more an- 
noying animals disappeared and only the ordinary obstacles of pioneer 
life were to be overcome. 

Referring still further to the subject of early settlement, let us recall 
the name of pioneer Hodge in the eastern part of the town, and also in the 
same locality the later comers, Samuel Lilly, Wm. W. Cole, Martin Lane 
Benjamin Lewis, jr. Other earl)- comers, equally worthy of mention, 
were Theodore Hendrick, John Harrison, Wendall Rhoda, Seneca 
Burnap, Thomas Jewett, Parnach Haradon, Marcus Gaylord, John 
Bixby, Josiah Wheat, Caleb Gardner, William Easterbrook, Jonas Ward, 
Andrew B. Dickinson, Henry Gardner, ail of whom were settled 
previous to the division of Painted Post and the formation of Hornby. 
This was done in 1826, the original town comprising all that is now 
Hornby and Campbell, the latter being set oft from the former in 1831, 
taking half its territory. As then and since constituted, Hornby con- 
taining 25,200 acres of land, an excess over the thirtj-six square miles 
supposed to be included in township 3, range i. 

In 1830, four years after the organization of Hornby, the inhabitants 
of the district numbered 1,365, and in 1 S40, Campbell having been 
formed in the meantime, the population was 1,048. In 1850 the num- 
ber was 1,314; in i860 was 1,291; in 1 870 was 1,202; in 1880 was 
1,209, 3nci in 1890 was 1, 01 i. Thus we discover that in more recent 
years this town, in common with other similarly situated localities, has 
suffered a material reduction in population, owing to the same causes 
prevailing elsewhere — the decline in interest and profit in agricultural 
pursuits and the tendency of the young people of both sexes to seek 
employment in cities and large villages. 

The first election of town officers in Hornby was held at the tavern 
kept by Mr. Shaw, also at Knowlton's and Dickinson's stores, and is 
remembered as covering a period of about three days. This was in 
1826. The officers elected were Andrew B. Dickinson, supervisor; 
Josiah Wheat, town clerk; Hiram Gardner, collector ; Alonzo Gaylord, 
Milo Hurd and Jonathan Fellows, justices of the peace; Amasa Stan- 
ton, commissioner of highways ; Hiram Gardner, constable. A more 
complete list of first town officers is impossible owing to the imperfect 
condition of records. 



Il6 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The supervisors of Hornby, ''n succession, have been as follows : An- 
drew B. Dickinson, 1826; Rice Nash, 1827; A. B. Dickinson, 1828- 
29; Daniel Clark, 1830-31; A. B. Dickinson, 1832-37; W. H. Gay- 
lord, 1838; Amasa Stanton, 1839-41 ; David Smith, 1842-44; Flavel 
W. Morrow, 1845 ; Peter Rhoda, 1846-47 ; Willis H. Gaylord, 1848; 
F. W. Morrow, 1849; John T. Stanton, 1850; Peter Covenhoven, 
1851-52; John T. Stanton, 1853; F. W. Morrow, 1854; Wm. A. 
Arnistrong,_i855 ; F. W. Morrow, 1856-58; George Adams, 1859-60; 
N. B. Stanton, 1861-64; J. H Ferenbaugh, 1865 ; Asem Eddy, 1866- 
67; James B. Humphrey. 1868; Samuel Easterbrook, 1869-70; J. H. 
Ferenbaugh, 1871-73; Samuel Easterbrook, 1874-75; Samuel C- 
Erwin, 1876-77; Alfred Roloson, 1878-81 ; Thomas Oldfield, 1882- 
83; Daniel Rogers, 1884-85; Albert Duvall, 1886-87; Thomas Old- 
field, 1888; J. H. Ferenbaugh, 1889; J. A. Stanton, 1890-92; E. J. 
Easterbrook, 1S93-95. 

The officers for the year 1895 are as follows: E. J. Easterbrooks, 
supervisor ; C. C. Roloson, town clerk ; W. J. Underwood, H. D. L. 
Adams, F. L. Rogers and W. S. Lilly, justices of the peace; Oren 
Roloson, W. J. Wasson and P. B. Humphrey, assessors ; James E. 
Armstrong, highway commissioner ; John D. Scott, overseer of the 
poor ; James McCarty, collector. 

During the first fifteen years of civilized white settlement and life in 
Hornby, the inhabitants had little else to distract attention than their 
constant efforts to e.xterminate the wild animals then infesting the 
region. This people were not subject to the embarrassing incidents of 
the war of 1812-15, nor were there troublesome Indian neighbors to 
add to the difficulties attending pioneer life. However, only four short 
years after the organization was effected there came the anti-rent or land 
controversy, the first serious period in local history; yet even this had 
not the distressing effect felt in many localities as the lands here were 
purchased at moderate prices, and only the difficulties of realizing ready 
cash on sales of crops confronted or annoyed the settlers. In all the 
events of the time local residents took a deep interest and some of them 
an active part. Meetings were held and the subject thoroughly dis- 
cussed, and its result was a delegation to the Bath convention in Janu- 
ary, 1830, attended by Isaac Goodsell, Samuel Oldfield, Josiah Wheat, 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 117 

Francis Northway and Levi Nash. Delegate Goodsell served on the 
committee appointed to petition the agents of the PuUeney and Hornby 
estates, and in all respects was a worthy and competent representative. 
This town was named in respectful allusion to John Hornby, who was 
an extensive land owner in the Genesee country ; in fact was the holder 
of a two twelfths interest in the noted Pulteney association. 

After this period had passed nothing noteworthy occurred to disturb 
the serenity of domestic life until the outbreak of the war of the Rebel- 
lion, during which period the town is credited with having furnished 
for the service a total of fifty one men. These were scattered through 
the several commands recruited in the county, and a more full narration 
of their services will be found in another chapter of this work. 

The one event which more than all others has contributed to the 
welfare of Hornby was the construction and operation of the Syracuse, 
Geneva and Corning railroad, the line of which passes across the south- 
east part of the town. The company was chartered August 27, 1875, 
and was opened for traffic December 10, 1877. The entire town is 
benefited by tliis tiioroughfare of trade, and to it the little hamlet called 
Ferenbaugh almost owes its e.xistence. 

The mention of this post-office and station leads to the observation 
that Hornby has three settled hamlets, established for the convenience of 
the inhabitants of the town They are designated by the names of 
Hornby, or Hornb)' Forks, Dyke, and F"erenbaugh. Of these Hornb)- 
Forks is perhaps the largest. Each has a post-office. The hamlet first 
mentioned has a good school and the Baptist and Presbyterian cluirches. 
Dyke has a school and a Wesleyan Methodist church. 

Speaking of schools recalls the fact that the first school in this town 
was taught by Jane C. Leach in the days of early history, while another 
early teacher was Aionzo Gaylord. Soon after the formation of the 
town in 1826, the territory was divided into districts, but five years 
later, after Campbell was set off, redistricting became necessary. Since 
that time only such changes have been made as the public convenience 
demanded. The districts are now twelve in number, and the school 
property is estimated to be worth $5,300. The school population is 
about 235. In 1894 the public moneys apportioned to Hornby amounted 
to $1,35440, and there was raised by local tax the additional sum of 
$1,429.14. 



118 LAKDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

HORNELLSVILLE — In the early part of the year 1789 Solomon 
Bennett, Capt. John Jamison, Benjamin Crosby, Uriah Stephens, and 
possibly Elisha Brown, left the Wyoming valley in Pennsylvania and 
proceeded by way of the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers to visit the 
Phelps and Gorham purchase, for the purpose of investigating the 
character of the region, with the ultimate intention of making for them- 
selves and their families permanent homes in the new countrj'. On 
reaching the historic locality known as Painted Post, the party journeyed 
up the Conhocton several miles, but not finding the lands suited to their 
desires, returned, and next proceeded up the valley of the Canisteo to 
the present town of Hornellsville. In this vicinity a careful examination 
of the lands was made, and here the party decided to purchase and es- 
tablish a settlement. 

Accordingly, a company was organized, comprising Solomon Bennett, 
Elisha Brown, James Hadley, John Jamison, Arthur Erwin, Uriah 
Stephens, jr., Joel Thomas, Christian Kress, John Stephens, William 
Bennett, Uriah Stephens, sr., and William Wynkoop. Solomon Bennett 
and Elisha Brown were delegated to visit Oliver Phelps at Canandaigua 
and purchase from the proprietary two townships — No. 3 in the 5th 
range and No. 4 in the 6th range, but through an error they in fact pur- 
chased townships numbers 3 in the 5th and 6th ranges, and the mistake 
was not discovered until after some improvements had been made in the 
township first mentioned ; and when the company applied to Mr. Phelps 
for a correction of the error that shrewd proprietor made a new con- 
veyance only after taking from the north side of number 4, range 6, 
a strip of land one mile in width. The corrected deed was executed on 
the 17th day of September, 1790 We may further state by way of ex- 
planation that township 3 of the 5th range comprises substantially the 
present town of Canisteo, while number 4 of the 6lh range in the same 
manner constitutes the division of the county now known as Hornells- 
ville, although now within its boundaries are included portions of other 
townships. 

As constituted by this conveyance the town last mentioned was six 
miles from east to west, and five miles north and south. However, 
since its organization as a separate town (April i, 1820), Hornellsville 
has surrendered portions of her territory to other formations; Harts- 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 119 

ville was taken oft" in 1844, and a part of Fremont in 1854 Mornells- 
ville, within its present boundaries, contains 26,200 acres of land. 

The new proprietors, immediately after their purcliase, proceeded to 
draw lots for lands in the township, which for this purpose was divided 
into twelve parts. This disposition of the lands (which now would 
be quite novel, but was then common) resulted in James Hadley secur- 
ing Lot No. I ; John Jamison (or Jemingsen), No. 2 ; Arthur Er- 
win. No. 3 ; Ciiristian Kress, No. 4 ; Joel Thomas, No. 5 ; Uriah 
Stephens, jr.. No. 6; John Stephens. No. 7; William VVynkoop, No. 
8 ; Uriah Stephens, sr., No. 9; Thomas Bennett, No. 10; Elisha Brown, 
No. II ; Solomon Bennett, No. 12. 

The pioneer and early settlement of this town Vv.is accomplished while 
the territory formed a part of the still older town of Canisteo, and for 
the purpose of designation, the region of which we write was known as 
"Upper Canisteo;" a name which was in fact continued until the 
separate organization of the town of Hornellsville. 

There has long existed a difference of opinion among writers of early 
local history as to the year in which the first permanent settlement was 
made in this town, and according to the reminiscences of Deacon 
Mowrj' Thatcher, of honored memory, the date may be recorded as 
1790 instead of 1793 ; and drawing information from all reliable sources, 
the present writer feels bound to accord the honor of pioneership to 
Benjamin Crosby, who, in the year 1790, located on the site of the 
present city of Hornellsville. His lands comprised 1,600 acres, and his 
dwelling is believed to have stood where now is built the Hotel Osborne. 
Richard Crosby, son of the pioneer, came at the same time, and his 
house was located near the creek, just north of tlie Mr. Hough's, on 
Maple avenue. 

Oliver Harding is believed to have been the second settler, following 
soon after pioneer Crosby, and .located between Main and Genesee 
streets, near Hakes avenue. He was the nearest neighbor to Mr. 
Crosby. Later on he moved to Harding Hill, in Fremont. The 
Stephens family was also prominent among the pioneers, Uriah, sr., 
being the head, although Uriah, jr, attained greater prominence in local 
history. His name is still well preserved in the county. 

"On July 9th, 1793," says Mr. Near, "John Stephens, who drew 



120 LANDMARKS OP STEUBEN COUNTY. 

great lot No. 7, conveyed this lot, containing 1,600 acres, to George 
Horneii, for a consideration of ;^i 1 1." From the same authority we 
also learn that Judge Hornell built the first mill on the site afterward 
occupied by the Thacher mill, being the first grist mill west of Elmira, 
except the Bennett mill at Canisteo. According to the researches of 
Miles W. Hawley, Mr. Hornell had previously visited this region in the 
capacity of trader among the Indians, and thus became acquainted with 
the locality in which he perinanently settled in 1792, although he did 
not purchase the Stephens lot until the ne.xt year. Judge Hornell, as 
afterward known, made a small clearing at the upper end of Main 
street, near the intersection with Washington street. In 1800 he built 
the first tavern in either town or village, and by his enterprise and 
public spiritedness almost at once became the leading man of the upper 
Canisteo region. He was identified with many measures which bene- 
fited the public rather than himself, hence the honors that were after- 
ward bestowed upon him were worthily deserved. The town, the 
village, and the present city of Hornellsville have been successively 
named in his honor. He was one of the early associate judges of the 
county, also one of the first postmasters, and was in the Legislature in 
1808. Judge Hornell died during the fever epidemic of 1813, which 
swept so disastrously throughout this region. 

These were the earliest settlers in the town, and in fact the Crosbys, 
Hardings, Stephens and Hornells were about the only settlers previous 
to 1 8 ID on what is now the city site. However, in the upper part of 
the valley the lands were taken quite early, and from Mr. Hawley's 
papers we learn that Judge Hurlbut and his son John located at Ark- 
port as early as 1797, and made improvements. Among the other 
settlers in the same locality were Nathan Corey, Stephen Webb, Joel 
Atherton, Joseph Corey, while later comers were William Hyde, Elias 
Van Scoter, Julius Cleveland, Captain Abbott, John P. Ryers, John 
Pitts, Silas Stephens, Willis Hyde, William Sharp, Capt. Andrew Morris 
and others. 

Arkport became a place of some note at an early day, due largely to 
the efforts of Judge Hurlbut, who built a public house in 1798, a saw- 
mill and storehouse in 1800, and in the same year launched the famous 
"ark" on the waters of the Canisteo, and transported the first cargo 






IK' \^ 



J. H. KEHLEK. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 121 

of grain from this region to Baltimore. Referring to the other early 
settlers in the town, we may mention Nathaniel Thacher, father of 
Deacon Mowry Thacher, who came from Troupsburg in 1810 and set- 
tled a mile below the village site, near the Arnot grist mill. He was 
also a strong man in the new region, and was frequently elected to 
positions of trust and honor. Deacon Thacher was only a boy when 
his father moved into the valley, and possessed the fortunate faculty of 
retaining early memories of the town, and from his reminiscences have 
come many of the most interesting facts of local history. Still other 
and perhaps later settlers, worthy, however, of mention were Dugald 
Cameron, John R. Stephens, Medad Bostwick, Andy L. Smith. James 
Dildine, Martin Adsit, William O'Connor, Jonathan Nicholson, Orson 
Sheldon, Abram Cadogan, Jesse Eddy, John Peak, Nathaniel Finch, 
Rufus Tuttle and Peter Labour, all of whom were in some manner 
identified with the development and growth of the town more than half 
a century ago. 

Settlement on the hills which abound in the town was naturally de- 
layed to a time later tlian the occupation of the valleys In the locality 
known as Wellever Hill, near the Hartsville line, the first settler was 
Mr. Cahran, followed later on by David Wellever. Andrew Hender- 
shott, Samuel Hathaway, Peter Best, John Meeks and James Spencer. 
Alanson Stephens made a clearing on the hill overlooking the city. In 
the Crosby Creek neighborhood the first settlers were Leonard Drake, 
Jerry Davis, William D. Burdick, Richard Peterson, Samuel and Thomas 
Burnett, Asa Whitford, Isaiali Bartlett and F.lisha Potter. Among the 
first occupants of the region of Pennsylvania Hill were James Dildine, 
James McMichael, William Emery, A. Sutton, Daniel Sutton, Ira Hyde 
and Gilbert Wright. The well known Webb district was settled by 
Col. John R. Stephens, Stephen Webb and Bazey Baker. Matthias 
Reed was the first settler in the Winfield neighborhood, where the Win- 
fields, Clevelands, Burches, Belts, Keefers and Newsons afterwards 
located. On the turn[)ike road between this town and Bath, Major 
Burnett made a settlement in 1808, and later on there came here John 
Beattie, Jonathan Nicholson, Dudley Robinson, William R. .Stephens, 
Samuel Jones, Henry Chapman, Nathaniel Finch, Nathan Osborne and 
others. 

16 



122 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The first birth in the town is said to have been that of William 
Stephens, in December, 1792 ; the first marriage, that of Reuben Crosby 
and Jenny McQueen, in 1799; and the first death, that of a child of 
Judge Hornell. The judge built the first saw and grist mill, kept the 
first public house, and also the first store. The first school was taught 
by Abigail Hurlbut in 1796. 

Early settlement in this part of the Canisteo valley was somewhat 
slow, as the census reports inform us that in 1800 the entire town had 
only 510 inhabitants, in 18 10 but 656, and in 1820 the number was 
891. However, the inhabitants of the Upper Canisteo country felt the 
necessity of a separate jurisdiction, and accordingly had recourse to the 
Legislature, and the result was the creation of a new town named Hor- 
nellsville, a tribute of respect to the memory of one of the foremost men 
of the region. The erecting act was passed April I, 1820, and within 
the limits of the new formation was all the territory of the present town 
of Hornellsville, together with Hartsville and a portion of Fremont. 
The former was separated from this town in 1844, ""id the latter ten 
years later. 

The full organization was completed at a meeting of the freemen held 
at the house of Martha Hornell, widow of the pioneer, on the first Tues- 
day in March, 1 82 1, at which time these officers were elected: Ira 
Davenport, supervisor ; John R. Stephens, town clerk ; John Hurlbut, 
George Hornell and James Harding, assessors : William B. Bostwick, 
collector; Elijah Stephens and Stephen Webb, overseers of the poor; 
Stephen Coon, Asa Upton and Samuel Harding, highway commis- 
sioners ; Christopher Hurlbut, Arvin Kennedy and George Hornell, in- 
spectors of schools ; James Taggart, William Stephens and Amos Graves, 
commissioners of common schools; William B. Bostwick, David Whit- 
ney and William Webb, constables; Amasa Thacher, Justus Harding 
and William Stephens, jr., fence viewers. 

Having become fully organized, the authorities of the town, acting in 
harmony with the leading inhabitants, at once set about the develop- 
ment of all local interests, establishing a prosperous condition of affairs 
on every hand as the best and strongest inducement to attract other 
settlers. The result was an immediate and thenceforth constant growth 
in population and business interests, and whereas the entire jurisdiction 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. V2Z 

of Canisteo had a population of 891 in 1820, the town of Htinit-llsviUe 
contained 834 inhabitants in 1825. In 1830 tiie number had increased 
to 1.572, and ten years later to 2,121. In 1850 the population was 
2,637, 3'id 4-230 in i860, desjiite the fact that during the last two dec- 
ades one full town and a portion of another had been formed from 
the territory of this town. Again, in 1870 the census gave Hornells- 
ville a population of 5,837, and in 1880 of 9,852, During the next 
decade, in 1888, the city was entirely separated from the mother town, 
taking therefrom nearly 10,000 of her inhabitants; still, in 1890, the 
town had a population of 1,939. Including the population of the city, 
which lies wholly within the geographical limits of the town, the num- 
ber of inhabitants now living in the joint districts is conservatively 
estimated at 14,000. 

The history of the city, from the time when pioneers Crosby, Hard- 
ing, Hornell and their early associates made the first i-.nprovement, 
forms an interesting element of the history of the town at large ; yet, 
according to the plan of this work, they are separated and each is made 
the subject of a distinct chapter. The busy little hamlet of Arkport 
will also be found mentioned in another part of this volume. 

In this connection it is interesting to note the succession of leading 
ofificers of the town ; that is, the supervisors, town clerks and justices of 
the peace. 

Supervisors — Ira Davenport, 1 82 1-22 ; John R. Stephens, 1823-25 ; 
Thomas Bennett, 1826-27 ; James McBurney, 1828-3 i ; James Dyke, 
1832-33; James McBurney, 1834-35; I^a Davenport, 1836-39; Hugh 
Magee, 1840-41 ; John R. Morris, 1842-44; Thomas Major, 1845-47; 
Martin Adsit, 1848 ; Aaron Morris, 1849-50; Elisha G. Stevens, 185 i- 
52 ; VVm. Bennett, 1853-54 ; Lewis D. Benton, 1855 ; Marcus E. Brown, 
1856-57; Alanson Stephens, 1858-59; Philip Van Scoter, 1860-61 ; J. 
H. Stephens, jr., 1862-64; John A. Major, 1865-66; Chas. F. Smith, 
1867 ; J. W. Robinson, 1868; Arza P. Breeze, 1869 ; John McDougall, 
1870-72; Walter G. Rose, 1873-74; Miles VV. Hawley, 1875-77; S. 
E. Shattuck. 1878; Samuel Mitchell, 1879; Esek Page. 1880-82; J. 
William Nicholson, 1883 ; M. \V. Hawley, 1884; Walter G. Rose, 1885 ; 
George Holland, 1886; Avery McDougall, 1887 ; Miles W. Hawlev, 
1888; Henry Colgrove, 1889; L. C. Healy, 1890; Henry Colgrove, 
1891 ; L. C. Healy, 1892; William S. Hurlbut, 1893-95. 



124 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Tozvn Clerks. — John R. Stephens, 1821-22 ; George Hornell, 1823 ; 
Samuel Thacher, 1824; WilHam Stephens, jr., 1825; Otis Thacher, 
1826-28; Augustus Newell, 1829; Thomas Bennett, 1830; John 
Morris, 1831; Jno. R. Morris, 1832; Thomas J. Reynolds, 1833; 
Martin Adsit, 1834-39; Charles Lefferts, 1840; Andy L. Smith, jr., 
1841 ; Hiram Bennett, 1842-44; Rufus Tuttle, 1845 ; Andy L. Smith, 
jr., 1846; Rufus Tuttle, 1847; Daniel Bullard, 1848 ; William H. Doty, 
1849; Nath. Blakesley, 1850-52; Marcus E. Brown, 1853-55; Chas. 
E.Baldwin, 1856; Nathan Nichols, 1857; Miles W. Hawley, 1858; 
Theo. Badger, 1859; Nathan Nichols, i860; Joseph Laiiphear, 1861 ; 
C. C. Reynolds, 1862; Elmon D. Smith, 1863; Peter P. Houck, 1864; 
M. W. Hawley, 1865-72; Wm. H. Greenhow, 1873-77 ; Joseph Cam- 
eron, 1880; Niles L. Harrison, 1881 ; Wm. H. Reynolds, 1882-83; 
Jos. Cameron, 1884-86; Harris C. Sawyer, 1887-88; Julius Weber, 
1889-90; Wm. Ford, 1891-92; James F. Deeter, 1893-95. 

Justices of the Peace, (elected). — John Pitts, Jabez Lanphear, 1830; 
Jno. R. Stephens, 1831 ; Ephraim Wood, 1832 ; Chas. N. Hart, 1833 and 
37; Jno. Baldwin, 1834 and 38 ; Stephen Abbott, 1835 ; De.xter Strait, 
1836; Jno. Pitts, 1838-39,1844; David Crandall, 1839 and 40; Chas. 
Lefferts, 1841 ; Elisha G. Stephens, 1842; Israel Adams, 1842; Sid- 
ney Frisbie, 1843; Nathaniel Finch, 1844, 1848 and 1849; Hiram 
Bennett, 1845, 1850, '54, '61 and '65; Benj. T. Hoyes, 1846; Ethan 
Coats, 1847; Andrew Morris, 1847-51 ; John Hurlbut, 1848, '56, '60: 
Wm. E. Haight, 1852; James Atley, 1853; Jno. M. Wisewell, 1857; 
Homer Holliday, 1855, '59, '63, '68 and '73 ; Richard C. Major, 1858 ; 
Wm. W. Osgoodby, 1862; James McWoolever, 1864; F. Colgrove, 
1865; S. M. Thacher, 1866; S. D. Pitts, 1866; Stephen F. Gilbert, 
1867; Rodney Dennis and Henry Howard, 1869; Chas. E. Beard, 
1870, '74; H. F. Howard, 1871, '75, '79, '83; Martin V. Doty, 1872; 
Orson Mosher, 1876; Edwin J. Cox, 1877; Henry L Walker, 1878- 
79; Fay P. Rathbun, 1870; John Griffin, 1880; Wm. E. Haight, 
1882; Irving Paine, 1884; James H. Clancy, 18S5 ; Lot Reznor, 1886; 
Warren W. Oxx, 1887; Frank Kelley, 1888; Chas. P. Emery, 1889; 
M. A. Emery and D. C. Hopkins, 1890; W. E. Ellis and D. L. 
Dungan, 1891 ; J. L. Kellison, 1892; Norman Bennett, 1893; Chester 
Halbert and A. A. Sewell, 1894; W. E. Ellis, 1895. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 125 

Present Town Officers (1895). — William S. Hurlbut, supervisor; 
James F. Deeter, town clerk ; Wells E. Ellis, Chester Halbert, J. L. 
Kellison and Adelbert A. Sewell, justices; Nelson Ayres, Thomas 
Burris and Henry Colegrove, assessors; Austin C. Hill, overseer of the 
poor; John W. Wood, collector; Lot Reznor, highway commissioner; 
Henry Lovee, Hiram Ellis and Frank Waddington, excise commission- 
ers. 

The civil histor)' of the town of Hornellsville, from first to last, forms 
an interesting and instructive chapter in the annals of Steuben county. 
The pioneers of this special region had to contend with the same ob- 
stacles and the same discouragements as did those of other localities, 
and the lands here were not more in\'iting than in other parts of the 
Canisteo valley. The first comers found a few patches of cleared land 
and the Indians were still occupants of the soil. Within the present 
boundaries of the town were several places where stood the rude hab- 
itations of the red man, and while the latter were not hostile, they were 
never particularly friendly, and yielded to the advances of civilization 
with ill-disguised feelings of reluctance. During the war of 1812, the 
remaining Indians were regarded with distrust and apprehension by the 
settlers, as it was feared they might again return to their old alliance 
with the British. However, after the danger of an outbreak had passed, 
the arts of peace engaged the undivided attention of the inhabitants, 
farms were cleared, new lands were developed, and aa era of pros- 
perity prevailed on every hand. 

Preceding and during the period of the so-called Anti-rent Con- 
flict, the public mind was much interested, but as the Pulteney and 
Hornby associations had no interests in this town the people here for- 
tunately escaped the embarrassments caused by it. In fact the dis- 
turbed condition of affairs elsewhere had the effect of attracting settle- 
ment to this town, and during the five years between 1825 and 1830, the 
population of Hornellsville was nearly doubled. 

The one great event which above all others contributed to the \^\^o- 
motion of local interests, was the construction of the New York and 
Erie railroad. The preliminary surveys were made by De Witt Clin- 
ton in 1832, and the company was organized in 1833. The fiist work 
of construction in this town was done in 1841, though nearly ten j-ears 



126 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEK COUNTY. 

elapsed before the road was in operation. On Sunda\-, September i, 
1850, the first train of cars was run into Horncllsville. The road was 
completed to Dunkirk, May 14, 185 I. With this great consummation 
the prosperity of the town was assured, and later railway interests only 
added to the general welfare. With soil that ) ields profitably in return 
to proper cultivation, it is only in the natural course of events that 
Hornellsville ranks well among the agricultural towns of the county ; 
and in the production of potatoes, as a special interest, the locality is 
unsurpassed. 

The military record of the town is one in which the whole people feel 
just and pardonable pride. With a population of 4,230 in i860, we 
find credited to the town during the period of the war a total of almost 
425 men in all branches of the service. In a preceding chapter of this 
volume special reference is made to the xarious companies and regi- 
ments to which this town contributed, and the memory of the volun- 
teers is kept alive in the hearts of every patriotic citizen of the town by 
the monuments erected in their honor. 

Howard. — On the i8th of June, in the year 1812, the towns of 
Bath and Dansville surrendered portions of their territory to a new 
formation called Howard. However, it was not long before the new 
creation was itself called upon to } ield a part of its area to still later 
subdivisions, as it contributed to Avoca in 1S43, and to Fremont in 
1854. Thus remaining, and as at present constituted, Howard contains 
34,900 acres of land, all devoted to the peaceful arts of agriculture and 
kindred pursuits. It is an interior town, lying west of the shire town, 
and its surface is chiefly a rolling upland, forming a [lart of the ridge 
which divides the Conhocton and Canisteo rivers. The streams are 
small, and in the northeast part arc two small ponds. 

The claim has been made by recent and reliable authorities that the 
first settler in this town was one Hovey, who made a clearing of a few 
acres and then abandoned the field. His inipiovenunt, it is also said, 
was taken in 1805 by Mr. Travis and his family, and the latter were in 
fact the pioneers of the town. However, other authorities assert that 
the pioneer was Abraham Johnson, who located in the vicinity of 
Towlesville in 1806. Charles McConnell was about the next settler, 
and located on what afterwards became known as the Alkali Bennett 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 127 

farm. At that time Asa McConnell, son of Charles, was only seven 
years old, and he grew up in the town and afterward rose by his own 
efforts to a position of importance in Hornellsville and the county; and 
his sons are among the foremost business men of that enterprising city. 

From this time on settlement increased rapidly, and within the next 
few years there came and located in various parts of the town Saimicl 
Baker, Reuben and Abrani Smith, Joel and Abel Bullard, Daniel N. 
and Jacob I^ennett Job Rathbun, and his three brothers, all, it is be- 
lieved, during the year 1S09. In 18 10 William Allen, John Iloagland, 
and Daniel Smith joined the settlement, and Israel Baldwin came in 
181 1. Russell Burlison came in 1S12. In this year the town was set 
off and given a separate organization, at which time pionecrship had 
virtuallj- ceased. Still, among the prominent later comers were Jonas 
and Seth Rice, Benjamin, Thomas and Isaac Bennett, Jonathan Ketchum 
Hamilton Parkhill, John Stephenson, David Walker, Andrew Baker, 
George and James Stewart, Richard Towle, Reuben Hammond, 
Isaac Brasted, Joseph Lam, Oliver Parkhill, R. F. P'erris, Simeon Baker, 
David Rathbun, Jabes Beebe, and others perhaps equally worthy of 
mention, but whose names are lost with the lapse of years. 

Jonathan Ketchum built the first framed hotel in the town, and suoii 
afterward put up a small tannery. The first tavern was built of logs, 
by Isaac Bennett, and the second by Benjamin Bennett. Randall and 
Calvin Graves built the first store, and this was the only industry of its 
kind in Howard until Calvin Whitwood settled there, in 1831. He was 
succeeded by James and George Alley, and the latter became success- 
ful merchants and weie also owners of a grist mill east of the village. 
They soon left the town and were succeeded by Aaron McConnell, 
also a successful merchant. 

h'rom what has been noted it will be seen that the lands of Howard 
were settled at a comparatively early day, and by a class of men who 
were in every sense thrifty and progressive. In this respect we make 
no new disclosure, for this town has always been noted for the substan- 
tial character of its men as well as its institutions. Occup) ing a some- 
w hat remote locality from the established trading centers, and possess- 
ing no suitable facilities for manuf.icturing enterprises, the inhabitants 
of Howard have iiecessaril}' been farmers, and to this pursuit have bent 



128 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

their untiring energies ; and to-day the result of early thrift and indus- 
try is apparent, for here are found some of the best farmers in Steuben 
county. 

When set off in 1812 the population of the new district was hardly 
more than 300, and in 1814 the exact number of inhabitants was 366. 
In 1820 it was 1,140, and in 1830 was 2,464. Ten years later the 
maximum population was reached, being 3,247 in 1840, and 3.244 '" 
1850. In i860 the number was 2,746, and 2.122 in 1870. The num- 
ber in 1880 was 2,131, and in 1890 was 1,938. According to the count 
of 1892, Howard had 1,885 inhabitants. 

The first town meeting in Howard was held in April, 18 13, at the 
house of Simeon Bacon, at which time a complete board of officers was 
elected. However, the records of this town, previous to 1823, have 
been lost or destroyed, in consequence of which the list of first town 
officers cannot be furnished. The present officers {1895) ^""^ ^s follows : 
D. Ray Bennett, supervisor ; Frank H. Sharp, town clerk ; Joseph 
Miller, A. L. Cole and A H. Baldwin, justices of the peace ; L. J. 
Franklin, Thomas Coots and James Crozier, assessors; A. W. Barton, 
collector; Calvin Bullock, highway commissioner; John A. Drake, 
overseer of the poor ; Alexander McChesney, Martin Higgins and J. 
W. Carr, excise commissioners. 

The supervisors of Howard since 1823, have been as follows: Israel 
Baldwin, 1823; Daniel N. Bennett, 1824-25 ; Wm. Goff, 1826-27; 
Green Hern, 1828-29; Daniel N. Bennett, 1830-31; H. N. Rathbun, 
1832; John W. Whiting, 1833-34; William Goff, 1835-36; Issachar 
Goodrich, 1837; C. E. Belden, 1838-39; James Alley, 1840-42; Asa 
McConnell, 1843; John Hamilton, 1844-45; D.N.Bennett, 1846-47; 
Joseph I. Burnham, 1848; Ira Lane, 1849-50; Ansel House, 1851; 
Alkali Bennett, 1852-53; Ansel House, 1854; Moses S. Bennett, 
1855-56; Alonzo Graves, 1857-5S; Ansel House, 1859; Alkali Ben- 
nett, 1860-61 ; A. T. Parkhill, 1862-63 ; John F. Shaver, 1864; Alkali 
Bennett, 1865-66; A. M.Cole, 1867; Alkali Bennett, 1S68; Aaron 
McConnell, 1869-71 ; John G. Shaip, 1872-73; Josiah House, 1874-75; 
J. C. Hoagland, 1876-77; George Bennett, 1878; William H. Willis, 
1879-80; Andrew Sharp, 1881-82; O. F. Bennett, 1883-84; Alonzo 
Van Wie, 1885-87; A. U. Brown, 1888; R. F. Parkhill, 1889-91 ; E. 
L. Stewart, 1892-93; D. Ray Bennett, 1894-95. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 129 

Among tlie early residents in the east and southeast part of this town 
was a considerable colony of Irish Presbyterians; good, strong, earnest 
and active men and women, who iiave devoted themselves to agricul- 
tural pursuits, and many of whom have built up fine farms. This town 
and its people was peculiarly affected by the disturbances of the anti- 
rent period, and, lying next west of the shire-town of the county, there 
was perhaps a more active participation in public events than was shown 
in localities more remote. The delegates from Howard in the Bath 
convention were Daniel N. Bennett, who at the time was supervisor, 
Byram L. Harlow, William Gofif, John D. Collier and Jacob G. Winne. 

During the period of the war of 1861-65, this town raised for bounties, 
and for the purpose of recruiting troops for the service, a total of $3,021 72; 
and in addition to tliis the county raised, upon the credit of the town, 
the sum of $42,450. So near as can be ascertained the town furnished 
about 160 men for service during the war. 

According to local tradition the first school in tiie town was opened 
about the year 181 5 in the little log school iiouse standing near the 
residence of Aaron McConnell. About the same time another school 
was started at Howard Flats, and still a third in Towlesville. About 
1820 the town was first divided into districts and provision made for a 
school in each. In the principal village an academy was founded and 
built in 1835. It was an excellent institution, well equipped and sup- 
plied with an efficient corps of instructors. However worthy may have 
been this enterprise it finally met the fate that fell upon many similar 
schools and it was therefore discontinued. 

As at present constituted Howard has seventeen school districts, each 

provided with a comfortable school house. The total value of school 

property in the town is estimated at $9,420. During the school year 

1893-4, the town received of public monejs $2,o8r,and raised by 

local tax $1,929.58. P^orty-two tree; were planted by pupils in 1894. 
17 



130 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 

Jasper. — On tlie 24th of January, 1827, all that part of the towns of 
Canisteo and Troupsburg which were included in township 2, range 5, 
of the Phelps and Gorham purcliase, were erected into a separate town, 
and named Jasper, in honorable allusion to Sergeant Jasper, whose 
courageous conduct at the battle of Fort Moultrie, S C, June 28, 1776, 
received public commendation. However, in 1848 a strip of land half 
a mile in width was taken from this town and annexed to Greenwood. 

Geographically, Jasper is located in the southwest part of the county, 
and contains 31,300 acres of land. The surface is a hilly and broken 
upland, some of the elevations reaching more than 2,000 feet above 
tide water. The streams are small brooks, and the soil is slaty, gravelly 
and clayey loam. From the hills of Jasper, in years past, there has 
been taken a quality of stone specially adapted to the manufacture of 
grindstones, but remote from the railroads of the county, and from 
commercial centers, the natural resources of this town have never been 
fully developed. Its inhabitants are, and for all time during the period 
of its historj' have been farmers ; earnest, honest, steady and hardworking 
husbandmen, who, notwithstanding the disadvantages of location and 
the difficulty attending successful cultivation of the land, have succeeded 
in establishing for themselves a satisfactory and even comfortable con- 
dition of affairs, and the town to-day ranks well among the best farm- 
ing sections of the county. 

The settlement of Jasper was begun in 1807, while the territory 
formed a part of the original town of Canisteo. The pioneer seems to 
have been Nicholas Brotzman, sr., or Prutzman, as once known, who 
came from Tioga county, Pa., and penetrated the dense forests that 
bordered on Canisteo River and Tuscarora Creek, until he reached the 
spot where he afterward lived. This pioneer was a German, and was 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 131 

perhaps was one of the most persevering of the early settlers in this 
whole region. His cabin was built near Marlatt's Corners of later 
years. Adam Brotzman settled at the Five Corners in 1809, where a 
man named Morle}- had made an original clearing. The surname 
Brotzman is still represented in the town. 

Andrew Craig, sr , was a settler in this town as early as i8io, coming 
from Philadelphia. He was land agent for the proprietary and other- 
wise influential and prominent in early local history. From him de- 
scended a large family, some of whom attained positions of trust in the 
count)'. Mrs. Craig made the first butter which was marketed from 
Jasper, but in much later years this town has become noted for the ex- 
cellence of its dairy product. 

Ebenezer Spencer was another pioneer, coming from Cayuga county, 
though a Connecticut Yankee by birth. He bought 400 acres of tim- 
bered land in Jasper at fourteen shillings an acre, and eighty-four acres 
of cleared land at twenty shillings per acre. Mr. Spencer was a man of 
means and also of prominence in the new community ; was a great hun- 
ter and trapper, and with his memory are associated many interesting 
stories. 

Uzal McMindes and John Marlatt came to the town in 1810, both 
from New Jersey, and Gideon Marlatt came one year later. All were 
prominent in early times, and their names are still preserved in the 
town. Other early settlers were Andrew Simpson, in 181 2; Adam 
Wass in 18 16; Henry Whitman in 18 19; Rice Wentworth in 1820; 
Hial Wood in 1821 ; Elisha Peak, about 1821, also Ezra Banks, who is 
said to have chopped more than 500 acres of woods in the town, being 
assisted only by his sons. 

In the same connection may be mentioned the family of A. Fuller 
Whittemore, also John Deck and Solomon Deck, John Moore, Israel S. 
Osgood, George I. Shawl, Alva June, Moses Dennis, a Revolutionary 
soldier, Enoch Ordway, John Hadley and his family, Dr. William Hun- 
ter, the first physician, Samuel Dennis, Earl Stone, Henry Prentice, 
Deacon Joshua Sargent, Ephraim Lyons, carpenter, David Woodward, 
Charles Lamson. William Purdy, Peter Drake, Abraham Freeland, 
Thomas Waight, Christopher Dennis, I larvey Andrews, Daniel Purdy, 
and some others, all of whom were settlers in the town previous to 1835, 



132 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and are entitled to be named among those who laid the foundation for 
later successes by their descendants. 

In 1830, and about that time, the settlers in Jasper were much dis- 
turbed over the events of the so-called anti-rent conflict, and as this 
town had come from the Pulteney or Hornby association, the inhabit- 
ants felt a direct interest in the result of the measures adopted at the 
time. The people held meetings and discussed the subject quite freely, 
and sent delegates to represent the town in the convention at Bath. 
These delegates were William Hunter, Benjamin Heliker, Ira Smith, 
Uzal McMynderse (or McMinders), and Hinckley Spencer. However, 
the events of this period, being general rather than local, are narrated 
in an earlier chapter. 

Referring briefly to the first events of town history, we may note the 
fact that the first settler was Nicholas Brotzman ; the first birth that of 
Sally Brotzman ; the first marriage that of Samuel Gray and Polly Simp- 
son ; the first inn or tavern was kept by Nicholas Brotzman, and the 
first school was taught by Amanda Smith. 

However much delayed may have been the early settlement in this 
part of the county by the hilly and uninviting character of the region, 
we nevertheless find a population of 500 in township two of the fifth 
range as early as the year 182?. We may also note the establishment 
of one small village and at least two minor settlements, for the people 
of this locality have ever been noted for their independence and self- 
reliance. Herein lies the great secret of their success in life, in the face 
of obstacles that would have completely discouraged the pioneers who 
settled on the rich plain lands of the Genesee country. 

As we have stated the town was set off from Canisteo and Troups- 
burg in 1827, the local population then being nearly 600. The first 
town meeting was held at the dwelling of Andrew Simpson, on the first 
Tuesday in March, at which time these persons were elected to fill the 
several town offices, viz.: Andrew Craig, supervisor ; William Hunter, 
town clerk ; Uzal McMindes, Oliver Pease, sr., and Samuel Dennis, 
assessors; Jonathan Schenck, collector; John G. Marlatt, Elijah Peake, 
and Benjamin Helliker, highway commissioners; Ira Smith and Ste- 
phen Towsley, overseers of the poor ; Henry Phenix, Enoch Ordway, 
and Joseph Dutton, commissioners of schools ; Ira Simpson, Jonathan 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 133 

R. Prentice and William Hunter, inspectors of schools. At a general 
election held in November of the same year, Oliver Pease, Stephen 
Towsley and Ira Smith were chosen the first justices of the peace in the 
town. 

The succession of supervisors in Jasper has been as follows: Andrew 
Craig, 1S27-32: Stephen Towsley, 1833-36; William Hunter, 1837- 
39; J. R. Prentice, 1840; John G. Marlatt, 1841 ; J. R. Prentice, 1842; 
William Hunter, 1843; Andrew Craig, 1844-45; William Hunter, 
1846; Alvah June, 1847-51 ; Darius Simpson, 1852; J. R. Prentice, 
1853 ; Jesse L. Bartow, 1854; J. R. Prentice, 1855 ;' Jonathan Schenck, 
1856-57; Ira D. Hotchkiss, 1858-59; Henry C. Prentice, 1 860-62 ; 
AmosT. Woodbury, 1863-65 ; Willis E. Craig, 1866 ; Samuel F. Den- 
nis, 1867-69; George D. Woodward, 1870-71; Samuel Dennis, jr., 
1872; Willis E. Craig, 1873; James S. Outman, 1874; W. E. Craig, 
1875-76; Asa Spencer, 1877-78; A. A. Van Arsdale, 1879-81; J. 
Sumner Sargent, 1882-87; S. B. Hardy, 1888-92; Nathaniel P. Hun- 
ter, 1893; Ezra Chatfield, 1894-95. 

The present town officers ( 1 895) are Ezra Chatfield, supervisor ; C. E. 
Brown, town clerk ; A. A. Van Arsdale, Byron Crosby, J. M. Simpson, 
Arthur Lamson, justices ; C. G. Hutchinson, Collins Talbot and John 
T. Dunnigan, assessors; Dennis Williams, highway commissioner ; John 
Murphy, overseer of the poor ; John E. Schenck, collector ; James Tur- 
ner, J. B. Sargent and Adelbert Curtiss, excise commissioners. 

When first separated from the mother town Jasper had about 600 
inhabitants, and in 1830 the number was 657. In 1840 it increased to 
1,187, ^"*^ '" 1850 to 1,749. In i860 the maximum number was 
reached, 1,850, but in 1870 had decreased to 1,683. I" 1880 the pop- 
ulation was 1,806, but the next ten years showed a decrease, the 
census of 1890 giving the number of inhabitants as 1,690. 

Notwithstanding these several and somewhat noticeable fluctuations 
in population, the town of Jasper is as stable and substantial and relia- 
ble in its productions and institutions as any similarly situated civil 
division of the county. There is but little of the speculative in the 
characteristics of the people; everything has been built " from the 
stump," and there are but few evidences of premature decay. 

During the years of early history the pioneers of Jasper were not un 



134 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COTTNTY. 

mindful of the spiritual welfare of their families, and even before the 
town itself was set off we find three full and complete church societies 
in existence. They were the Baptist, organized in 1817; the Presby- 
terian, in 18 1 8, and the Methodist Episcopal, the earliest meetings of 
which run to about the same time. In later }ears other societies have 
been formed and there are now five organizations, the Wesleyan Meth- 
odist and North Jasper Methodist in addition to those already noted. 
Also during these years there have been built up several hamlets in the 
town, though none has attained the corporate character. Jasper village 
is the chief center of business in the town, and will be found particularly 
mentioned in the municipal history in this work. ■ The other hamlets 
are hardly more than cross-road settlements. Half a century ago the 
named hamlets were Jasper Four Corners, Jasper F"ive Corners, West 
Jasper and South Hill. The more recent names of post-offices have 
been Jasper, North Jasper, West Jasper and Hampshire, tlie latter so 
called from the fact that many of tiie early settlers in the locality of 
roads 17 and 18 were from New Hampshire; and the average New 
Englander naturally delights in preserving memories of his native 
State. 

As an agricultural town Jasper has for many years ranked well among 
the divisions of the county, but in point of manufactures it has gained 
no special prominence, the disadvantages of location operating adversely- 
Still, we may recall the once important steam flour mill built away 
back in 1848 by Nelson Johnson; the Knapp tannery, afterward Au- 
gustus Van Asrdale's ; the Savage tannery, run by Andrew Savage. 
The Craig mill was built and run by A. B. and W. A. Craig, in 1866. 
We may also mention the Walrath mills, built in 1881. 

LiNDi.EY. — "Township i, range 2, Phelps and Gorham Purchase." 
This was a fair description of this town one hundred and five years ago, 
when Col. Eleazer Lindsley came from New Jersey and made an exten- 
sive purchase of land in the Genesee country. Still there has ever ex- 
isted a doubt as to the amount of land actually acquired by Colonel 
Lindsley from Oliver Phelps in 1790, some authorities asserting that his 
purchase included the entire township, while others claim tliat his title 
covered only the southern half of number one, range two, and that the 
other proprietors took title directly from the proprietary, John Ryess 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 135 

taking the northwest quarter, and Judge Garrettson tlie northeast. 
However, with all respect for the opinions of competent authorities, the 
present writer is inclined to accept the theory of Colonel Harrower, that 
the township was purchased from Oliver Phelps by Colonel Lindsley, 
John Ryess and Judge Garrettson ; that a commission made a fair and 
equitable division of the territory according to the respective interests 
of the vendees; and that Colonel Lindsley was awarded the south half 
and the others the upper quarters as noted above. Other authorities 
contend that Lindsley bought the town at sixpence per acre, and sold 
the north half to the persons mentioned at one shilling per acre. 

In seme respects Lindley differs in physical features from other towns 
of the count)', and while these characteristics are not specially impor- 
tant, they are at least noteworthy. Extending north and south the en- 
tire length of the town is the charming and fertile valley of the Tioga, 
from any point in which the observer is at once attracted by the de- 
lightful view about him. The river valley averages about a mile in 
width, while on either side the hills rise to a height varying from five 
hundred to six hundred feet. When the doughty colonel made his 
first visit to the region he found evidence of cultivation along the bottom 
lands, and the general fertility of the soil was at once apparent. Small 
wonder, therefore, that he preferred the exhilarating atmosphere of the 
combined hills and valley rather than hazard the uncertanties of settlement 
in the lake region farther north in Ontario county. And if we may 
believe well verified tradition Colonel Lindsley found a clearly marked 
Indian trail running along the river through the township, indicating 
that this was a thoroughfare of travel between the Seneca country on 
the north and the land of the Delawares on the south ; and evidences 
are not wanting to show that the Moravian missionaries frequented the 
valley while traveling from their Pennsylvania homes to the villages of 
the Senecas and the subjugated tribes suffered to dwell within their vast 
domain. It is also a known fact that the Tioga valley was a favorite 
fishing and hunting resort of the red men, and that some of the small 
tribes had villapjes and cultivated fields scattered along the river. Such 
was the situation in this region one hundred and more years ago. 

Col. Eleazer Lindsley, the proprietor of tow nship one, range two, was 
a native of Connecticut, born December 7, 1737. During the Revolu- 



136 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

tion, he was active in serving on the side of the Americans, and was an 
officer in the regiment commonly called the " Jersey Blues," for, before 
the war, he had moved to New Jersey. It is not known why Colonel 
Lindsley left his comfortable home in New Jersey to brave the trials 
and hardship of pioneer life in the new country, nor may we properly 
enquire into the motives which actuated his movements, and it is suffi- 
cient to say that his coming to the region was fortunate for local inter- 
ests, as he showed himself to be a worthy citizen, kind and generous in 
his nature, and public spirited in all measures for the welfare of the val- 
ley and its people. 

In the Lindley colony, as it has been called, were about forty persons, 
many of them relatives of the proprietor. They left New Jersey in the 
spring of 1790, making their journey in wagons and on horseback to 
the Susquehanna River at Wilkesbarre, thence came in boats to the 
purchase, arriving and landing at the Tioga Flats on the 7th of June. 
In the party were Colonel Lindsley and two sons, Satnuel and Eleazer, 
also five son-in-laws, Dr. Mulford, Ebenezer Backus, Capt. John.Seelye, 
Dr. Hopkins and David Payne. Nearly all brought families, while in the 
party were several slaves. This was unquestionably the first introduction 
of slavery into the south part of Ontario county, a novel though not un- 
known institution. It is said that Colonel Lindsley gave a slave to 
each of his children, and further, that only a few years passed before all 
were set free and provided for, .for slavery was soon regarded as inim- 
ical to our State institutions and also forbidden by law. 

In the new settlement Colonel Lindsley was an important personage, 
an earnest Christian, and a worthy leader. In 1793 he was elected to 
the State Legislature, opening the way, it is said, to a career of useful- 
ness in public life, but, unfortunately on the 1st of June, 1794, he was 
stricken ill and died. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Miller, 
died November 20, 1806. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Linds- 
ley kept public house, the first in the valley between Bath and VVill- 
iamsport. 

In addition to those whose names have been mentioned, we find the 
Lindsley colony to contain other persons, among them Joseph Miller, a 
substantial farmer of the valley and whose descendants still live in the 
county. David Cook also formed one of the pioneer party of 1790, 



I 



i 



i 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 137 

and, like the colonel, was an old Revolutionary soldier. He made a 
comfortable farm in the valley on the east side of the river, and, with 
Robert Patterson, another pioneer, is entitled to the honor of having 
planted the first apple tree in the town. Among the other early set- 
tlers, though possibl)' not pioneers, may be mentioned the names of 
Abner Thurber, another Revolutionary patriot, Benjamin Harrower, 
Simeon Rorapaugh, Thomas Clark, Ira Lyon, Elam Watson, James 
Sherwood, James Ford. Lyman Truman, Jared Butler, William Chilson, 
Parker B. Crandall, Henry and Ethan Pier, Russell and Julius Tremain, 
Joseph Upham, Elijah Knapp, Abram Kinney, Hezekiah Collins and 
others whose names are now forgotten. The Piers, theTremains, Uphams, 
and several others, settled in tiie north part of thetown, near Krwin Center, 
as it was for many years known, but now called Presho. Benjamin Har- 
rower became tlie owner of a 2,000 acre tract of timber land and 
built a " gang mill " at the Narrows. 

John P. Ryess came from the eastern part of this State about the 
year 1810. He, too, was an extensive landowner, having some 3,000 
acres. Among other early residents in the town were Silas Cook, 
Frederick Heckert. Jeremiah Mulford, Joseph Miller, Michael R. Thorp, 
surveyor, Mr. Waller, and possibly others. 

All these came into township number i previous to the division o 
Erwin, and many of them while the territory was included within the 
still older town of Painted Post. They were an industrious and ener- 
getic set of men, and under their persevering efforts the lands were 
cleared, fine farms were developed and comfortable homes were built. 
For many years the chief occupation of the settlers was lumbering, and 
in this industry the locality long held a prominent position. At that 
time the Tioga valley was subject to frequent sudden inundation and on 
several occasions the settlers and lumbermen suffered serious damage. 
In the spring, and often in the fall, of each year came the rafting sea- 
son, events of importance and activity throughout the entire valley. 

As we have stated, Lindley, previous to its separate organization, 
formed a part of Erwin, and possibly was the more important portion of 
tlie town. The center of business was at the liamlet called Erwin Center 
(now Presho), for here was about the geographical center of the town. 
In 1836 the number of inhabitants in the south part was about 600, and 

18 



138 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

they generally favored a separation from the mother town. The result 
was that on the I2th of May. 1837, township i, range 2, was erected 
into a new town, and named " Lindsley " in compliment to Col. Eleazer 
Lindsley, its acknowledged pioneer and founder. As then and still 
constituted the town contains 23,000 acres of land. 

The original name of this town was " Lindsley " but through an error 
in making the record the " s " was omitted, making the name " Lindley," 
which has since been accepted without question. The first meeting of 
freemen was held in the school house at the Center, on February 6, 
1835, and these officers were elected: Benjamin Harrower, supervisor ; 
Chauncey Hoffman, town clerk ; Silas Cook, William Seelye and Jonah 
Davis, justices of the peace; Ansel C. Smith William Lindsley, Jere- 
miah Upham, assessors; G. A. Ryerss, Thomas Clark and Benjamin 
Patterson, commissioners of highways ; W. A. Lindsley, collector. 

In this connection may also be furnished the succession of supervisors 
of this town, viz.: Benj. Harrower, 1838; Wm. Lindsley, 1839-40; 
Silas Cook, 1841 ; Ansel C. Smith, 1842-43 ; G. T. Harrower, 1844; 
James G. Mercereau, 1845-46; Henry A. Miller, 1847; Samuel J. 
Mercereau, 1S48-49; Gabriel T. Harrower, 1850-51 ; Ansel C. Smith, 
1852; Eber Scofield, 1853; Samuel Heckart, 1854; A. B. Lindsley, 
1855; G. T. Harrower, 1856-57; Henry G. Harrower, 1858; A. C. 
Morgan. 1859-60; Eber Scofield, 1861-63; Wm. Moore, 1864-65; 
Eber Scofield, 1866; S. M. Morgan, 1867; Eber Scofield, )868; 
Wm. Moore, 1869—70; Mason Hammond, 1871; Wm. Moore, 
1872 ; Jas. C. Orr, jr , 1873 ; G. T. Harrower, 1874-75; Wm. Moore, 
1876; T. J. Presho, 1877; James A. Rogers, 1878; W. H. Hill, 
1879-80; T. J. Presho, 1881 ; Jas. C. Orr, jr., 1882-83; Marcus 
Stowell, 1884; Wm. Moore, 1885-87 ; Marcus Stowell, 1888-89; Wm. 
Moore, 1890; Marcus Stowell, 1891-95. 

With the same propriety we may also furnish the names of the town 
officers for the present year, 1895, viz.: Marcus Stowell, supervisor; 
Wm. Hutchinson, town clerk ; H. C. Hill, Henry Stowell, Ira Knapp 
and C. J. Starner, justices of the peace; Oliver Camp, J. Brinnan and 
J. Starner, assessors; James L. Colder, overseer of the poor; John 
Brinnan, highway commissioner, George Snyder, James Harris and 
James Colder, commissioners of excise. 



THE CIVrL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 139 

The population of Lindley by decades has been as follows : 1840, 
638; 1850,686; 1860,886; 1870, 1,251; 1880, 1,563; 1890, 1,537; 
1892, 1,455. 

As Lindley was one of the towns purchased directly from the Phelps 
and Gorhani proprietary, its inhabitants were less affected by the anti- 
rent controversy than in other localities. In fact at that time, while 
Lindley, or Erwin, had a number of settlers whose farms were encum- 
bered, and while the whole town suffered somewhat from the depressions 
of the period, there was less of actual distress here, in the Tioga valley, 
than was noticeable elsewhere in this part of the Genesee country. 
Erwin was represented in the Bath convention of January, 1830, but 
none of the delegates was from township number i, of range 2. 

With a population of 886 in i860 the town of Lindley is credited 
with having sent into the service a total of 125 men, a record equaled 
by few towns in this part of the State, and an indisputable evidence of 
patriotism and loyalty on the part of its inhabitants. 

Glancing back into the early history of this township, we may note 
the fact that the first white child born was Eliza Mulford, August 10, 
1792; the first marriage was that of David Cook, jr., and Elizabeth 
Cady ; the first school was taught by Joseph Miller, in 1793, near the 
State line ; the first tavernkeeper was the widow of Colonel Lindsley ; 
the first saw mill was built by Colonel Lindsley. The death of this 
pioneer was about the first event of its kind in the town. A writer of 
local history in i860 said: "There is no church, no hotel, nor place 
where liquor is sold in the town." 

Previous to the separation of Lindley from Erwin, the local schools 
were a part of the system then in operation in the latter town, but, at 
the organization meeting in 1838, the electors chose D. P. Harrower 
and T. L. Mercereau as inspectors of common schools. Soon after this 
the territory of this town was divided into school districts and provision 
made for a school in each. Erom that time this department of local 
government has received the same generous attention as have all others, 
and the schools of Lindley now rank well in the county. The districts 
now number ten, and during the last current year tliiiteen teachers 
were employed. The value of school property is estimated at $6,945. 
The amount of public school moneys received was $1,55 1.57, and the 
town raised by tax $1,868 83. 



140 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

That the reader may not be misled by a preceding statement to the 
effect that in i860 Lindley was without a church, we may here remark 
that several church organizations have had an active and useful exist- 
ence in the town, the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist and 
Independent, as respectively known. At the present time there arc at 
least two societies, the Methodist and Free Methodist, both of which are 
mentioned in another department of this work. 

PraTTSBURG. — Captain Joel Pratt little thought that his original ex- 
tensive purchase of land in the Genesee county vvould some time become 
a part of one of the most progressive towns in the region. Tradition 
furnishes us little information as to the reason of Captain Pratt's first 
visit here in 1799, yet we know that this doughty pioneer was a man of 
firm determination, of strong character, and equally firm in his puritanic 
ideas of Christian propriety and observance. He had in mind the idea 
of establishing a settlement somewhat in the nature of a religious colon)', 
yet without the fanatical elements which generally accompany such 
enterprises. 

Joel Pratt, so all writers agree, first visited this region on horseback 
in the year 1799. and in the year following came with his son Harvej', 
and other assistants, and cleared and sowed with wheat 1 10 acres of 
land. In the course of time the grain was harvested, threshed and 
shipped to market, via the Canisteo, Chemung and Susquehanna Rivers, 
where it brought the handsome return of $8,000 cash. Thus encour- 
aged by his first efforts. Captain Pratt made all necessary preparations, 
and in 1801 brought several members of his family to the region where 
all became permanent settlers and useful residents. However, the 
honor of being the first settler in what is now Prattsbutg must be ac- 
corded to Jared Pratt, who came with his young wife from Spencer- 
town, Columbia county, in Februarj', 1801, traveling the entire distance 
on an ox sled. He settled on the road leading to Bath. Uriah Chapin 
also came from Columbia county, though not until 1802, and located on 
the Wheeler part of the territory. Rev. John Niles came in 1803, for 
the purpose of opening a farm, and in connection therewith to do such 
work of a missionary character as his enfeebled health would permit. 
He conducted the first religious services in the town and was treated 
with great consideration by the scattered inhabitants, and was presented 
with an eighty acre tract of land by Captain Pratt. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 141 

In 1802, June 16, Joel Pratt and William Root became the qualified 
owners, or agents, of a large tract of land, and took upon tliemselves 
the task of developing and settling township No. 6, of the 3d range. 
The agreement was made with Col. Robert Troup, the agent of the 
Pulteney estate in New York. Captain Pratt engaged in this enter- 
prise with the worthy intention of settling and improving the land, 
while his associate, Mr. Root, only sought to increase his wealth. 
Hence it was only natural that a disagreement should follow, and the 
final result was that Mr. Root retired from the partnership, if such it 
was. In 1806 the Pulteney proprietary made a new agreement for the 
land, the purchasers being Joel Pratt, Joel Pratt, jr., and Ira Pratt, who 
took the unsold portion of the township. However, notwithstanding 
his best eftbrts. Captain Pratt found himself unable to meet his obliga- 
tions to the Pulteney agents, hence in 181 i was obliged to surrender the 
unsold lands to his vendors. 

During his proprietorship. Captain Pratt did much to improve and 
settle the town, and had he been less generous his venture would have 
been more successful from a speculative point of view. Through his in- 
fluence the town was settled with a class of pioneers not found in every 
community, and whose residence and society was very desirable from 
every standpoint. They were chiefly Congregationalists, and were 
devoted to religious observances in a noticeable degree. They were 
not bigots in any sense, but upright Christian men and women. How- 
ever, let us recall the names of some of the pioneers and learn to whom 
the present generation is indebted for the substantial foundation upon 
which this town and its institutions have been built and maintained. 

In 1804, so near as can be ascertained, the settlers were William P. 
Curtis, Ponieroy Hull, Samuel Tuthill and Salisbury Burton, while the 
year 1806 witnessed the arrival of a number of families, among them 
those of Enoch Niles, Rufus Blodgett, Jesse Waldo, Judge Hopkins, 
John Hopkins. Ebenezer Rice, Robert Porter, Gameliel Loomis, Samuel 
Hayes, Abiel Lindsley, Moses Lyon, Urial Chapin, Asher Bull, Roban 
Hillis and Stephen Prentiss Other early settlers were Warham Parsons, 
Aaron Cook, Michael Keith, Thomas Riker, William Drake, and others 
whose names have been lost with the lapse of years. 

Some of these settlers were identified with " first events " of town 



142 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

history, without a mention of which no record is deemed complete. In 
1804 Joel Pratt erected the first framed barn in the town, and Joel 
Pratt, jr., and Ira Pratt were the first merchants Aaron Bull kept the 
first public house. The first white child born was Marietta, daughter 
of Jared Pratt. The first marriage was that of Isaac Pardee and the 
daughter of Deacon Waldo. The first male child born was Charles 
Waldo. A post route was established between Geneva and Bath, 
through Prattsburg, in 1808, and mails were carried on horseback once 
each week. In that year a post-office was established at Prattsburg, 
and Joel Pratt, jr., was the first postmaster. Judge Robert Porter built 
the first grist mill about 1807, and the second was built on the road to 
West Hill by Joel Pratt in 18 18. Still later builders of mills were 
Horatio and Lewis Hopkins (the Cole mill), and they also built the 
fourth mill. The fifth mill was built by Henry and Ralph Hopkins, 
sons of Horatio, and was located in the village. It is a stone mill, and 
was built in 1887. Saw mills, too, have been numerous in the town in 
times past, located in various places, but chiefly on the main stream. 
Among the owners of such industries may be mentioned J. V. Stone, 
James Sturtevant Wm. P. Curtis, J. H. Downs, Hopkins & Howe, 
H & L. Hopkins, A. and O. Waldo, H. Hodgkin, J. De Golier, J. 
Hervey Hodgkin and Messrs. Prentiss, Blodgett and Fay. As the 
forests were cleared these mills lost their usefulness and were abandoned, 
and the once heavily wooded tracts were turned into fine farms, and the 
result has been that Prattsburg became an agricultural town in the 
fullest sense, and one which has ever ranked well among the civil 
divisions of Steuben county. 

As now constituted Prattsburg has an area of 30,600 acres of land and 
is therefore among the larger towns of the county. As originally 
formed on the 12th of April, 18 13, it was much larger in area, as nearly 
half of Wheeler was taken off in 1820. \\'ithin the original territory 
of Prattsburg in 1800 were 132 inhabitants, and as evidence of rapid 
growth under the direction of Captain Piatt the further statement may 
be made that in 18 14 the population was 615. Therefore it is not sur- 
prising that a new town formation was desirable, and not less surprising 
or desirable that the name of the new creation should be given in honor 
of its founder and promoter, Capt. Joel Pratt. The first town meeting 




WILLIAM M. I-ULKHRSON. 



I 



i 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 143 

was held on the 1st day of March, 1814, and Joel Pratt, jr., was elected 
supervisor. A full board of town officers was also chosen, but from the 
fact that an unfortunate fire burned the early records the names of all 
first officers cannot be ascertained. However, gleaning facts from other 
records, the supervisors from 1827 to the the present time are as 
follows : 

Supervisors: Robert Porter, 1827; Burrage Rice, 1828-34; Daniel 
Burroughs. 1835-36; Aaron Pinney, 1837-39; J. H. Hodgkin, jr., 
1840; John L. Higby, 1841-44; John F. Williams, 1845; John C. 
Higby, 1846-48; Aaron Pinney, 1849-50; Joseph Lewis, 1851 ; John 
Anderson, 1852; John P\ Williams, 1853; Joseph Lewis, 1854; G. 
Denniston, 1855-57; Joh" F- Williams, 1858-63; Wm. B. Pratt, 
1864-69; H. B. Williams, 1870; D. W. Baldwin, 1871; Martin 
Pinney, 1872-75 ; Henry A. Hopkins, 1876-77; Martin Pinney, 1878- 
80; I. L Turner, 1881-82; J. A. Middleton, 1883; Martin Pinney, 
1884; W. W. Babcock, 1885; I. L. Turner, 1886; W. W. Babcock, 
1887; G. W. Peck, 1888; W. M. Fulkerson, 1889-90; R. N. Van 
Tuyl, 1891-92 ; William M. Fulkerson, 1893-95. 

To this succession we may properly add the present town officers, 
viz; William M. Fulkerson, supervisor; R. E. Deighton, town clerk; 
Dr. James A. Bennett, Jay K. Smith, Henry E. Allis and Wm. E. 
Weld, justices of the peace ; Robert A. Walker, M. V. Drake and 
Henry Horton assessors; Aaron H. Putnam, commissioner of high- 
ways ; Philip Geiss and Freeman Avery, commissioners of highways ; 
Stewart Dillenbeck, collector. 

Prattsburg has a substantial and fixed population, yet, in years past 
the town has suffered a decrease in number of inhabitants in common 
with the interior towns of the State. When set off and organized the 
local population was 615, and in 1820 the number had increased to 
1,387. In 1830 it was 2,402, and 2,455 in 1840, while the year 1850 
witnessed a population in the town of 2,786. The maximum was 
reached in i860, the number then being 2,790, but in 1870 the popu- 
lation had decreased to 2,479. I" 1880 it was 2,349, and in 1890 was 
2,170. 

The pioneers and early settlers in Prattsburg were noted for their 
piety and Christian example, and were fully mindful of the spiritual 



144 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and educational welfare of their children. As early as the year 1803 
they organized a religious society which eventually became the Presby- 
terian church. However, a record of this and all other church organ- 
izations of the town will be found in another department of this work, 
hence needs no further mention here. Still, in the present connection 
the reader will pardon a brief allusion to one of the early residents of 
the town, Dr. and Preacher Marcus Whitman, whose life and works are 
still well remembered by our older inhabitants. Dr. Whitman lived 
for a time in Prattsburg and Wheeler. In 1835 he went as a mission- 
ary to what is now the State of Washington, and in Walla Walla valley 
he established a mission among the Indians. He made the journey 
across the continent on several occasions, and through his efforts the 
now State of Washington was saved from cession to Great Britain. Dr. 
Whitman and wife, also thirteen other whites, were massacred by the 
Indians in 1847. 

One of the most troublesome periods in the early history of Pratts- 
burg was that in which took place the anti rent conflict ; and although 
the inhabitants of this particular locality suffered less than many others, 
they were nevertheless much disturbed by the excitement of the time. 
The local delegates to the Bath convention were men in whom the 
whole townspeople had every confidence and who guarded well all 
Prattsburg interests. They were Stephen Prentiss, Gameliel Loomis, 
Josiah Allis, Ira C. Clark and Joseph Potter. 

The war of 1861-65 was another disturbed period for the people of 
our otherwise quiet and temperate townsfolk, but when the call for 
troops was made no town responded more nobly or generously than 
this. During the years of that great struggle Prattsburg is credited 
with having sent into the service a total of nearly two hundred men, 
170 of whom enlisted directly from the town, while the others joined 
commands raised elsewhere than in this county. 

The educational interests of Prattsburg have ever received the 
thoughtful attention of local authorities, and in the village there was 
established at an early day an academic institution of more than ordin- 
ary importance. In the village chapter further allusion will be made 
to the academy, and it only remains for us to here mention the town at 
large. When set off and organized as a town, the electors made neces 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 145 

sary provision for the maintenance of schools and legularly divided the 
territory into convenient districts. These have been changed from time 
to time as necessity required, and a uniformly excellent standard has 
ever been demanded and upheld. As at present constituted, the town 
at large is divided into fifteen districts, in each of which a school is 
maintained. During the school year 1894-5, twenty teachers were 
employed and 535 children attended school. The school property of 
the town is valued at $18,500. In the year mentioned the town re- 
ceived public moneys to the extent of $2,390.62, while there was raised 
by local tax the further sum of $3,385.45, Twenty- four trees were 
planted by pupils during the year 1894. 

PULTENEV. — In the extreme northeast corner of Steuben county, on 
the west side of Lake Keuka, is situated the town of Pulteney ; so 
named in honor of Sir William Pulteney, the principal owner in the 
familiarly known Pulteney Association. The district of which this 
brief chapter treats contains 19,600 acres of land, and in some respects 
is one of the most interesting towns of Steuben county. Its people are 
engaged in diversified pursuits, those living west of the ridge being 
farmers, while the inhabitants and land owners on the east side of the 
town are almost exclusively engaged in the pleasant and profitable em- 
ployment of grape and fruit growing and wine making. ThesQ latter 
industries have given Pulteney an enviable prominence in this vast vine- 
yard region, which, together with the importance of the lake front and 
all its kindred attractions, have combined to make this town possess 
an unusual interest in the history of the county and its vicinity. 

However, Pulteney did not become a civil division of Steuben county 
until 1808, when Bath surrendered to the new creation all that is now 
this town, and also Prattsburg and a part ^at least of Urbana. The 
former was set off from Pulteney in 18 13, and the latter in 1848. 
Pioneership and settlement in this hilly and then uninviting locality 
began with the present century and increased rapidly until the popula- 
tion was sufficient to justify a separate organization. The story of early 
times is perhaps best told in the words of a reliable and well known 
local writer, from whom we quote as follows : 

This portion of Steuben county was a part of the original Phelps and 
Gorham Purchase; was sold to Robert Morris, and by him to the 

19 



146 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Pulteney associates. Pulteney was surveyed in 1793 by William Bull, 
and was on the market at that time at eighteen and twenty cents an 
acre. About the first settlers were Samuel Miller, John Van Camp and 
G. F. Fitz Simmons, who came in or about 1800, but who were soon 
afterward followed by James and George Simms, Henry Hoffman, 
Abraham Bennett and Shadrack Norris, all during the year 1805. The 
next year there came Samuel and Nathaniel Wallis, John Ells, William 
White, James Daily, Erastus Glass, Harmon Emmons and Seth Pierce. 
From this time on settlement became more rapid and pioneership was 
virtually at an end. Still, we may properly refer to some of the first 
events of town history as they stand recorded and understood. The 
first marriage was that of Christopher Tomer and Jane Miller, in 1 809; 
the first death that of the child of James Daily, in 1806. The first saw 
mill was built in 1810, and the first grist mill in 18 14, both by Melchoir 
Wagener, an early settler and a man of influence and importance in the 
region. In 1807 Shadrack Norris opened the first tavern, and in 
1808 Augustus Tyler began storekeeping, while Polly Wentworth 
opened a school in the settlement. The descendants of several of the 
old families still live in the town, and occasionally some relic of early 
times is observed, for only a few years ago the remains of the old 
Wagener mill-race were still visible ; also the scattered and decaying 
fragments of the saw mill itself. But later generations of occupants live in a 
different and perhaps more progressive period, and have little reverence 
for the old and useless structures of three-quarters of a century ago, 
yet they love to see recollections of them on printed records. Pulteney 
of to-day is far different from the old town of iSio, and along the lake 
front few indeed, if any, of the old farm lines and habitations have been 
preserved. Where once was a vast agricultural region, with desirable 
eastern slope, we now have almost numberless vineyards and fruit 
farms, in size varying from five to fifty acres. 

According to the reminiscences of Mr. Risenger, grape culture as a 
special industry was begun in 1854, when he and Samuel L. Wagener 
planted a vineyard in Pulteney, the ultimate outgrowth of which is the 
splendid grape and wine producing interest which ramifies throughout 
the lake regions, and in many places extends far back into the inland 
districts. However, at the time Wagener and Risenger planted their 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 147 

vines, J. \V. Prentiss had a number of producing plants, yet was making 
no special effort in the direction of what might properly be termed 
grape culture. 

As is elsewhere noted, this town was formed and organized in 1808, 
and at that time the territory was comparatively well populated. In 
fact, in 1810 the inhabitants numbered 1,038, and 1,162 in 1820. In 
1813 Prattsburg was created and took largely of both population and 
area, the inhabitants of the district set off numbering 615 in 1814. In 
the same region in 1800 there were 132 persons. 

The first town meeting in Pulteney was held at the dwelling of Jesse 
Waldo on the first Tuesday of March, 1808, at which time Urial Chapin 
was elected supervisor; Aaron Bell, town clerk; Aaron Cook, Elias Hop- 
kins and Nathan Wallis, assessors ; William Curtis, collector, together 
with a full complement of minor officers. Urial Chapin held the office 
of supervisor four years and was, with Robert Porter, Stephen and John 
Prentiss. John Hathaway, Josiah Dunlap and others, a leader in the 
affairs of the town at an early day. However, in this connection it is 
interesting to note the succession of supervisors in the old town of 
Pulteney, which has been as follows: 

Urial Chapin, 1808-09 and 1811-12; Robert Porter, 1810; Stephen 
Prentiss, 1813 ; John Hathaway, 1814; John Prentiss, 1815-20; Josiah 
Dunlap, 1821-29; John N. Reynolds, 1830-38; Robert Miller, 1839- 
46; Jared T. Benton, 1847 and 1851; Ira Hyatt, 1849-50, 1852 and 
1856-57; John A. Prentiss, 1850; Robert Miller, 1853; Josiah Dunlap, 
1854 ; John N. Reynolds, 1855 ; Samuel Fitzsimmons, 1858; Josiah W. 
Eggleston, 1859; Wm. H. Clark, i860; Geo. Coward, 1861-63 ; Harry 
Godfrey, 1864; J. J. Reynolds, 1865-71, and 1873; Odel C. Cross, 
1872 ; S. B. Lyon, 1874 and 1876-77 ; John Gilson, 1875 ; A. H. Den- 
niston, 1878-80; J. D. Stone, 1881 ; S. B. Lyon, 1882-84; James H. 
Giffin, 1885-87; Philip Paddock, 1888-89; Edward D. Cross, 1890-95. 

The officers of Pulteney for the year 1895 are: Edward D.Cross, 
supervisor; Guy D. Finch, clerk: H. R. Hess, J. B. Hadden, J. H. Os- 
born and J. T. Bachman, justices; W. H. French, J. C. Barber and 
Darius Tyler, assessors; S. E. Stone, overseer of the poor; F. H. Ar- 
nold, collector. 

In 1892 this town had 1,693 inhabitants, and it is estimated that 



146 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

about one-half of this population are at least indirectly interested in 
grape growing or its associated industries. The people in the west part 
of the town are agriculturists, with no special product to attract more 
than ordinary interest. From the earliest generation of occupants here 
the region has produced farmers, all devoted to the arts of peace, and 
there have been built up many fine farms as the result of continued 
perseverance and industry. During the period of the war of 1812, the 
entire townspeople were somewhat alarmed for the safety of their 
families and property, but fortunately no untoward event took place to 
mar the tranquillity of domestic life. However, during the period com- 
monly known as the anti-rent conflict, at a time when the population 
reached 1,700 and more, and when the town was possessed of many 
strong men, public excitement ran high, and we find Pulteney an active 
factor in the measures proposed for the common welfare. In the nota- 
ble Bath convention, in January, 1830, the town was represented by 
David Hobart, William Sagar, Barnet Retan, Daniel Bennett and Seth 
Weed. This period also passed without serious disturbance, other than 
temporary embarrassment, and until the outbreak of the war of 1861- 
65 the history of the town was uneventful, other than was disclosed by 
the general advancement of local interests. It was during the years 
following 1850, and from that until about 1880, that the special interest 
of grape, wine and fruit culture began to attract attention to the locality. 
This brought to Pulteney an enviable notoriety ; spread abroad the re- 
markable resources of the town ; increased the value of lands on the 
lake front, and was in all respects the source of much advantage to the 
whole people. One of the chief auxiliary interests connected with the 
grape product is the manufacture of wines of various grades and quali- 
ties. The chief seat of these operations is in the vicinity of Hammonds- 
port, yet the business established by J. S. Foster more than a quarter 
of a century ago is worthy of at least passing mention. It is a fact of 
local and general history that the product of the Pulteney cellars are 
"true to name, pure and unadulterated." 

Such is, in brief, a general historical view of the town at large. Still, 
in this connection it is proper to call attention to the general stability 
of all local interests and institutions. Even in population there has 
always been maintained a substantial degree of uniformity and gradual 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 149 

growth. The present population is estimated at 1,700; in 1840 the 
number of iniiabitants was 1,724. In i860 tlie records disclose the tact 
that the population was only 1,470, and but 1,393 tc years later. How- 
ever, during the war of the Rebellion, Pulteney sent into the service a 
total of 1 10 men, a patriotic record, and one not frequently exceeded in 
similar towns. 

The history of the schools in this town are incomplete and somewhat 
defective. It is known, however, that the first school was opened and 
taught b)- Polly W'entworth, in the year 1808. y From this humble be- 
ginning the present system and condition have grown and developed, 
and at this time Pulteney compares favorably with the towns of the 
county generally. As now disposed there are eleven districts, with a 
school house in each, in which fourteen teachers were employed during 
the last school year. The value of school property is estimated at 
$8,325. About $1,680 of public money is annually received for school 
maintenance, while the town raises by tax for like purpose about 
$2,300. 

The ecclesiastical histor)' of Pulteney forms an interesting element of 
local annals, though the absence of reliable records embarrasses the 
efforts of the enquirer. It is said that the first religious services were 
held by Close-Communion Baptists, followed soon afterward by the 
Methodists ; and that there were also Seventh Day Baptists and Chris- 
tians in the field at an earl)' day. The now called Second Baptist 
Church of Pulteney was organized in 18 14, the church home being 
located at South Pulteney. The church has a membership of 105 per- 
sons. At Pine Grove is another Baptist society. At Pulteney village 
is a Presbyterian and also a Methodist Episcopal church, each engaged 
in evangelical and praiseworthy work. 



150 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 

RathboNE. — William Benham and William Hadley were indeed 
brave pioneers of the Canisteo valley an hundred years ago when they 
made the first settlement in the wild and uninviting region now called 
Rathbone. If record and tradition be true, these men came to the 
valley in the year 1793, and had not even the companionship of one 
another, for Benham built his cabin on the east line of the town, while 
Hadley was on the west side. Notwithstanding this, each made a suc- 
cessful location, paving the way for other settlers and opening the 
land for cultivation. Of necessity thepioneers were lumbermen, for we 
are told that when Benham and Hadley first visited the locality nothing 
was in view except woods and rocks and the noiseless waters of the 
Canisteo. And we are also told that the stillness of night was almost 
invariably broken by the noises of wild animals, while rattlesnakes were 
frequently unwelcome visitors to the settler's log cabin. 

Such was the character of this region a century ago, but with steady 
advances the pioneers cleared the forests, cultivated the land, and finally 
destroyed all the objectionable elements of wilderness life. Yet all this 
was not accomplished by the single efforts of pioneers Benham and 
Hadley, for others soon came to the locality and gave material assist- 
ance in developing the resources of the town. As early as the year 
1804 Samuel Benham had built and opened a public house, and Abel 
White furnished the settlers with game and fish. In 1806 Solomon 
Tracy and Benjamin Biggs made an improvement on the site of Rath- 
bonville, and, among other things, built a large double log house. On 
the opposite side of the Canisteo, Isaac and Jonathan Tracy built the 
first saw mill in the town, and in 18 16 a grist mill was added to the 
industries of the vicinity. 

Among the other early settlers were Peleg Cole, Martin Young, 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 151 

Moses Powers, Jacob Cook, Zephaniah Townsend, Thomas Maybury, 
Zeno Sellick, John Sellick, John Helmer, from whom Helmer creek re- 
ceived its name, Jonathan Rowley, Benjamin Northrup, founder of the 
Northriip settlement, Thomas Allen, Jacob Cole, Harvey Fiiltz, Seth 
Cook and others whose names are now forgotten. These were the lead- 
ing men of this part of the valley previous to 1825, and at least thirty 
years before the town was set off and separately organized. 

Recalling briefly some of the more important first events of town 
history, we may note that the first white child born here was Luther 
White, that event taking place June 4, 1804. In the same year Luther 
Benham opened a tavern. The first marriage was that of Peleg Cole 
and Polly Tracy. Moses Powers taught the first school, and General 
Rathbone opened the first store in 1842, although previous to that time 
he was an extensive lumberman and land owner. Isaac Tracy built 
the first saw mill in 1 806 The first school house was built of logs, and 
the second on the same site, was of frame, built in 1852. 

Previous to its separate organization, Rathbone formed a part of the 
older towns of Addison, Cameron and Woodhull. On the Phelps and 
Gorham purchase it includes portions of townships two in the third and 
fourth ranges, and being set off contains 20,600 acres of land. Geo- 
graphically, the town lies near and south of the center of the county. 
Its principal water course is Canisteo river, while the north branch of 
Tuscarora creek flows across the southwest corner. The uplands are 
from three hundred to four hundred feet above the valleys. The first 
settlers were attracted to this part of the valley by the magnificent 
growth of forest trees, and naturally lumbering was the chief occupation 
of the early inhabitants. This brought to the region an entirely desir- 
able class of residents and for many years peace and plenty were the 
lot of the people. So deeply indeed were the settlers engaged in clear- 
ing the forests and rafting timber to market that they gave little heed 
to the founding of villages or establishing trading places until about 
fifty )ears ago. At that time Addison was the common trading and 
marketing center for the whole region, and there, too, the lumbermen 
were wont to visit for the transaction of their business, and not until 
Ransom Rathbone opened a store in this town in 1845, also secured a 
post-office, that a hamlet was founded in what is now Rathbone. Still, 



152 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

for at least twenty- five years previous to 1845 this was a very busy 
locality, as mills lined the Canisteo on both sides. 

Through the efforts of General Rathbone and a few other leading ope- 
rators in this part of the valley a new town was created, on March 28, 
1 850, and was named Rathbone in allusion to the person just mentioned. 
On the 6th of May following the electors assembled in town meeting and 
chose officers as follows: William R. Rathbone, supervisor; George W. 
Young, town clerk ; Israel Horton and Stephen Gloyd, justices of the 
peace; Edmund L. Peckham, superintendent of common schools; 
Lucius Parker, commissioner of highways ; George Northrup, Jonathan 
Bromley and William C. Cummins, assessors ; Abram Rogers and 
James Northrup, overseers of the poor; Samuel Edmunds, collector. 

This first town town meeting appears to have been an event of great 
importance in local annals, for there were present 243 persons who cast 
votes. This would indicate a total population of about 1, 000. There 
was no federal census of the town previous to i860, at which time the 
population was 1,381. The subsequent fluctations in number of inhab- 
itants is best shown by quoting from the census reports. In 1870 the 
population was 1,357 > ''^ 1880 was 1,371 ; in 1890 was 1,269, ^nd in 
1892 was 1,226. 

The supervisors of Rathbone since 1850 have been as follows : Wm. 
H. Rathbone, 1856; Cormander H. Cole, 1857; Wm. R. Rathbone, 
1858; George Northrup, 1859-60; A. H Kinney, 1861 ; George C. 
Lloyd, 1862-64: John Miles, 1865; George W. Young, 1866-73; 
James Northrup, 1874; John Kenally, 1875-77; Moses Northrup, 
1878; Horace Mather, 1879-83; John Toles, 1884: Horace Mather, 
1885 ; N. Northrup, 1886; C. S. Whitmore, 1887; Norman Northrup, 
1888-91; G. S. Goff, 1892-93; John McWilliams, 1894-95. 

The present town officers are John McWilliams, supervisor ; Jesse F. 
Cole, town clerk; N. P. Young, D. W. Gloyd. John Toles and William 
McCaig, justices of the peace ; George M. Lloyd, F. S. Chapel and 
George E. Meering, assessors ; Wm. Bailey, collector ; Richard Mc- 
Caig, overseer of the poor ; William Young, collector; Kitchell Lyon, 
Levi Perry and B. F. Chapel, excise commissioners. 

During the war of 186 1-65, the town is credited with having furnished 
a total of one hundred and seventy- four men for the service. They 






wr^\ 




WALTHR I.. MOORE. 



A 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 153 

were scattered through the several commands recruited in the county, 
noticeabl)- in the 23d, 86th, and 107th regiments of infantry. A more 
full record of the services and composition of each of these regiments 
will be found in the military chapter in this volume. 

Previous to the formation of Rathbone the schools of the vicinity were 
a part of the system in use in the older towns from which this was 
erected. At the first town meeting in Rathbone Edmund L. Peckham 
was elected superintendent of common schools, and soon after the or- 
ganization the territory was divided into districts according to the re- 
quirements of the inhabitants. At present, the districts are twelve in 
number, each provided with a comfortable school. The town contains a 
school population of about 375. The value of school property is es- 
timated at $6,990. Thirteen teachers were employed during the last 
school year, and for maintenance the appropriation of public moneys 
amounted to $141 7, .94, while the town raised by local tax the additional 
sum of $1,654.36. Tuentysi.K trees were planted by pupils in 1894. 

Rathboneville and Cameron Mills are the hamlets of this town. The 
former is located near and east of the center, and the latter in the north- 
east part, near the Cameron line. Both are on the line of the Erie rail- 
road, to the construction of which in 1850 they owe their chief impor- 
tance. The road, too, is benefited by the villages, for they are shipping 
points for agricultural products and lumber of no mean importance. 
However, for further record of the hamlets of Rathbone, the reader is 
directed to the municipal department of this work. 

Thurston. — On the 28th of February, 1844, the Legislature divided 
the town of Cameron, and taking 22,000 acres ofif the east side created 
a new town, naming it Thurston, in honor of William B. Thurston, an 
extensive land owner in the region who did much to promote local im- 
provement and de\'elopment. 

Geographically, this town occupies a central position in the county, 
and within its borders are observed several of nature's unusual dispen- 
sations. We refer particularly to the deep gulf, which is almost impass- 
able except at a single point at the south part, and here is found about 
six acres of rich flat land. In this locality was built the Yost saw mill. 
The gulf is 400 feet deep in places, and was originally filled with a 

dense growth of hemlock and hard timber. Another natural curiosity 
20 



154 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of Thurston was in the vicinity known as Cranberry or Friend's Pond, 
being a bottomless body of water, half a mile wide, and at one time 
adundantly supplied with fish. In the bogg}' lands around the pond 
there grew cranberries, to which the settlers helped themselves unstint- 
edly, and from this product the name Cranberry Pond was applied. 
Among the early settlers in this part of the town were many who were 
of the society of Friends, hence that name. 

On the high lands in the northwest part of the town Luke Bonny and 
William Smith made the first settlement in 1813, and from the pioneer 
first mentioned the locality was ever afterward known Bonny Hill. He 
also cut the road into the town from Bath, and was in many respects a 
leading man in the region. Anderson Carpenter settled on the hill in 
the same year, but was killed by a falling tree in 18 17. Other early 
settlers in the same locality were Amos Dickinson, 1814, Joseph Fluent, 
1817, David Smith, 1822, Harvey Halliday, Jacob Parker, John and 
Boanerges Fluent, John Stocking, Harlow Smith, Moses De Pue, and 
others whose names are lost with the lapse of time. 

Among the settlers in the south of the town we may mention Stephen 
Aldrirh and his sons Warner, Thomas, Stephen and George, who came 
in 1822 and located near the pond. Still others were Stephenson 
Pugsley, William and James Jack, Samuel Fisk and also Amos, Elias 
and Boralis Fisk. Seth Cook and Arnold Payne were also early set- 
tlers. In the same connection and worthy to be named among the older 
residents of what is now Thurston, were James Jerr)', M. O. Keith, John 
Vandewarker, Henry Forburg, William Hawley, Fenner Eddy, tanner 
in the town in 1832, Paris Wneelock, Lifus Fish, John Corbett, Edwin 
Merchant, founder of the settlement called Merchantville, Josephus 
Turbell, Alva Carpenter, Harley Sears, O. P. Alderman and others, all 
of whom were identified with the giowth of the town if they were not 
pioneers 

Many of these old residents of Thurston were lumbermen, and were 
attracted to the locality by the remarkably fine timber that stood on 
the land. In olden times Stocking Creek and Michigan Creek enjojed 
about the same relative importance as did the Canisteo and Conhocton 
River regions. But as the lands were stripped of their forest growths 
good farms were developed and Thurston became recognized among 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OK THE COUNTY. 155 

the agricultural towns of the county. However, to the present day 
lumbering has been recognized as one of the industries. These 
extensive interests led to tiie founding of several hamlets, and less 
than forty years ago the isolated town of Thurston had five small 
villages, known as Merchantville, Bonny Hill, Risingville, Thurston and 
South Thurston. Now the post offices of the town are Thurston and 
Risingville. 

The first child born in the town was Irma Smith in 1813 ; the first 
marriage was that of Joseph Fluent and F"anny Dickinson, in 1818 ; the 
first death was that of Anderson Carpenter, in 18 17; the first school 
was that at Bonny Hill, taught by Caroline Vinan ; the first store was 
kept by Harlow Sears at Merchantville; the first saw mill was built by 
Paris VVheelock, on Otter Creek. 

The first meeting of electors of the town was held on April 2, 1844, 
and the following officers were chosen : Joseph Cross, supervisor ; 
Noble H. Rising, tov\ n clerk ; John S. Depew, Henry Briggs, Peter D. 
Edsell and Arnold Payne, justices of the peace ; Henry Rising, James 
Ostrander and Fenner Eddy, assessors ; William Jack, Amos Fluent 
and Jared Goodell, highway commissioners; John S. Eddy, collector; 
Stephen Waitman and Abijah Youmans, overseers of the poor. 

The supervisors of Thurston have been as follows : Joseph Cross, 
1844; Fenner Eddy, 1845-48; John S. De Pue, 1849-50 and 1856-65; 
Noble H. Rising, 1851; Cornelius Bouton, 1852-53; John Royce, 
1354-55; Oliver P. Alderman, 1866; Alva Carpenter, 1867 and 1869- 
71; James Jerry, 1868 and 1875-76 and 1879-80; Lewis Masters, 
1872-73; Lyman H. Phillips, 1874, 1881-85 and 1890; William Richt- 
myer, 1877-78 and 1888-89; E. J.Jerry, 1886; W. H. Rising, 1887 
and 1891 ; G D. Wilson, 1892; E. J.Jerry, 1893-95. 

The town officers for the year 1895 are as follows : Emeron J. Jerry, 
supervisor; Lorenz Angst, town clerk; W. H. Guernsey, T. C. Mor- 
row, A. H. Kennedy, J. F. Eddy, justices of the peace; J. A. Filkins, 
T. C. Morrow, and J. W. French, assessors; S. W. Jessup, collector; 
A. B, Merrill, overseer of the poor; William V. Creveling, highway 
commissioner; J. D. Parker, Joseph Shearer, jr., and R. B. Rising, 
excise commissioners. 

In 1845 the population of Thurston was 576, and in 1850 had in- 



156 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

creased to 726. Ten years later the inhabitants numbered 1,100 and 
1,215 in 1870. In 1880 the population was 1,336, but dropped to 
1,113 '" 1890. In 1892 the town had 1,084 inhabitants. 

During the war of the Rebellion, Thurston sent ninety-eight men into 
the service. 

From early records we learn that the first school in this part of the 
town of Cameron was taught by Caroline Vinan on Bonny Hill in 1818. 
However, previous to 1844 the general school history of Thurston was 
a part of the annals of the mother town, but still we may state that in 
1828 $100 was appropriated to build a frame school house, and that in 
December of that year the town voted " that all hardness and quarrel- 
ing in the district shall cease from this date, and we shall live in peace 
as neighbors ought to do." At the present time Thurston has eleven 
school districts, and eleven teachers are employed annually. The num- 
ber of children who attend school is 302. The value of school property 
is $5,550. In 1893-94 the town received of public moneys $1,286.33, 
and raised by local tax $1,121.66. 

TroupSBURG. — In the southwestern part of Steuben county is 
located a civil division by the name of Troupsburg, so named in honor 
of Robert Troup, agent for the Pulteney Association. It was perhaps 
fortunate for Colonel Troup that this jurisdiction was created in 1808, 
for had that event been delayed twenty years it is doubtful whether the 
inhabitants would have been so well disposed to honor the former 
patron of their region. During the anti-rent conflict in 1 830, and about 
that time, the agent, by reason of his trust capacity, was compelled to 
assume and maintain a somewhat determined attitude regarding the 
lands owned by his principals, and the settlers were not generally satis- 
fied with the measures of relief offered them. However, all things con- 
sidered, the town was worthily named. Moreover, it has always been 
regarded as one of the important towns of the county, notwithstanding 
its remote locality. 

Within its present boundaries Troupsburg contains 35,700 acres of 
land, being second in size in the county. As originally formed from 
Middletown and Canisteo, the town contained a vast area, eighteen 
miles long, east and west, and about ten miles wide. At that time it 
included half of township i, of range 4, also Nos. 1 in the 5th and 6th 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 157 

ranges, with the fourth part of No. 2 in the 4th range. An early 
writer of Troupsburg history says of the town in 181 i : " No. i in the 
5th range is an e.Kcellent township, the hills low, and the timber maple, 
birch, bassuood, walnut, &c. It has good mill sites on Tuscarora and 
Troup Creeks. No. 2 in the same range is also good, as is No. i in the 
6th range, the timber oak, walnut, elm, basswood, birch and maple. 
This town has been settled only since 1805, and is yet very wild. It 
has good iron ore." 

In the course of time, however, Troupsburg was called upon to sur- 
render portions of her territory to other formations. Parts of Green- 
wood and Jasper were taken off in 1827; part of Woodhull in 1828, 
while a portion of Canisteo was annexed to this town on April 4, 1818. 
Therefore the original town of Troupsburg included at least portions of 
the present towns of Woodhull, Troupsburg, West Union, Greenwood 
and Jasper. 

It is a well known fact that in the town are some of the most elevated 
lands in the county, if not in the entire region, reaching at times the 
extreme height of 2,500 above tide. The settlement called High Up 
is indeed appropriately named. Troup's Creek is the principal water 
course. 

Among the earliest settlers in Troupsburg were Andrew Simpson, 
Ebenezer Spencer and Andrew Craig, all of whom raised families and 
were active and highly respected men in the region. Simpson did the 
the blacksmith work lor his few neighbors, while pioneer Craig was en- 
ergetic in developing the early resources of the region. He made and 
marketed the first butter sent from the town, and it was his custom to 
take the season's products from the neighborhood and journey to Phila- 
delphia to make his sales. The Marlatt family was also prominent in 
the locality, some of its descendants, as well as those of the Craig 
family, gaining positions of importance in county affairs. Alanson 
Perry settled here in 1808, and Judge Mallory came about the same 
time. This, too, was a prominent family in the new region, and from 
them the locality known as Mallory's Settlement was named. We may 
also recall the name of Caleb Smith, Rev. Robert Hubbard, Nicholas 
Brutzman, Nathaniel Thacher, Jesse Lapham, Philip Cady, Elijah 
Hance, Reuben Stiles, Daniel Martin, Abner Thomas (the first school 



158 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNXr. 

teacher, in 1809), Elihu Cady, Maj. Samuel Cady, Squire and Andy 
Reynolds, Lewis Hayes, Jonathan Rogers, Capt. George Martin (who 
built an early grist mill on Troup's Creek). Zadoc Bowen, Elder David 
Smith, Alanson Perry, Richard Phillips, James Carpenter, John Miller, 
and others now forgotten. All these were in some manner identified 
with early town history, many of them having descendants now living 
in the county, enjoying the fruits of the toil and example of their pio- 
neer ancestors A cotemporary writer has said : The early settlers of 
this region were drawn hither by all the variety of motives which in all 
parts of the country induce the pioneer to seek the frontier; but the 
great prevailing motive was cheap land and long payments. The Pulte- 
ney and other estates were crowding their lands upon the market, and 
inducing settlement by low prices and long credit. Twenty shillings 
cash or three bushels of wheat per acre v\as the standard price of the 
land, with ten years, or longer if desired, for payment. After 1809 the 
migration was quite rapid and the lands were rapidly put under con- 
tract, the settlers finding it about all they could do to support their 
families and pay the taxes, and very few of them did more. 

However, the changes of four score years have indeed been wonder- 
ful. The old pioneers are all gone ; the troublesome times have passed 
away, and on all sides is seen the appearance of comfort and thrift ; fine 
and well cultivated farms, and tasty dwellings, good out-buildings and 
splendid orchards, ;ill unmistakably tell of the energj^ and perseverance 
of the sturdy pioneer and the equally industrious descendant. 

As we have stated, in 1808 the few inhabitants of this then extensive 
region founded a town, and named it Troupsburg. The first election 
of officers was held at the house of Daniel Johnson, in what is now 
Woodhull, in March, and these persons were chosen : Daniel Johnson, 
supervisor ; Samuel B. Rice, town clerk ; Stephen Dolson, Brown 
Gillespie and Elijah C^ady, assessors; Uri Martin, Wm. Worley and 
Nathaniel Mallory, commissioner of highways ; Rezen Searse, collector 
and constable; Daniel Johnson, overseer of the poor; Elijah Cady, 
second poormaster; Caleb Smith, fence viewer. 

The supervisors of Troupsburg, in succession, have been as follows : 
Daniel Johnson, 1808-12; Charles Card, iS 13-19; Samuel Cady, 1820- 
22; Adna B. Reynolds, 1823-25; Asher Johnson, 1826-27; Samuel 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 159 

Griggs, 1S28-33; Wm. Card, 1834 ; Joshua Slayler, 1835 ; Win. Card, 
1836; Orange Perry, 1837-38; Alexander Tucker, 1839; Levi Grin- 
olds, 1840-42 Samuel Griggs, 1843 ; Bradsliaw White, 1844 ; Nath- 
aniel Mallory, 1S45 '< Ale.xander Tucker, 1846; Levi Grinolds, 1847-48; 
Wm. Ten Broeck, 1849-50; Levi Grinolds, 1851-52; Wni. Ten Broeck, 
1853-54; James B Murdock, 1855-58; Eleazer Fenton, 1859-60; 
Samuel Olmstead, 1861 ; Wm Carpenter, 1862; Eleazer Fenton, 1863 
-64; James B. Murdock, 1865 ; Eleazer Fenton, 1866; John G. Lozier, 
1867-71 ; W. N. Griggs, 1872-73; Nathaniel M. Perry, 1874-75; 
Willis White, 1S76-77 ; W. N. Griggs, 1878 ; Alfred Williams, 1879-80 ; 
Wm. 11. Perry, 1881-82; W N Griggs, 1883-84; Thomas R. Park, 
1885-86; Charles Marlatt, 1887-88; Hiram Olmsted, 1888-90; D. 
W. Hober, 1891-92; N. M.Brooks, 1893-95. 

In 1 8 10, two years after its organization, this jurisdiction had a total 
population of only 292 inhabitants, but during the succeeding ten years 
the number increased to 650. In 1830, then being somewhat reduced 
in area bj- other tow n formations, the inhabitants numbered 666, and 
1,171 in 1840 In 1850 the population had still further increased to 
1,754, and in i860, to 2,096. Ten jears later it had reached 2,281, 
and in 1880 was 2,494, 'he greatest number in its history. The popu- 
lation according to the census of 1890, was 2,174, and in 1892 was 
2171. 

During the period of local history known as the anti-rent conflict, 
the inhabitants of Troupsburg were not only much interested in occur- 
ring events, but were directl)' concerned for the safety of their lands, and 
if local tradition be reliable, here was a veritable hotbed of dissatisfaction 
and discontent, though the excitement of the time did not carry the peo- 
ple beyond a vigorous discussion of the several measures proposed for 
their relief In the notable Bath convention the Troupsburg delegates 
were Samuel Cady, Samuel Griggs, Joshua Slayter, Jesse Wilden and 
Nathan S. Hayes. Mr. Griggs was one of the committee chosen to 
present to the proprietary the claims of the suffering settlers. 

Another noteworthy fact in connection with the historj- of this town, 
was the record made by its volunteers during the war of 1861 65. The 
roster discloses the fact that Troupsburg furnished for all branches of 
service a total of 222 men, who were chiefly distributed among the sev- 



160 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

eral regiments recruited in this county, while a number enlisted in other 
localities and a few in Pennsylvania. 

Gleaning from old records, we learn that the first child born in this 
town was Poll)' Young; the first marriage that of Zebulon Tubbs and 
Sarah Rice, and the first death that of Jeremiah Martin. Lieut. Rey- 
nolds opened the first public house, four miles from the Center, and 
Icl.iabod Leach kept the first store two miles from the village. George 
Martin built the first grist mill at the village. Through the same chan- 
nel we also learn that the first school was taught by Abner Thomas, 
a liitle east of Troupsburg village. This mention naturally leads us to 
speak of the school system of the town at large, although imperfect 
records preclude the possibility of reliable information on this subject. 
Again, the several changes and reductions of territory necessitated fre- 
quent rearrangement of the old districts, no record of which seems to 
be preserved. As at present constituted, the town has eighteen school 
districts, including the academic school at Troupsburg village, in which 
were employed during the last current year, twenty teachers. The 
whole number of children attending school was 644. The value of all 
school property is $6,910. The town received public moneys to the 
amount of $2,276.78, and raised by local tax $1,595.24. Forty trees 
were planted during the school year. 

Troupsburg has been called the town of man)' villages, but. this is in 
no sense surprising when we consider the topographical features of the 
region. F"rom the very earliest settlement the inhabitants established 
trading centers to suit their convenience, and in so large a town, and 
one so broken by valleys and ridges, the founding of frequent hamlets 
was but an act of prudence. Troupsburg village, or Center, is of first 
importance and is situate near the center «f the town, while the West, 
South and East villages occupy the situations suggested by their re- 
spective names. High Up is the post-ofifice name for West Troupsburg, 
and Young Hickory is in the southwest part of the town. 

TUSCARORA. — In many respects Tuscarora resembles Lindley in 
natural physical features, the one being crossed from south to north by 
Tuscarora Creek, while the Tioga River has the same course through 
Lindley. Both towns have the same character of hill ranges, the soil 
generally is much the same, and each has the advantages of a line of 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. Ifil 

railroad intersecting its territory. Yet the early settlement of these 
towns was quite dissimilar, Lind'ey by a well equipped colony and 
Tuscarora by a pioneer with limited means and no companions, but an 
abundance of determination and energy that stood him in good stead in 
after years. 

According to conceded authority, the pioneer of township i, range 
2, was William W'ombaugh, a former resident and native of New Jersey, 
who came to the Tuscarora valley in 1804 and purchased 187 acres of 
land. He engaged in lumbering quite extensively for the time, and 
also cleared a tract of land and raised grain. The latter commodity 
was much sought by later settlers, and the neighborhood of Wom- 
baugh's Mills early became a place of importance in local annals. In 
1806 pioneer Wombaugh built a grist mill on his land in the valley and 
this, in connection with his other enterprises, made him in all respects 
the leading man of the region ; a prominence well earned by an honest 
and industrious life, and all honors which came to him were worthily 
bestowed. In truth, the Wombaugh family were for many years 
millers and farmers, later generations succeeding the pioneer in his 
chosen pursuit. 

Among the early settlers in the valley of Tuscarora Creek were 
Amos Dolph, who located at the place called Carrtown, and still later 
as Addison Hill, in the southwest part of the town. Amos Towsley 
settled between Wombaugh's and the Hill in 18 16. Jesse Rowley came 
in 1804, a few months after Wombaugh, and settled at the "forks" of 
the creek. In the Rowley family were thirteen children, three of whom 
were natives of this valley. Jemima Rowley was the first child born in 
the town, the date being February, 1806. She became the wife of 
John Plimley. In 1816 Samuel Colgrove settled above Wombaugh's. 

About this time, from 1814 to 1818, settlement in this locality was 
quite rapid, and among the families who came during the period several 
may be mentioned. Still, a few came at an earlier date. Daniel Strait, 
an old Revolutionary soldier, came in 1809. Asabel Thomas came in 
1816; Joseph Gile settled on the Hill in 1824; John C. Orr located in 
the northeast part of the town about 1816. Other members of the Orr 
family soon followed and from them the name "Orr Settlement" was 
given. They were an earnest and hard- working family and deserved 
21 



162 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

the position they held in the community. In the Mine Creek neigh- 
borhood Daniel Burdick and Andrew Crovvl were early settlers. Rev. 
David Short, remembered for his zeal and earnest sincerity in endeavor- 
ing to promote the welfare of the Close Communion Baptist church, 
settled in 1823 near the State line, in the south part of the town. The 
Northrup settlement was made in 1825 by Warren and Benedict 
Northrup. Among the other early settlers in the soutii part were Rev. 
Aaron Baxter and family, also Alfred Nichols and Simeon PVeeman, 
all members of one household. About 1830, Elder Baxter succeeded 
in gathering a number of settlers and forming the so-called Chenango 
county colony, and, still further, in forming a religious society with 
forty- six members. In his colony were James Sprague, MigemanTaft, 
David Hart, Samuel and Enoch Mack, Eliba Albee, David Hart and 
Samuel Smith, all of whom were welcome comers to the sparsely settled 
town and by whose labors the lands were cleared and good farms 
opened. The same statement may be made of Justus Wright, John 
Webster, Capt. Joseph Manley, and others whose names are lost witli 
the lapse of years. 

These early inhabitants of the Tuscarora valley were a hardy and 
determined set of men, to whom the ordinary privations of pioneership 
were not a discouraging obstacle. At that time their township formed 
a part of the older jurisdiction of Addison, the village being several 
miles distant, while the county seat was at least twenty- five miles 
away. However, glancing back into the early history of the mother 
town, we find frequent mention of residents in township i, range 3, 
some of whom attained positions of prominence in local affairs. A 
visit to the valley of Tuscarora Creek will at once convince the observ- 
ing traveler of the fact that the settlers here built " from the stump," 
and "builded firmly." Indeed, it was no small loss to Addison to be 
bereft of these lands as part of her jurisdiction, yet necessity and the 
public convenience demanded a division of the mother town. How- 
ever, before this was done Tuscarora passed through many periods of 
civil and political disturbance, notabl)/^ the war of 181 2, and still later 
the anti rent controversy, though local interests were little affected by 
either event. 

The proposition for tl'-e new town came regularly before the Board of 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE C0UNT7. 163 

Supervisors on the ijtli of December, 1859, and, meeting with no 
serious objection, was carried, and the new creation was called 
" Orrville." This name, however, was soon changed to " Tuscarora," 
in alkision to the sixth nation of the Iroquois confederacy, who were 
received by Indian adoption in 1712. Hy designation, the first meeting 
of electors in the new town was held on the 14th of February, i860, at 
the dwelling house of Oliver Moore, at which time officers were chosen 
as follows : 

Jesse \V. Rowley, supervisor ; George W. Webb, town clerk; Myron 
M. Manley, James Lemunyan and Charles VV. Robinson, justices of the 
the peace ; Lorenzo VVetteniiall, Joseph Oakden and Lansing Hand, 
assessors; Philip VV. Perkins, commissioner of highways ; G. H. P'ree- 
mati, collector. 

In i860, the year following that in which the town was formed, the 
inhabitants of Tuscarora numbered 1,566, the greatest number attained 
during the period of its history. In 1870 the population was 1,528; in 
1880 was 1,534 I '1 1890 was 1,438, and in 1S92, as shown by the State 
count made that year, was 1,393. 

The succession of supervisors (chief town officers) in Tuscarora has 
been as follows: Jesse W. Rowley, i860; Nehemiah Manley, 1861 ; 
Jesse VV. Rowley, 1862; William Wombaugh, 1863-74; Mordecai 
Casson, ji-., 1875; Jesse VV. Rowley, 1876; George Freeman, 1877-80; 
C. 11. Rowley, 1881-82; Edward Young, 1883; A. S. Hamilton, 1884- 
85 ; J. E. Lemunyan, 1886; G. H. Freeman, 1887-89; Edward Young, 
1890-91; A. S. Hamilton, 1892-95. 

Tne officers of the town for the year 1895 are A. S. Hamilton, super- 
visor; Atwood Weeks, town clerk ; Cornelius J. Smith, Jason McMinds, 
John Casson and Frank Baxter, justices of the peace; William Murray, 
Henry Smith and Charles Bottum, assessors ; James Simpson, collector ■ 
Edward Young, overseer of the poor ; Albert Lemunyan, commissioner 
of highways; Austin Benedict, A. Andrews and Hugh McTamany, 
commissioners of excise. 

The educational system of Tuscarora previous to the formation of a 
separate jurisdiction of course was a part of the system then employed 
in Addison from which this town was taken ; but after the separation 
the new town was divided into districts and a school maintained in each. 



164 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

As now constituted the districts are fourteen in number, and the whole 
number of children in the town is 323. Eleven teachers are annually 
employed. The total value of all school property is $4,440, and the 
assessed valuation of the districts in 1894 was $430,585. The town 
contains 22,400 acres of land. In the year last mentioned Tuscarora 
received of public school moneys $1,318, and raised by school tax 
$1,228. Seventeen trees were planted by pupils in 1894. 

During the period of the war of 1861-65, Nehemiah Manley, Jesse 
W. Rowley and William Wombaugh held the then very responsible and 
difficult position of supervisor, and, during their respective terms of 
office, were intimately identified with the war measures adopted by the 
town. Tuscarora was known as one of the loyal regions of the county, 
and responded freely and promptly to every call for volunteers, exhibit- 
ing a truly loyal and martial spirit. The town furnished for the service 
a total of 155 men, scattered through tlie several regiments recruited in 
the county, while a number joined Pennsylvania commands. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 

Urbana. — In the spring of the year 1793, William and Thomas 
AuUs left their former home in Lancaster, Penn., determined to establish 
for themselves and family a permanent abode in the new yet widely 
known Genesee country. They visited Geneva and Bath, both of which 
were primitive settlements, and finally made their way toward the head 
of famed Lake Keuka. This journey naturally led the travelers into the 
beautiful Pleasant Valley country where they found lands suited to their 
wishes, and here the senior Aulls located his purchase and built a cabin 
on what has been known as the Decker farm. This was the first civil- 
ized settlement within the present town of Urbana, although the country 
had been frequently traversed between Bath and other southern settle- 
ments, and Geneva and Canandaigua. Through the valley was the 
principal Indian trail leading to the head of the lake and thence down 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 165 

the same on botli east and west sides After clearing and planting suf- 
ficient for the necessities of his family during the coming winter, the 
senior Aulls returned to Pennsylvania and brought the other members' 
of his household to their new home. 

In the fall of the same year (1793), Samuel Baker also built a cabin 
and made an improvement in the locality, and in the spring of the fol- 
lowing year, brought his family to the valley, accompanied or closely 
followed by Richard Daniels and Amos Stone William Read came 
about the same time and has been mentioned as the third settler in the 
town. Other pioneers were Abram and Jonas Brundage, John Faulk- 
ner, Captain Shether and Eli Read. The Faulkner improvement was 
purchased in 1807. by Cornelius Younglove. Captain Shether pur- 
chased and located on the site of the present progressive village of 
Hammondsport, his deed bearing the date 1796, and his lands embrac- 
ing 146 acres. The property was afterward transferred to William 
Root and by the latter to Lazarus Hammond, and from the last men- 
tioned we have the name — Hammondsport. 

Recalling briefly the names of other early settlers and residents in 
this locality, may be mentioned Daniel Bennitt, Robert Harrison, Caleb 
Chapman, the proprietor of the first log tavern at North Urbana, 
Stephen Kingsley, Abram Depew, John Walters, Obediah Wheeler, 
Reuben Hall, Andrew Layton, Erastus Webster, David Hutches, 
Samuel Drew, John Daniels, Samuel Townsend, Joseph Rosencranz, and 
others whose names are now lost. Many of these early settlers were 
natives of New England and several of them had served during the 
Revolutionary war, a few as officers in the service. The first birth in 
the town was that of Samuel Baker, jr.; the first marriage that of 
Jonathan Barney and Polly Aulls in 1794; the first death that of John 
Phillips, 1794 ; Eliphalet Norris taught the first school in the valley in 
1795 ; Caleb Chapman kept the first tavern at North Urbana; Henrj- 
A. Townsend opened the first store at Cold Spring in 1815; John 
Shether built the first saw mill in 1795, and Gen. George McClure built 
the first grist mill in 1802. 

From what has been stated the reader will at once discover that the 
the early settlement of this part of the county was accomplished rapidly. 
In truth, in all the vast area of land in Steuben no portion possessed 



166 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

greater beauty or more natural advantages than did this locality at the 
head of the lake and extending thence up the fertile Pleasant Valley. 
' This prominence has continued to the present day, although the character 
of the occupancy and the pursuits of the inhabitants have materially 
changed. Urbana has become a vineyard and fruit township, and as 
such enjoys a State-wide and enviable reputation. Even to the tops of 
her highest hills, some of which have an altitude of a thousand feet, the 
vineyards e.xtend, and in all localities are fine farms and inviting places 
of abode and pleasure. These natural advantages have combined to 
make this town one of the most valuable and also one of the most 
interesting in the whole Genesee country. 

Indeed, so rapidly were the lands taken up by early settlers that in 
1825 there dwelt in the town no less than 966 inhabitants, and at that 
time the hamlet we now call Hammondsport was only a scattered settle- 
ment, while lake traffic was so limited as to be hardly a factor in local 
growth. On the 17th of April, 1822, the town of Urbana was set ofif 
from Bath and given a separate organization. In 1839 a part was re- 
annexed to Bath, while in the same year a portion of Wheeler was an- 
nexed to Urbana ; also a small part from Pulteney on April 12, 1848. 
As now constituted this town contains 25,200 acres of land, and has a 
population (1890) of 2,590. 

The organization meeting was held in the school house in Pleasant 
Valley, on the first Tuesday in March, 1823, at which time officers were 
elected as follows : Henry A. Townsend, supervisor; Lazarus Hammond, 
town clerk; Andrew Layton, Henry Grififin and Abram Brundage, 
assessors; Obediah Wheeler, Reuben Hall and Abram Brundage, com- 
missioners of highways ; Samuel Baker and William Read, overseers of 
the poor; Caleb Rogers, Stephen Kingsley and William H. Ennis, 
constables 

In this connection it is also proper to furnish the succession of super- 
visors, as follows : Henry A. Townsend, 1823-31 ; John P. Popino, 1832 
and 1835-37; William Baker, 1833-34; Amasa Church, 1838; Jacob 
Larrowe, 1839 ; Obediah Wheeler, 1840-41 and 1844; Peter Houck, 
1842-43; Wm. Baker, 1845; Aaron Coggswell, 1S46; J. J. Poppino, 
1847-48 and 1850; John W. Davis, 1849; John Randel, 1851-52; A. 
S. Brundage, 1853; M Brown, 1854; Orlando Shepard, 1855-56; 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 167 

John Randel, 1857 ; John W. Taggert, 1858 and 1860-62 ; Joseph A. 
Crane, 1859; Benjamin Myrtle, 1863-65 and 1869-71 ; Absalom 
Hadden, 1866-68 and 1872; G. W. Nichols, 1873-75; 1^- Longwell, 
1876; Charles L. Bailey, 1877-78; B. F. Drew. 1879-80; Adsit Bailey, 
1881-85; H. J. Moore, 1886-87; J- H. Keeier, 1888; George H. 
Keeler, 1889-90; H.J. Moore, 1891-93; II. M. Champlin, 1894-95. 

The town officers for the year 1895 ^""^ Harry M. Champlin, super- 
visor ; Lemuel J. Benham, town clerk ; Benjamin J. Wright, Frank H. 
Hunt, George W. Mubbs and David Longwell, justices of the peace ; 
Joseph Smith, collector ; George Austin, overseer of the poor ; Robert 
L. Snow, high\\a\- commissioners; Theodore Hamilton, George Vrooman 
and Eugene La Rue, excise commissioners 

In the preceding portion of this chapter there has been narrated a 
brief account of the civil history of the town of Urbana. It began 
that history with the organization in 1823, and from that to the 
present time the record of the town has been one of almost con- 
tinuous and uninterrupted progress. Noting its gradual growth, we 
may state that in 1825 the population of the town was 966, and in 
1830 had increased to 1,288. During the next ten years the inhab- 
itants increased in number to 1,884, ^"d in 1850 to 2,079. I" i860 
the number was 1,983, and 2,082 in 1870. Ten years later the pop- 
ulation was 2,318, and still further increased to 2,590 in 1890 Ac- 
cording to the enumeration made in 1892, the town had a population 
of 2,542. 

During the famous anti-rent conflict in 1830, and about that time, 
the inhabitants of this town were quite seriously affected by the dis- 
cussion of the period, and some of the men of Urbana were prominently 
identified with the proposed measures for relief The delegates to the 
Bath convention were Henry A. Townsend. John Sanford, jr., John 
Powers, Elias Ketchum and Dyer Cranmer. 

Again, during the war of 1 861, the record of the volunteers from the 
town forms a bright ]iage in local history, for no less than 200 men of 
Urbana were enlisted in all branches of the service. At that time the 
population was 1,983, and the records show that fully ten per cent, of 
the whole number were contributed to the town's quota. 

No less interesting is the history of the educational system of the 



168 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

town at large, for the fact is well authenticated that the inhabitants of 
Urbana have ever made generous provision for the support of public 
schools. As early as the year 1823 Edward Townsend, Franklin Baker 
and William Read, commissioners of common schools, divided the town 
into school districts, seven in number, and a school was at once es- 
tablished in each. In 1827 the town received of public moneys $59.76, 
and a like amount was raised by local tax. In this manner the 
system was established, and from it the present condition of schools has 
grown. As now constituted the town has twelve districts, and each 
has a suitable school house. During the last current year eighteen 
teachers were employed. The value of school property in the town is 
estimated at $19,450. The amount of public moneys received was 
$2,219.75. and the town raised by tax the additional sum of $5,440.83. 

Still further referring to the subject of early schools in Urbana, we 
may quote briefly from Mrs. Bennitt's narrative: "In 1795 the agent 
of the Pulteney estate gave to William Read, Amos Stone and Samuel 
Baker, and their heirs, fifty acres of land for school purposes. After- 
ward by an act of the Legislature, it was made over to the trustees and 
their successors in office, and at the present time is doing the work in- 
tended by Charles Williamson. The first school house was built in 
1795, and Eliphalet Norris was the first teacher. Mr. Williamson's 
offer of land for school purposes was made to other districts to induce 
settlement, but Pleasant Valley people were the only ones who took 
legal measures to secure the land." 

In this chapter not more than a passing allusion has been made to the 
pleasant and progressive village of Hammondsport, nor to any of the 
institutions of the corporation. In accordance with the plan of this 
work, such mention is reserved for another department, to which the 
attention of the reader is directed. (See Municipal History.) In the 
same manner, also, in the Ecclesiastical history will be found men- 
tion of the several church organizations of the village and town. 

Wayland. — This town is one of the younger civil divisions of the 
county, and was formed from Cohocton and Dansville, April 12, 1848. 
A part of Fremont was taken offin 1854, and as now constituted Way- 
land contains 23,400 acres of land. Its surface is an upland, rolling in 
the north and moderately hilly in the south, yet possesses natural re- 




MARTIN PINNtY. 



THE CiriL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 1G9 

sources far superior to many of the interior towns of the county. The 
higiiest ridges approximate i,8oo feet above tide, and form a portion of 
the vvaterslied between Lake Ontario and the Susquehanna. Loon and 
Mud Lakes are situated in the rich valley in the south part of the town, 
but their waters flow in opposite directions. Loon Lake has a sub- 
terranean outlet for half a mile and when it comes to the surface the 
volume of water is sufficient to form a valuable mill stream. The town 
was named not in honor of Rev. Dr. Francis Wayland of Rhode 
Island, as has been stated, but in allusion to the hymn called " Way- 
land," which Mr. Patchin sang at a fortunate moment. 

Many of the early settlers in this town were Germans, the pioneer 
being Adam Zimmerman, who in 1806 settled where the railroad depot 
now stands in the village. The other pioneers were Capt. Thomas 
Bowles, Mr. Bowen and John Hume, who came in the year 1808, also 
Mr. Hicks, in 1810, and Thomas Begole in 1814, all locating in the 
north part. The Loon Lake vicinity was settled in 18 13 by Salmon, 
James and Elisha Brownson, Isaac Willie, Osgood Carleton and Solomon 
Draper. The central portion was settled at the same time, its pioneers 
being Demas Hess, John Hess, Samuel Draper, Benjamin Perkins (for 
whom Perkinsville is named), VValtcr Patchin, founder of the settlement 
known as Patchin's Mills ; and others whose names are now forgotten. 
Peter Shafer located on the road leading to Dansville, and for many 
years kept tavern and did blacksmithing. 

Among the early settlers, as we have intimated, was a strong con- 
tingent of Germans ; hardy, determined, and active men, not easily dis- 
mayed or discouraged by obstacles, for half-hearted pioneers could 
never have gained a substantial foothold in Wayland, as we are told 
that this region was hard to settle and develop. In the early popula- 
tion was also a fair proportion of New Englanders and a few Pennsyl- 
vanians, and all seem to have worked earnestly and unitedly, and to-day 
the results of well expended energy is apparent, for in point of resources 
and general productiveness Wayland ranks well up among the towns of 
the county. Circumstances, too, have done much for our town, as the 
railroads have afforded facilities for the shipment of products which the 
majority of towns do not possess. Small wonder is it, therefore, that 

in this extreme northwest corner of the county we find as early as 1825 
22 



170 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

a stable and progressive settlement, with mills and fine farms in 
active operation and an era of prosperity prevailing on every hand. 

Referring briefly to some of the early institutions of VVayland, we 
may state that the first saw mill was built by Benjamin Perkins ; the 
first grist mill by Dugald Cameron and Abijah Fowler, in 1816. 
Samuel Taggart kept one of the first taverns, in 1827 ; the first store- 
keeper was James L. Monier, in 1830; the first school was taught by 
Thomas Wilbur, in 181 1. Erastus Ames was the noted hunter of the 
region. Dr. Warren Patchin built a hotel at Patchin's Mills in 1824, 
and for him the hamlet was named. The grist and saw mills here he 
also built, and they were kept in operation by his son for many years. 
The saw mill was built in 1820; the grist mill two years later. The 
plank road from Patchinville to Dansville was constructed about 1842. 
Outside of these old industries Patchin's Mills, or Patchinville, has not 
attracted any considerable attention to the history of the town. The 
same may also be said of the locality known as Loon Lake, although in 
connection with the latter, during recent years, an attempt was made to 
establish a summer resort, but with indifferent success. Wayland in 
the north part, and Perkinsville near the center of the town, are 
thriving villages, and are the centers of rich agricultural regions. The 
town at large yields well in farm products, potatoes being the special 
crop grown and affording excellent returns. 

In pursuance of the act creating the town the meeting for the elec- 
tion of officers was held at the house of Cameron Patchin, May 2, 1848, 
and resulted as follows: John Hess, supervisor; Samuel W. Epley, town 
clerk ; M. M. Patchin, Amos Knowlton, Chauncey Moore and Gardner 
Pierce, justices; R. M. Patchin, David Poor and David Brownson, as- 
sessors. The statement may be made that Supervisor Hess and Justices 
Patchin and Knowlton were previous officers of the mother town, and 
were continued in the new creation under the erecting act. 

The succession of supervisors in Wayland is as follows: John Hess 
1848-50, 1852 and 1855-57; Daniel Poor, 1851 ; David Poor, 1853; 
M. M. Patchin, 1854; James G. Bennett, 1858-63, 1866 and 1875-76; 
James P. Clark, 1864-65 and 1867 ; James Redmond, 1868 and 1870- 
71; H.A.Avery, 1869; Martin Kimmel, 1872-73 and 1879-80 ; Jacob 
Morsch, 1874 ; F. E. HoUiday, 1877 ; John M. Folts, 1878 ; G. E. Whit- 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 171 

man, 1881-83; H. J. Rosenkraiis, 1884-85; J. P. Morsch, 1886-87; 
Andrew Granger, i888; W. W. Capron, 1889; J. B. Whitman, 1890- 
92 ; H. S. Rosenkrans, 1893 ; John P. Morsch, 1894-95. 

The officers for 1895 are John P. Morsch, supervisor; George Nold, 
town clerk; Peter 11. Zimmerman, H. S. Rosencrans, Peter Didas, jr., 
and Wm. Schuts, justices ; John E. Bennett, F. E. HolUday and VVm. 
Wolfanger, assessors; Henry Schumaker, collector ; John A. Schwingle, 
overseer of the poor ; Martin Kimmel, jr., iiighway commissioner ; G. 
D. Abrams, Sylvester Dodge and C. S. Fults, excise commissioners. 

Notwithstanding the fact that Wayland is regarded as one of the most 
progressive towns of the county, the truth remains that the population 
in 1892 was not so large as in i860. Then the inhabitants numbered 
2,809, as against 2,375 at the last enumeration. This somewhat un- 
natural condition is accounted for in the fact that the young men have 
left the farms for city life, and that all agricultural interests during the 
last twenty-five years have materially declined ; and whatever growth 
has been shown is confined chiefly to the villages of Wayland and 
Perkinsville, both enterprising municipalities within the limits of the 
town. 

During the war of 1861-65 Wayland contributed to the regiments 
of this State a total of 239 men, certainly a splendid record, though 
many of the volunteers enlisted in adjoining counties. 

Previous to 1848 the schools of Wayland were a part of the history 
of the towns from which it was formed, and when this town was organ- 
ized its territory was divided into nine districts, in each of which a 
school was provided. Then the school population was about 1,000 
children. There are now eleven districts, with 400 children attending 
school, outside Wayland village. There are also employed fourteen 
teachers. In 1893-4 t'le town raised by tax for school purposes the 
sum of $3,104.83, and received of public moneys the sum of $1,635.85. 

W.WNE. — In 1793 Frederick Bartles, or Bartels, built a mill on the 
outlet of Mud Lake, and the grateful agent, Charles Williamson, in 
whose employ Bartles was, caused the original town of Frederickstown 
to be named in allusion to the industrious German pioneer. The town 
as formed March 18, 1796, comprised all that is now Wayne, Bradford, 
Barrington, Starkey, Tyrone, Reading and Orange. On the 6th of 



172 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

April, 1808, the name Frederickstown was dropped and Wayne adopted 
in its stead ; and so called in honor of General Wayne, better known, 
however, as " Mad Anthony " Wayne, the famous Indian fighter whose 
deeds of valor are recorded on the page of history. 

By frequent reductions in its territory, caused b\' the formation of 
various towns, Wayne now has an area of only 12,400 acres, and is the 
smallest in size of the civil divisions of Steuben county. Its location in 
the extreme northeast corner of the county, though somewhat remote 
from the county seat, is nevertheless favorable, as it has a desirable 
water front on Lake Keuka on the west and Lake Waneta on the east. 
The entire western slope forms almost one vast and entire vineyard, 
while the hill tops and eastern portions have excellent agricultural lands. 
The soil is a gravelly and slat}' loam underlaid with hardpan. 

The pioneers of this locality made their improvements as earlj' as the 
year 179 1, the first settlers being Zepaniah Hoff, Henry Mapes, Widow 
Jennings and Solomon Wixson, while Enos, Jonas and James Silsbee, 
Abraham Hendricks, Joshua Smith, John Holdridge, Elijah Reynolds 
and Ephriam Tyler came at such an early day as to entitle them to 
mention as pioneers. Among the other earlj^ settlers we may recall 
Ephraim Sanford, from Pennsylvania, a former Revolutionary soldier, 
also Anthony Swarthout, Jabez Hopkins, Aaron Olmstead, the black- 
smith and tool- maker, Thomas Bennett, Thomas Margeson, Henry 
Houck, Isaac Northrup, Edward Baker, Israel R. Wood, Joseph Bailey 
(another old Revolutionary survivor), George Hunter, John Earnest, 
blacksmith, Simeon Hackett, John Teeples and others. 

Charles Williamson, agent for the Pulteney Association, expended 
considerable money in improving farms in this locality, and in the 
progress of his work gave employment to a number of men. He also 
placed tenants on several of the farms in the hope of ultimately effect- 
ing a sale of his lands, but the action of his proprietors in stopping his 
operations was the cause of much feeling, and the abandonment of the 
improvements, in many cases, to the great loss of merchants doing busi- 
ness in Bath who had " trusted " these tenants for goods sold them. 
But, notwithstanding the embarrassments and obstacles against which 
the early settlers of Wayne were obliged to contend, the town increased 
quite rapidly in population and the development of the resources of the 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTT. 173 

region, and the year 1800 foimd the number of inhabitants in the 
district to be 258. Ten years later the number was 1,025, and in 1820 
was 3,607. However, during years following, the frequent divisions of 
the original territory of Wayne reduced the population very materially, 
and in 1830 the number was only 1,172. In 1840 it was 1.377; '" 
1850 was 1,347 ; in i860 was 944; in 1870 was 891 ; in 1880 was 827, 
and in 1890 was 889. 

As has been stated the town was set off as a separate jurisdiction, 
March 18, 1796. although it appears that no organization was effected 
until 1801 ; at least the records disclose no town meetings previous to 
that time. The first supervisor was Benjamin Wells, and the first clerk- 
was Joshua Smith, the latter holding office continuously for seven years. 

The succession of supervisors has been as follows : Benjamin Wells, 
1801-3 ; John Dow, 1804; Jacob Teeple, 1805-7; Joh" Teeple, 1808- 
16; William Kernan, 1817-18; John Teeple, 1819-21; David Hall, 
1822; Win. E. Wells, 1823-26; Geo. Hunter, 1827-29; Wm. Birdsall, 
1830-31 ; Geo. Hunter, 1832-33; Matthew McDowell, 1834-35; Or- 
lando Comstock, 1836-37 and 1840; Jno. P. Lozier, 1838; Jacob 
Teeple, 1841 ; Levi Knox, 1842; Daniel W. Sunderlin, 1843; Harvey 
Hill, 1844; Andrew D. Swarthout, 1845-47; Jno. B. Mitchell, 1848- 
49; Geo. Schuyler, 1850-51, 1854 and 1861 ; Joseph Eveland, 1852; 
Joseph Roat, 1853 and 1867-68 ; Ansel H Williams, 1854; Robert 
Biggars, 1855 ; Amos Wortman, 1856-57; Jno. B. Birdse)^e, 1858-59; 
Jno. J. Earnest, i860; Bela Bonny, 1862; Joel Wixson, 1863-64; 
Chas. D. Wells, 1865-66: Thos. E. Walsh, 1869-70; Chas. K. Miner, 
1871-74 ; James Wi.xson, 1875 and 1877; Solomon R. Wixson, 1876 
and 1878; Madison Cameron, 1879-82; D. Swarthout, 1883-84; Ly- 
man Aulls, 1885-93; Anson Wright, 1894-95. 

The officers of Wayne for the year 1895 are as follows: Anson 
Wright, supervisor ; James M. Washburn, town clerk ; D. Hover, 
Thomas Bailey, George P. Lord and James H. Pitcher, justices ; Chas. 
C. Campbell, Thomas Anderson and W. E. Swarthout, assessors ; P'rank 
Covel, collector; Solomon R. Wixson, highway commissioner ; Thomas 
Best, overseer of the poor ; Hiram Rapplee, Arthur D. Graw and Almon 
Barrett, excise commissioners. 

As at present constituted Wayne is one of the most interesting and 



174 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

favorably situated towns of Steuben county, and in the development of 
its natural resources it has become one of the best vineyard districts in 
the region. Added to this is its value as an agricultural town, while 
the building up of large hotels and pleasure resorts along the Keuka 
front have combined to increase local prosperity. In the early history 
of the county the town was hardly more than a passive factor, yet the 
people of Wayne have ever enjoyed the reputation of making their 
presence felt in all measures tending to the public good. In the great 
anti-rent conflict of 1830, and about that time, the local inhabitants 
took a prominent part in the passing events, and they were worthily 
represented in the Bath convention by Latham Fitch, John H. Sher- 
wood and Thornton F. Curry. During the war of the Rebellion, as 
commonly known, where true patriotism as well as loyalty and states- 
manship were essential elements of success, the town proved equal to 
every demand made upon it and furnished for the service a total of 
eighty- five men; a record certainly praiseworthy when we consider the 
fact that in i860 the inhabitants numbered only 944. 

During the period of its history, there have been built up within the 
town two small hamlets, known as Wayne village and Wayne Four 
Corners, while the chief importance of Keuka is derived from its ship- 
ping advantages during the warm months. In winter it is an almost 
deserted locality. These villages, with their respective interests, are 
mentioned in another department of this work. 

West Union. — On the 25th day of April, 1845, tlie State Legisla- 
ture divided the town of Greenwood, and taking substantially township 
one, of range six, erected it into a separate jurisdiction under the name 
of West Union Then, and now, the new creation contained 23,900 acres 
of land, being nearly as large as the mother township from which it was 
formed. It was the design of the promoters of the new town scheme to 
adopt the name Green, in allusion to the mother town, but as Chenango 
county had a town named Greene the petition was changed and the 
name of Union adopted. This also was found to be in conflict with the 
name of an existing town in Broome county, therefore West Union was 
accepted as the designation of the new formation. 

The town occupies a position in the extreme southwest corner of the 
county, Pennsylvania line being its south boundary with the Allegany 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 175 

county line on the west. Rexville, the only village of any note in the 
town, ia distant thirty miles from Bath and nineteen miles from Ilornells- 
ville. Tlie land surface is hilly and broken, the highest summits being 
about 2,500 feet above tidewater. Bennett's Creek is the principal 
stream. The soil is a heavy, slaty loam. 

The pioneer settlement of the town of West Union, then, however, 
known as Troupsburg, was begun about the year 1821, when Abraham 
\'. Olmstead came from Delaware county and made a clearing on the 
site of the present village of Rexville. Later on Mr. Olmstead erected 
the first tavern in the town, and his son Walter B. was born November 
4, 1823. also the first event of its kind in the town. About the same 
time, probably in 1821, came Jonathan and John Mattisoii and David 
Davis, and located in the east part. The other pioneers were William 
Burger, also from Delaware county, Frederick Hauber from Pennsyl- 
vania, Uriah and B. Ingley, Vencent Compton and his sons William 
and Vincent, Adam Young, William Bray, John Wiley, William Fisher, 
Benjamin Wilkes, William and Ephraim Young, Henry Young, Daniel 
Hamilton, David Baker, Stephen Boyd and others whose names are 
now forgotten. Henry Young settled at West Union Corners. John 
Wiley settled near where the hamlet of Wileysville was afterward 
built up. 

In the north part of West Union there settled about the year 1840 a 
number of hardworking Irishmen, from whose coming there eventually 
grew a strong settlement. Among the first of them were John Sheehaii, 
Dennis Malone, Luke Fox and others. Some of the later settlers in the 
town at large were Philip Failing, Mr. Bigelow, Abel Mattison, David 
Sherman (the pioneer dairyman of West Union, and also first supervisor 
of the town) Alvin Chapin, Alexander Keenan, Daniel Hamilton, 
Charles and Daniel Rexford and others now forgotten. 

It is a well known fact that settlement in this particular locality was 
materially delayed, a large share of the land being owned in I"3ngland 
and by heirs who were under age. The settlers in this township in 
1830 were somewhat affected by the distress prevailing among the occu- 
pants of the Pulteney and Hornby estates, but at that time this territory 
formed a part of Troupsburg, and the settlers in that town were the 
most active in all local proceedings. The delegates to the Bath con- 



176 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

vention were Samuel Cady, Samuel Griggs, Joshua Slayter, Jesse Wil- 
den and Nathan S. Hayes. 

Referring briefly to the first events of town history we may mention 
that Walter B. Olmstead was the first white child born; Abram Olm- 
stead kept the first tavern in a log house on the village site; the first 
marriage was that of John Hauber and Jane K. Hauber, May i8, 1832; 
Uriah Stephens taught the first school, about 1830; Jesse Jones and 
Dr. Cyrus Knight were about the first storekeepers ; John Wiley built 
the first saw and grist mill in 1849-50. 

The erection and organization of a new town in the southwestern part 
of Steuben county was an absolute necessity. In the old town of 
Greenwood, the center of population and business lay in the northern 
part of that jurisdiction, and nearly all the principal officers chosen for 
the town also lived in the same locality. The result was the inhabitants 
of what is now West Union were denied privileges and improvements 
to which they were justly entitled. This being the case, the residents 
in the neglected locality petitioned for the erection of a new town, and 
West Union was the result of that action. The first election of town 
officers was held at the house of John Hauber on May 6, 1843. The 
officers elected were Da\id Sherman, supervisor ; Moses Forbes, town 
clerk ; Jeremiah B. Millard, Cornelius Rosa and William H. Olmstead, 
justices of the peace ; David Collins, Peter A. McLean and Marcina 
Cummings, assessors ; Jeremiah B. Millard, Jeremiah Ingley and Alvin 
Chapin, commissioners of highway; Thomas F. Hubbard and Henry 
B. Baker, overseers of the poor ; Walter B. Olmstead, collector. 

David Sherman held the office of supervisor twelve years, and Moses 
Forbes was town clerk for six years. A succession of the several town 
officers would be interesting in this connection, but unfortunately in 
1 88 1, at the time the cheese factory was burned, the town records were 
also destroyed. 

The officers for the year 1895 are as follows : W. P. Cary, supervisor ; 
U. E. Vanfleet, town clerk ; A. W, Barney, George Dennison and 
Andrew Boucher, justices of the peace; Palmer Warfield, Norman 
Haseltine and Josiah Sanders, assessors; Hiram Barney, collector; 
Philip R. Sanders, overseer of the poor ; Archie McAllister, highway 
commissioner ; David Smith, John Lewis and William Anderson, com- 
missioners of excise. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 177 

West Union had a population of 1,150 in 1892. When organized in 
1845 ^''^ inhabitants numbered 539. Five years later the number was 
950, and in i860 had increased to 1,392, the greatest population in the 
town's history. In 1870 the number was reduced to 1,264, 3"<i '" 
1880 was 1. 271. The population in 1890 was 1,167. 

Among the civil divisions of Steuben county, this town has not 
occupied a position of special prominence, nor have her inhabitants ever 
sought to establish a condition of things other than for their own gen- 
eral welfare and for the benefit of their descendants. Still, the region 
is the comfortable abiding- place of a hardy, thrifty and persevering 
class of people, whose chief pursuits in life is agriculture, while lumber- 
ing for many years has also engaged the attention of a strong con- 
tingent of the local population. In fact, in this part of the county set- 
tlement was much delayed and not until within a comparatively recent 
period have the lands been generally cleared ; and even now there still 
remains considerable areas of excellent timber lands. In farm crops 
the land yields well in return to proper cultivation, while the dairy pro- 
ducts of West Union are recognized as standard throughout the county. 
But notsvithstanding the disadvantages of location and the many other 
obstacles which the inhabitants of West Union have had to contend 
against, they have ever shown themselves to be a loyal and patriotic 
people. During the period of the war of the Rebellion the loyalty of 
the people displayed itself, and we find that the town sent to the service 
a total of sixty men. Thev were divided among several regiments, 
principally the 86th, the 107th and the 141st. 

During the period of its history, there has been built up in the town 
one small yet progressive village, known as Rexville, and two other 
settlements of less note, and known respectively as West Union and 
Wileyville. West Union is but a post-ofiice station in the northwest 
corner of the town, postmaster, Alvin C. Barney. Wileyville is in the 
southwest corner of the town, the postmaster, also merchant, being 
Frederick Stebbins. The village of Rexville, and also its churches, will 
be mentioned in another department of this work. 

Wheeler. — In 1820 a large portion of land was taken from Bath 
and Prattsburg and erected into a separate jurisdiction by the name of 
Wheeler; and so named in honor of Capt Silas Wheeler, the pioneer 

23 



178 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

of the locality, and one of the most worthy men of his time. Captain 
Wheeler came from Albany county in 1799, and brought to the new 
region a splendid record of military service during the Revolutionary 
war. At the famous battle at Quebec he stood near the brave Mont- 
gomery when he fell During the war Captain Wheeler was four times 
taken prisoner but generally managed to effect an escape with little 
difficulty. In this region, especiallj' during the pioneer period the 
Wheeler family occupied a position of importance and prominence, and 
was identified with many works of progress. Therefore the name of 
the new town was worthily bestowed. 

However, other worthy pioneers and families came into this region 
soon after Captain Wheeler, and the names of many of them can be re- 
called. Nathan Rose came in 1804 and married Ruth Wheeler, and 
about the same time came William Holmes, who married Sarah Wheeler. 
Levi Gray was another early settler and was the first postmaster in the 
town. Turner Gardiner settled in this part of the then town of Bath in 
1799, soon after the Wheeler family, while Col. Jonathan Barney and 
Thomas Aulls came in 1800. Philip Myrtle settled here in 1802, and 
Otto Marshall and others named Bear, Ferval and Rifle in 1803. 
Daniel Marshall, a Prussian, came to the locality in 18 10 Gen. Otto 
F. Marshall, for many years a prominent man in county affairs, was a 
son of Daniel Marshall. 

George Reuchan also came from Albany county and settled in the 
town. He died in the service during the second war with Great 
Britain. John Casper Overhiser came from Otsego county in 181 1, 
and settled on West Creek. He died in the town in 18 17, in his ninetieth 
year, and was specially noted for his large family, he having had 
eighteen children by his two marriages ; and all these sons and daugh- 
ters grew to maturity. Seth Wheeler settled in the town in 1819. 
Furman Gardner came with Captain Wheeler, then being only seven 
years old. Albertus Larrowe was also an early settler. 

Among the other early residents of Wheeler may be recalled the 
names of Herman Lewis, William Rowley, Mr. Lakin, George Ray- 
mond, Jenks Youngs, Thomas Gumming, Philip Beemer, Uriel Chapin, 
Andrew Harris, Noah Stephens, John Clark, Reuben Montgomery and 
others. Among the early designated localities, in which some of these 
settlers lived, were " Mutton Hollow " and South Hill. 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTV. 179 

From this we may learn tliat Wheeler is a somewhat hilly town. In 
fact the entire land surface niaj' be called a iiigh rolling upland, broken 
by valleys and small creeks, and its soil a shaley and clayey loam, not 
much sought by farmers for agricultural purposes generally. This, at all 
events, was said of the town three-quarters of a century ago, but not- 
withstanding all that was said in discouragement of the quality or fer- 
tility of the soil, the successive generations of inhabitants have devel- 
oped the resources of the town, and to-day Wheeler stands in the front 
rank of potato producing regions in tlie State of New York, while in 
general agricultural products the town bears favorable comparison with 
any in Steuben count)-. The recent building of a railroad through the 
town has been of inestimable value to all local interests, affording ready 
access to good markets east and west. 

However, referring again to the subject of early history, we may note 
some of the more important first events. The first birth was that of 
William, son of Jonathan Barney, and the date November i, 1801. The 
first death was that of Joseph Kinney. John Reals kept the first 
tavern, and Grattie Wheeler taught the first school. Captain Wheeler 
built the first saw mill, in 1802, and George W. Taylor the first grist 
mill, in 1803-4. The first store was opened by Cornelius Younglove, 
in 1835. 

In 1820 the district which afterward formed Wheeler had 798 inhab- 
itants, and it was but natural that they should seek a separate organiza- 
tion in the interest of public convenience To this end the creating 
power was petitioned, and on the 25th of February the town was 
erected, territory therefor being taken from the older towns of Bath 
and Prattsburg. However, in 1839 ^ P'"'' o( Wheeler was set off" to 
Urbana, and in 1843 another part was set off to Avoca. The voters of 
Wheeler first met soon after the town was set off and elected Thomas 
AuUs supervisor, together with a complete board of officers, but on 
account of the imperfect condition of the records, we cannot furnish the 
names of all who were chosen at that time. It is understood, however, 
that Mr. Aulls was re-elected in 1822 and 1824, and probably held the 
office until succeeded by Mr. Barney in 1830. Grattan H. Wheeler was 
supervisor in 1823 The records of this town previous to 1830 are in- 
deed defective, but reasonably well preserved during later years. 



180 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The supervisors of Wheeler since 1830 hnve been as follows: Jon- 
athan Barney, 1830, '32, '35-38, and '46; Thomas Aulls, 1831 ; Seth 
Wheleer, 1833-34; S. H. Rose, 1839; Hosea Longwell, 1840-41 ; O. 
F. Marshall, 1842-44; H. N. Rose, 1845 ; H. H. Rose, 1847; J. E. 
Gunsalus, 1848-49; Benj. Myrtle, 1850-51; Grattan H Wheeler, 
1852; Dan D. Thompson, 1853-54; Ira P. Barney, 1855, and 1857- 
58; Daniel Gray, 1856, '59, '61, and 1866-68; James Derrick, i860 
and 1862-64; S. H. Rose, 1865 ; J. H. Lewis, 1866; Julius Stickney, 
1870-71; Samuel H. Lewis, 1872; L. H. Wheeler, 1873; William 
Gardner, 1874-75; Thomas Aulls, 1876-78; Ira P. Barney, 1879-80; 
R. W. Thompson, 1881-82 ; F. J. Marshall, 1883-84; Jerome B. Ellis, 
1885-88; Julius Stickney, 1889; Jerome B. Ellis, 1890-91; O. F. 
Marshall, 1892-95. 

The officers of the town for the year 1895 are as follows: O. F. 
Marshall, supervisor; Marshall Myrtle, town clerk; Julius Stickney, 
Dennis S. Derrick, Oliver Fox and Cornelius Grants, justices of the 
peace ; O. D. Wheeler, O. D. Fox and S S. Shant, assessors ; L. E. 
Cook, collector; Lemuel H. Lewis, overseer of the poor; Martin Clark, 
highway commissioner ; E. K. Clark, C. H. Butts and W. L. Rose, 
excise commissioners. 

The civil, social and political history of Wheeler, from first to last, 
has been uneventful, yet has been an almost continuous record of pro- 
gression. The town has furnished its full quota of strong men for pub- 
lic positions, and all have been competent, faithful and worthy. During 
that unfortunate period commonly called the anti-rent conflict local in- 
terests were represented by Jonathan Barney, Nathan Rose 2d, Abram 
J. Quackenbush, David Barney and John C. Overhiser. However, 
even this temporary disturbance had no serious effect upon the well- 
being of the town, and after it had passed the people returned to their 
accustomed pursuits; and by persistent and diligent effort they suc- 
ceeded in obtaining the relief they once sought at the hands of the land 
agents. In 1830 the population was 1,389, and in 1 850 the greatest 
number of inhabitants ever attained in the town was reached, being 
1,471. The population in 1890 was 1,285. 

In i860 the population was 1,376, yet, during the war which fol- 
lowed, the patriotism of Wheeler was demonstrated in the fact that the 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 181 

town sent into the service a total of 126 men. These were scattered 
through the several commands recruited in the county and vicinity and 
the story of their experiences and hardships, successes and reverses, is 
told in another chapter of this \olumc. 

Wheeler has an area of 27,900 acres of land, nearly all of which is 
devoted to general agriculture. As a farming town it ranks well and 
as a potato producing region it is unsurpassed. During its history 
there have been built up two small hamlets or villages, but neither has 
gained sufficient population to justify incorporation. In another de- 
partment of this work will be found a reference to each of these hamlets. 
In still another chapter will be found a notice of the church history of 
the town, in which almost the entire population take just and pardon- 
able pride. Of the early schools little is known which may be con- 
sidered reliable, and the records bearing on this subject are incomplete 
and imperfect. We have already mentioned the first and early schools, 
and it is known that soon after the organization of the town the terri- 
tory was divided into districts to suit the convenience of the people, 
and a school was provided for each district. As at present arranged 
Wheeler has thirteen school districts, each of which is provided with a 
comfortable school house. During the last current year thirteen 
teachers were employed. The value of school property in the town is 
$6,325. The town receives of public moneys about $1,500 annually, 
and raises by local ta.x for school support about $1,700. 

WOODHULL. — In the extreme south part of Steuben county, border- 
ing on the Pennsylvania line, is a civil division containing 33.600 
acres of land, a good general agricultural region, known as Wood- 
hull. This town was created by act of the Legislature, February 18, 
1828, and was named in honor of General Nathaniel Woodhull, an 
oflficer and patriot of the Revolutionary war. To this formation the 
older towns of Troupsburg and Addison surrendered portions of their 
territor)', and also their population to the number of about 500 hard 
working and determined inhabitants. 

The physical characteristics of Woodhull are quite similar to those of 
adjoining towns, the surface being generally hilly upland, the soil claj-ey 
and gravelly loam, fairly fertile even on the highlands and rich through- 
out the valleys. Tuscarora Creek is the chief stream, and courses east 



182 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

through the north part of the town, having in times now gone, furnished 
abundant water power for the many mills which were built along its 
banks. In fact, for many years Woodhull was quite noted as a lumber 
region ; milling was carried on extensively and profitably, and farming 
did not become the leading pursuit of the inhabitants till within a com- 
paratively recent date. Though now secondary in importance, lumber 
making is still going on and much good standing timber is found in the 
town. 

The first permanent settler in Woodhull, or rather township i of 
range 4, of the Phelps and Gorham purchase, was Daniel Johnson, who 
came in 1804 and made an improvement, although it is said that about 
that time two other settlers were here, named Spears and Merlin, but 
after making a clearing left the region. Pioneer Johnson also became 
an active factor in early history, and was the first supervisor of Troups- 
burg, holding that office from 1808 to 181 2. The settlers in 1805 were 
Stephen Dolson. Bethuel Tubbs, Price Kilpatrick, Patrick Breakhill, 
Squire Wilkes, Amos Riffle, Samuel B. Rice and William Martin. In 
1806 Caleb Smith came in from Orange county, and after locating his 
family at once began the erection of both saw and grist mills, the latter 
being a log building, but nevertheless a great benefit to the people of 
the whole region. In the same year Joshua Green, Asel Stiles and 
Henry Martin located in the north part of the town. Daniel Cortright, 
Lekins Clark, Mr. Mynear, or Manier, and one Layton settled on the 
south branch of the creek about the same time. In 1807 the Smith 
mills, and also the dam, were carried away by high water. The second 
mill was built by George Martin in 18 12. Among the other early 
settlers, though perhaps not pioneers, were Abner Thomas, John 
Latimer, Seth Pierce (who opened the road from Canisteo River to the 
village of Woodhull in 182 1), Peter Smith, Bethel Gurnsey, Micajah 
Sherwood (whose descendants were prominent men in the county), John 
Stone, Hugh Bojd (from whose settlement the locality called Pulteney 
Hill was named), James Williams, Samuel Stroud, Mr. Hornecker, Seth 
Baxter, Worcester Perry, Thomas Hedges, Samuel Smith, Martin and 
Henry Harding, Andrew Colgrove, Joseph Tubbs, Sylvester Tousey, 
John Stone, Calvin Searle, all of whom, and others now forgotten, in 



THE CIVIL DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 183 

some manner contributed to the early building up of a thriving settle- 
ment. 

Noting briefly some of the first events, we may state that the first 
birth was that of Polly Smith ; the first marriage that of Levi Rice and 
Cynthia Tubbs ; the first death that of Benjamin Tubbs. Caleb Smith 
built the first mills; Ichobod Leach kept the first tavern ; Josiah Tubbs 
opened the first store, and Abner Thomas taught the first school. 

As earl}- as 1826 and '27 the inhabitants began to discuss the subject 
of a separate town, but the matter did not culminate until 1828, when 
the Legislature passed the act creating the town. However, in 1856, 
a portion of Woodhull was set off to Rathbone. The first town meet- 
ing in Woodhull was held at the house of Asher Johnson, and he was 
elected supervisor; Jeffry Smith, town clerk, and Levi Tubbs, collector. 
The county records disclose these facts, but we may here state that in 
1866, and again in 1875, the village of Woodhull was visited with 
disastrous fires, by which the records were entirely destroyed ; also 
the business part of the village. However, the succession of supervis- 
ors of the town is known, and is as follows : 

Asher Johnson, 1828-30; David Edwards, 1831-37; Stephen Kent, 
1838-40; David Edwards, 1841-44; Christopher Marlatt, 1845-48; 
Stephen G. Tubbs, 1849-50; S. V. Lattimer, 1852; JelTry Smith, 
1853; Asa Arnold, 1854; S V. Lattimer, 1855; A. J. C. Edwards, 
1856-57; S. V. Lattimer, 1858-59; Nelson Perry, 1 860-6 1 ; S. V. 
Lattimer, 1862-63 ; Halsey Swarts, 1864; J. R. Strock, 1865 ; D. H. 
Williams, 1866: James Carpenter, jr., 1867; J. S. Warner, 1868-70; 
H. S. Williams, 1871-72; Wm. Carpenter, 1873-75; Silas G. Tubbs, 
1876-77 ; C. W. Morgan 1878 ; John Sullivan, 1879 ; Wm. S. Edwards, 
1880; Wm. M. Sherwood, 1881 ; H. S. Williams, 1882; Jerome S. 
Warner, 1883-84; John W. McPhee, 1885 ; Solomon L. Wildrick, 1886 
-87; Delaiiy Colvin, 1888-89; Leonard Lamson, 1890-91; Charles 
W. Tubbs, 1892-93 ; Jerome C. Husted, 1894-95. 

The officers of the town for the year 1895 are Jerome C Husted, 
supervisor; Samuel H. Barrett, town clerk ; R. C. Park, B. F. Gee, L. 
B. Walker and J. S. Andrews, justices ; Jent C. Brown, Leroy Hoglin 
and Eugene Hurd, assessors; Charles S. Castle, collector; M. P. Wilson, 
overseer of the poor; Earl Herrington, highway commissioner ; John 
M. Park, John Stroud and Bradley Husted, excise commissioners. 



184 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Woodhull is one of the comparatively few towns of Steuben county 
in which there has been a gradual increase in population. In 1830, two 
years after the erection of the town, the inhabitants numbered 501. and 
in 1840 had increased to 827. Ten years later the population was 
1,769, and by i860 had still further increased to the maximum number 
of 2,207, regardless of the fact that in 1856 a portion of the town was 
annexed to Rathbone. In 1870, however, the number had fallen to 
1,997, and in 1S80 to 1,963, but in 1890 increased to 2,006. The 
population in 1892 was 2,084. 

As one of the townships purchased by the Pulteney Association, so- 
called, from Robert Morris, Woodhull was materially affected by the 
anti rent disturbance ; and we find a number of the influential men of 
the town active participants in the events of that unfortunate period. In 
the convention held at Bath in 1830 the delegates from Woodhull were 
Caleb Smith, Samuel Stroud, Asher Johnson, Jeffrey Smith and Martin 
Harder. Asher Johnson served on the committee appointed to prepare 
the famous memorial presented to the agents of the proprietary, and the 
other delegates were also active in the affairs of the convention. 

During the war of 1861-65, this town furnished about one hundred 
and eighty men for the service, and a glance at the official roster of the 
several regiments to which they belonged will disclose the fact that a 
number of these brave volunteers never returned to the town, but lie 
buried on southern battle fields. The history of the companies in which 
were Woodhull men forms an interesting chapter in local annals, and the 
story of the war and of the various commands from this county is told 
in another department of this work. 

Within the geographical limits of this town are four hamlets or unin- 
corporated villages, each having a post-office and mercantile interests 
of greater or less importance. Among these the village of Wood- 
hull is largest and is a place of some note. Special reference to it 
will be found in the department of this work devoted to municipal 
history. 

Borden is the name of a hamlet containing a post-office, three stores 
and a church, situated about six miles south of Woodhull village. The 
postmaster is Gird Harrison. 

Hedgesville is a hamlet situated four miles north of the principal 




HIRAM PRITCHARD. 



THE WAR OF 1812. 185 

village of the town. It contains three stores, three blacksmith shops, a 
planing and saw mill, a barber shop and the M. E. church. The post- 
master is Elmer W, llurd. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Events Preceding and During the War of 1812-15 — Companies Organized in Steu- 
ben County— Results of the War— The Conflict with Mexico — The Steuben Company 
— Population of the County by Decades. 

For nearly a score of j-ears following the first settlement in this county 
nothing occurred to interrupt or retard progress and development in 
the region. During this period the county was favored in an unusual 
degree; towns were formed and settled, forests were cleared, fine farms 
were opened, highway's were constructed, and substantial dwellings 
lined the thoroughfares of travel. The pioneers were a hardy and patri- 
otic class, and came to the region from New England, Pennsylvania, 
New Jersey and Eastern New York, while still others were foreigners, 
from Ireland, Scotland, Gerniany and elsewhere, and all were united in 
a common hope of making for themselves and their families comfortable 
homes and fortunes in the new country. Through their energetic efforts 
the forests soon gave place to farms of rare fertility, thus developing 
agricultural resources at least to an extent which supplied domestic re- 
quirements. 

During the period referred to, this county acquired its greatest com- 
parative growth in population, and with this came power to sustain the 
nation during peril. Hence, when first murmurings of another war 
with Great Britain were heard, this part of the State was well prepared 
to endure its hardships and its ta.xation, and the part that it bore in the 
great conflict must be made the subject of special mention. In one re- 
spect at least the people of Steuben county were favored during the 
course of the war of i8 12-15, for, while occasional discontent prevailed 
among the few Indian occupants of the region, there was no outbreak 
on the part of any of them, and the settlers had not to defend their 

24 



186 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

homes against their attacks ; and in the war like preparations which 
were made in the count)' no force was required to protect the rapidly 
increasing settlements. However, let us briefly refer to the causes 
which led to the war, after which mention will be made of the services 
performed by the soldiers of the county. 

During the few years immediately preceding the war of 1812, the 
whole country was in a state of nominal peace, but still there was gath- 
ering in the political sky a dark cloud which increased until it boded 
another foreign war. During the Revolution, America contended for 
independence and won that precious boon; in 18 12 she fought to 
maintain that independence on which British aggression had insolently 
trespassed. 

The United States had always honorably observed the provisions of 
the treaty made with Great Britain at the close of the Revolution. 
There had been maintained, too, a strict neutralit)- during the progress 
of the Napoleonic war, when perhaps every consideration of gratitude 
should have induced an alliance against the mother country. For 
several years the aggressive acts of the British had been a subject of 
anxiety and regret to all Americans, and indeed had created bitter in- 
dignation. The embargo laid by Congress upon our shipping (as a 
means of safety) was found so injurious to commercial interests that it 
was repealed, and the non -intercourse act was passed in its stead, In 
April, 1809, the British ambassador in Washington opened negotiations 
for the adjustment of difficulties, and consented to a withdrawal of the 
obnoxious British " orders in council," so far as they affected the United 
States, on condition that the non-intercourse act be repealed. This was 
agreed upon, and the president issued a proclamation announcing that 
on the lOth of June trade with Great Britain might be resumed. The 
British government, however, refused to ratify the proceedings and re- 
called their minister, whereupon the president revoked his proclamation, 
and the non-intercourse act again went into operation. Then followed 
a succession of British aggressions to which no American could submit, 
and the only choice left to the nation was war or disgraceful humilia- 
tion. 

On the 1 2th day of June, 1812, President Madison sent a confidential 
message to Congress, in which he recapitulated the long list of British 



THE WAR OF 1812. 187 

aggressions, and declared it to be the duty of Congress to consider 
whether the American people should longer passively submit ; but at 
the same time he cautioned the House to avoid entanglements with 
other powers which were then iiostile to Great Britain. 

The result of the message and the deliberation of Congress was a 
formal declaration of war on the 19th of June, 1812, but the measure 
was not unanimously sustained or even approved in all parts of the 
Middle and New England States. The opposition elenient was em- 
braced in the Federal party, its chief ground of objection being that 
the country was not prepared for war. The Federalists constituted a 
large and influential minority of the political element of Congress and 
had a considerable following in the several States not active in politics. 
They asked for further negotiations and met the denunciations of the 
ruling party (the Democratic and Republican, for it went by both names) 
upon the English government with bitter attacks upon Napoleon, whom 
they accused the majority with favoring. 

It is a well known fact that during the period of the war, the great 
majority of the people of Steuben county were heartily interested in the 
American cause, and expressed themselves freely in public gatherings, 
at the polls, and in the measures proposed for prosecuting the war, 
Opposed to them were the Federalists, who, though strong in wealth 
and influence, were numerically weak. They took to themselves the 
dignified name of " Peace Party," and characterized the opposition as 
" Screaming War Hawks." However, having no newspaper mouth- 
piece in the county, they were not an important factor in occurring 
events. 

Three companies of Steuben county militia were ordered into service 
for three months during the first year of the war. Wayne furnished 
one of these, commanded by Captain James Sanford The second, the 
Urbana company, mustered fifty men and was commanded by Captain 
Abraham Brundage ; William White, first lieutenant, and Stephen Gar- 
ner, ensign. These companies united with two others of Alleg;iny 
county, forming a battalion under command of Major Asa Gaylord, of 
Urbana. This excellent officer died upon the lines and was succeeded 
by Colonel Dobbins. The drafted company, organized at Rath, was in 
charge of Capt. Jonas Cleland, of Cohocton ; Samuel D. Wells and John 



188 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Gillet, lieutenants, and John Kennedy, ensign. The troops reached the 
frontier in time to take part against the British at Queenstovvn Heights, 
but they were unfortunate in battle owing to lack of proper discipline. 
In the second year of the war two militia companies were drafted from 
the county and Bath was a central seat of operations, although the 
companies, like those of the previous year, were from the north part of 
the county generally. The companies of this year's campaigns were 
commanded by Captains James Reed, of Urbana, and Jonathan Rowley, 
of Dansville. The lieutenants were George Teeples, Anthony Swarth- 
out, John Short and John E. Mulhollen, and the ensigns were O. Cook, 
Jabez Hopkins, George Knouse and Timothy Goodrich. 

A detail of the events of the war is not needed in these pages. The 
results of the struggle are written in the conflicts on Lake Erie, the re- 
pulse of the invaders on the Delaware, the painful and humiliating 
scenes of the Chesapeake, the invasion of New York and the attempt to 
control the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. The story is further 
told in the brilliant victory at Plattsburg, the capture of Niagara and 
Oswego, the battles at Black Rock, Lundy's Lane, Sackett's Harbor, 
closing with the glorious defense of New Orleans. Above all were the 
masterly exploits of our navy, whose victories over the British cruisers 
gave the enemy the most serious view of American prowess. Peace, 
however, came at last and the treaty was ratified February 15, 18 1 5. 

The outbreak of the war of 18 12 awoke a tremendous impulse through- 
out this region of the country, for many of the settlers had seen service 
in the Revolution, and their sons were now in the enrolled militia. The 
same martial spirit which came with the pioneeis was manifested in later 
years on the old fashioned days of " general training," when the farmer, 
the mechanic and the woodsman abandoned toil and hied away to the 
" muster" for a season of'joUification as well as for military discipline. 

This early military organization and training served well in after 
times, for hardly more than a score and a half of years had passed be- 
fore the county was again called upon to furnish men for another war. 
We refer to that period of national history in which occurred the con- 
flict at arms between the United States and Mexico, in which Steuben 
was required to raise one company, and William E. Sliannon loyally 
offered to accomplish the work. It was done in a very short time, and 
the men were ready for service. 



POPULATION. 189 

The officers of Co. A were: Captain, William E. Shannon; first 
lieutenant, Henry Magee ; second lieutenant. Palmer V. Hewlett ; ser- 
geants, J. C. Van Loon, H. D. Alden, Melvin Boch and J. K. Crandall. 
Among the privates were Warren S. Hodgman, John C. Emerson, 
John Magee. H. S. Biles, Finley M. Pauling, Elijah M. Smith, Henry 
M. Osgood, James Perrine, Benjamin Magee, Calvin Hitt, G. E. Mc- 
Allister and many others. 

The company left Bath August i, 1846, and proceeded at once to 
New York, where it was equipped and disciplined for active service. It 
then sailed a six months' voyage to San Francisco, landing on the site 
of the city in March, 1847, but was soon ordered to San Diego, where 
the men remained until mustered out of service in 1848. 

Between the events which we have narrated was another of greater 
importance to the inhabitants of the county than either of the early 
wars. We refer to that event in local history which has ever been 
known as the '' Anti rent Conflict," which covered a period of about 
tliree years and finally terminated in 1830. This conflict, however, is 
fully treated in an earlier chapter of this work, and there mentioned 
out of chronological order that the mind of tl>e reader should be pre- 
pared for the events of town history which are contained in succeeding 
chapters. 

Turning briefly from the subject of strife and war, let us note the 
march of progress and development in Steuben county throughout the 
hundred years of its history that are past. Glancing over the census 
reports, it is seen that the greatest comparative growth in population 
was between the years 1800 and 1810, and again between 1810 and 
1820. However, this growth is best presented by extracting from the 
census reports the number of inhabitants in the county at the beginning 
of each decade, as follows: 1800, 1,788; 1810.7,246; 1820, 21,989; 
1830, 33,975; 1840, 46,138; 1850, 66,938; i860, 66,690; 1870. 
67,717; 1880,77,586; 1890,81,473. The population of the county in 
1892 was 82,468. 



190 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XIII. 
STEUBEN COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1861-65. 

At half- past four o'clock on the morning of April 14, 1861, a shot 
was fired from a Confederate battery in Charleston harbor, and struck 
Fort Sumter, which was held by a Federal garrison. Three days 
after this outburst of treason President Lincoln issued a proclamation 
calling upon the Union States to send to the national capital 75,000 
militia for its defense. On the i6th the State Military Board of New 
York held a meeting, and Governor Morgan at once sent a message to 
the secretary of war assuring him that the quota required of this State 
would be immediately mustered into service. The governor also at 
once issued orders, acting in concert with the military board, and called 
upon the militia for seventeen regiments of 780 men each. The result 
was that in a very few days the State of New York sent 13,906 effective 
men to Washington ; and it is an historical fact that the opportune 
arrival of these troops saved the government buildings from attack and 
possible destruction. 

Under the several calls, general, special and by draft, both in army 
and navy, this State furnished an aggregate of 502,765 men, and Steu- 
ben county provided its full quota. It is to be regretted, however, 
that the exact number cannot be given, as the State authorities were so 
remiss that no complete roster has ever been published. 

The history of the volunteers of Steuben county from the first blaze 
of hostile cannon until secession was buried at Appomattox by the sur- 
render of Lee's sword, forms one of the most brilliant chapters in local 
annals. To picture their services it will be necessary to refer to the 
records of the regiments to which they were attached, which forms an 
unbroken chain of evidence to demonstrate the loyalty and patriotism 
of the country's soldiery; and as other generations read the pages re- 
cording their services, from 1861 to 1865, it will inspire them to pre- 
serve sacred the patriotic sentiment of " country first, citizen afterward." 



THE CIVIL WAR. 191 

During tlie course of the war, Steuben county furnished men for 
twenty-nine different regiments, although in several of them the repre- 
sentation was quite small. They may be enumerated substantially as 
follows: Cavalr)' regiments, 6th, 22d, 2d Mounted Rifles, and the 1st 
and 2d Veteran Cavalry. Artillery, Batteries E and K, 1st, 4th, loth, 
13th, 14th, 16th, and the 28th Independent Battery. Engineers, isth 
(new) and 50th. Infantry, 23d, 34th, 35th, 78th, 86th, looth, io2d, 
104th, 107th, 141st, i6ist, 175th, 179th, l88th, and 189th. 

In this work these regiments may be treated briefly, the writer being 
constrained to this course by reason of the fact that nearly every coin ■ 
mand has a published history, exhaustive and in detail, with complete 
roster both of officers and men. In view of tiiis it is unnecessary to 
cumber the present chapter with repeated histor\', but ratiier to furnish 
an outline of the composition and organization of the several regiments 
recruited in whole or part in the county, with the official list of battles 
of those of greatest importance or having the strongest contingent of 
men from the county. 

Twenty-third Regiment of Infantry. — The synonyms of this com- 
mand were "Southern Tier Regiment," and " Southern Tier Rifles." It 
was accepted and numbered by the State, May 16, 1861 ; was organized at 
Elmira, and there mustered into service for two years, July 2, 1861. The 
three years' men, and a few others, were transferred to the 80th N.Y.Vols. 
May 29, 1863. The companies were recruited about as follows: A at 
Bath, B at Cuba, C at Oswego, D at Corning, E at Waverly, F and K 
at Elmira, G at Hornellsville, H at Cortland, I at Watkins. The 
regiment left the State July 5, 1861, and served at and near Washing- 
ton from Jul)- 7, 1 86 1, and afterward joined with the Army of the 
Potomac, to which it was attached until Maj-, i 862, then transferred to 
the department of the Rappahannock. It next served with the Army 
of Virginia until January, 1863, and still later in Patrick's Provost 
Guard Brigade. It was stationed at Aquia Creek, Va., from April 29, 
1863, and was discharged and mustered out, under Colonel Hoffman, 
May 22, 1863, at Elmira. 

The losses of the regiment were ten killed in action ; seven died of 
wounds; two officers and fifty-three enlisted men died of disease and 
other causes ; and five men died in the hands of the enemy. 



192 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The battles in which the 23d took part were as follows : Near Fall's 
Church, Va., August 14. 1861 ; Ball's Cross Roads, August 27 ; Mun- 
son's Hill, August 31 ; Ball's Cross Roads, September 14; Bowling 
Green Road, May 18, 1862; Orange Court House, July 26; General 
Pope's Campaign, August 16; Rappahannock River, August 21— Sep- 
tember 2 ; Sulphur Springs, August 26 ; Gainesville, August 28 ; Grove- 
town, August 29; Bull Run, August 30; Fairfax C. H., August 31 ; 
South Mountain, Md., Septemper 14; Antietam, September 17; Fred- 
ericksburg, December 11— 15. 

The town of Bath furnished Co. A, the officers of which were : Cap- 
tain, Theodore Schlick ; first lieutenant, Cornelius F. Mowers ; second 
lieutenant, George E. Biles. 

The town of Corning furnished Co. D, officered by Capt. Luzerne 
Todd ; first lieutenant, Newton T. Colby ; second lieutenant, William 
H. Jones. 

The officers of Co. G, the Hornellsville contribution to the regiment, 
were Captain Frank B. Doty ; first lieutenant, Ira Cone ; second lieu- 
tenant, John Prentiss. 

Thirty-fourth Regiment. — This command was recruited principally in 
Eastern New York and was commonly called the " Herkimer Regi- 
ment." However, Steuben county contributed two companies, E and 
I, raised at Addison and Hammondsport, respectively, though both 
Urbana and Pulieney contributed to its strength. The officers of the 
Addison company were Captain Henry Baldwin ; first lieutenant, James 
R. Carr ; second lieutenant, Edwin F. Smith. The latter was promoted 
first lieutenant December 23, 1861, and Henry W. Sanfoid followed 
him in both positions. George W. Wildrich, of WoodhuU, was pro- 
moted second lieutenant December 23, 1861, and resigned April 10, 
1862. In Co. I Capt. William H. King was brevetted lieutenant- 
colonel of U. S. Vols., and Second Lieut. Monroe Brundage was pro- 
moted captain February 10, 1863. The other officers were first lieu- 
tenant, Alfred T. Atwood, and second lieutenant, Monroe Brundage. 

The 34th was mustered into service for two years, June 15, 1861, and 
on June 8, 1863, its three years' men were transferred to the 82d In- 
fantry. It left the State July 3, 1861, and served in and about Wash- 
ington, in Gorman's Brigade, Stone's division, until October 16. Its 



THE CIVIL WAR. 193 

later service was with the Army of the Potomac until June 30, 1863, 
when tlie regiment was mustered out at Albany. 

During its service, the Tiiirty- fourth lost one officer and sixty-five 
men. killed in action ; two officers and twenty- si.v men died of wounds ; 
from disease and other causes, one officer and sixty- seven men ; aggre- 
gate losses, one liundred and sixty- two. The regiment took part in the 
following battles: Seneca Mills, Md., September i and 16, 1861; 
Uranesville, September 17; Goose Creek, Va., October 22 ; Siege of 
Yorktown, April 5, to May 4, 1862 ; Tyler House, May 24 ; Fair Oaks, 
May3i-June i; White House, June 16; Seven Day's Battle, June 25— 
July 2; Peach Orchard, June 29; Savage Sta., June 29; White Oak 
Swamp, June 30; Glendale and Malvern Hill, July i ; Antietam, Md., 
September 17 ; Fredericksburg, Va., December i 1-15 ; Marye's Heights 
and Salem Church, May 3, 4, 1863. 

Thirty- Fifth Regiment. — The towns of Corning and Urbana furnished 
Co. F for this command, which in the service was known as the Jeffer- 
son County Regiment. It was mustered into service June 11, 1861, 
and was mustered out at Elmira, June 5, 1863, having lost from all 
causes a total of one hundred men. The early part of its service was 
in the defenses of Washington, and afterward chiefly with the army of 
the Potomac. 

The battles in which the regiment participated were these: Hall's 
Hill, Va., August 27, 1861 ; Gen. Pope's campaign, August 16— Sep- 
tember 2, 1S62: Rappahannock River, August 21; Sulphur Springs, 
August 26; Near Gainesville, August 28; Grovetown, August 29; 
Bull Run, August 30 ; Fairfax C. H., August 31 ; Near Fairfax C. H., 
September 4 ; South Mountain, Md., September 14; Antietam, Sep- 
tember 17; Fredericksbiirgh, Va., December 11- 15. 

Seventy-Fighth Regiment. — In the service this regiment was variously 
known as the " Seventy-eighth Highlanders," " Cameron Highlanders," 
and also " First Regiment, Eagle Brigade." It was organized in New 
York city April 26, 1862, by the consolidation of the men enlisted by 
Col. Samuel K. McElliott for the Lochiel Cameron Highlanders, the 
original 78tii regiment, and of those enlisted by Gen. G. A. Scroggs 
for his, or part of the, 4th Regiment, Eagle Brigade, with the men en- 
listed by Col. Daniel Ullman f(jr the 1st Regiment, Eagle Brigade, with 
25 



194 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the latter as colonel. It was mustered into service for three years be- 
tween October i, 1861, and April 12, 1862. Co F of the 78th was 
recruited in Bath. Its service began at Washington in May, 1862, and 
was afterward with the army of Virginia and the army of the Cumber- 
land. The total losses of the regiment amounted to 133 men. 

The 78th took part in the following engagements : Charlestown, Va., 
May 28, 1862; Harper's Ferry, May 28-30; Cedar Mountain, August 
9; Pope's Campaign, August i6-September 2 : Sulphur Springs, Au- 
gust 23-24 ; Centerville, September i ; Antietam, September 17 ; Near 
Hillsboro, October 6 ; Near Ripen, November 9 ; Hillsboro, December 
I ; Chancellorsville, May 1-3, 1863; Gettysburg, July 1-3; Wau- 
hatchie, October 28-29 ; Chattanooga and Rossville campaign, Tenn., 
November 23-27 ; Lookout Mountain, November 24 ; Missionary Ridge, 
November 25 ; Ringgold Gap, November 27 ; Atlanta campaign. May 
3-July 12, 1864; Mill Creek Gap, May 9 ; Resaca.May 14-15; Dallas, 
May 25-June 4; Kenesaw Mountain, June 9-July 2; Pine Mountain, 
June 14-15; Golgotha, June 16-17; Gulp's Farm, June 22; The As- 
sault, June 27. 

Eighty Sixth Regiment. (Steuben Rangers). — In many respects this 
was one of the most notable commands raised in this part of the State, 
and the fact that during its service at the front its losses aggregated 325 
men indicates that it was one of the hardest fighting regiments sent out 
by the State. Its history is best recalled by the accompanying list of 
battles, hence needs no detail in this place. 

The Eighty-Sixth infantry (Veteran), Col. B. P. Bailey, was orga- 
nized at Elmira, November 23, 1861, and was there mustered into ser- 
vice for three years November 20-23 On the 2ist of June, 1864, a 
portion of the 70th N. Y. Vols., was transferred to this regiment. The 
companies comprising the 86th were recruited as follows : A at Syra- 
cuse ; B at Addison ; C at Corning ; D at Hornellsville ; E at Elmira; 
F at Lindley; G at Canisteo ; H at Troupsburg ; I in Steuben county 
generally, and K at VVoodhull. 

The field and staff officers were as follows : Colonel, Benajah P. Bai- 
ley, Corning; Lieutenant- Colonel, Barna J. Chapin, Dansville; Major, 
Seymour G. Rhinevault,Woodhull; Adjutant,Charles W.Gillet, Addison; 
Quartermaster, Byron Spence, Starkey, Yates county ; Surgeon, John 



THE CIVIL WAR. 195 

F. Jamison, Hornellsville ; Assistant Surgeon, Farand Wylie, Bath; 
Chaplain, Jonathan Watts, Corning; Sergeant Major, Henry \V. Fuller, 
Corning; Quartermaster Sergeant, Samuel Leavitt, Elmira ; Commis- 
sary sergeant, George P. Baker, Corning; Hospital Steward, William 
Sayer. Band: Horatio G. K. Anderson, leader ; John J. Brown, Reuben 
E. Stetson, George E. Gray, Mortimer W. Rose, Isaac L. Kress, Walter 
W. Slingerland, John M. Tenny, James A. Wilkey, George Bridgeden, 
William G. Wright, Estcs T. Sturtevant, George J. Benjamin, Rankin 
B. Rose. 

The company officers were as follows : Co. A. Captain, Benjamin L. 
Higgins; First Lieutenant, William H. Gault ; Second Lieutenant, 
Prentice Holmes, and eighty-three non-commissioned officers and pri- 
vates. Co. B. Captain, William B. Angle ; I'^irst Lieutenant, Charles 
W. Gillett, promoted Adjutant by order of Col. Bailey ; Second Lieu- 
tenant, Hiram J. Blanchard, and ninetj-five non-commissioned officers 
and privates. Co. C, Captain, Jacob H. Lansing ; F'irst Lieutenant, 
Leonard Scott; Second Lietenant, Joseph H.Tull, and ninety-tuo non- 
commissioned officers and privates. Co. U, Captain, Daniel S. Ells- 
worth ; First Lieutenant, Arthur S. Baker; Second Lieutenant, Lemi 
H. Crary, and eighty-nine non-commissioned officers and privates. Co. 
E, Captain, Thomas F". Shoemaker ; First Lieutenant, John G. Copley ; 
Second Lieutenant, George A. Packer, and ninety- five non-commissioned 
officers and privates. Co. F, Captain, Henry G. Harrower; First Lieu- 
tenant, Samuel M. Morgan ; Second Lieutenant, Michael B. Stafford, 
and ninety-one non-commissioned officers and privates. Co. G, Cap- 
tain, James Bennett ; First Lieutenant. Nathan S. Baker ; Second Lieu- 
tenant, John Fulton, and eighty-four non-commissioned officers and 
privates. Co. H, Captain, William Ten Broeck ; First Lieutenant, Will- 
iam G. Raymond ; Second Lieutenant, James Carpenter, jr., and ninet)'- 
five non-commissioned officers and privates. Co. I, Captain, Amos W. 
Sherwood; First Lieutenant, Jackson A. Woodward; Second Lieuten- 
ant, Foster P. Wood, and eighty non-commissioned officers and privates. 
Co. K, Captain, Seymour G. Rhinevault, promoted major, November 
22, 1861 ; First Lieutenant, Charles H. Wombaugh, promoted captain 
November 22, 1861 ; Second Lieutenant, John N. Warner, and ninety- 
six non-commissioned officers and privates. 



196 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The Eighty-sixth left Elniira November 23, 1861, and proceeded to 
Washington, thence was attached to Casey's division, second brigade, 
army of the Potomac. In January, 1862, the regiment formed a part 
of Smith's division, third brigade, but in February was re-attached to 
Casey's command. The early part of the year 1862 was uneventful, 
but about the middle of August the 86th took part in Gen. Pope's Vir- 
ginia campaign, from which time on until final muster-out on June 27, 
Il)65, it was almost constantly engaged, and a reference to the appended 
list of engagements will disclose the fact that the regiment participated 
in some of the most severe battles of the war, and at times suffered 
serious losses. During its service the 86th lost by death, killed in action, 
six ofificers and ninety- two enlisted men ; of wounds received in action, 
seven ofificers and sixty- two enlisted men ; of disease and other causes, 
two ofificers and one hundred and fifty- one enlisted men; total, fifteen 
ofificers and three hundred and ten enlisted men. Of these seventeen 
died in the hands of the enemy. 

The battles and engagements in which the regiment took part were 
as follows : Gen. Pope's campaign, Va., Aug. i6-Sept. 2, 1862; Bull 
Run, Aug. 30: Manassas Gap, Oct. 18, and Nov. 5-6; Fredericksburg, 
Dec. 11-15: Chancellorsville, May 1-3, 1863; Brandy Station, June 
9; Gettysburg, July 1-3; Wapping Heights, July 23; Auburn, Oct. 
13; Kelley's Ford, Nov. 7 ; Mine Run campaign, Nov. 26-Dec. 2; 
Locust Grove, Nov. 27 ; Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864; Spottsylvania 
C. H., May 8-21 ; Po River, May 9-10; Laurel Hill, May 10; Salient, 
May 12 ; North Anna, May 22-26; Tolopotomy, May 27-31 ; Cold 
Harbor, June 12; Before Petersburg, June 15 and April 2, 1865 ; As- 
sault on Petersburg, June 15-19, 1864 ; Weldon Railroad, June 21-23 ! 
Deep Bottom, July 27-29; Strawberry Plains, Aug. 14-18; Poplar 
Spr. Ch. Oct. 2; Boydton Plank road, Oct. 27-28 ; Hicksford Raid, 
Dec 6-1 1 ; Hatcher's Run, Feb. 5-7, 1865; Petersburg Works, Mar. 
25 ; Appomattox campaign, Mar. 28-Apr. 9; White Oak Ridge, Mar, 
29-31 ; Fall of Petersburg, Apr. 2 ; Deatonsville Road, Apr. 6 ; Farm- 
ville, Apr. 7; Appomattox C. H., Apr. 9. 

One Hundredth Regiment (Veteran). — The Steuben county contin- 
gent of recruits in this regiment was exceedingly small, comprising a 
few men from Greenwood who were members of B company. Between 



THE CIVIL WAR. l'J7 

September, 1861, and Januarj-, 1862, the regiment was mustered into 
service for three years, and at the front was known as " Second Regi- 
ment, Eagle Brigade," and also as "Third Buffalo Regiment." Its ser- 
vice began with the siege at Yorktown, in April and May, 1862, and 
closed with surrender at Appomattox, April 9, 1865. During the ser- 
vice this regiment lost 397 men. 

One Hundred and Second Regiment (Veteran). — The town of Avoca 
furnished a " corporal's guard " for D company in this command. The 
regiment was familiarly known as the " Van Buren Light Infantry," 
under Col. Thomas Van Buren. It was a consolidated regiment, or- 
ganized January 27, 1862, and mustered in for three years. Its service 
was severe although the losses were not heavy. The regiment served 
in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia and North and South Caro- 
lina. Aggregate losses, 156 men. 

One Hundred and Fourth Regiment (Veteran). — Co. E of this regi- 
ment was raised in Groveland, Cohocton and Burns. The command 
was otherwise known as the " Wadsworth Guards," and also the " Liv- 
ingston County Regiment." The men were mustered into service be- 
tween September, 1861, and March, 1S62. Service at the front began 
with Cedar Mountain, August 9. 1862, and from that time to the mus- 
ter out, July 17, 1865, was arduous and at times severe. The total 
losses to the regiment, from all causes, was 237 men. 

One Hundred and Seventh Regiment (Campbell Guards) — On the 
1st of July, 1862, President Lincoln issued a call for 300,000 volunteers, 
and about the same time, in carr3ing out the wishes of the executive. 
Secretary Stanton requested Congressmen Pomero)', of Cayuga, Diven, 
of Chemung, and Van Valkenburg, of Steuben, to repair to their homes 
and recruit a regiment. Mr. Van Valkenburg was authorized as colonel 
on July 18, and on the 13th of August, following, the One Hundred 
and Seventh was mustered into service for three years, being the first 
regiment organized in this State under the call mentioned, for which it 
was honored by the State in being made the recipient of a handsome 
banner. The regiment was raised in the counties of Chemung, Schuyler 
and Steuben, A, B, C, D and E at Palmira ; F at Addison, Cameron 
and Campbell; G at Elmira, Bath and Hammondsport ; H at Havana 
and F,lmira; I at Corning, Wayland and West Union; and K at Hor- 



198 • LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

nellsville, Howard, Elmira and Canisteo. About two- fifths of the 
entire regiment came from towns of Steuben county, from which fact it 
is proper that we here furnish the names of its commissioned officers, 
viz.: 

Field and Staff. — Colonel, Robert B. Van Valkenburg ; lieut. -colonel, 
Alexander S. Diven ; major, Gabriel L. Smith ; adjutant, Hull Fanton ; 
quartermaster, E. P. Graves; Q. M. sergt., L. B. Chidsay ; chaplain, 
Ezra F. Crane ; surgeon, Patrick H. Flood ; asst. surgeon, James D. 
Hewitt ; sergt. major, John R. Lindsay ; com. sergt., Henry Inscho ; 
hospital steward, John M. Ford. 

Officers Co. F. — Captain, James H. Miles ; first lieut., J. Milton Roe ; 
second lieut., John F. Knox. Co. G : Captain, John J. Lamon ; first 
lieut., G. H. Brigham ; second lieut., Ezra Gleason. Co. I : Captain, 
Newton T. Colby ; first lieut., Benjamin C. Wilson ; second lieut., Na- 
thaniel E. Rutler. Co. K : Captain, Allen M. Sill; first lieut, John M. 
Goodrich ; second lieut., Alonzo B. Howard. 

The regiment left the State August 13, 1862, and served in Whipple's 
division, defenses of Washington, from August; thence in 3d brigade, 
1st division, 12th corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 12, 
1862; in the 2d brigade from August, 1863 ; in the same brigade and 
division, 20th corps. Army of the Cumberland, from April. 1864; and 
it was honorably discharged and mustered out under Col. Nirom M. 
Crane, June 5, 1865, near Washington, D. C. 

During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, two 
officers and fifty men ; of wounds received in action, two officers and 
thirty-six men ; from disease and other causes, 131 men; an aggregate 
of 221, of whom five enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy. 

The One Hundred and Seventh took part in the following engage- 
ments, and suffered losses as indicated. Antietam, September 17, 1862, 
loss 63 ; Chancellorsville, May 1-3, 1863, loss 83 ; Gettysburg, July 2- 
4, loss 2 ; Jones Cross Roads, July 11-12; near Williamsport, Md., 
July 14; Atlanta Campaign, May 3-September 2, 1864; Resaca, May 
14-15, loss 7 ; near Cassville, May 19-20; Dallas, May 25-June 4, loss 
165 ; Kenesaw Mt., June 9-July 2 ; Golgotha, June 16-17 ! Nozes 
Creek, June 19—20; Gulp's Farm, June 22, (loss in last five battles, 10); 
Peach Tree Creek, July 20, loss 19; Atlanta, July 21-August 26, loss 



THE CIVIL WAR. 199 

9 ; Sherman's Savannah campaign. November 1 5-December 2 i ; March 
to the Sea, November i 5-December 10; Montieth Swamp, December 
9; Savannah, December 10-20; Izzard's Mill, December 19 (loss in 
the campaign, 59) ; Campaign of the Carolinas, January 26-April 26, 
loss I ; Rockingham, N. C, March 8, loss i ; Fayetteville, March 15, 
loss 2; Averysboro, March 16, loss 46; Bcntonville, March 19-20; 
Raleigh, April 23 ; Bennett Mouse, Va., April 26. 

One Hundred and Forty- first Regiment — This was another of the 
important commands for which this county furnished a considerable 
contingent of troops, and was raised under the same urgent necessities 
which called for the 107th. It was recruited under authority granted to 
Col. Samuel G. Hathaway, August 14, 1862, in the then twenty-seventh 
senatorial district of the State It was organized at Elmira, and there, 
on September 11, 1862, was mustered into service. The Steuben 
county contribution was scattered through several companies, about as 
follows: A portion of Co. B was from Hornby; D was raised at Corn- 
ing ; E at Bath, Corning, Erwin, Thurston, Avoca, Campbell and 
Wheeler ; F at Hornellsville, Fremont and Dansville ; G at Rathbone, 
Addison, Tuscarora, WoodhuU and Elmira ; H at Canisteo, Howard, 
Greenwood, West Union and Bath. Among the field and staff officers 
were several from Steuben county, wherefore the personnel of that de- 
partment is appropriate, as follows : Colonel, Samuel G. Hathaway, jr. ; 
lieut.-col., James C, Beecher ; major, John W. Dininny ; adjutant, 
Robert M. McDowell ; surgeon, Joseph W. Robinson ; asst. surgeons, 
O. S. Greenman and M. T. Babcock. 

Officers Co. B. — Captain, Andrew D. Compton ; first lieut., Stephen 
F. Griffith ; second lieut , Robert F. Hedges. Co. D : Captain, Charles 
A. Fuller ; first lieut, William Merrill ; second lieut., Joseph Townsend. 
Co. E : Captain, William K. Logic ; first lieut., John A, Shultz ; second 
lieut., E. J. Belding. Co. F: Captain, Andrew J. Russell; first lieut., 
John Barton ; second lieut., William L. Collins. Co. G : Captain, Dan- 
iel N. Aldrich ; first lieut., John W. Hammond ; second lieut., John H. 
Rowley. Co. H : Captain, William A. Bronson ; first lieut., Stephen S. 
Roscoe ; second lieut., James W. Smith. 

The regiment left the State September 15, 1862, and served at Laurel 
Hill, and in the defenses of Washington until December. Its active 



200 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

duty began at the siege of Suffolk, Va , and was afterward continued in 
Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carohnas until final muster out on June 8, 
1865. During the period of its services, the regiment lost six officers 
and 243 enlisted men, the most disastrous battles being Resaca, Dallas, 
Golgotha and Peach T'-ee Creek. 

The official list of battles of the 141st were as follows: Siege of Suf- 
folk, Va., April i6-May 4, 1863; Diascund Bridge, June 16; Crump's 
Cross Road.s, July 2 ; Wauhatchie, Tenn., October 28-29; Chattanoo- 
ga and Rossville Campaign, November 23-27 ; Missionary Ridge, No- 
vember 25 ; London, December 5 ; Atlanta Campaign, May 3-Septem- 
ber 2, 1864; Resaca, May 14-15; Dallas, May 25-June 4; Ackworth, 
Junes; Kenesaw Mt., June 9-July 2 ; Golgotha, June 16-17; Nose's 
Creek, June 19-20 ; Gulp's Farm, June 22 ; Peach Tree Creek, July 20 ; 
Atlanta, July 21-August 26 ; Sherman's Savannah Campaign, Novem- 
ber 15-December 21 ; March to the Sea, November 15-December 10 ; 
Monteith Swamp, December 9; Savannah, December 10-21; Cam- 
paign of the Carolinas, January 27-April 26, 1865 ; Chesterfield, March 
3; Averysboro, March 16; Bentonville, March 19-20, Aiken's Creek, 
April 10; Smithfield, April lo-ii ; Raleigh, April 13 ; Bennett House, 
April 26. 

One Hundred and Sixty first Regiment. — Notwithstanding the fact 
that previous to September, 1862, the patriotism and loyalty of Steuben 
county had been fully tested in raising troops for the service, it was 
destined to be still further taxed for the same cause. Tiie 107th and 
141st were only recently organized and sent to the front when, on Sep- 
tember 6th, Col. Gabriel P. Harrower was authorized to recruit another 
regiment in the Twenty-seventh Senatorial District. So promptly in- 
deed did the recruiting officers apply themselves to their duty that on 
the 27th of October, the i6ist was mustered into service for three 
years, although the command did not leave the State until December 4, 
following. 

In this regiment we find a strong contingent from Steuben county. 
Co. A was recruited at Urbana, Pulteney, Prattsburg and Wheeler ; D 
was recruited at Bath ; a small portion of E at Hornellsville ; F at 
Bath and Howard ; G in part at Corning ; H at WoodhuU, Jasper, 
Greenwood and Troupsburg ; I at Cohocton and Avoca, In organiz 



THE CiriL WAR. 201 

ing the regiment a number of field and staff officers were taken from 
this county, the personnel being as follows: 

Colonel, Gabriel T. Harrower ; lieutenant-colonel, Marvin D. Stil- 
wcll ; major, Charles Straun ; adjutant, William B. Kinsey ; quarter- 
master, Marcus E. Brown ; surgeon, Lewis Darling ; assistant surgeons, 
Joseph iS. Dolson and Charles M. Pierce ; chaplain, Thomas J. O. 
Wooden. 

The officers of the companies recruited chiefly in this county were as 
follows: Co A, captain. B. V. Van Tuyl ; first lieutenant, John Gibson; 
second lieutenant, S. S. Fairchild. Co. D, captain, George E. Biles ; 
first lieutenant, James M. Cadmus; second lieutenant, T. Scott De 
Wolf. Co. F, captain, John Slocum ; first lieutenant, John F. Little ; 
second lieutenant, James Faucett. Co. G, captain, Edmund Fitz 
Patrick; first lieuteuant, John P. Worthing. Co. H, captain, Willis E. 
Craig ; first lieutenant. Nelson P. Weldrick ; second lieutenant, George 
B. Herrick. Co. I, captain, Samuel A, Walling; first lieutenant, Myron 
Powers ; second lieutenant, Edwin A. Draper. 

As we have stated, the l6ist left the State in December, 1862, and 
first served in Grover's division. Gulf department, being transferred 
thence to Augur's division, 19th Corps. In the extreme South, active 
service began at Clinton Plank Road, La , in March, 1863, and from 
that time until final muster out at Tallahassee, Fla., November 12, 1865, 
was one of the fighting commands of the division. The most severe 
losses were these:. Siege of Port Hudson, 17; Bayou la Fourche, 
53 ; Sabine Pass, 30; Sabine Cross Roads, 87. The total lo.sses of the 
i6ist were 306 men. 

List of engagements: Clinton Plank Road, La., March 15, 1863; 
Plain Store, May 21 ; Siege of Port Hudson, May 23-June 17 ; Bayou 
la Fourche, July 13; Sabine Pass, September 8; Vermilion liayou, 
October 9 and November 1 1 ; Carrion Crow Bayou, October 1 1 ; Red 
River Campaign, March lO-May 22, 1864; Sabine Cross Roads, April 
8; Pleasant Hill, April 9; Cane River Crossing, April 23; Mansura, 
May 16; Spanish Fort, Ala., March 27-30, 1865 ; Fort Blakely, April 
3-9; Mobile, April 10. 

One Hundred and Seventy fifth Regiment (5th Regiment, Corcoran 
Brigade). — To this command the town of Hornby contributed a few 
26 



202 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

recruits, members of Cos. D and E. The local contingent was very 
small, hardly sufficient to warrant more than a mere mention in this 
chapter. 

One Hundred and Seventy ninth Regiment. — This command was 
organized at Elmira, and its companies were mustered into service be- 
tween April and September, 1864. The Steuben county contribution 
to the regiment comprised less than one hundred men, recruited in 
Hornellsville, Cohocton, Bradford and Dansville, and scattered through 
Cos. C, F and H. The service of the 179th was confined wholly to 
Virginia, with the Army of the Potomac, and generally with the 9th 
Corps. However, during its brief service, from June, 1864, to April, 
1865, the regiment lost 191 men, twenty-five of whom died in the 
hands of the enemy. 

One Hundred and Eighty eighth Regiment. — This command was 
recruited with headquarters at Rochester, under authority given to 
Colonel Chamberlain, succeeded by Col. John E. McMahon, on Septem- 
ber 20, 1864. So far as it related to this county the regiment had no 
special prominence, yet a number of towns furnished recruits, notably 
Corning, Hornby and Tuscarora, the men being in Co. F. The iS8tli 
left the State October 13, 1864, and served in the 2d Brigade, first 
division, 5th Corps, losing an aggregate of ninety men. 

One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Regiment. — On September 26, 
1864, Col. William A. Olmstead, succeeded by Col. William W. Hayt, 
received authority to recruit this regiment, and in its composition we 
find a fair contingent of Steuben county volunteers. Co. A was re- 
cruited at Bath ; C at Wheeler, Bath, Avoca, Kanona and Urbana ; G 
at Cohocton, Avoca and Wayland ; H at Bath. 

Among the regimental officers were two from this county, viz., Col. 
William W. Hayt, of Corning, and Quartermaster J. L. Brown, of 
Corning. In the same manner we may note the officers of local com- 
panies: Co. A, captain, John Stocum ; first lieutenant, B. N. Bennett; 
second lieutenant, John W. Brown. Co. C, captain, Burrage Rice ; 
first lieutenant, Dwight Warner; second lieutenant, Mortimer W. Reed. 
Co. G, captain, William Washburn ; first lieutenant, Edwin A. Draper. 
Co. H, captain, Nathan Crosby ; first lieutenant, Hiram F. Schofield ; 
second lieutenant, L. G. Rutheford. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 203 

Cos. D, E, G and K left the State September i8, and the others 
October 23, 1864. The regiment served in the 2d Brigade, 1st division, 
5th Corps, and, commanded by Allen L. Burr, was honorably dis- 
charged and mustered out June i, 1865, near Washington, D. C. Dur- 
ing its service the 189th lost a total of eighty officers and men. It took 
part in the following engagements : Before Petersburg, Va., November 
I, 1864, and April 2, 1865; Hicksford Raid, December 11, 1864; 
Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865 ; Appomattox campaign, March 
25-April 9; White Oak Ridge, March 29-31 ; Five Forks, April i ; 
Fall of Petersburg, April 2 ; Appomattox C. H., April 9. 

Sixth Regiment of Cavalry (" Ira Harris Cavalry," " Second Ira 
Harris Guards"). — This regiment was organized under special authority 
from the war department as the Ira Harris Guard, at New York city, 
and was, after having been turned over to the State, November 20, 
1861, designated the Sixth Regiment of Cavalry, N. Y. Vols. In Co. 
C of the 6th were men from Cohocton, Hornellsville and Dansville ; in 
Co G men from Hornellsville, an aggregate of about forty men. 

Twenty-second Regiment of Cavalry ("Rochester Cavalry"). — In this 
regiment, which was raised largely in Monroe and counties east of it 
along the Central Railroad, were a few recruits from Steuben county, 
members of Co. G, and recruited in Bath, Urbana and Prattsburg. 
The local contingent, however, did not include more than about thirty 
men 

Second Regiment of Mounted Rifles (" Governor's Guards"). — This 
regiment was originally intended as an infantry command, but the 
order for its organization was modified and constituted a cavalry regi- 
ment. The local contribution was very light, comprising a few men 
from Prattsburg, who were members of Co. M. 

First Veteran Cavalry. — This regiment was organized at Geneva 
during the summer of 1863. Co. D contained a few recruits from 
Prattsburg, and L a few from Hornellsville. 

Second Veteran Cavalry (" Empire Light Cavalry "). — On June 23, 
1863, Colonel Chrysler was authorized to reorganize the 30th Infantry, 
then recently discharged, as a regiment of cavalry, to be called the 
Empire Light Cavalry. On July 20 it was changed to " 2d Regt., Vet. 
Cav." The regiment was raised almost wholly in the eastern part of 



204 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the State, yet the towns of Addison and Bath furnished a few recruits 
for Co. G. 

First Regiment of Artillery (Light, Veteran). — Battery E, captain, 
John Stocum, principally recruited at Bath, Avon and Mitchellville, was 
mustered in the U. S. service September 13, 1861, at Elmira. It 
served in the 4th, 5th and 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac, until final 
muster out June 17, 1865. Battery K, Captain Lorenzo Crouse, had a 
few recruits from Jasper, and also served chiefly with the Army of the 
Potomac. It was mustered out June 20, 1865, at Elmira. 

Fourth Ref^iment of Artillery (Heavy ; Veteran). Hornellsville and 
Canisteo furnished men for Co. C of this command. This regiment also 
served with the army of the Potomac. 

In addition to the several regiments already specially mentioned 
Steuben county furnished still other volunteers, though the representa- 
tioli in each was quite small. Among the commands to be noted in 
this connection was the Tenth Heavy Artillery, in which was a small 
contribution from the county ; also Thirteenth Heavy Artillery for 
which Greenwood furnished a few recruits, also the F"ourteenth Heavy 
Artillery, in which Bath was represented; also the Twenty- eighth Inde- 
pendent Battery of Light Artillery, in which were men from Avoca, 
Campbell, Cohocton, Howard, Wayland and Urbana. In the Fifteenth 
Regiment of Engineers (Veteran), though better known as the " New 
York Sappers and Miners," were a few recruits credited to Dansville 
and Lindley. In the Fiftieth Regiment of Engineers (Veteran), other- 
wise variously known as " Stewart's Engineers ; " " Independent Engi- 
neers," and also " Sappers, Miners and Pontoniers," the Steuben locali- 
ties from which came recruits were Addison, Bath, Painted Post, Savona 
and Hornellsville. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 205 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE BEXCII AND BAR. 

In the early history of tlie colony of New York the governor was in 
effect the maker, interpreter and enforcer of the laws. He was the chief 
judge of the court of final resort, while his councillors were generally 
his obedient followers. The e.xecution of the English and colonial 
statutes rested with him, as did also the exercise of royal authorit_\- in 
the province ; and it was not until the adoption of the first constitution, 
in 1777, that he ceased to contend for these prerogatives and to act as 
though the only functions of the court were to do his bidding as servants 
anti helpers, while the Legislature should adopt only such laws as the 
executive should suggest and approve. By the first constitution the 
governor was entirely stripped of the judicial power whicli he possessed 
under the colonial rule, and that power was vested in the lieutenant- 
governor and Senate, also in the chancellor and justices of the Supreme 
Court; the former to be elected by the people, and the latter to be ap- 
pointed by the council This was the first radical separation of the 
judicial and legislative powers, and the advancement of the judiciary to 
the position of a co ordinate department of government, subject only 
to the limitations consequent upon the appointment of its members by 
the council. The restriction, however, was soon felt to be improper, 
though it was not until the adoption of the constitution of 1S46 that 
the last connection between the purel\- political and judicial parts of the 
State government was abolished, and with it disappeared the last re- 
maining relic of the colonial period, h'rom this time the judiciary be- 
came more directly representative of the people. The development of 
the idea of responsibility of the courts to the people, from the time 
when all its members were at the beck and nod of an irresponsible 
master, to the time when all judges (even of the court of last resort) 
are voted for directly by the people, has been indeed remarkable. 



206 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Let us look briefly at the present arrangement and powers of the 
courts of the State, and then at the elements from which they have 
grown. The whole scheme embraces the idea of first a determination 
of tiie facts and the law by a trial court, then a review by a higher 
tribunal of the facts and law, and ultimately of the law by a court 
of last resort. To accomplish the purposes of this scheme there has 
been devised and established, first, the present Court of Appeals, the 
ultimate tribunal of the State, perfected in its present form by the 
convention of 1867 and 1868, and taking the place of the old court for 
the trial of impeachments and correction of errors. The Court of Ap- 
peals as first organized under the constitution of 1846 was composed of 
eight judges, four of whom were elected by the people, and the remain- 
der chosen from the justices of the Supreme Court having the shortest 
time to serve. As reorganized in 1869, and now existing, the court 
consists of a chief judge and six associate judges, who hold office for the 
term of fourteen years. 

This court is continually in session at the capitol in Albany, except 
as it takes a recess on its own motion. It has full power to re\'iew the 
decisions of the inferior courts when properly before it. Five judges 
constitute a quorum, and four must concur to render judgment. If four 
do not agree, the case must be reargued ; but not more than two rehear- 
ings can be had, and if then four judges do not agree the judgment of 
the court below stands affirmed. The Legislature has provided how 
and when decisions of inferior tribunals may be reviewed, and may in 
its discretion alter and amend the same. Under the revised constitution 
of 1894, the Legislature is authorized to further restrict the jurisdiction 
of this court, and the right of appeal thereto. By the same revision it 
has been specially pro\'ided that from and after the 31st day of Decem- 
ber, 1895, the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals, except when the 
judgment is of death, shall be limited to questions of law, and no unani- 
mous decision of the appellate division of the Supreme Court, unless in 
certain specified cases, shall be reviewable in the Court of Appeals. 

Upon the reorganization of this court in 1869, its work was far in 
arrears, and the law commonly known as the "judiciary act" provided 
for a Commission of Appeals to aid the Court of Appeals; and still 
later there was organized a second division of the Court of Appeals to 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 207 

assist in the disposition of business of the general court. The h'mita- 
tions and restrictions placed upon appeals to this court by the consti- 
tution of 1894 and are in part designed to relieve it from future similar 
embarrassments. 

Second in rank and jurisdiction to the Court of Appeals stands the 
Supreme Court, which is niatie up of many and widely different ele- 
ments. It was created b\- the act of representative assembly in 1691, 
was to be establisiied in the city of New York, and was composed of a 
chief justice and four assistant justices to be appointed by the governc r, 
and was empowered to try all issues, civil and criminal, or mixed, to 
the same extent as the English courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, 
and Exchequer (except in the exorcise of equity powers), and should 
have power to establisii rules and ordinances and to regulate practice of 
the court. It haii juri>diction in actions involving one hundred dollars 
and over, and to revise and correct the decisions of the inferior courts. 
An appeal lay from it to the governor and council. The judges made 
an annual circuit of the State, under a commission issued by the governor, 
and giving them iiisi prius, oyer and terminer and jail delivery powers. 
By act of 1691 the Court of Oyer and Terminer was abolished, but in 
conformity to the courts of Westminster, its name was retained to desig- 
nate the criminal term of the Supreme Court. At first the judges of 
the Supreme Court were appointed by the governor and held office 
during his pleasure. Under the first constitution the court was reorgan- 
ized, the judges being then named by the council of appointment, and 
all proceedings were directed to be entitled in the name of the people. 

By the constitution of 1821 many and important changes were made 
in the character and methods of the court. The judges were reduced 
to three and appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate, 
to hold office during good behavior, or until sixty years of age. They 
were removable by the Legislature on the vote of two-thirds of the 
Assembly and a majority of the Senate. Four times a year the full 
court sat in review of their decisions on questions of law. By the con- 
stitution of 1846 the Supreme Court was abolished, and a new court, of 
the same name and having general jurisdiction in law and equity, was 
established in its place. Its members were composed of thirty-three jus- 
tices, to be elected by the people By the judiciary act of 1847 general 



208 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

terms were to be held at least once in each year in counties having more 
than 40,000 inhabitants, and in other counties once in two years ; and at 
least two special terms and two circuits were to be held yearly in each 
county except Hamilton. By this act the court was authorized to name 
the times and places of holding its terms, and those of the Oyer and Termi- 
ner, the latter being a part of the Circuit Court and held by the justice, 
county judge and two justices of sessions. Since 1882 the Oyer and 
Terminer has consisted of a single justice of the Supreme Court. How- 
ever, under the sweeping changes made by the constitution of 1894, 
Circuit Courts and Courts of Oyer and Terminer are abolished from 
and after the last day of December, 1895, and all their jurisdiction shall 
thereafter be vested in the Supreme Court. Provision is also therein 
made for an appellate division of this court, to cousist of seven justices 
in the first, and five in each of the other three judicial departments into 
which the State is divided. The appellate division is invested with the 
jurisdiction previously exercised by the Supreme Court at general term, 
and the general terms of the New York County Common Pleas, the 
Superior Courts of the cities of New York, Brooklyn and Bufifalo, and 
such other jurisdiction as the Legislature may confer. From the justices 
of the Supreme Court the governor shall designate those who shall con- 
stitute the appellate division, and also the presiding justice thereof, the 
latter to act during his term of office, the others for the term of five 
years. In this court four members shall constitute a quorum, and three 
must concur to render judgment. Legislative enactment in 1895 desig- 
nated the city of Rochester as the place in which the appellate division 
shall sit in the fourth department of the State (which includes Steuben 
county), the other department capitals being New York, Brooklyn and 
Albany. 

The judiciary article of the constitution of 1846 was amended in 1869, 
the Legislature being authorized to provide (not more often than once 
in five years) for the organization of general terms consisting of a pre- 
siding justice and not more than three associates, but by the laws of 
1870 the then organization of the general terms was abrogated, and the 
State was divided into four departments, and provision made for hold- 
ing general terms in each. By the same act the governor was directed 
to designate from the justices of the Supreme Court a presiding justice 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 209 

and two associates to constitute a general term in each department. 
Under the authority of the constitutional amendment adopted in 1882, 
the Legislature, in 1S83. divided the State into five judicial depart- 
ments, and provided for the election of tvi^elve additional justices to hold 
office from the first Monday in June, 1884. The constitution of 1894 
provided for the election of twelve more justices of the Supreme Court, 
three to reside in the first, three in the second, and one in each of the 
other six judicial districts of the State. 

The Court of Chancery of the State of New York was an heirloom of 
the colonial period, and had its origin in the Court of Assizes, the latter 
being vested with equity powers under the duke's laws. The court was 
established on February 16, 1683, and went out of existence by limita- 
tion in 1698 ; was revised by ordinance in 1701, suspended in 1703, and 
re-established in 1704. Previous to that time matters in equity were 
heard in any of the courts organized in conformity to the duke's laws. 
At first this court was unpopular in the province, the assembly and col- 
onists opposing it with the argument that the crown had no authority 
to establish an equity court in the colony. 

Their reasons were that quit-rents upon the sale of lands belonged to 
the crown as a prerogative ; that through the neglect of the governors 
these rents had been allowed to fall in arrears, and the Court of Chan- 
cery was resorted to for their collection. Furthermore, the governors, 
almost without exception, were adventurers, or men of impaired for- 
tunes, who accepted these appointments with the hope of enriching 
themselves The methods they pursued in making their office profit- 
able consisted of granting patents of lands and receiving from the 
grantee a gratuity (or bribe) in proportion to the value of the land 
granted — a palpable fraud upon the rights of the crown. As a result 
the grantees were fearful that proceedings might be instituted in the 
Court of Chancery by the attorney general to revoke the grants. And 
thus the Court of Chancery was a menace to the security of the land 
owners, and incurred their bitter opposition. 

Under the Constitution of 1777, the Chancery Court was reorganized, 
and by the reorganization of 1778 masters and examiners were desig- 
nated by the council of appointment, while registrars and clerks were 
appointed by the chancellor ; and the latter licensed all solicitors and 



210 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

counsellors of the court. Appeals lay from the Chancery Court to the 
Court for the Correction of Errors. 

Under the constitution of 1821 the chancellor was appointed bj' the 
governor, and held office during good behavior, or until sixty years of 
age. Under the second constitution equity powers were vested in the 
circuit judges, and their decisions were reviewable on appeal to the 
chancellor. The equity character, however, was soon taken from the 
circuit judges and vested in the chancellor alone, and the judges after- 
ward acted as vice-chancellors in their respective circuits. The Consti- 
tution of 1846 abolished the Court of Chancery, and its powers and 
duties were vested in the Supreme Court. 

]^y an act of the Legislature passed in 1848, and entitled the "Code 
of Procedure," all distinction between actions at law and suits in equity 
was abolished, so far as the manner of beginning and conducting the 
same were concerned, and one uniform method of practice in all actions 
was adopted. In June, 1877, the Legislature enacted the " Code of 
Civil Proceedure," to -take the place of the code of 1848, and by this 
many minor changes in the practice of the court were made. 

These are, in brief, the changes through which the Supreme Court has 
passed in i's growth from the prerogative of an irresponsible governor 
to one of the most independent and enlightened instrumentalities for 
the protection and attainment of rights of citizens of which any State 
or nation, ancient or modern, can rightfully boast. So well is this fact 
understood by the people that by far the greater amount of business 
which might be done in inferior courts at less expense is actually taken 
to this court for settlement. 

Next in rank to the Supreme Court is the County Court, held in and 
for each county in the State, at such times and places as its judges may 
direct. This court had its origin in the English Court of Sessions, and, 
like it, had, at one time, only criminal jurisdiction. In 1765 Andros 
granted a charter. The ma)'or with four aldermen was authorized to sit 
as a Court of Sessions. He did not, however, organize a separate crim- 
inal tribunal, but continued as before to discharge criminal and munici- 
pal business at the regular sittings of the court. By an act called an act 
to "settle courts of justice," which was passed in 1683, a Court of 
Sessions, having power to try both civil and criminal causes by jury. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. '^'11 

the former witliout limitation as to amount, was directed to be held by 
three justices of the peace in each of the counties of the province twice 
a year, with an additional term in Albany and two in New York. In 
the city of New York it was held by a mayor and four aldermen. By 
the act of 1691 and the decree of 1699, all civil jurisdiction was taken 
from this court and conferred on the Common Pleas. By the radical 
changes made by the constitution of 1846, provision was made for a 
County Court in each county of the State except New York, to be held 
by an officer designated the " county judge," and to have such jurisdic- 
tion as the Legisluture should prescribe. Under the authority of this 
constitution County Courts have been given jurisdiction in various 
classes of actions, and have also been invested with certain equity 
powers in the foreclosure of mortgages, the sale of infants' real estate, 
and also to partition lands, admeasure dower and care for the persons 
and estates of lunatics and habitual drunkards. The judiciary act of 
1869 continued the existing jurisdiction in all actions in which the de- 
fendant lived within the count)- and the damages claimed did not exceed 
$1,000. The constitution of 1894 likewise continues the court and 
increases its power in extending the amount of damages claimable 
to $2,000. 

Like the Supreme Court, the County Court has its civil and criminal 
sides. In criminal matters the county judge is assisted by two justices 
of sessions, elected by the people from among the justices of the peace 
of the county. It is in the criminal branch of this court, known as the 
"Sessions," that minor criminal offenses are disposed of, and all indict- 
ments, except (or murder or some very serious felony, are sent to it for 
trial from the 0>er and Terminer. The constitution of 1894 abolishes 
Courts of Sessions, except in New York county, after the 31st of De 
cember, 1895, and its powers and jurisdiction are thereafter to be vested 
in the County Court. By the codes of 1848 and 1877 the procedure 
and practice in this court are made to conform as nearly as possible to 
the practice of the .Supreme Court. This was done with the evident 
design to attract litigation into these minor courts and thus relieve the 
Supreme Court. In this purpose, however, there has been a failure, as 
litigants much prefer the shield and broader powers of the higher courts. 
Under the code county judges perform some of the duties of a justice 



212 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of the Supreme Court at Chambers. The County Court has appellate 
jurisdiction over actions arising in Justices Courts and Courts of Special 
Sessions. Appeals lie from the County Court direct to the General 
Term. 

The old court of Common Pleas of the State of New York, the oldest 
tribunal of the State, which survived the changes of two constitutional 
revisions, was another heirloom of the colonial period, and was estab- 
lished originally under the charters of 1686, for the counties of New 
York and Albany, and was made general to the State by the act of 
1691. Under the first constitution the number of judges was various, 
there being as many as twelve in some counties, but the act of 1818 
limited the judges to five in each county, including the first judge. The 
constitution of 1 82 1 continued the court, and its judges were appointed 
by the governor and Senate and held office for the term of five years. 
This court, except in the county of New York, was abolished by the 
constitution of 1846. 

Surrogates' Courts, one of which exists in each county of the State, 
are now courts of record, having a seal, and their especial jurisdiction is 
the settlement and care of estates of infants and of deceased persons. 
The derivation of the powers and the practice of these courts is from 
the Ecclesiastical Court of England, also in part through the colonial 
council which existed during the rule of the Dutch, and exercised its 
authority in accordance with the Dutch Roman law, the custom of Am- 
sterdam, and the law of Aasdom, the Court of Burgomasters and Schep- 
pens, the Orphan Masters, the Mayor's, the Prerogative, and the Court 
of Probate. The settlement of estates and the guardianship of orphans 
was transferred to the Burgomasters in 1653, ^"'^ soon after to the 
Orphan Masters. Under the colony the Prerogative Court controlled 
all matters relating to the probate of wills and settlement of estates, but 
in 1692, by act of the Legislature, all probates and granting of letters of 
administration were to be under the hand of the governor or his dele- 
gate, and two freeholders were to be appointed in each town to care for 
the estates of persons dying inestate. Under the duke's laws this duty 
had been performed by the constables, overseers and justices of each 
town. In 1778 the governor was divested of all of this power, except 
the appointment of surrogate, and it was conferred upon the judges of 
the Court of Probate. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 213 

Under the first constitution surrogates were appointed by the council of 
appointment, and under the second by the governer with the approval 
of the Senate. The constitution of 1 846 abolished the office of surrogate 
in all counties having less than 40,000 population, and conferred its 
powers and duties on the county judge. By the code of civil procedure, 
surrogates were invested with all the necessary powers to carry out the 
equitable and incidental requirements of tiieir office. In its present 
form, and sitting weekly, this court affords a cheap and expeditious 
medium for the care and settlement of estates and the guardianship of 
infants. 

The only remaining courts which are common to the whole State are 
the Special Sessions, held by justices of the peace for the trial of minor 
criminal offenses, and justices' courts with a limited civil jurisdiction. 
Previous to the constitution of 182 1 (modified in 1828), justices of the 
peace were appointed, but since that time they have been elected. The 
office and its duties are descended from the English office of the same 
name, but are much less important, and under the laws of this State it 
is purely the creature of the statute. 

This brief survey of the courts of New York, which omits only those 
that are local in character, gives the reader some idea of the machinery 
provided for the use of the members of the bench and bar. 

The organization of the courts in Steuben county vvas accomplished 
with little ceremony and still less difficulty. The county itself was 
erected by act of the Legislature, passed March 8, 1796, and on the 21st 
day of June following, the first court of Common Pleas vvas held at 
Bath. The officers of the county at that time were William Kersey, 
first judge, and Abraham Bradley and Eleazer Lindsley, assistant.s; 
Stephen Ross, surrogate; George D. Cooper, clerk; William Dunn, 
sheriff. In the same year in which the county was organized the court- 
house and jail were erected. On the 19th of July, 1859, an act of the 
Legislature divided Steuben county into two jury districts, the northern 
and southern, and the court house for the latter was erected at Corning, 
during the years 1853-54. Still further, for the convenience of the in- 
habitants generally of the west part of the county, an earnest efibrt was 
made to establish a third jury district with court buildings at the city of 
Hornellsville ; and while the act passed both houses of the Legislature it 



214 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

failed to become a law in not receiving the executive approval. This 
was manifest injustice to the people in this section, as a fair proportion 
of the business of the county, whether legal, commercial or industrial, 
is transacted in the locality of which Hornellsville is the center; and 
the final result will undoubtedly be the erection of a new county from 
Steuben and Allegany with the seat of justice at the city mentioned. 

However, it is hardly within the province of this chapter to refer at 
any length to the several count)' buildings in which courts ha\e been 
held, as that subject is more fully treated in another part of this work ; 
but it is our present purpose to mention the names of those persons who 
have been connected with the courts and the administration of law in 
the county from its earliest history to the present time. 

The bar of Steuben county has ever been noted for its strength. On 
the bench and at the bar of the courts have been men of the highest pro- 
fessional character and of great moral worth. Of the leading legal minds 
of this State Steuben has furnished a liberal proportion, many of whom 
have attained distinction and some have become eminent. They have 
been characterized by strict integrity as well as rare ability — qualities 
which have made for them a high place, not only in the courts, but also 
in the legislative halls both of the State and Nation. 

In this chapter the writer aims to avoid personal allusion to or com- 
ment on the abilities and characteristics of the lawjers of the county, 
pleading as an excuse the entire lack of space and the utter impossi- 
bility to do full justice to a subject so unlimited. It is fact well known 
that this county has produced some of the ablest lawyers of the State, 
but to separate the few from their fellows equally worthy of notice, per- 
haps, and eulogize them to the neglect of the many would lead to com- 
plications and consequent dissatisfaction. However, it is proper that 
we make same passing allusion to two members of the old bar who at- 
tained positions upon the Supreme Court Bench. We refer to Thomas 
A. Johnson and David Rumsey 

Thomas A. Johnson was a native of Massachusetts, born at Blanford, 
May 15, 1804, but during his childhood, his parents settled in Broome 
county, N. Y. Young Johnson was educated in the common schools, 
after whicii he read law with Judge Monell at Greene, Chenango county. 
After admission to practice, Mr. Johnson located at the hamlet j'ears 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 215 

ago called Centreville, near Coining, but some years later moved to the 
suburb of the city known as Knoxville, where he ever afterward resided. 
Early in his professional career our subject developed an active interest 
in public affairs, and this naturally drew him somewhat into politics, 
tiiough never to the serious neglect of his practice. He loved the pro- 
ftssion and was devoted to it, hence was an able and successful lawyer, 
but in connection with his practice he engaged in several mercantile and 
and manufacturing enterprises. In 1847 '^^''- Johnson was elected justice 
of the Supreme Court in tlie Seventh Judicial district, and was twice re- 
elected, holding this oflice, which he honored with his ability and graced 
with his quiet, native dignity. Judge Johnson was appointed to a posi- 
tion on the Court of Appeals bench in 1847, and again in 1856 and 
1864. He was appointed to the General Term bench in December, 
1870. Judge Johnson died December 5, 1872. 

David Rumsey was born in Salem, Wasliington county, December 
25, 1810, and was the son of David Rumsey, the latter a settler in Bath 
in 1 8 16. In the county seat David, jr., acquired his early education, 
and also studied law in the office of Henry Wells, a prominent Bath 
lawyer. Mr, Rumsey was admitted to practice in 1832, and soon after- 
ward formed a law partnership with William Woods, which continued 
until the death of the latter in 1837. Five years later he became part- 
ner with Robert B. Van Valkenburg. In 1846 Mr. Rumsey was elected 
to Congress, and was re elected in 1848. In January, 1873, he was 
appointed by Governor Dix justice of the Supreme Court, and was 
elected to the same ofifice in the following fall. He contiuued to per- 
form the duties of that office until 1880, when he was disqualified by 
age, and was succeeded by his son, William Rumsey, who now occu- 
that high position. Of Judge Rumsey a cotemporary has said : "With 
a thorough knowledge of law David Rumsey possessed the rare faculty 
of grasping the thoughts of jurors and leading them along by plain 
methods of logic and reasoning to the conclusion he desired." 

Besides Judge Johnson and David Rumsey, Steuben county has 
furnished two other incumbents of the office of justice of the Supreme 
Court. William Rumsey, of Bath, and George B. Bradley, of Corning, 
both of whom are now on the bench and with years, perhaps, of useful- 
ness before them. 



216 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Judge Rumsey was elected justice of the Supreme Court, November 
2, 1880. He was a native of Bath, and extensively known throughout 
Central and Western New York, Previous to his election to the bench 
Judge Rumsey was an active attorney of the county seat, well known 
in local political circles, though in no sense a seeker after political pre- 
ferment. On May 6, 1887, he was appointed by the governor one of 
the commissioners to examine the bill entitled "An act to establish a 
Code of Evidence," an appointment purely honorary, yet nevertheless 
gratifying because of the confidence expressed in the designation. 

George B. Bradley, who for more thon forty years has been an active 
factor in professional and public life, and who now retires from the bench 
by reason of the age limitation, was born in Greene, Chenango county, 
February 5, 1825. His young life was spent on a farm, and his ele- 
mentary education was acquired in the district schools and also in 
Ithaca Academy. In 1845 he began reading law with Judge Monell, 
of Greene, but finished with James Crombie, of Fulton, Oswego county, 
He was admitted to practice in 1848, and in the same year located at 
Addison, remaining a single year, thence practicing four years in 
Woodhull, but locating permanently at Corning in 1852. Judge Brad- 
ley's life and public career are made the subject of special mention 
elsewhere in this work, and here we may only say that he was elected 
to the Supreme bench, November 6, 1883, and is now a member of the 
General Term. 

In another chapter of this work the reader will find a complete suc- 
cession of the incumbents of the offices of justice of the Supreme 
Court, county judge, surrogate, sheriffs, district attorney and county 
clerk, all of whom were officers of the court during the term of their 
service. They are proper subjects of mention in this chapter, but being 
noted in the civil list need not be repeated here. 

Record and tradition alike have it that George D. Cooper was the 
pioneer lawyer of this county, having settled in Bath in 1895. He was 
the first county clerk. The first term of the Common Pleas was held 
on June 21, 1796, and it is said these lawyers were in attendance : 
Nathaniel \V. Howell, of Canandaigua ; Vincent Matthews, a lawyer of 
much fame in Western New York, and an afterward resident of Bath ; 
William Stuart, who appeared in the capacity of deputy attorney- 




> 




THE BENCH AND BAR. 217 

general, to perform the duties of tlie office we now call district attorney. 
There were also present lawyers William R. Ver Planck, David Jones, 
Peter Masterson, Thomas Morris, Stephen Ross and David Powers. 

This mention recalls the old bar of the county, in connection with 
which we ma}' mention some of the prominent early practitioners in 
the courts, although, for reasons already given, this mention must 
necessarily be brief. 

Samuel S. Haight was an early lawyer at Rath, having an extensive 
practice, and taking an active part in public affairs William Howe 
Cuyler, came to Rath from Albany, and is remembered as a scholarly 
and dignified lawyer, fashionable in attire and fascinating in manners. 
He was killed in service during the war of 1812. Gen. Daniel Cruger, 
also of Rath, was a leading lawyer and an influential politician. He, 
too, was in the war of 18 12, and served with honor as major of in- 
fantry. In 1 8 16 he was elected to Congress, but in 1833 he moved to 
Virginia, where he died in 1843. William R. Rochester presided at the 
trial of Robert Douglass (charged with murder, convicted and hanged), 
and was an able exponent of the law. He practiced for a time as part- 
ner with William Woods. He was elected to Congress in 1822, and in 
1823 was appointed Circuit judge for the eighth district. Judge Roch- 
ester met a tragic death, being drowned while on a voyage to F"lorida. 
Ziba A. Leland was a graduate of Williams College, and a lawyer of 
much force and ability. He came to Rath in 1822, and in 1838 suc- 
ceeded Judge Edwards on the Common Pleas bench He died in 
Saratoga county about 1873. I'-dward Howell came to Rath from 
Delaware county in the early part of the year I 81 I, and later read law 
with General Cruger. He was one of the factors in local political 
afifairs, and, as a lawyer, "stood for many years at the head of his pro- 
fession in this part of the State." In 18 18 he was appointed county 
clerk, followed by an appointment as postmaster at Rath. In 1829 he 
was appointed district attorney; was member of assembly in 1832, and 
member of congress in 1833-35. Mr. Howell died in 1871. 

Schuyler Strong came to Rath from Orange county, and was partner 
with William Woods, and still later with Mr. Howell. He was the lead- 
ing lawyer for the defense at the famous Douglass murder trial, being 
then associated with Mr. Howell and Judge Leland, William Woods 

2S 



218 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

was one of the early distinguished lawyers of the county seat ; a native 
of Washington county, and a graduate from the office of Judge Samuel 
Nelson. Mr. Woods was a successful and popular lawyer, and was 
honored with important political offices ; was in the State Legislature 
in 1823 and 1828; member of Congress from 1823 to 1825; surrogate 
from 1827 to 1835. Mr. Woods died in 1837, ^t the age of thirty- 
seven years. 

David McMaster, one of the best known and popular lawyers and 
judges of his time, and for many years recognized authority on all 
questions of local history, was a native of Otsego county, born in 1804, 
and was graduated from Hamilton College in 1824. He began the 
practice of law in Bath with Henry M. Rogers, in 1827, and continued 
actively until 1847. Other partners were Judge Leland and L. H. 
Read. Mr. McMaster was the first count}' judge and surrogate elected 
under the Constitution of 1846, and was re-elected in 1856. Judge 
McMaster died May 6, 1888. Henry Welles was one of the oldest 
members of the old bar, and was also a patriot of the war of 181 2, he 
raising a company and serving with credit on the New York frontier. 
He was born on October 17, 1794, and came to Bath previous to his 
enlistment. He read law with Vincent Matthews, and after being ad- 
mitted to practice continued actively in professional life for many years. 
In 1824 he was appointed district attorney, and as such prosecuted 
Douglass. In 1829 he resigned the position, and after about ten years 
moved to Penn Yan. He was elected one of the justices of the Supreme 
Court for the seventh district under the constitution of 1847. 

Vincent Matthews, whom we have incidentally mentioned, was a 
native of Orange county, born June 29, 1766. He was the friend and 
associate of Col. Robert Troup, and afterward became intimate witii 
some of the leading men of the State. Mr. Matthews became a lawyer 
in 1790, and in 1793 moved to Elmira, and at once became a promi- 
nent figure in professional and political life, holding a number of impor- 
tant offices. His residence in Bath began in 18 16 and continued until 
1 82 1, when he moved to Rochester, and continued his brilliant career. 
He died in 1846. 

Among the other early lawyers of the county seat were Dominick 
Theophilus Blake, a well educated young Irishman, full of native humor. 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 219 

in many respects the wag of the bar, on account of his rich brogue, yet 
a good lawyer. He remained here only a sliort ime. Cuthbert Harri- 
son was another of the pioneer lawyers, well educated and possessed of 
good sense, and withal, as General McClurc said, " a good natured, 
clever fellow." 

Henry W. Rogers came to Bath about 1827, and for a time taught 
school, but afterward read law with Henry Welles. Later on he prac- 
ticed as partner with David McMaster, and afterward with Joseph G. 
Masten. This latter firm moved to Buffalo about 1836. George C. 
Edwards came to the local bar in 1818, andin 1825 was appointed 
Coninion Pleas judge, holding that office until his death in 1837. He 
was author of the well known work, " A Treatise on the Powers and 
Duties of Justices of the Peace " 

Robert Campbell, jr , son of pioneer Robert Campbell, was born in 
1808, and received his early education at Hobart College. He read 
law with Cruger & Howell, and was admitted to practice in 1S29. 
Among his law partners in later years were General Cruger, Samuel H. 
Hammond and Guy H. McMaster. Mr. Campbell is remembered as 
an earnest and conscientious lawyer, a man of education, and a polished 
gentleman. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1S46, 
and was elected lieutenant-governor in 1858; and re elected in i860. 
He became Regent of the University by appointment February 2, 1846. 

Samuel H. Hammond, for a time the law partner of Mr. Campbell, 
practiced in Bath from 1836 to 1842. He was a son of Lazarus Ham- 
mond, founder of the village of Hammondsport. Mr. Hammond was 
admitted to practice in 1831. hi 1843 he moved to Albany, but re- 
turned to Bath in 1857 and became partner with A. P. P'erris. In 1859 
he was elected to the State Senate. In 1864 he moved to Watertown, 
and died there in 1878. L. H. Read, who practiced in Bath for several 
years, was a native of Pleasant Valley, and studied law with Edward 
and William Howell. In 1839 he was partner with Judge McMaster. 
In 1850 he was appointed chief justice of Utah, where he served upon 
the bench, then resigned and returned to Bath, where he soon after- 
ward died. William Howell, brother of Edward Howell, practiced law 
in Bath more than fifty years, and is remembered as a man of culture 
and refinement, and a successful lawyer. Joseph G. Masten was the 



220 Landmarks of steuben county. 

son in-law of Dugald Cameron, and a lawyer of prominence. He came 
to Bath about 1832, and for a time was partner with Mr. Rogers. He 
went to Buffalo about 1836, and died there in 1872. Washington 
Barnes was also a pioneer at Painted Post, whose election to the county 
judgeship brought him to Bath in i860. After his term expired he 
practiced in partnership with Mr. McCall. Alfred P Ferris was edu- 
cated in the old Franklin Academy at Prattsburg, and studied law with 
Judge Leland and S. H. Hammond. He was admitted to the bar in 
1843, ^^^ practiced at Bath until the time of his death in 1888. Mr. 
Ferris was district attorney from 1847 to 1851. 

Guy H. McMaster was born in Bath in 1829, and, like his father, 
David McMaster, always felt a deep interest in local annals, being 
author of two standard works, entitled respectively, " Old Continentals," 
and " Pioneer History of Steuben County." Mr. McMaster was liber- 
ally educated, and was a graduate of Hamilton College, with the class 
of '47. He became a member of the local bar in 1852. In 1863 he 
was elected county judge and surrogate, and was re-elected in 1867 and 
1877. In 1883 he was elected surrogate, that office being then separate 
from the county judgeship. He died September 13, 1887. 

William B. Ruggles was born in Bath in 1827, and graduated from 
Hamilton College in 1 849. He was for many years one of the strongest 
lawyers in the county. He was elected to the assembly in 1876 and 
'^7, and in the latter year was appointed deputy attorney-general. On 
March 14, 1883, Mr. Ruggles was appointed state superintendent of 
public instruction, and also was appointed deputy superintendent of 
insurance. 

William E. Bonham read law with Washington Barnes, and for many 
years was a member of the county bar. In 1864 and '65 he was in the 
Legislature. Perry S. Donahe came from Avoca to Bath in the early 
forties. He read law with A. P. Ferris, and after being admitted to 
practice, was a member of the local bar until his death in 1879 He 
held the office of town clerk and county treasurer. 

Robert B. Van Valkenburg, born in 182 1, was for many years a 
prominent lawyer, a valued and respected citizen, and also a brave 
officer in military service during the war of 1861-65. He read law with 
David Rumsey, and was admitted to practice in 1841, and he afterward 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 221 

married Mr. Rumsey's sister. He was prominently associated with 
nearly every public enterprise in the county ; was also a leading poli- 
tician, and was in Congress in 1861 and '62. He raised and commanded 
the 107th N. Y. Vols., but resigned his commission on account of the 
serious and fatal sickness of his wife. In 1867 our subject was appointed 
minister to Japan, and in 1872 was appointed justice of the Supreme 
Court in Florida, in which State he died in 1887. 

Vincent Matthews Coryell was admitted to practice in 1822, and was 
for a short time partner witli Judge Welles. However, Mr. Coryell 
abandoned the profession for the clergy. Anson Gibbs practiced in 
Bath in 1821-22. John Cook was another member of the old bar, at 
the county seat, and was district attorney in 1821. William E Bonham, 
a native of Erwin, read law with Washington Barnes at Bath and be- 
came his law partner later on. He also practiced in Hornellsville, and 
was in the Legislature in 1864-65. 

In mentioning the various members of the old bar of Steuben county, 
one other name is suggested as specially worthy of notice, although still 
in professfonal work to the extent at least of gratifying his own inclina- 
tion and the frequent importunities of former clients Ansel J. McCall, 
of whom a suitable biography appears elsewhere in this work, was a 
native of Erwin, born January 14, 18 16. He prepared for college at 
Prattsburg, entered Union, and was graduated in 1838. He read hiw 
vvith David McMaster and also with Hammond & Campbell, and, after 
admission in 1842, became law partner with Washington Barnes; sub- 
sequently with A. P. P'erris. In 1843 l^'- McCall was appointed sur- 
rogate, and held office until 1847. Notwithstanding Mr. McCall's asso- 
ciation with the old bar of the county, and he remembers nearly all of 
its members, the writer feels more disposed to mention him as one of 
the present rather than the old bar. 

Referring briefly to some of the members of the old bar in towns out- 
side of the county seat, mention may be made of Charles H. Thomson, 
who came to Corning in 1850 and read law in the office of George J. 
Spencer. He was admitted in 1883, and became partner to his instruc- 
tor. Mr. Thomson was a good lawyer and an active Republican ; was 
postmaster from 1861 to 1872 ; for many years chairman of the Repub- 
lican county convention, also member of the State committee. 



222 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

George T. Spencer became a member of the county bar, and took up 
his residence in Corning in 1841. He was in the Legislature in 1857; 
was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1867, and county 
judge from 1872 to 1877. Other early members of the bar and in prac- 
tice in Corning were William Irvine, who came in 1849. ^"<^ who was 
elected to Congress in 1858. He was colonel of a cavalry regiment 
during the late war, and was made adjutant-general in 1865. Joseph 
Herron was an active lawyer at Corning from 1847 ^o 1856, and was 
district attorney two years, begining in 1854. John Maynard came to 
Corning about 1850, and practiced until his death in 1865. He was 
elected district attorney in 1856. Henry G. Cotton began his law prac- 
tice at Centerville but soon moved to the village, when he became part- 
ner with Thomas A. Johnson. Later on he moved to Illinois. John 
P. Shapley succeeded to Judge Johnson's practice when the latter was 
elected to the Supreme bench in 1847. Mr. Shapley died about 1850. 
Henry Sherwood lived and practiced law in Corning from i860 to 1870. 
He was in the Legislature in 1862. He died in 1875. Alvin F. Payne 
was partner to Mr. Sherwood, and practiced in Corning from 1863 to 
1868, when he moved to New York. Charles H. Berry came to Corn- 
ing and began law practice about 1850, but five yeais later went to 
Minnesota. C. N. Waterman, who eventually became judge of the Su- 
preme Court of Minnesota, practiced in Corning from 185 i to 1853, 
being partner with Mr. Berry. Isaac C. Herridon became a member of 
the Corning bar about 1855 ; George N Middlebrook came about 1850; 
Azariah Longuell in 1864; George R. Graves in i860. Other practic- 
ing attorne)'S of the same place, though of later date, were Jacob H. 
Wolcott, William K. Logie, A. Hadden, E. B. Ross, John W. Brown and 
C. D. Baker, none of whose names now appears on the court calender. 

Andrew G. Chatfield was one of the first lawyers at Addison ; was 
member of assembly four terms, 1839, '40, '41, and '46, and was elected 
district attorney in 1845. F. E R. Cornell was also a former lawyer at 
the same village, and, like Mr. Chatfield, afterward removed to Minne- 
sota, where both became prominent. Ferral C. Dininny, John W. 
Dininny, and James Durkin are also to be mentioned among the pioneer 
lawyers of Addison. 

In Hornellsville one of the earliest and most prominent members 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 223 

of the legal profession was William M. Hawley, a native of Delaware 
count}', born February 13, 1802. Mr. Hawley acquired his legal edu- 
cation in the office of George Miles, of Allegany county, and in 1837 
came to Hornellsville to practice law. He is remembered as a strong, 
conscientious, and perfectly candid lawyer; a formidable legal oppo- 
nent yet never boastful of his \'ictories. In January, 1846, Mr. Hawley 
was appointed first judge of Steuben county, but was succeeded by 
David McMaster in 1847. I" '^'^^ f^" of th'" year Judge Hawley was 
elected to the State Senate from this county, and served one year in 
that capacity. Returning to Hornellsville our subject resumed practice 
and continued till about the time of his death, February 9, 1869. 

John K. Hale was for more than twenty years the leader of the Hor- 
nellsville bar, and was, moreover, one of the pioneers of his profession 
in the western part of the county. Mr. Hale was a native of Maine, a 
typical down-easter, it is said, and was keen, bright, straightforward and 
reliable. Coming to this county, he located first at Addison, and from 
there came to Hornellsville in 1836. He was State Senator in 1856-57, 
but soon after his term expired he moved west. 

Thomas J. Re}nolds came to Hornellsville in i 819, and if his legal 
practice began at that time, he was tlic undoubted pioneer of the pro- 
fession in the town. Later on he was partner with Mr. Hale, and after- 
wards with R. L. Brundage. Mr. Reynolds is remembeied as a natural 
rather than an educated lawyer, yet bright, interesting and a worthy foe 
in legal contest. With his legal practice Mr. Reynolds engaged in lum- 
bering and succeeded in accumulating a competency. 

R. L. Brundage became a member of the Hornellsville bar in 1S46. 
He was born in New Jersey and came with his parents to Bath in 1824, 
thence moved to Greenwood in 1830. Mr. Brundage read law with 
John K. Hale, at Hornellsville, and was admitted to practice in 1846 
In 1852 he was elected district attorney, and after the expiration of his 
term was employed by the Erie Railroad Company. 

John Baldwin was another of the early lawyers of Hornellsville. He 
read law and entered the legal profession in Livingston county, and 
came to Hornellsville in 1835. At one time he was partner with Will- 
iam M. Hawley, but an untimely death cut short a career of usefulness 
and undoubted honor in the profession. Mr. Baldwin died in 1843. 



224 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Harlo Hakes, senior member of the bar in Hornellsville, was a na- 
tive of Delaware county, born September 23, 1823. His elementary 
and legal education was acquired principally in Delaware county, yet 
he finished his law studies with Judge Harris, of Albany, and also in the 
Alban)' Law School. He was admitted to practice in 1853, and in the 
same year came to Hornellsville, where he has since resided. Among his 
political holdings, the first of note was a term in the Assembly in 1856 ; 
district attorney one term, beginning January i, 1863; appointment in 
1867 as registrar in bankruptcy for the 29th congressional district; 
elected county judge in 1883, and again in 1889, but retired in 1893 by 
reason of the age limitation. However, Judge Hakes still continues in 
active practice. 

Horace Bemis was for many years one of the most popular lawyers 
of Hornellsville, and who, outside of professional life, was an active figure 
in both State and county politics Mr. Bemis was a native of Vermont 
and acquired his legal education in that State. He was admitted to 
practice in New York State in 185 i, and in that year came to Hornells- 
ville. Politically, Horace Bemis was a strong Republican, and as such 
represented the third Steuben district in the Assembly in 1863 and 
1865. In 1868 he was presidential elector for this congressional dis 
trict on the Republican ticket. 

James H. Stevens, who for several years was the law partner of Judge 
Hakes, was born in Dansville in 1821, and was admitted to the bar in 
1852, after a thorough general and legal education. He came to Hor- 
nellsville in 1853. 

Among the other practicing attorneys of Hornellsville, who are 
worthy of mention as formerly members of the county bar. w ere Will- 
iam E. Bonham, of the old firm of Bonham, Near & Piatt, and who 
represented the third Steuben district in the Assembly in 1864 and '65 ; 
and who also practiced for a time in Bath. There was also Daniel L. 
Benton, who was district attorney from 1881 to 1884. There was also 
Rodney Dennis, strong, bright, capable and honest, and who served one 
term of county school commissioner, beginning in 1865 His untimely 
death ended a useful and interesting career. Henry N. Piatt is also to 
be mentioned in the same connection, though he does not appear to 
have figured much outside of professional life. 



•:^ 





f^M 



/7^^A^.^^c/^ 



Publi4h.n| X < 



THE BENCH AND BAR. 225 

The Present Bar. — In both personal character and professional ability 
the bench and bar of Steuben county always held distinction, and did 
our space permit the subject would be entitled to more extended notice.. 
Under such limitation, however, our record will only include personal 
mention of the members of the i)resent bar of the county ; in which de- 
termination we are supported by the profession in general, and its 
younger representatives in particular, who have yet to make their life 
records, and who fell that extended mention belongs more appropriately 
to the close of labor than to its beginning. 

In Steuben county there is a great variety of business interests, and 
hence there is a fair prospect of success on the part of any energetic 
lawyer; and while the legal business ordinarily centers at the county 
seat, in Steuben the seat of justice happens to be located in a compara- 
tively small municipality, which offers less inducement to a hwyer than 
either Corning or Hornellsville, while, from a business point of view, 
Addison, Canisteo, Wayland and Hammondsport are rivals of Bath. 

The lawyers of the county seat at the present time are M. Rumsey 
Miller, Charles L. Kingsley, James R. Kingsley, C. F. Kingsley, John F. 
Little, Reuben R. L>on, Robert M. Lyon, Ansel J. McCall, James 
McCall, L D. Miller. Humphrey McMaster, VV. H. Nichols, J. F. Park- 
hurst, R. E. Robie, Thomas Shannon, Clarence Willis, Lucius Waldo, 
P'rancis B. Wood. In Addison the attorneys are H. D. Baldwin, D. M. 
Darwin and H. W. Sanford. The Adrian attorney is J. D. Millard. 
At Atlanta are counsellors Isaac N. Baker and F. B. Beecher. In Avoca 
are Earle W. Bozard and A. M. Spooner. In Bradford the resident 
lawyer is Albert J. Wright. Emmet B. Rose practices at Campbell. 
Canisteo has five attorneys, A. H. Burrell, A. M. Hunell, A. W. Burrell, 
F. H. Robinson (county judge), and Eli Soule. The attorneys of Co- 
hocton are Samuel J. Depew and C. W. Stanton. 

Lawyers of Corning. — Daniel F. Brown, Warren J. Cheney, Edwin C. 
English, A. S. Kendall, Wm. F. McNamara, Ellsworth D. Mills, Egbert 
Shoemaker, George T. Spencer, Wm. J. Tully, I'Vancis A. Williams, 
Leslie W. Wellington, P'rancis C. Williams. 

In Greenwood Silas Kellogg is the only practicing lawyer, while 
Hammondsport has three, Walter Drew, James G. Sebring and Monroe 
Wheeler. 
29 



226 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Hornellsville. — Milo R'l. Acker, Hiram A. Baker, Charles E. Beard, 
Wesley Brown, Shirley E. Brown, Wm. C. Bingham, Wm. S. Charles, 
Lewis H. Clark, Chas. J. Clark, James H. Clancy, Charles Conderman, 
Chas. A Dolson, J. B. Finch, John M. Finch, Adelbert Ferry, John Griffin, 
Harlo Hakes, Homer Holliday, Miles W. Hawley, Frank Kelley, W. S. 
Newman, Irvin VV. Near, George N. Orcutt,Warren W. Oxx, De Merville 
Page, Murray E. Page, James A. Parsons, Fay P. Rathbun, James H. 
Stevens, jr., C. W. Stevens, J. E. B. Santee, J. F. Wetmore, Elbert M. 
Worth. 

W. A. Dawson is in practice at Kanona; J. S. Tobias at Painted Post ; 
James Flaherty and J. K. Smith at Prattsburg ; E. T. Hollis and P. 
Masten at VVoodhuU, and C. C. Bill, VV. W. Clark and Henry V. Pratt at 
Wayland. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE PRESS. 



It is surprising, when searching our libraries, to discover how little 
has been written of the "Art preservative of all Arts," and the educator 
of all educators. While printing has been the chronicler of all arts, profes- 
sions and learning, it has recorded so little of its own history as to leave 
even the story of its first invention and application wrapped in mystery 
and doubt ; and we only know that from the old " Ratnage press," which 
Faust and Franklin used, capable of producing only a hundred impres- 
sions per hour, we have now the ponderous machine which turns out 
one thousand printed papers per minute. 

In glancing over the pages of history we discover the gradual devel- 
opment in the arts and sciences; we notice they go hand in hand — one 
discovery points to another, one improvement in the arts leads to 
others continually, and the results of the last few centuries show that 
observations of no apparent use led to the most important discoveries 
and developments. The falling of an apple led Newton to unfold the 
theory of gravitation and its relation to the solar system ; the discovery 



THE PRESS. 227 

of tlie polarity of the loadstone led to the construction of the^^^mariner's 
compass; the observation of the muscular contraction of a frog led to 
the numerous applications of galvanic electricity ; the observation of 
the expansive force of steam led to the construction and application of 
the steam engine; the observation of the influence of light on the 
chloride of silver led to the art of photography ; the observation of the 
communication of sound by the connected rails of a railroad led to the 
invention of the telephone; the impressions cut in the smooth bark of 
the beech tree led to the art of printing — the art which transmits to 
posterity a record to all that is \aluable to the world. 

Thus is progress discernible in every successive generation of man. 
Gradually has he advanced from a state of barbarism and ignorance to 
a degree of perfection which gives him almost absolute dominion over 
all elements, and in the pride of glorious and enlightened manhood he 
can exclaim with Cowper : 

I am monarch of all I survey, 
My right there is none to dispute; 
From the center all 'round to the sea 
I am lord of the fowl and tlie brute. 

The printing office has well been called the " Poor Boy's College," 
and has proven a better school to many; has graduated more intellect 
and turned it into useful, practical channels, awakened more active, de- 
voted thought, than almost any alma mater. Many a dunce has passed 
through the universities with no tangible proof of fitness otiicr than his 
insensible piece of parchment, called the "sheepskin." There is some- 
thing in the very atmosphere of the printing office calculated to awaken 
the mind to activity' and inspire a thirst for knowledge. Franklin, Stan- 
hope, Beranger, Thiers, Greeley, Taylor, and a host of other names 
illustrious in the world of letters and science, have been gems in the 
diadem of typography, and owe their success to the influence of a print- 
ing office. 

The newspaper has become one of the chief indexes of the intelli- 
gence, civilization and progress of the community in which it is pub- 
lished, and its files are the footprints of the advancement and refinement 
of the period of its publication ; and the printing office is now deemed 
as essential as the school house or church. In a great measure it has 



228 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

taken the place of the rostrum and tlie professor's chair, and become 
the great teacher. No party, organization, enterprise or calling is now 
considered perfect with its " organ " — the newspaper. 

The history of the press in Steuben county dates back to the year 
1796, the same in which the count}' itself was created and organized. 
Charles Williamson furnished the idea and the means by which the 
Rath Gazette and Genesee Advertiser first proclaimed the attractions of 
the region to the outside world, and William Kersey and James Edie 
managed the editorial and mechanical departments of the publication. 
However, this paper continued publication only about four years, and 
passed out of existence about the time Captain Williamson closed his 
relations with the Tuheney associates. 

The second newspaper of the county seat was the Steuben and Alle- 
gany Patriot, the first number of which appeared in December, 1S16, 
under the control of Capt. Benjamin Smead. " The Patriot," says Mr. 
Richardson,' " remained in the Smead family up to April 4, 1S49, when 
it passed into the hands of William C. Rhodes, who continued its pub- 
lication as the Steuben Farmers' Advocate. " The office and plant were 
burned January 30, 1857. Mr. Rhodes sold the good will of the paper 
to P. S. Donahe, who, on May 31, 1857, resumed publication, Ansel J. 
McCall filling the editorial chair. However, in the summer of i860, 
A. L. Underhill became owner of the Advocate, and the office and 
paper were subjected to radical changes, resulting in a greatly improved 
condition. This paper is still owned and published by members of the 
Underhill family, although on the i6th of September, 1895, it passed 
into the management of a corporate company, with a capital of $10,000. 
The Advocate is one of the truest exponents of Democratic principles 
in Steuben county, and is, as well, one of its strongest papers. 

In September. 1S19, the Western Republican made its first appear- 
ance in Hath, under the editorial control of Erastus Shepard. In No- 
vember, 1822, the name was changed to Steuben Republican, but after 
a struggling existence of less than three years (February, 1822) publi- 
cation was discontinued. 

' The writer ackn.\viia>;t!. iicccss to the compilations of George \V. Richardson, of Bath, in 
preparing the history of the local press. Mr. Richardson is regarded as undoubted authority on 
the subject, and has corrocteil nmny errors made bv earlier historian.s. 



THE PRESS. 229 

Tlie next venture in the journalistic field was the Steuben Whig, a 
campaign paper published in 1828, by William M. Swaine, who after- 
ward published the Pliiladelphia Ledger. In the same year David 
Rumsey issued the first number of the Steuben Messenger, but in 1830 
sold out to S. M. Eddy, and the latter, in turn, disposed of the paper 
to W. 1'. Angel. He changed the name to Constitutionalist, and con- 
tinued it until 1834. when Charles Adams became proprietor. In 1 84 1 
Adams sold to R. L. Underbill, but still later owners or persons inter- 
ested were M. F. Whittemore & Co., R. H. Van Valkenburgh, and George 
B. Richardson and John Dowe, the latter in 1843, ''""^ ^Y whom the 
name was changed to Steuben Democrat. In 1844 publication was 
suspended, but the paper was revived in 1848 by L. J. 15rush, who, in 
1849, sold to George H. Hidwell, am! lie continued it till 1852. Next 
came the Primitive Christian, a religious paper, edited by Rev. Jabez 
Chadwick and printed by Richardson & Dowe, and issued monthly. 
The Rose, a literary month!)', also made its appearance in 1844 J. C. 
Vincent, editor, and Richardson & Dowe, printers. Mr. Vincent en- 
listed as a soldier in the Mexican war, upon which publication ceased. 

The present Steuhen Courier, the leading Republican organ of 
Northern Steuben counts-, 1i;r1 its origin in a newspaper founded under 
Whig influences, and for the special purpose of promoting the political 
aspirations of Henry Clay. For its conduct Henry H. Hull was called 
to Bath, and he associated with him M. F. Whittemore of the defunct 
Constitutionalist After two years Mr. Whittemore retired, and Mr. 
Hull conducted the paper alone until 1856, when Charles G. Fairman 
took an interest and remained nine months. In 1854, when the Re- 
publican party was organized, the Courier advocated its principles ami 
became its chief organ in the county. This standing it has ever since 
maintained, altliough frequent changes in ownership have been made 
during its subsequent history. However, in 1890, the Courier Com- 
pany, Limited, was formed and has since owned and conducted the 
paper, employing a competent editor and a full corps of assistants. 

In 1854, Jennie. and Caroline Rumsey founded and edited the Tem- 
perance Gem, procuring the assistance of the Advocate office in com- 
position and press work. This paper was afterward moved to F.lmira. 
About two years afterward, on January i, 1856, the Steuben American 



230 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

was issued by A. L. Underhill. P. S. Donahe became its owner in 
1857 and merged the paper in the Farmers' Advocate. The Saturday 
News was estabhshed by Enos W. Barnes, who issued the first number 
April 25, 1868. It lived less than six months. The Tri-weekly Con- 
servative made its first appearance in August, 1868, under tlie editorial 
management of Charles Clute. It was a spicy little sheet, yet short 
lived, about equal to its cotemporary, the News. The Batii Echo was 
the undertaking of Clute & McCall, and was published four or five 
months during the year 1874. The same may also be said of the Bath 
Sunday News, which was published about si.x months, of the year 188 1, 
by L. R. Smith & Co , the editor being A. Ellas McCall. 

The Bath Plaindealer, recognized to- day as one of the best weekly 
family newspapers published in Steuben county, was founded in 1883, 
the first number being issued May 5. Its owners were A. Ellas Mc- 
Call, Orson L. Drew and William Black. The Plaindealer soon found 
its way into popular favor, yet it never courted notoriety in any respect. 
It is conservatively yet liberally conducted and has a large circulation. 
Of the original firm. Drew and Black both withdrew in 1884, since 
which time Mr. McCall has been sole proprietor. 

The Savona Review, a bright, interesting and newsy weekly paper 
published at Savona by T. C. Wall, was established in 1888 (May 19) 
by S L. Ward, and then known as the Savona Rustler. 

Having referred at some length to the newspapers, past and present, 
of the county town, we may with propriety mention those which have 
had an existence in the other towns of the county. In the village and 
town of Addison are two good representative newspaper publications, 
known respectivel)', as the Advertiser and the Record, advocates of the 
two great political parties of the nation, and withal interesting and in- 
structive family journals. In March, 1858, after several previous inefiec- 
tual attempts, the Addison Advertiser was brouglit into permanent ex- 
istence, and while it freely discussed all political questions, it did so 
from a distinctly independent standpoint. However, before a year had 
passed the paper became as earnestly Democratic as it was previously 
independent During the war the Advertiser was perfectly loyal, and 
so zealous was.it in support of the administration that it became essen- 
tially Republican. In 1872 it favored the Greeley movement, and four 



THE PRESS. 231 

years later supported Tikleii. Again, in 1881, it returned to tlie Re- 
publican fold under the management of Amos Roberts, its jjresent 
owner. Many indeed have been the changes in ownership of the Ad- 
vertiser, and we may note them about as follows: Henry M. Johnson, 
founder, assisted by Col. Henry Baldwin ; Johnson, Dow & Bates, July, 
1865, to January i, 1866; Johnson & Roberts; George H. Hollis, Jan- 
uary 30, 1873; Amos Roberts, 1881. The Addison Record was 
founded December 3, 1881, by O. B. Ireland, who was succeeded by 
F. B. Orser and George Jones, and the latter in turn b)' M. Kinne. On 
the ilth of June, 1S86, C. B. Mowers, the present owner, purchased 
and has since conducted the paper; and has made it the organ of the 
Democratic party in this part of the county. 

On the 17th day of May, 1879, VV. T. Coggswell issued the first 
number of the Avoca Advance, the first and only newspaper published 
in the town. It has continued to the present time and always received 
a fair share of the public patronage. Its successive owners have been 
W. T. Coggeshall, Martin A. Hoadley, Alvin Wood, Fred C. Dean, 
Coggeshall & Silsbee, and George C. Silsbee, the latter becoming sole 
owner in March, 1888. 

The Canisteo Times was established January 25, 1877, in the enter- 
prising village of Canisteo by S. H. Jennings, and almost at once met 
with popular favor and generous support. On April I, 1886, the plant 
was sold to F. B. Smith, who in turn disposed of it Frank A. P'ay, the 
present editor and publisher. 

The Canisteo Tidings was originally a paper of Troupsburg, estab- 
lished in 1890, as Farmers' Weekly, by Elmer E. Reynolds. The 
paper was removed to Canisteo in. 1894. Potter, Mulhollen & Co. 
were former proprietors, but it is now owned and successfully managed by 
James N. Osincup and Clarence C Proctor. 

Away back in 1859 William Waite Warner started a little paper in 
Cohocton, the first venture of its kind in the town. It was called the 
Cohocton Journal, and was a good though short lived paper. No 
further attempt at starting a paper was made until 1872, when H. B. 
Newell brought the Cohocton Herald, but he soon sold out to James 
C. Hewitt and the latter changed the name of the paper to Cohocton 
Tribune. The next owner was William A. Carpenter (in 1875) ^Y 



232 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

whom the name was changed to Cohocton Valley Times, as now known. 
In 1878 Edward A. Higgins became owner, and was, in November, 
1889, succeeded by S. D. Shattuck. The Times, under the careful and 
energetic management of editor Shattuck, is known as one of the best 
and most widelj' circulating weekly papers in the upper Conhocton 
region, and is in all respects an interesting family newspaper. 

The Cohocton Index was moved to Cohocton village from Atlanta in 
1893, but previous to that time had been published in the latter village 
under the name of Atlanta News. Hyatt C. Hatch was its founder and 
owner until 1892, when the present management was established. V. 
L. and R. M. Tripp are competent newspaper men, and under their 
united efforts the Inde.x has taken a favorable position among the weekly 
publications of the county. 

The Corning and Blossbuig Advocate was the first venture in jour- 
nalism in Corning, and was established in 1840, soon after the opera- 
tions of the " Corning Company " had become an assured success. 
However, the Advocate had but a brief life in this locality, as in 1841 
it passed into the hands of Henry H. Hull, and by him was united with 
the Steuben Courier, a newspaper of the county seat. 

After the removal of the Advocate to Bath, in 1843, there was no 
newspaper published in Corning until 1847, when Thomas Messenger 
founded the Corning Journal, a paper which has been in continuous and 
active existence from that until the present time, and one which, 
throughout the long period of its history, has recorded as many public 
changes and events, and yet has experienced as few in its own man- 
agement and personnel, as any paper in the southern tier. Further- 
more, the Journal has been productive of as much good to every worthy 
interest as any newspaper of the region, and has ever been devoted to 
the advocacy of purity in home and public life. In July, 1851, A. W. 
McDowell and Dr. George W. Pratt purchased the Journal, and since 
April, 1853, the person last mentioned has had sole and almost con- 
stant charge of its conduct and management, and being practically re- 
lieved only within the present year. This experience and record in 
journalism has few equals; and today the newspaper guide and direc- 
tory retains the old pioneer name — '' Corning Journal, George W. Pratt, 
editor and publisher." The daily edition of the Journal was begun in 



A 


• 


■^ 



GEORGE W. PRATT. 



II 



il 



THE PRESS. 233 

1891. From July, 1869,10 November. 1874. T. S. De Wolf was inter- 
ested in the paper, and Harry H. Pratt soon afterward became as''-oci- 
ate editor. The Journal, in both daily and weekly editions, is a Re- 
publican paper, representing and advocating true party principles; and 
is the recognized organ of the party in the county and State. 

The Corning Democrat has its origin in the Corning Semi-Weekly 
Sun, a paper established and published by M. M. Ponieroy and P. C. 
Van Gelder, beginning in 1853. i\lr. Pomeroy, both in Corning and 
elsewhere, became a noted writer, and was for many years familiarly 
known as "Brick" Pomero)-. However, in 1S54 the Sun passed into 
the hands of Rev. Ira Brown, who published it weekly as The Southern 
Tier Farmer. At later periods the paper was managed by C. T. Huson 
and Frank B. Brown, as partners, under whom the name Corning Dem- 
ocrat was adopted. From November, 1859, to June, 1885, the paper 
was owned by Mr. Brown, but since that time the firm name of F. B. 
Brown & Son as appeared as editors and publishers. The daily edition 
of the Democrat was first published in 18S4. Both daily and weekly 
editions are Democratic in politics, emphatic, perh.aps, in utterances, yet 
consistent and representing the best interests of the part)' in county. 
State and Nation. 

The Corning Independent made its appearance in local journalism in 
Corning in December, 1874, under control of P. S. De Wolf, but in 1876 
was sold to Dr. A. J. Ingersoll who continued it as a Greenback paper, 
though under the editorial management of Uri Mulford. The paper 
suspended publication in 1879. 

The Evening Chronicle, a daily newspaper, independent in politics, 
was started in Corning on May 4, 1891, by Edward Mott, and enjoyed 
a brief season of public attention. 

Among the other temporary newspapers of the vicinity of Corning, 
we may mention the Painted Post Gazette, established in i8.|6, by Mr. 
Fairchild and continued a few months. The Painted Post Herald was 
founded by Ransom Bennett and B. M. Ilawley in 1848, and continued 
a single year. The Painted Post Times was begun in October, 1870, 
by Wm, C. Bronson, H. C. Higman and S. H. Ferenbaugh, and was 
continued with indifferent success until 1877. 

The first attempt to start a newspaper in llornellsville was successful, 

30 



234 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

and the paper then founded }ias been in continuous and successful ope- 
ration to the present time. On the 3d of November, 185 1, Edwin 
Hough established the Hornellsville Tribune, and it was, as Mr. Tuttle 
says " the faithful chronicler of the progress of the vicinity. At first an 
independent paper, it became Democratic for about two years, but es- 
poused the Republican cause with the organization of that part)' and 
remained so until its sale in 1869 to D. R. Shafer." From that until 
the present time the Tribune has been Democratic in politics, firm and 
undoubted in its utterances, yet consistent throughout, and to-day the 
paper, both daily and weekly, is regarded as the organ of the party 
in the county, and one of its strongest exponents in the southern 
tier. Says Mr. Tuttle: "The Tribune has been published, successive!)-, 
by Edwin Hough, Hough & Kinney, Hough & Baker, E. Hough & 
Son, Hough & Beecher, E. H. Hough, D. R. Shafer, Greenhow & Son, 
and W. H. Greenhow, he now being sole owner and publisher." In 
1870 John and \V. H. Greenhow purchased the paper, and in 18S0 the 
first mentioned sold his interest to Charles F. Peck. W. H. Greenhow 
became owner of the Tribune in December, 1884. The daily edition of 
the Tribune was first issued February 4, 1S7S, as an afternoon paper. 

The National American was established February 13, 1856, by D. C. 
Pruner and C. M. Harmon, but in September, 1858, passed into the 
hands of Charles A. Kinney who changed its name to The Canisteo 
Valley Journal Three years later, January, 1861 , the paper was sold 
to R. S. Lewis, and he made it Republican in politics. However, in 
1862 its publication was discontinued. 

The Democratic Vidette was formed by Burdick Bros., September 
28, 1 865, and was thereafter published successively by Burdick & Cooper, 
John M. Rilo)' & Co., A. J. Riley & Co., and Wilham H Baldwin. 
The owner last mentioned, who was a writer of more than ordinary 
force anti ability, sold the paper to Thacher & Tuttle, who changed its 
name to The Canisteo Valley Times, and made it Republican in politics 
from January 10, 1867. Concerning its subsequent history, Mr. Tuttle 
says, " Others connected with the editorial management of the Times 
were Johnson Brigham, H. S. Tomer, and John W. Mack." Following 
the retirement of Mr. Thacher, in 1877, the Times has been published, 
in turn, by R. M. Tuttle, Tuttle & Brigham, Johnson Brigham, Tomer, 




R. M. TUTTLE. 



THE PRESS. 235 

Dolson & Jackman, Dolson & Mack, J. S. Dolson, and the Times As- 
sociation, the latter now owners and publisliers, with Russell M. Tuttle 
as editor, and A. H. Bunnell as business manager." The Times is the 
organ of the Republican party of the count)' at large, and not of any 
faction of the party ; holding firmly to Republican principles and not 
easily swayed by party prejudices and contentions. In all dejiartments 
the paper, in both editions, is well edited ami managed, and is received 
favorably throughout the southern tier. The daily edition began with 
the Daily News, published first by Benzinger & Osincup, Octo- 
ber 22, 1877. Tuttle & Brigham purchased it February 25, 1878, en- 
larged and materially improved it, and changed the name to Daily 
Times. Originally this was an evening dail\', but became a morning 
paper in September, 1883 

The Saturday Herald, one of Hornellsville's best weekly newspapers, 
had its origin in an advertising sheet issued by several prominent mer- 
chants of the then village, conspicuous among whom was M. A. Tuttle. 
The paper was called the Economist, and was published every week for 
about a year, being then purchased by Graham & Dawson and changed 
n name at least, to the Hornellsville Herald. It soon espoused the 
cause of Prohibition and was ably edited by Mr. Graham. However, 
in 1876, E. H. Hough purchased the paper, who, with his son, under 
the style of Herald Publishing Company, now conduct it. The change 
in name to Saturday Herald was made in March, 1893. 

The Reveille, a paper devoted to the interests of the Greenback party, 
began publication in Hornellsville on January 19, 1878, under the man- 
agement of J. Willett Smith, the press work, however, being done in 
the Tribune office. After two weeks James D. Adams bought the 
Reveille, brought a printing equipment from Andover, and continued 
the paper under the name of the Greenback Champion for a year when 
publication was suspended. Soon afterward Daniel Healey purchased 
the material and produced the Invincible, and the latter gave way in 
June, 1881, to The Daily Independent, an evening paper under the 
management of Tolan Bros. & Shattuck. It suspended December 25, 
1881. 

The Steuben Signal, a Prohibition newspaper, was established April 
4, 1883. under the direction the "Signal Publishing Company," and 
was published five years before suspension. 



236 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The Era, a Labor party paper, was established in 1887, by S. H. 
Jennings, and continued one year. 

The Daily Press, another and in fact the last new venture in Horn- 
ellsville journalism, was established March 9, 1889, by the Press Pub- 
lishing Company, consisting of John Tolan and Leon Hough. The 
paper was printed on tlie Herald press. In February, 1890, Mr. Tolan 
purchased a printing outfit and continued the Press as sole proprietor. 
It was an independent evening paper, and remained in existence, though 
with many vicissitudes, until 1894 when publication ceased. 

The Prattsburgh News, a bright, lively and interesting weekly news- 
paper published by P. C. Howe's Sons, was established December 12, 
1872, by P. C. Howe & Sons, and was successor to the still older local 
paper known as the Prattsburgh Advertiser, which Caleb B. Hoke 
founded several years before. The News is an excellent family paper, 
devoted especially to the interests of the north part of the county. Its 
directory feature is valuable, while its market reports give it a large and 
deserved circulation. 

The Hammondsport Herald was established May i, 1874, by Mrs. 
Benjamin Bcnnitt and Mrs. E. B. Fairchild, ladies well known in local 
literary circles, and both interested in the welfare of the Pleasant Valley 
region. After a year of successful management Mrs. Bennitt retired 
from the paper, and at the end of another year (in December, 1876,) 
Llewelyn H. Brown purchased a half interest in the Herald. In 1876 Mr. 
Brown became and has since been sole owner and publisher of the 
paper. It is issued weekly and is an independent family journal, enjoy- 
ing a good circulation and advertising patronage. 

The Union Advertiser, published at Wayland by H. B. Newell, was 
established in the fall of 1863 by its present proprietor, although for a 
time the paper was owned by Newell Brothers. It is an independent 
family newspaper, devoted to general news and a thorough representa- 
tion of Wayland interests. 

The Wayland Register made its initial appearance in Wayland village 
on the 1st of May, 1889, under the editorial management of C. F. Dean. 
This, too, has been a successful venture in local affairs and received 
generous support. It is now edited and published by Bert Goodno. 

The Southern Steuben Republican was founded in 1879 by R. C. Park 




•^■V *CJl.».<-s n.Hu. i Sons.'*"'* 




Y^^^^^^t-tf^-i^-^^^?^^-, 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 237 

under the name of Steuben Sentinel, having its office at Troupsburg, 
but in iS8o removed to Woodhull. It was formerly an independent 
paper, hut now, as the name implies, advocates Republican principles. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 

The medical profession of Steuben county has preserved but little of 
its history, and while there are a few meagre records by which we 
may learn the proceedings and membership of the medical societies 
that have been formed, there are no data upon which can be based a 
history of the development of the profession. The great advance in all 
branches of art and science during the last century has indeed been 
marvelous, but in none has there been greater progress than in medi- 
cine and surgery. 

This science which now sheds its light throughout the civilized world 
began with Hippocrates nearly twenty-three hundred years ago, and he 
first treated of medicine with the simplest remedies, relying chiefly on 
the healing power of nature. He wrote extensively, and many of his 
works were translated and served as a foundation for succeeding litera- 
ture of the profession. The greatest advance in medical science, how- 
ever, has been made during the last one hundred years, and chiefly dur- 
ing the last half century. 

Evolution and development are the watchwords of ihe nineteenth 
century, and it is no longer universally believed that this world was 
created by supernatural power, for many of our deepest thinkers, men 
of the most profound understanding, believe it has been gradually un- 
folded by the action of natural causes. Hut, not wishing to be accused 
of heresy, it may be stated that whether the theory be according to 
Darwin, or Haekel, or Spencer, or some other philosopher, the law will 
be the same in any case, and away back, beliind " protoplasm," " germ- 
inal matter " and " cellular germ," there still exists abundant proof of a 
"first great cause," of an " infinite wisdom," for the depth of which Ian- 



238 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

guage hath not expression. A flood of light on this question is now 
pouring forth upon the world, but its acceptation as a convincing truth 
rests with the individual. Physiologists no longer believe with the 
practitioners of the sixteenth century that the plants have a direct and 
controlling action on the body, the sun upon the heart, or the moon 
upon the brain ; nor do they now believe that the vital spirits are pre- 
pared in the brain by distillation. On the contrary, modern physiology 
teaches that the phenomena of the living body are the results of physi- 
cal and chemical changes ; the temperature of the blood is now ascer- 
tained by the thermometer, and the different fluids and gases of the 
body are analyzed by the chemists, giving to each its own properties 
and functions. 

There are now known to botanists more than 160,000 plants, of which 
a large proportion are constantly being added to the already appalling 
list of new remedies. Few of these drugs possess little, if any virtue, 
except as their sale adds to the profits of the dealer. The ancients 
were not so well supplied with drugs, and hence resorted to other meth- 
ods. It was a custom among the Babylonians to expose the sick to the 
view of passers-by in order to learn of them whether they had been 
afflicted with a like distemper and by what remedies they had been 
cured. It was also a custom of those days for all persons who had been 
sick to put up a tablet in the temple of Esculapius, whereon they gave 
an account of the remedies by which they had been restored. Prior to 
Hippocrates all medicines were in the hands of the priests, and were 
associated with numerous superstitions, such as charms, amulets, incan- 
tations, sympathetic ointments, and the like. And we may here add 
that all this credulous superstition of early ages, born of ignorance, has 
not been fully wiped out by the advanced education of the present day. 
One of the latest appeals to the credulity of the masses is the so-called 
" Christian Science," and also " Faith Cure," but so long as filth brings 
fever prayer will not interpose, and the persons seeking to popularize 
this means of cure are either deceived themselves or are deceiving 

others. 

It is not our purpose, however, to treat of ancient or more modern 
medical history, and though a review of the progress in this science, 
from the time of Greek or Roman medical mythology, would be inter- 



i 




C. S. PARKHIl.l. 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 239 

esting and instructive, it is hardly pertinent to the medical history of 
Steuben county, and our introductory observations are merely to sug- 
gest to the reader the difference betuen the ancient and modern means 
of healing. 

Previous to the present century the State of New York, unlike Penn- 
sylvania and New England, had done very little to encourage science, 
and there were no schools of medicine worthy of the name nearer than 
Boston or Philadelphia. Few young men could then afford to go so far 
to qualify themselves for a profession which offered but little pecuniary 
inducement, hence the prevailing custom was for the medical aspirant 
to enter the office of some neighboring physician and read for two or 
three years, at the same time accompanying his tutor in hi-; professional 
visits and learn his methods of practice. At the end of the term the 
young doctor would seek some promising field and begin practice. 

The legislation which then regulated the practice of physicians was 
so defective as to be really worthless. In I006, however, an act was 
passed repealing all former laws in reference to the profession and at 
the same time authorizing a general State Medical Society, and also 
county societies 

Under the provisions of this law a medical society was organized in 
Steuben county, but at what precise date we are unable to determine, 
as the earliest records are not to be found. It is confidently believed, 
however, that the society was formed about the year 18 15, though this 
belief is founded almost wholly on tradition. 

Among the earlier members, previous to 1820, may be mentioned 
John D. Higgins, Willis F. Clark, Warren Patchin, Samuel Gorton, 
James Faulkner, Enos Barnes, John Warner, James Warden, Andrew 
Kingsbury, John P. Kennedy, Daniel Gilbert, Jacob Chatterton, Lyman 
N. Cook, Philo Andrews, Walter Wolcott, Thomas M. Brown, Noah 
Niles, Samuel Southworth, Simeon H. Goss and Joel Luther. The later 
members, yet all previous to 1830, were Robert F. Ho)t. Jonathan 
Lockwood, Samuel Scofield, Silas B. Hibbard, James Cutler, George W. 
Turner, Gustavus A. Rogers, Samuel B. Chidsey, Isaac L. Kidder, Milo 
Hurd, Levi S. Goodrich, David L, Wicks, Daniel II. Orcutt, M. C. Kel- 
logg, E. R. Pulling, Israel Chissom, Isaac Wixom, T. E. Ganesvoort, 
J. L. Livermore, F. E. Bateman, William Hunter, Samuel Olin, Levi 



240 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Fay, David Hotchkiss, Nathaniel Sheldon, Manning; Kelly, Zenas S. 
Jackson, Sampson Stoddard, Winthrop E. Booth and David Ward, the 
latter being admitted to membership in the society in 1830. 

The Steuben County Medical Society, in its early history, is remem- 
bered as having been an exceeding prosperous organization, and was at 
one time vested by law with seemingly extraordinary powers in the 
matter of receiving members, licensing practitioners and dismissing 
recalcitrants. It also had the power to establish fees and regulate, 
arbitrarily at times, the conduct of physicians and compel membership 
and obedience to its rules. Yet, during the long period of its existence, 
the society passed through many vicissitudes and has been threatened 
with complete disintegration, but an organization has ever been main- 
tained, and now its affairs are in a healthful condition (emblematic, per- 
haps, of the professional object of its members). However, even for the 
purposes of this record, the writer is embarrassed in not having access 
to the secretary's books, and is compelled to obtain the appended list 
of members from the publisiied reports of the State Medical Society. 

The officers for the year 1895 ^""s as follows: President, Burtis R. 
Wakeman, Hornellsville ; vice-president, Willis S. Cobb, Corning; sec- 
retary and treasurer, Chester K. Stewart, Bath. 

Members. — H. R. Ainsworth, Addison ; M. L Allen, Hammonds- 
port; A. A. Aldrich, Addison; Eli Allison, Wayne; Henry A. Argue, 
Corning; M. T. Babcock, Hammondsport ; J. A. Bennett, Prattsburg ; 
H. M. Bourne, Corning; C, M. Brasted, Horrnellsviile ; T. O. Bur- 
lison, Bath; Franklin Burr, Corning; George Conderman, Hornells- 
ville ; Amelia A. Christie, Hornellsville ; Willis S. Cobb, Corning ; 
D. F. Cridler, Hornellsville; A. H Cruttenden, Bath; Mrs. A. A. Dol- 
son, Hornellsville ; J. S. Dolson, Hornellsville ; Lewis Fitzsimmons, 
South Pulteney; T. B. Fowler, Cohocton ; F. S Gallagher, Naples; 
A. L. Gilbert, North Cohocton; H. Gilbert, Hornellsville; H. S Gil- 
lett, Savona; I. L. Gofif; Cohocton; W. T. Green, Hornellsville; W. 
W. Green, Prattsburg; Joseph Hoare, Corning; G. C. Hubbard, Hor- 
nellsville ; John S. Hubbs, Hammondsport ; M. B. Hubbs, Addison ; 
C. O. Jackson, Cameron; Ambrose Kasson, Bath; R. R. Kelly, Hor- 
nellsville; Arthur Kendall, Corning; George W. Lane, Corning ; H. 
G. Mace, Wallace; Thomas F, McNamara, Hornellsville; J. D. Mitch- 





^ ^M'^z^^^ 



THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 241 

ell, Hornellsville; H. B. Nichols, Pultene)-; S. R. H. Nichols, Corning; 
W. E. Palmer, Hornellsville ; C. S. Parkhill, Hornellsville ; Myron H. 
Parkhill, Howard ; R F. Parkhill, Howard ; C. Patterson, Avoca ; 
Thomas H. Pawling, Bath; M. M. Perry, Trotipsburg ; Charles R. 
Phillips, Corning ; Benjamin Pickett, Canisteo ; A. D. Robbins, 
Corning; C. B. Robertson, Towlesville ; Denton W. Rodgers, Hornells- 
ville; Robert J. Scott, Prattsburg ; VV. Sheffield, Jasper; I. P. Smith, 
Bath; W. W. Smith, Avoca; B. M. Spencer, Hornellsville; C. P. 
Stevens, Wallace ; Chester T. Stewart, Bath ; P. K. Stoddard, Pratts- 
burg; Stephen M. Svvitzer, Bradford; C. J. Tower, Savona ; J. H. 
Trumbull, Hornellsville; Burtis R. VVakeman, Hornellsville; Eugene 
E. Webster, Hornellsville; Seymour C. Williamson, Canisteo; E. 
Winne, Haskinsville ; F. A. Wygant, Cohocton. 

In the year 1867 the disciples of Similia Siinilibns Curaittiir in Steu- 
ben county sought an organization for the general welfare of their 
school of medicine and its representatives. In the early history of the 
county nothing whatever was known of homeopathy, and when the first 
physicians of this school came into the region they were regarded with 
distrust and suspicion by friends of the old school of practice, while the 
allopathists themselves regarded the newcomers as intruders and 
quacks. Indeed, homeopathy has been compelled to work its way 
through hardships and difficulties almost equal to those encountered by 
our pioneers in gaining a substantial foothold in a country inhabited 
only by enemies. But by steady advances in the hands of careful and 
competent representatives, this method of treatment has come to be re- 
garded with popular favor, and is recognized as sound and rational. 

The organization referred to was effected on the 25th of May, 1861, 
and its result was the "Steuben County Homeopathic Medical Society," 
with these officers : A. De Wolfe, president ; W. S. Purdy, vice presi- 
dent ; James M. Cadmus, secretary; B. F. Grant, H. S. Benedict and 
P. S. Hollett, censors. 

The society maintained an active and successful existence for several 
years, and its members were chiefly from the eastern and northern por- 
tions of the county, with a few from the vicinity of Hornellsville ; but 
with the formation of the Southern Tier society there followed a decline 

in interest in the afifairs of the local society, with ultimate disintegration. 
31 



242 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The Southern Tier Homeopathic Medical Association of the State of 
New York was organized at a largely attended meeting of homeopa- 
thists held in the city of Elmira on the 20th of January, 1874. Its 
members were chiefly from Chemung, Steuben and Schuyler counties, 
with a few from Tioga and Broome. This society has preserved intact 
its organization originally made, and built substantially upon a lasting 
foundation by procuring an incorporation on the i6th of April, 1878. 
However, the general rather than local character of this society makes 
it imprudent to furnish other than a mere outline of its history. 

The Hornellsville Academy of Medicine was organized December 17, 
1873, and continued in e.xistence nearly ten years, and was dissolved 
through natural causes during the summer of 1883. The last meeting 
was held August 6, 1883. The objects of the society were worthy, the 
membership fairly good, but through imperfect organization and lack 
of interest, it was decided to terminate the e.xistence of the body. 

However, the medical profession of Hornellsville and vicinity soon 
felt the need of a professional organization other than the county society ; 
the well being of the fraternity demanded such and the best medical 
practitioners were heartily in favor of the plan. The result was a meet- 
ing of the local physicians at the Page House in Hornellsville on the 3d 
of December, 1888, at which time the Hornellsville Medical and Surgi- 
cal Association was formed ; and this formal organization was soon 
afterward made complete by incorporation under the State laws, there- 
by giving the association a standing in the State Medical Society, and 
also in the American Medical Association. 

The first officers were Dr. Clare S. Parkhill, president; John G. Kelly, 
vice-president; Chauncey G. Hubbard, secretary and treasurer. The 
presidents, in succession, have been as follows : C. S. Parkhill, 1888; 
John S. Jamison, 1889; John G. Kelly, 1890; James E.Walker, 1891 ; 
Joseph S. Dolson, 1892 ; C. R. Bowen, 1893 ; Charles R. Phillips, 1894; 
Lyman B. Smith, 1895. 

The association has thirty- two members, regular practicing physicians 
in this and the adjoining county of Allegany. The officers for the 
year 1895 are as follows: Lyman B. Smith, president ; Charles Con- 
derman, vice-president : Roy Dunham, secretary and treasurer; Drs. 
Palmer, Brasted and Wakeman, censors. 




J. G. KELLY. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 243 



CHAPTER XVII. 

CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 

The Village of Bath. — In 1793, when Charles Cameron and his 
party of pioneers disembarked from their flat boats and canoes and 
began the first improvements near Pulteney Square, the village of Bath 
was founded in fact, although some time passed before the hamlet was 
given its name. Whether Captain Williamson at that time had in mind 
the establishment of this as a county seat is a subject of speculation, with 
the weight of opinion in favor of the idea, for his plans were complete, 
and Thomas Rees, jr., the surveyor of the party, evidently acted under 
direction to be thorough in his work, and when all was done no change 
of importance was required and only subsequent additions to the village 
plans were made. 

Williamson was possessed of excellent judgment and, moreover, was 
a man of large ideas, hence naturally gave heed to the possibilities of 
the future. His estate was a vast tract of land, extending in all direc- 
tions from this central point, and here he decided to make the seat of 
his extensive operations. He knew that the best results were to be ob- 
tained through organization of the territory into a separate county, and 
within three years from the time Cameron's men felled the first tree we 
find the little hamlet of Bath the seat of justice of Steuben county. The 
first court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the peace was held 
at the land office on June 21, 1796, and in the same year a newspaper, 
that indispensable adjunct of municipal prosperity, was founded. A 
school house was also built, a place provided for informal religious gath- 
erings, and that outdoor amusements might be encouraged, a race- 
track was constructed. Weld, the English traveler, who visited the set- 
tlement in 1796, wrote : " Bath is a post and principal town in the west- 
ern part of the State of New York. Though laid out only three years 
ago, yet it contains about thirty houses; it is increasing very fast. 



244 [LAJSTDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Among the houses are several stores and shops, well furnished with 
goods, and a tavern that would not be thought meanly of in any part of 
America. The town [meaning the village settlement] stands on a plain, 
surrounded on three sides by hills of moderate height. The plain is 
almost wholly divested of trees, but the hills are still uncleared and have 
a very pleasing appearance from the town. At the foot of the hills runs 
a stream of pure water over a bed of gravel, which is called Conhocton 
Creek. There is a very considerable fall in the creek just above the 
town, which affords the finest seats for mills possible. Extensive saw 
and flour mills have already been erected upon it." 

Such was a superficial view of the surroundings of our pretty little 
hamlet a century ago, and to the familiar eye of an observer the present 
beautiful village of Bath is discernible, the scene in many respects being 
undisturbed. The magnificent and heavily wooded hills on the south 
are the same to the eye to-day as an hundred years ago, and a home 
and nature loving people have endeavored to spare and preserve as far 
as possible the landmarks and reminders of early life. Notwithstand- 
ing all this, Bath has been a progressive village and all desirable im- 
provements have been encouraged and promoted. Its people have 
been conservative, yet generous in all worthy undertakings. Circum- 
stances and location have in a measure combined to retard its progress 
during the last half century, yet all municipalities cannot become im- 
portant and large commercial centers, and there is little manifest desire 
to have Bath partake of such character. The residents are content with 
their surroundings and conditions, and there is an indescribable some- 
thing that always attracts the visitor to the place, makes him contented 
while there, and causes a pang of regret at departure. 

" In 1804," says Mr. McCall's address, "William H. Bull came, with 
his father, Howell Bull, from Painted Post, and has furnished the mem- 
oranda from which has been made a bird's-eye view of Bath in that year." 
Also, in 181 1, Edward Howell and his brother William came to Bath, 
and from the latter we have an accurate pen description of the village 
in that year, viz.: "In 181 1, the only streets in Bath were Morris, Lib- 
erty, and West Steuben from Pulteney Square to its junction with 
Morris street. There were nine dwelling houses on the north side of 
Morris street, extending from the square to Stewart's Hill. There was 




Village of Bath in 1804. 



1 — Log house, formerl}' printing office 
of the Bath Gazette. 

2— Bull's Tavern. 

3 — Log house. 

4 — Helm's residence. 

5 — Frame house, afterwards occupied by 
Rev. J. Niles. 

6 — Log house. 

T — H. A. Townsend's house. 

8 — McClure's house and store. 

9 — Grocery. 
10 — Court House. 
11 — Turner's house. 



12— Jonathan T. Haight, lawyer. 

13 — Log house. 

14 — Pulteney Land Agent's residence. 

15 — Land office. 

16 — Liberty tree (blown down in 1825). 

17— Bath Jail. 

18 — School house. 

19— D. Cameron's house. 

20- Metcalfs Tavern. 
21 — Blacksmith shop. 
22— Theatre. 

23 — Helm's grist and saw mills. 



246 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

only one house on the south side of the street. On the south side of 
the square was the agency house and the land office, and back of them 
were several long low houses, built of logs and sided with clapboards, 
which had been used as servant's quarters. On the south side of West 
Morris street, from the land office to where the Erie depot stands, were 
four or five dwelling houses, and near the depot was a small frame 
dwelling and a blacksmith shop. On the north side of Morris street 
(west of the park) were six dwelling houses, viz.: Ira Pratt's, Metcalf's 
Tavern, John McCalla, D. Cruger, and on the corner. Spring's Tavern. 
On the opposite corner on Steuben street, was the stone jail building, 
and south of it a small store building. On the north side of the park, 
on the two opposite corners of Liberty street, were the Townsend 
house on the east, and the Captain Helm house on the west There 
were also some small buildings and a barn extending up to the old 
cemetery. East of the Townsend house was a row of small frame build- 
ings, occupied for stores and shops. On the east side of the park was 
the court-house and a frame building used for a school. The jail was 
the only building on the south side of Steuben street, while several were 
on the north side, among them being the ' Old Theater,' also a large 
square frame building. On the east side of Liberty street were a dwell- 
ing of frame, another of logs, and the Niles house, while opposite were 
the Gazette printing office, the Howell Bull tavern and a log house." 

Such was the municipal condition of Bath four score years previous 
to the centennial celebration, and from these primitive elements has the 
village grown. In another department of the work the reader will find 
a brief outline history of the town at large, in which mention is made 
of all the pioneer occupants of the village ; but that the situation during 
the days of settlement may be made clear, attention is directed to the 
accompanying map taken from the printed proceedings of the centen- 
nial celebration in 1893 

It appears that an attempt to incorporate the village was made as 
early as the year 1816, and the measure was in fact adopted although 
the organization under it was not perfected. At this time Bath was a 
place of more than ordinary importance among the villages of the Gen- 
esee country while several of our now large cities were unknown even in 
name. During the twenty years following 18 16, many and various 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 247 

improvements were inaugurated and successfully established, and the 
village continued to grow and enlarge in every direction. A contem- 
porary writer has furnished a brief outline of some of the more impor- 
tant events of this period, and those of a local character are deemed 
worthy of reproduction here. On the ist of October the County Medi- 
cal Societ)' was organized, and in June, 1819, the first Agricultural 
Society was likewise brought into existence. In 1820 the Western 
Republican began publication, and in the same year Vincent Matthews 
and William B. Rochester formed a law partnership. Also in this year 
a semi-weekly stage line was established between Bath and Owego. In 
1824 Colonel Bull erected the first brick dwelling in the village On 
March 2, 1825, the Presbyterian church was dedicated, and on the 29th 
of April of the same year Robert Douglass was hanged on Gallows Hill. 
This first execution was a remarkable event in local history, beside 
which the visitation of the extreme penalty of law upon Ira Appo, about 
twelve years afterward, was of minor importance. In 1826, the Indians 
Sundown and Curlyeye were tried for murder, but acquitted, and in the 
same year the Episcopal church was organized. In 1827 the brick 
court-house was built to replace that originally erected by Captain 
Williamson. In 1828, the Steuben Messenger and the Steuben Whig 
were founded, the former an anti-Masonic, and the latter a cam- 
paign paper started to oppose General Jackson. In 1829 William S. 
Hubbell was appointed postmaster. In March, 1831, the Bath and 
Crooked Lake Railroad Company was organized, with a capital of $20,- 
000, but under this charter nothing was done, and rail communication 
between these terminal points was not secured until the construction of 
the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad in 1874. In March, 1832, the 
old Steuben County Bank opened its doors for business, and in the fol- 
lowing year William P. Angel issued the first number of the Constitu- 
tionalist, the office of which, together with several other business build- 
ings, was destroyed by fire in June, 1837. 

The village of Bath was regularly incorporated and completely or- 
ganized in 1836, the act of the Legislature being passed May 6 of 
that year. The first meeting for the election of ofificers was held at the 
Franklin House, June 7, and resulted as follows : John D. Higgins, 
Ten Eyck Gansevoort, Benjamin Smead, Moses H. Lyon and John T. 



248 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Andrews, trustees; Ziba A. Leland, John M. Campbell and Henry 
Brothers, assessors ; Robert Campbell, jr., treasurer ; Levi C. Whitney, 
clerk ; Elisha Hempstead, collector, and O. W. L. Warren, constable. 
The first village president, elected by the trustees, was Ten Eyck Gan- 
sevoort, and the last, so elected in 1851, was R. B. Van Valkenburg. 

By an act of the Legislature passed January 20, 1 851, our village 
changed its character quite radically, and by a charter became entitled 
to elect the village president, and was otherwise vested with broader 
powers than under the old regime. Under the charter the first officers 
were elected April 6, 1852, and were Robert Campbell, president; Joel 
H. Rice, George S. Ellas, Alfred P. Ferris, Lansing D. Hodgman, 
trustees ; John Bramble, Paul C. Cook and Moses H. Lyon, assessors ; 
Alva E. Brown, treasurer ; Benjamin C. Ward, collector, and William 
E. Bonham, clerk. 

Such is the character of municipal organization in Bath at the present 
day, although the Legislature has so amended the village charter as to 
permit the election of officers other than noted above, and has granted 
greater powers than those conferred under the original act. 

The fire department, as a complete and' properly equipped branch of 
local goverment, was brought into existence by the trustees on Decem- 
ber 17, 1839, although previous to that year an informal organization 
was maintained by the villagers for the prevention of fire. At that time 
the old company was dissolved, and the trustees organized a fire engine 
company, the personnel of which was as follows : Lewis Biles, foreman ; 
J. McBeath, assistant; R. L. Underhill, clerk, and members, Moses H. 
Lyon, William H. Bull, L. H. Read, Daniel Miller, John O. Goodsell, 
Charles Adams, Bernard Fox, W. Secor, Reuben Robie, James Shannon, 
Benjamin D. Lilly, A. F. Ellas, G. A. Rogers, William Hamilton, 
Thomas Metcalf, James Moore, A. Babcock, Lewis Shoemaker, William 
A. Biles, James R. Dudley, A. R. Gould, Nathan Stevens, R. H. Gra- 
ham, John R. Gansevoort and David McMaster. 

In later years the organization was radically modified, and as the 
growth and necessities of the village demanded, changes were made to 
conform to the existing condition of affairs. However, the present effi- 
cient volunteer fire department is the outgrowth of the primitive organ- 
izations mentioned above, and the construction of a water supply sys- 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 249 

tern has materially advanced the efficiency of the organization and less- 
ened its labors. As now constituted the department comprises three 
companies, known respectively as Edwin Cook Hose Co. No. i, Frank 
Campbell Hose Co. No. 2, and Rescue Hook and Ladder Co. No. i. 

The Bath Water Works Company was incorporated in 1887, with a 
capital of $72,000, owned chiefly by non-residents. The supply is 
obtained from a large reservoir on Magee Hill, and by a combined 
pumping and gravity system is distributed throughout the village. 
There are about eight miles of main pipes, seventy- eight fire hydrants, 
and about 275 taps. 

The village officers for the year 1895, (to whom, with their prede- 
cessors in office, is due great credit for the admirable government of the 
last score and more of years) are as follows : Hiram W. Brundage, pres- 
ident ; Bernard M. Wynkoop, clerk; Orland W. Sutton, Edward E. 
Aber, William H. Scrafford and Matthew E Shannon, trustees ; Will- 
iam A. Dutcher, treasurer; Hoyt Butler, collector; Clarence Willis, 
police justice; Charles A. Ellas, Thomas Fogart)- and Andrew Crook, 
assessors. 

Among the various institutions of the county seat, the schools have 
ever received the same careful attention and generous support that has 
characterized local interests in all directions. The subject, too, is one 
which has been extensively treated by local writers of known repute and 
standing, and it is impossible at this time to enlarge upon what is al- 
ready of record or to improve upon what has been said. The writer 
therefore acknowledges access to the sketches of Clarence Willis and 
Charles F. Kingsley, both recognized authority on the subject treated. 

Says Mr. Kingsley : In the very first year of the settlement of the 

town of Bath a school was established, and here Robert Hunter was the 

schoolmaster. The first school house was built on the northwest corner 

of Pulteney Square, where the furniture store stands, but when built 

records afford no accurate information. Mr. Dixon was the teacher in 

1805. Elam Bridges taught school in a little frame building near the 

old clerk's office as early as 181 1. In December, 18 12, Henry A. 

Townsend and wife conveyed to the trustees of the Bath school a lot on 

the north side of Steuben street, near the end of the Beekman sash 

factory of later years. In 181 3 a school house was built on this lot at 
32 



250 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

the expense of district No. 5. This building became known as the " Old 
Academy," and its upper portion was for a time used by the local Ma- 
sonic societies. This school was burned in 1824, and was replaced with 
the once well known "Red School house," the latter being, it is said, 
the first school organized in the village under the district system. 
However, the Red School was burned in September, 1849. and the lot 
on which it stood was afterward the subject of long and expensive liti- 
gation. 

On the 8th of July, 1846, a Union school was founded by the consol- 
idation of districts Nos. 2 and 5 in the village, and forms the present 
district No. 5. Adam Haverling donated to this district the site on 
which the present Haverling Union P'ree School stands. On April 13, 
1847, ^ contract was made between the district trustees and Sylvanus 
Stephens, by which the latter agreed to erect a school building on this 
lot, at a cost of $2,180.66. This was done and school was first opened 
in the building May 15, 1848. However, this structure was burned 
January 29, 1866, and in its place was erected the present substantial 
and attractive academy building, at a cost of about $25,000, including 
$900 paid for the lot in front of it on Liberty street. In 1887 Ira 
Davenport gave to the district a lease of an acre of land lying north of 
the old school grounds. 

The principals of the Union District School from 1848 to 1868, were 
Mr. Hathaway, Emerson J. Hamilton, Charles W. Gulick, James Buell, 
James A. Broadhead, William S. Hall, C. C. Wheeler, J. H. Strong, J. 
C. Higby, Henry A. Smith, Z. L. Parker and J. Horace Crum and 
Edward Wilson, joint principals. 

At a meeting of the qualified voters of the district held August 6, 
1868, the present Union Free School was formed, and G. H. McMaster, 
L. P. Hard, L. D. Hodgman, R. Hardenbrook, Abram Beekman and 
Samuel Ensign were duly elected members of the Board of Education. 

On the 7th of September, 1868, Haverling Union Free School with 
its academic department was opened to the public, and it at once took 
rank with the leading schools of the State ; a position which it has 
maintained to the present day. The principals since 1868 have been 
Zenas L. Parker, Lewis M. Johnson, E. H. Lattimer and Levi D. 
Miller. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 2S1 

Tlie present Board of Education comprises L. D. Hodgman, Abram 
Beekman, Charles F. Kingsley, Clarence Willis, W. S. Burns and W. 
P. Sedgwick. Mr. Hodgman is cliairnian and Mr. Kingsley secretary 
of the board. 

Another of the established institutions of Bath is the Agricultural 
Society, a county rather than local organization, yet a fixed adjunct of 
the shire town, hence to be mentioned in this chapter. 

The present Steuben County Agricultural Society was organized in 
1853, although for a number of years previous to that time annual fairs 
and exhibitions had been held, and a formal organization may have 
been in existence. In fact Charles Williamson was the originator of 
fairs in old Steuben, yet his successors in office and influence failed to 
awaken the same interest in such exhibitions as did that worthy pio- 
neer. In 1841 a county agricultural society was brought into existence 
at a public meeting held in Bath, and its first officers were Otto F. 
Marshall, president ; John Cooper, jr., Israel Wood and Erastus Skinner, 
vice presidents; Wm. S. Hubbcll and Ziba A. Leland, secretaries; 
Henry Brother, treasurer. This society was continued for about four 
years, though with rather indifterent success from a financial point of 
view, and then dissolved. The last fair, that of 1844, was held on the 
river flat, southwest of the land office. 

On the 1 8th of May, 1853, a public notice was given, as required by 
law, to the effect that a meeting would be held in Bath on the 22d of 
June following, for the purpose of legally organizing a county agricul- 
tural society. At the time mentioned an organization was perfected and 
these officers chosen for the following year: Goldsmith Denniston, 
president; O. F. Marshall, J. B. Mitchell, J. B. Dickinson, Lyman Bal- 
com, R. S. Davis and John Van Wie, vice-presidents; Geo. Edwards, 
treasurer; R. B. Van Valkenburgh, corresponding secretary, and Geo. 
S. Ellas, recording secretary. The first fair was held at Bath on the 
I2th and 13th of October, 1853, in an open field on Robert Campbell's 
farm. 

In 1854 the society leased a portion of its present admirable grounds, 
and. depending largely upon annual exhibitions to build up a purchas- 
ing and improving fund, it was not until 1862 that the property was 
deeded to the trustees. It is deemed unnecessary in this place to note 



252 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

one and all of the many improvements made by the society, for almost 
every person in Steuben county is perfectly familiar with the grounds, 
the buildings, the famous log cabin, and every other noticeable building 
within the inclosure. The fair, also, needs no complimentary reference 
in this chapter, as the annual meeting at Bath is known tiiroughout 
the entire State ; and it goes without saying that in this village is 
the best and most successful county fair in Western or (^entral New 
York. This success has been due to the untiring efforts of the officers 
and managers annually elected, in view of which it is proper that we 
note the succession of presidents, viz : Goldsmith Denniston, Uri Bal- 
com, Lyman Balcom, Daniel Gray, John W. Taggart, Grattan H. 
Wheeler, Samuel Balcom, Robert B. Wilks, Frank J. Marshall, Chas. 
H. Robie, Samuel E. Haskin, Azariah C. Brundage, Nathaniel B. Stan- 
ton, Martin W. Noble, Joseph M. Hopkins, Daniel B. Curtis, Lemuel 
Mathewson, Lewis C. Kingsbury, Lyman Aulls, Amos Jewett, Sanford 
A. Gardiner, James L. Packer, Chas. A. Reynolds, Edward C. Cook. 

The present (1895) officers are Edward C. Cook, president; John C. 
Switzer, G. D. Wilbur, H. T. Connor, J. B. Giffin, George Wolcott, 
Robert Kellogg, David H. Ackerson and D. B. Bryan, vice-presidents ; 
Major A. C. Brundage, secretary ; Thos. N. Smith, treasurer, and John 
W. Moore, general superintendent. 

The New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Bath, although 
an institution of the State rather than local, is nevertheless a proper 
subject of mention in this chapter. In fact the location and erection of 
the buildings in our county town was the result of generosity and enter- 
prise on the part of the people of Bath and its immediate vicinity. 
After several futile attempts to found a soldiers' home in this State an 
effective act was passed by the Legislature in 1876, approved by Gov- 
ernor Tilden on May 15. An organization was perfected and the con- 
stituted committee received proposals or offers of land for a site. Of 
course the public-spirited citizens of various localities made generous 
offers to the commissioners, but of them all that at Bath was considered 
the most desirable. The land comprised the well known Rider farm, 
220 acres in extent, in addition to which was j cash offer of $6,000 to be 
used in the erection of buildings. 

On Wednesday, June 13, 1877, the corner-stone of the home build- 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 253 

ing was laid, and on the 23(1 day of January, 1879, the institution was 
opened for the reception of inmates. The formal transfer of the prop- 
erty from the commissioners or association to the State was completed 
in pursuance of an act of the Legislatnre, passed March 1 1, 1878. 

As is well known, the object and purpose of the home is to provide 
for the care, maintenance and relief of soldiers and sailors from the 
State of New York, who served in the Union army or navy during the 
war of i86i-5,and received an honorable discharge therefrom, and 
who from an\' cause stand in need of the care and benefits of a soldiers' 
home. 

The Board of Trustees is composed of nine members, exclusive of the 
governor and attorney-general, who are ex-ofificio members. The 
board establish rules and regulations for the management of the home, 
its officers and inmates, and they submit a detailed report of their pro- 
ceedings to the Legislature each year. The personnel of the present 
Board of Trustees is as follows: The governor and attornej'-gcneral, 
ex-officio, and Hosea H. Rockwell, John Palmer, Oliver B. Caldwell, O. 
H. Smith, Halbert S. Greenleaf, George H. Blackman, Frank Campbell, 
Edwin S. Jenney and Horatio C. King. 

The officers of the home are Gen. Wm. F. Rogers, superintendent ; 
Maj. S. H. Leavitt, adjutant ; Dr. T. O. Burleson, surgeon ; Dr. E. C. 
Pixley, assistant surgeon ; Capt. Frank P. P"rost, quartermaster. 

The Davenport Home for Female Orphan Children, one of the 
noblest charities of the State, is beautifully located in the south part of 
the village of Bath. It was the free and voluntary gift of Col. Ira Dav- 
enport, his own and original idea, the revelation of his generous heart 
and nature ; and unaided and unadvised, except by those of his own 
family, he founded and built the home and endowed it abundantly so 
that is not in any manner a charge ujion the generosity of the public. 
The building was begun in 1861, and two years later the association 
was organized. The first inmate was received July 19, 1864. The 
property was conveyed by Col. Davenport to the home association, and 
to the managers is assigned the pleasant duty of conducting its affairs. 
The endowment fund now aggregates more than $200,000, and the an- 
nual income is about $12,000. At present the home has sixty three 
inmates. The late John Davenport, who died May 5, 1895, ^^s at that 



254 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

time president, and was succeeded by Ira Davenport. Roth were sons 
of the founder of the institution. The trustees and managers are Ira 
Davenport, Mrs, Sherman S. Rogers. Mrs. John Davenport and James 
Lyon. Matron, Mrs. Jemima L. McPherson. 

The Bath Centennial Celebration, June 6 and 7, 1893, was one of the 
most notable events in local annals. The preliminarx- arrangements for 
this occasion began in January, and nothing was left undone to make 
perfect desirable features. At the first public meeting, General Averell 
was chosen chairman, and James R. Kingsley, secretary. For the pur- 
pose of carrying out the detail of arrangements a large general com- 
mittee was appointed, and also sub-committees, and, with complete 
unity in opinion and action, all things were done " decently and in order." 
On Sunday, June 4, in the several churches of the village were conducted 
appropriate religious services with historical sermons (from these ser- 
mons there has been compiled a history of each of the local churches. 
See Ecclesiastical history in another department of this work), followed 
in the evening by a union service in the Casino, and address by Prof 
Levi D. Miller. From the published proceedings we quote the order 
of exercises : 
Tuesday, June 6, Prayer, Rev. L. M. Miller, D.D., of Ogdensburgh, N Y. 

Address of Welcome, bj' President of the Da)', Reuben E, Robie. 

Poem, Prof Zenas L. Parker. 

Captain Charles Williamson, a sketch, by James McCall. 

History of Bath for Fifty Years, Ansel J. McCall. 
Evening Elxercises, Prayer. 

Reminiscences — by Wm. E. Howell, J. R. Whiting, Rev. L. M. 
Miller, D.D., Irving W. Near, Edward H. Butler and Clark Bell. 

Schools, Charles F. Kingsley, 

Physicians, Dr. Ira P. Smith. 

Lawyers, Charles H. McMaster. 

Editors, George B. Richardson. 

Soldiers, Major John Stocum. 
Wednesday, June 7. 

Sunrise Salute of Cannon and Bells. 

Parade of all the Schools of the Town to the Fair Grounds (about 
1, 000 children, headed by five bands of music, participated in this novel 
and interesting event). 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 255 

On the Fair Grounds, 10.30 A. M. 

Prayer, M. N. Preston. 

Letters of Regret, read by Secretary R. R. Lyon. 

Address and Presentation of Portrait of Charles Williamson, by Jas. 
McCall. 

Acceptance on behalf of Trustees, Byron L. Smith. 

Oration, Sherman S. Rogers, of Buffalo. 

Change of Name of Lake Salubria to Lake Williamson. 

Benediction. 

2.00 P. M. Parade of Fire Department, Civic Societies and General 
Trades Display ; Capt. W. W. Lindsay, Marshal ; Messrs. L. H. Bal- 
com, Hoxie W. Smith, Wm. J. H. Richardson and S. J. Wilkes, Aides. 

8.00 V. M. Old Time Reception at the Casino. 

The following list shows the formation and the companies in the line 
of the parade : 

Capt. W. W. Lindsay, Marshal. 

Soldiers' and Sailors' Home Band, si.xteen men. 

Custer Post, G. A. R., eighty men. 

General Barry Post, G. A. R., No. 248, seventy-five men. 

Keeley Club of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, seventy men. 

L. H. Balcom Assistant Marshal. 

Hammondsport Cornet Band, sixteen men. 

Royai Arcanum, Chapter No. 344, of Bath, forty men. 

Knights of the Maccabees, No. 71, of Bath, forty men. 

Boy's Society, " Character Builders of St. Thomas church," forty-two 
in line, led by Rev. B S. Sanderson. 

Wm. J. H. Richardson, Assistant Marshal. 

Prattsburgh Cornet Band, fourteen men. 

Bath Fire Department, Chief McNamara, First Assistant Cotton, 
Second Assistant Parker. 

Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, twenty six men, P'oreman A. 
L. Lilley. 

Hook and Ladder truck gaily decorated and carrying a log hut with 
Indians, representing 1793 at one end, while at the other end was a boat 
containing four little girls representative of the year 1893. 

Samuel E. Wilkes, Assistant Marshal. 



25G LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Cohocton Cornet Band, twenty men. 

Edwin Cook Hose Company, twenty-eight men, Foreman John 
Donahe. 

Hose Company's cart completely covered with flowers, and two little 
children riding on top dressed in Continental costume. 

Hacks containing Mayor Gould, Trustees Smith, Phillips, Aber and 
Sutton, City Attorney Waldo and Clerk Shannon. 

Hoxie W. Smith, Assistant Marshal, followed by a long division rep- 
resenting the business interests of the Town and Village. 

Personnel of the several committees under whose division the celebra- 
tion was arranged and most successfully managed : 
General Committee : 

Gen. VV. VV. Averell,W. W. Allen, R E. Robie, A. J. McCall, H. W. 
Bowes, J. F. Little, O. H. Smith, Abram Beekman. W. E. Howell, J. F. 
Parkhurst, R. R. Lyon, James R. Kingsley, Rev. M. N. Preston, Rev. 
B. S. Sanderson, Rev M. C. Dean, Rev. V. P. Mather, Rev. J. J. Gleason , 
Rev. B. VV. Swain. Gen. Averell was Chairman of the Committee, and 
James R. Kingsley, Secretary. 
Sub-committees : — 

Invitations — A. J. McCall. 

Reception of Guests — Augustus de Peyster. 

Entertainment — Abram Beekman. 

Literary Exercises — John F. Little. 

Finance — Reuben R. Lyon. 

Decorating Village — John McNamara. 

Schools — Clarence Willis. 

Procession and Bands — William H. Hallock. 

Evening Reception — Augustus de Peyster. 

Publication and Printing — John Underbill. 

In their preparations the Committee were given most valued assist- 
ance by the Ladies' Committee, made up as follows : 

Executive Committee — Mrs. James Lyon, Chairman ; Mrs. Ansel J. 
McCall, Mrs. Wm. Rumsey, Mrs. George W. Hallock, Mrs. J. F. Park- 
hurst, Mrs. B. F. Young, Mrs. M. Rumsey Miller, Mrs. Agustus de 
Peyster, Mrs. John Davenport, Mrs. W. W. Averell ; Miss Jeanette M. 
Hodgman, Sec'y. 



t\ 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS 257 

Invitations — Mrs. Thomas J. Wiiiting. 

Reception and Care of Guests — Mrs. William H. Nichols. 

Entertainment, Seats and Grounds — Miss Katharine Bowes. 

Literary Exercises — Miss Mamie McBeath. 

Finance — Mrs. Charles F. Kingsley. 

Decoration of Village and Grounds — Mrs. Abram Beekman. 

Schools — Miss Anna P'reeman. 

Procession and Bands — Mrs. Alfred Case. 

Evening Reception — The Executive Committee. 

Publication and Printing — Miss Cassia VV. Hull. 

As a business and manufacturing center Bath has attracted little 
attention in commercial circles. True, mercantile interests are now and 
in the past have been sufficiently represented, and there has always 
been enough of competition to prevent the possibilities of monopoly. 
In the early historj' of the town, General McClure and some of his asso- 
ciates were very active in starting and maintaining manufacturing enter- 
prises, yet indifferent results were the reward of their best efforts, and 
later generations have shown only a passive interest in building up 
Bath with factories. And it is also true that many of the present busi- 
ness men, bankers and capitalists have generously contributed money 
to various manufacturing industries, but the results generally have been 
discouraging rather than satisfactory. 

In this work it has not been thought advisable to mention by name 
the merchants of Bath ; they need no such advertisement to display 
their wares as nearly all are patrons of the local press. However, we 
may mention, among manufacturing interests, the harness and saddle 
factory, started about 1890 by Fred Morris, but now and since July, 
1893, operated by the Bath Harness Company. Another industry 
worthy of note is the Smith & Griegson Shoe Company, whose plant 
was destroyed by an unfortunate fire during the spring of 1895. The 
business of the company, however, was at once established and con- 
tinued. 

Among the fixed manufacturing industries of the village may be 

mentioned the planing mills and general wood working establishments 

of Abram Beekman, and also William H. and Robert J. Davison, the firm 

being also extensive contractors and builders. Joy'sjsteam flouring mill 

33 



258 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

may also be mentioned in the same connection. Messrs. Hardenbrook 
& Co. formerly operated a large foundry and machine shop, among 
their specialties being stoves, plows and general castings. The old 
plant occupied by Loomis & McMath as a wagon factory is now owned 
by WilUiam Allen. The Applebee Horse Collar factory has moved to 
Corning, and the Bath Jacket Can Manufacturing Company, after dis- 
asters, went out of business. 

The record of the banking institutions shows in more favorable light 
so far at least as substantial results and capable management is con- 
cerned. The pioneer financial concern of I^ath was the old Steuben 
County Bank, incorporated by the Legislature March 9, 1832, the di- 
rectors being John Magee, president, and William W. McCoy, Reuben 
Robie, Edward Howell, Constant Cook, James Faulkner, Andrew B. 
Dickinson, Chauncey Hoffman, Charles Butler, Henry S. Williams, 
Henry B. Gibson, Ansel St. John, and William S. Hubbell, directors. The 
bank first opened for business, October 24, 1832, in the old Land Office 
building, but in 1833 moved to the new bank building erected for its 
use, and where it afterward continued throughout the period of its useful 
and successful career. The presidents, in succession, were John Magee, 
William W. McCoy, John Magee, D. C. Howell, Ambrose S. Howell, 
D. C. Howell, and William E. Howell. During the time of the last 
mentioned president, the bank went into voluntary liquidation and 
soon passed out of existence. 

George W. Hallock's bank was established January i, 1849, and for 
a period of nearly half a century has been known among the safe finan- 
cial institutions of the State. William H. Hallock became partner with 
the founder in 1879, a relation which was maintained to the death of 
the latter, February 10, 1895. The bank, however, is continued on the 
same safe basis established by Mr. Hallock many years ago. It is now 
owned by Mary H. and William H. Hallock. The latter is now cashier ; 
John M. Farr, assistant cashier, and C. E. Bennett, teller. 

The present First National Bank of Bath was originally organized as 
The Bank of Bath, April 1 1, 1854, with a capital of $50,000. Constant 
Cook was its president, and H. H. Cook, cashier, by both of whom its 
affairs were managed, and successfully although frequent changes in 
location were made. However, in 1S58, the business was removed to 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 259 

the new bank building at the corner of Steuben and Liberty streets. 
On tile 14th of December, 1863, the State charter was dissolved and 
the bank at once reorganized under the name of First National Bank of 
Bath (No. 153) with a capital of $50,000 (soon afterward increased to 
$100,000). The first officers were Constant Cook, president; H. H. 
Cook, cashier, both of whom, with L. D. Hodgman, E. C. Cook and W. 
W. Allen composed the board of directors. Judge Cook died on the 
24th of February, 1874, and in April following Henry H. Cook was 
elected to the presidenc)'. At this time, also, W. W. Allen was ap- 
pointed cashier, which offices they hold at the present time. The direc- 
tors are H. H. Cook, L. D. Hodgman, E. C. Cook, M. R. Miller and 
W. W. Allen. This bank has a surplus of nearly $45,000. No com- 
ment upon its management or business is required at the hands of the 
writer, for the First National Bank of Bath is too well known in bank- 
ing circles and in the business world to suggest even the desirability of 
compliment. 

The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Bath opened its doors for busi- 
ness January i, 1880, the owners and managers forming a partnership, 
comprising J. F. Parkhurst, Abram Beekman, Thomas R. Rutherford, 
William M. Nichols, and Frank Campbell. The present partners and 
owners are Messrs. Beekman, Parkhurst, and Campbell. This is a 
private banking house, safe and reliable, and enjoys a full share of public 
confidence. 

The City OF Corning — On the 26th day of October, 1825, that 
great thoroughfare of travel and traffic — the Erie canal — was completed 
and opened for its intended use, and great and immediate benefit ac- 
crued to the towns and villages along its route. During the ten years 
next following this event, the legislature was constantly besieged with 
applications for charters and for pecuniary assistance in the interest of 
other similar enterprises, nearly all of which were intended to be au.xil- 
iary and tributary to the canal first mentioned, and to cross the State 
from north to south, penetrating the vast lumber tracts of Southern New 
York and the unlimited coal fields of Northern Pennsylvania. Capital- 
ists and merchants in Albany and New York, and also in the more 
prominent manufacturing centers of New England, were desirous tliat 
these lateral waterways should be established, for they eagerly sought 



260 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

both coal and lumber for business and speculative purposes, which 
commodities were not provided by the main canal. In 1825 the Dela- 
ware and Hudson Canal company was chartered, and in 1828 the canal 
itself was opened. This brought southern products to Rondout, on the 
Hudson, affording partial relief, yet still another inlet was needed. 

While the canal last mentioned was in process of construction, a prop- 
osition was laid before the legislature contemplating another canal, ex- 
tending southward from the head of Seneca lake into the extensive coal 
and lumber fields of Northern Pennsylvania, by way of the Chemung 
and Tioga rivers, but the scheme nearly failed through the adverse posi- 
tion taken by Col. Samuel Young who seemed to have authority to pass 
upon the necessity or desirability of the enterprise. However, at this 
juncture, Captain Vincent Conklin took his team of horses and drew a 
fine load of Blossburg coal to Albany in order to satisfy the doubtful 
mind as to the value of the coal deposit of that region. In Albany the 
redoubtable Conklin found an interested listener in Edwin Cresswell, 
editor of the Argus, and the result was an earnest advocacy of the canal 
project on the part of that paper. Better yet, on the 15th of April, 
1829, a bill was passed authorizing the construction of the Chemung 
canal, extending from Watkins to Elmira, with a navigable feeder, or 
branch, between Horseheads and Knoxville. The work of construction 
was at once begun, and was completed in 1833, and by it, and other 
public enterprises soon afterward carried to successful completion, the 
village and city of Corning became a possibility. Without them it is 
doubtful if the original hamlet would ever have been more than a cross- 
roads settlement. 

This great consummation attained, pubHc attention was soon attracted 
to the vicinity of the canal terminus on the southwest. The Conhocton, 
the Canisteo, the Tuscarora and the Tioga brought here their rafts of 
superior quality lumber, while the Tioga contributed in addition both 
lumber and coal, all of which found ready cash markets in the east. 
These things naturally drew attention to our locality, and it is not sur- 
prising that Albany capitalists sought investments in so promising a 
field. 

The operations of the Corning Company were no less important as 
factors in early municipal history than was the the canal, yet the com- 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 261 

pany followed the canal and was dependent upon it just as later improv- 
ments were the outgrowth of the land operations. It was the combina- 
tion of all these elements that laid the foundation upon which the mu- 
nicipal structure was subsequently built, improved and enlarged ; and 
to-day we note the result in one of the most metropolitan yet cosmo- 
politan cities in interior New York, built up and firmly established, well 
ordered and situated, and containing all the requisites for future advanced 
prosperity. 

The Corning Company was formed in 1835, in Albany, and comprised 
in its membership Erastus Corning, Thomas VV. Olcott, Joseph Fellows, 
Watts Sherman, Hiram Bostwick, Ansel Bascom, Bowen Whiting, 
William A. Bradley and Levin I. Gilliss, who associated for the purpose 
of acquiring and developing lands in this State, particularly in Steuben 
county, and for such other speculative purposes as were desirable. The 
company first purchased at Painted Post, but their title failed, and they 
ne.xt obtained 340 acres of land on the west side of the Chemung, with- 
in the present city limits. It was at first thought the selection of land 
made by the company was unfortunate, being on the west side of the 
river, but whether so or not the location proved most fortunate for sub- 
sequent interests as bridges were built and thus the whole town was 
benefited. 

Indeed these first years of village history witnessed many improve- 
ments and wonderful changes, and in 1836 there was sufficient impor- 
tance in the settlement to warrant a name for the hamlet. It was 
called Corning, in honorable allusion to Erastus Corning, founder in 
fact of the company and one of the chief promoters of the enterprise. 
The purchase tract was surveyed and laid out into lots, and all needful 
things were provided to build up a progressive settlement. However, 
one of the first acts of the company was to ascertain the possibility of a 
successful line of railroad between the canal terminus and the rich Bloss- 
burg coal fields. To be sure, the Tioga river afforded moderate facili- 
ties for transportation at certain periods, yet it proved a somewhat slow 
and occasionally unreliable thoroughfare of traffic. To overcome the 
objections a survey was made to the State line, up the valley of the 
river, and being practicable the energetic companj' constructed the road 
to that point, and there joined with the road built by a similar company 



262 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of Pennsylvania operators. In 1839 the first locomotive traversed the 
Tioga valley, and the future success and growth of our little village 
became assured. 

Reference to the railroad statistics of the State discloses the fact that 
this road was built by the " Tioga Coal, Iron Mining and Manufactur- 
ing Company," connecting the bituminous coal fields of Pennsylvania 
with the Chemung canal, but gives the year of organization as 1841. 
However, in 1852, the road was sold and the name changed to Corning 
and Blossburg railroad. It is the same more recently known as the 
Blossburg, Corning and Tioga railroad, the " Cowanesque Branch," 
and also as the Fall Brook road. In 1840 the preliminary surveys for 
the Erie railroad were made in this vicinity, yet ten years passed before 
the road was in fact completed. In the expectation that this line was 
to be immediately built local capital invested largely, and the delay 
which followed worked disaster to all business interests. The road, 
however, was completed to Corning in January, 1850. Two years later 
the Buffalo, Corning and New York railroad (now Rochester division 
of the Erie) was completed to Corning, atTording additional facilities 
through the Conhocton valley. Still later railway lines, which have 
added to the general advancement of local interests, were the Syracuse, 
Geneva and Corning, chartered in 1875, and opened in 1877 ; the Del- 
aware, Lackawanna and Western, opened in 1882 ; and the Addison 
and Pennsylvania, also opened in 18S2. The old Corning and Olean 
Company was chartered in 1852, with a capital of $850,000, but tlie 
road was never built. 

Returning to purely local history, let us briefly note some of the 
prominent factors in the development of early interests Col. H. VV. 
Bostwick was of course active in the operations of the Corning company, 
and was its resident manager. Other enterprising residents were Dr. 
William Turbell, Lawyer Thomas A. Johnson, Laurin, P. J. and Wm. 
M. Mallory, Major S B. Denton, Nelson L. Somers, H. G. Phelps, B. 
P. Bailey, John A. Parcell, B. W. Payne, Daniel G. Comstock, George 
T. Spencer, E. P. Rogers, S. T. Hayt, Hiram Pritchard, Wm. J. Arnold, 
Charles Clark and others. 

Previous to 1840 the hamlet had no post- office nearer than Center- 
ville, but in the year mentioned Postmaster Philo P. Hubbell kindly 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 263 

moved the Painted Post office to Corning. In 1841 the name of the 
office was changed to Corning and Major S. B. Denton was appointed 
postmaster. Also in 1840 Charles Adams contributed greatly to local 
interests in establishing a newspaper, called the Corning and Hlossburg 
Advocate. The second paper was the Corning Sun, founded in 1853 
by Mark M. Pomeroy and P. C. Van Gelder. Churches were erected 
and religious societies were organized, the village Presbyterian in 1842, 
and the second of the same denomination three years later. The Prot- 
estant Episcopal church followed in 1854, while the Methodist Episco- 
pal workers were in the field as early as 1839, The Baptist and Cath- 
olics were here about the same time, 1842. 

In 1842, according to a reprinted article from the Corning and Bloss- 
burg Advocate, the village contained about 500 inhabitants, and was 
considered '' a smart town," but the failure of the first Erie railroad en- 
terprise had a depressing effect on all local interests and some of them 
suffered seriously. The road was completed to Corning from the cast 
in December, 1849, but at that time, notwithstanding all adverse extents, 
the local population had increased to 1,300, and the village had been 
regularly incorporated. 

Referring again to the article in the Advocate, we learn that the law- 
yers of the village in 1842 were Johnson & Covell, George T. Spencer, 
and also Col. H. W. Bostwick, the latter president and attorney of the 
Corning Company and constantly engaged in furthering the interests of 
his principals rather than occupied in general legal practice. Terbell & 
Brownell were physicians, the former being also proprietor of a drug 
store which has since been continued by some member of the familw 
S. B. Denton kept a shoe store, and was also at one time proprietor of 
the old Corning House, a well known hostelry standing on the site now 
occupied by the Dickinson House. H. H. VVyman was the village liv- 
eryman. 

The old Bank of Corning was then in successful operation, having be- 
gan business January 12, 1839, under a hundred-year charter, yet its 
existence covered a period of less than thirty years. However, it out- 
lived by more than a year the Corning Company which dissolved in 
1855. Jared A. Redfield was a dry goods merchant, and Loveland & 
Arnold were in the same line of trade. Bailey & Gray kept a stock of 



264 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

general merchandise, while L. Davenport was hatter, but later on 
opened a book store. Charles Clark was builder and contractor, and 
some of the structures built by him are still standing, though most of 
the frame business buildings have been removed by fire or the ever 
progressing hand of man. G. W. Hanmer kept general store, C. H, 
Powers was the jeweler, and Loomis, Fuller & Co. kept a large supply 
of boots, shoes and leather. James B. Lower was a manufacturer of 
cars and did an extensive business in the village. David Baker was the 
brickniaker, and his product is still discernible in many of the older 
buildings of the vicinity. 

Dr. Janles Cutler practiced medicine in Knoxville, which place then 
rivaled Corning. Later on, however, the village founded by Judge 
Knox became a suburb to rapidly growing and constantly extending 
Corning, and finally was absorbed by the city incorporation. It now 
constitutes the Fifth ward, and is, withal, the largest and most impor- 
tant outlying district of the municipality. However, for the purposes 
of this outline narrative Knoxville will be treated as a part of Corning. 

The old and well known firm of W. & F. Thornton dealt in dry 
goods ; W. B. Scudder had a stock of general merchandise ; W. & J. 
Treverton, and also J. F. Geen sold paints, oils and glazier's goods; D. 
R. Davis was the village barber; M, J. Pace made and sold bakestuffs ; 
J. S. Jamison taught writing school ; Pew & Paddleford were livery- 
men ; N. L. Somer & Co sold hardware ; W. L. Waller dealt in dry 
goods; and H. G. Phelps and H. Pritchard were proprietors of the local 
flour and grist mills. Over in Knoxville Dyer Ford sold groceries and 
patent medicines ; D. J. Shaw dealt in dry goods and Yankee notions, 
but later on built and opened the Corning Exchange. 

Such, substantially, was the condition of mercantile interests in the 
village half a century ago, but succeeding years worked wonderful 
changes. Within the next ten years, following 1842, the village suf- 
fered severe losses by fire and many of the best business places were 
completely destroyed. These disasters led to the formation of fire com- 
panies as a partial means of preventing still further conflagrations and 
their consequent loss, and the liberality of the business men was sorely 
taxed to provide fire apparatus, which could not be purchased at the 
expense of the town at large. Having a population of about 1,200 in 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS 3C5 

1848, many public improvements were necessary, and the town sliowed 
little inclination to pay an expense from which persons outside the vil- 
lage received no direct benefit. Therefore the interested citizens deter- 
mined to produre an order of incorporation. 

The petitioners were Horace G. Phelps, James C. Davis and Joseph 
Herron, who made application to the Court of Sessions on the 31st of 
August, 1848, and on the 6th of September, following, Judge McMaster 
granted the order of incorporation, subject to ratification by the electors 
of the incorporated district. The election for this purpose was held on 
the 25th of October, and the result showed i 18 votes for and 5 against 
the proposition. 

The first election of village officers was held January 12, 1849, and 
resulted as follows : Horace G. Phelps, Laurin Mallory, George T. 
Spencer, Aaron H. Foster and James S. Robinson, trustees. On the 
organization of the board, Mr. Mallory was chosen president, and 
Thomas Messenger, clerk. However, in 1858, the powers of the muni- 
cipal body were increased through charter enactment, after whicii time 
the office of president became elective instead of appointive. 

The village trustees, under the first order of incorporation, were nec- 
essarily compelled to inaugurate many public improvements. They were 
the legislative and executive power of a municipality of i ,300 inhabitants, 
and with mercantile and manufacturing interests of greater importance 
than is usual in such villages. The highways were in great need of 
attention, and sidewalks must be laid and lights provided. Soon after- 
ward the Erie railway was completed to the village and police protec- 
tion was imperative. About the same time the locality was visited with 
a series of disastrous fires, by which many of their prominent business 
blocks were destroyed. So seriously was the loss felt in the community 
that the trustees, on the fourth of January, 185 i, adopted a resolution 
by which a regular fire department was organized ; and within one 
week from that time Rescue Fire Co. No. i, and Rescue Hose Co. No. 
I, also Rough and Ready Fire Co. No 2, and Rough and Ready Hose 
Co. No. 2, were brought into existence, and ~soon afterward equipped 
with the necessary apparatus for extinguishing fires. The name Rough 
and Ready was changed to Neptune, and in 1857, Alliance Hook and 

Ladder Co. was organized. This was the nucleus of the present fire 
34 



266 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

department of the city, an organization surpassed by none and equaled 
by few among the volunteer organizations of the State. 

In 1862 the department was incorporated under the State laws, and 
upon organization Alfred Jones was elected president, and George W. 
Pratt, secretary. As the village and subsequent city enlarged both in 
population and business importance, so, also, was the department in- 
creased in members and efficiency, until it was a distinct branch of mu- 
nicipal government, controlled by a full board of officers, as follows : 
Marvin Olcott, president ; G. D. Gorton, secretary ; W. L. McGeorge, 
treasurer. The chief engineer is F. L. Clute ; 1st asst., W. H. Christie ; 
2d asst., J. Lazarus. The fire wardens are W. B. Walker, E. B. Sey- 
mour and D. F. Fero. 

In the same year in which the first village officers were elected the 
Erie Railroad was completed to Corning and opened for traffic This 
was by far the greatest acquisition in local interests and contributed 
largely to early prosperity. Within another year or two the road was 
completed to Hornellsville and points farther west, thus giving the vil- 
lage a trunk line of railroad with all its accompanying advantages. In 
1852 the Rochester branch was also opened, and the products of both 
Canisteo and Conhocton valleys poured into the village on their way to 
Eastern markets. The Chemung Canal was in full and successful 
operation at the same time. In less than another quarter of a century 
the Syracuse, Geneva & Corning Road was ready for business, afford- 
ing ready connection with the New York Central Road and also points 
in New England. In view of these things it is not surprising that Corn- 
ing was a business center of much importance previous to the outbreak 
of the late war, and when peace was restored renewed activity added 
still other interests to the village. In 1868 the now celebrated glass 
works were removed from Brooklyn to Corning, bringing to the village 
at least one hundred experienced workmen, many of them having fam- 
ilies. One industry led to another, each succeeding family increased 
the importance of the municipality, and we find as early as 1888 popu- 
lation and volume of business sufficient to warrant a city charter, with 
all its attendant prestige and advantage. Of this the people began to 
speak at least two years before the act in fact passed the Legislature, 
and among the more prominent factors in bringing about the desired 




WILLIAM W. ADAMS. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 267 

result were I'". D. Kingsbury, P'rankliu N. Drake, Amory Houghton, jr., 
Harry C. Heermans, John Hoare, sen., E. D. Willis, F. R. Brown, 
Stephen T. Hayt, George W. Pratt. Q. W. Wellington, Dwight A. Ful- 
ler, George B. Bradley and others. Tiie bill creating the city became a 
law and received the executive sanction on the 20th of March, 189O. 
Within the city limits were about 1,800 acres of land. 

The first election of city officers was held April 2, 1890, with result 
as follows : William E. Gorton, mayor ; D. F. Browne, recorder ; L. B. 
Robinson, chamberlain; Thomas O'Brien, overseer of the poor ; George 
Hitchcock and Thomas Hiffernan, justices of the peace ; William A. 
Foster, Peter Griffin and S. C. Robertson, supervisors. Aldermen : 
John Peart and William Hunt, First Ward ; John W. Fedderand Will- 
iam T. Brady, Second Ward; E. Clisdell and William T. Rubright, 
Tliird Ward ; John Cogan and James McMahon, Fifth Ward; George 
Clark and Albert Pritchard, Fifth Ward. 

Mayor Gorton found the work of organizing the several departments 
of city government to be a rather arduous undertaking, yet he applied 
himself industriously to the duties of his office, and within a very short 
time all branches were working smoothly and well. Doctor Gorton's 
term of office covered two years, and his administration of affairs proved 
very acceptable to the people. 

In 1892 Benjamin W. Wellington was elected mayor, and showed 
himself to be an entirely capable and efficient public officer. His was 
the first Republican term in the mayoralty, the change contemplating 
several new appointments, yet all were satisfactory and worthy. Under 
Mayor Wellington the new city hall was built, in 1893, ''t ^n expense 
of nearly $40,000. 

The present mayor, William W. Adams, was elected in the spring of 
1894, and although a new man in public office, his administration has 
been clean, careful and conservative, with an aim to promote tiic wel- 
fare of the city rather than for personal advantage. 

In all departments of city government Corning has been fortunate in 
the selection of officers, and to-day ranks among the best and most 
liberally conducted municipalities of the State. To a great extent poli- 
tics is subordinate to the public good, the heads of departments and 
commissioners being chosen with reference to fitness rather than party 



268 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

affiliation. The popular plan of delegating the control of the several 
arms of city government to constituted commissions has shown bene- 
ficial results in the aptly called " Crystal City." However, let us here 
note the names of present officials connected with local government, 
and then refer briefly to some of the more important branches which 
have made for our city its e.xcellent standing. 

Mayor, William W. Adams; city clerk, William L. McGeorge ; cham- 
berlain, John Greentrup ; city attorney, E. D. Mills; street commis- 
sioner, Rufus C. Palmer; city engineer, Harry C. Heermans ; recorder, 
W. J. Tully ; acting recorder, George Hitchcock; chief of police, James 
Ryan ; captain of police, John Brennan. Aldermen : C. H. Lovell, 
George Walsh, First Ward; Dr. H. A. Argue, C. H. Duerlin, Second 
Ward ; Valentine Rettig, W. J. Cheney, Third Ward ; Peter Farrell, 
T. F. Reilly, Fourth Ward ; Dr. G. W. Lane, A. A. King, Fifth Ward. 
Assessors, S. B. Nichols, N. D. Rowley, P. D. Haradon ; justices, George 
Hitchcock, B. F. Marriott ; overseer of the poor, James Peart. 

Police commissioners — James A. Drake, Henry Beck, Edward P. 
Graves, C. G. Cole. 

Sewer commissioners — F. D. Kingsbury, president ; H. P. Sinclair, 
secretary ; O. W. Wellington, treasurer ; Samuel T. Hayt and Thomas 
Dwyer. 

Excise Commissioners — W. T. Brady, Joseph F. Moore, Charles W. 
Hayt, W. J. Tully. 

Board of Health— C. A. Rubright, E. W. Bryan, M. D., John B. 
Dailey, H. M. Bourne, Charles W. Fassett, J. L. Miller. W. S. Cobb, 
health officer and clerk of the board. 

Fire Department Companies — Alliance Hook and Ladder Co , No. i ; 
Pritchard Hose Co., No. i ; Crystal City Hose Co., No. 2 ; Independ- 
ent Hose Co., No. 3 ; Corning Protectives, No. 4 ; Magee Hose Co., 
No. s. 

The educational branch of city government in Corning is one in which 
every loyal citizen feels a just pride, and for the maintenance and sup- 
port of the public schools the local authorities make generous provision. 
In this action the board of education has ever received the approval of 
the taxpayers, as the appropriations are worthily applied, and there is 
no evidence whatever of prodigality. The present admirable school 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 269 

system is the outgrowth of a beginning made as early as the year 1839, 
when a public meeting was held at the house of S. B. Denton, at which 
time Judge Johnson, William L. Waller and Charles Clark were chosen 
trustees of old district No. 14, of the then town of Painted Post. A 
school house was thus provided, in fact two of them, but in later years 
a consolidation of school interests was eftected. On April 13, 1S59, a 
special act of Legislature constituted a board of education in district 
No. 9, which, of course, was the village school district. At that time 
the free school system was put in operation, although the academy build- 
ing was not completed and occupied until September i, 1873. This 
structure, known as the Corning Academy, or High School, needs no 
extended description in this place ; it stands to-day a monument to the 
generosity of an intelligent public. The building has been repaired 
and enlarged as occasion has required, and within the last year nearly 
$30,000 has been expended in enlargements and sanitary improvements. 

In district No. 9 are three good schools, one of which is the academy 
just mentioned. When the city was created it included within its lim- 
its district No. 13, town of Corning, or at least so much of that district 
as comprises the present Fifth Ward. This was formerly Knoxville, and 
by the acquisition Corning gained another excellent school. However, 
this district is separately supported, receiving no support from the city 
other than from its own territory. Its affairs are controlled by a sepa- 
rate board of education and at the expense of the district known as 
No. 13. 

The personnel of the board of education in district No. 9 is as follows : 
Amory Houghton, jr., George R. Brown, Edward Clisdell, O. P. Robin- 
son, David S. Drake and William E. Gorton Officers of the board : 
Amory Houghton, jr., president; George Hitchcock, secretary ; Q. W. 
Wellington, treasurer. Superintendent of schools, Leigh R. Hunt. 

The board of education in district No. 13 comprises Luman S. Con- 
over, Dr. George W. Lane, Charles Billinghurst, I'rank H. Viele, Will- 
iam A. Pierce, John McBurney and T. H. Cole, jr. 

Corning is abundantly supplied with pure and wholesome water for 
domestic and public purposes. The system was established in 1871 and 
'72, at an expense of about $25,000, but for some reason it was a con- 
stant source of expense instead of profit to the village. Further im- 



270 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



provements entailed additional outlays of money until the public had 
invested nearly $40,000 in the plant, and yet the concern was con- 
tinually a source of expense. In order to be relieved of this burden 
the trustees oftered to lease the works, but without success for some 
time, and not until young Harry Heermans, law student, determined to 
establish it on a paying basis. He associated with T. L. Lawrence, and 
the two leased the plant and system for thirty years, beginning Janu- 
ary I, 1877. Their capital consisted chiefly of energy and good judg- 
ment, and within three years the works were on a self-sustaining basis. 
Soon afterward a profit was realized, and to-day. notwithstanding the 
large outlays for extensions and maintenance, tlie firm are lessees of one 
of the best enterprises in Steuben county. The city is well supplied 
with excellent water from a large reservoir on the hill on the south side, 
while connected with the system is a pumping station of equal utility. 
From 500,000 to 800,000 gallons of water are pumped daily, and the 
number of taps is about 800 

The Corning Gas Company was incorporated August i, 1862, to 
furnish the village with gas for illuminating purposes. This is an im- 
portant adjunct of municipal welfare although electric lighting has in a 
measure displaced gas. The officers of the company are C. S. Cole, 
president ; F. D. Kingsbury, treasurer and general manager ; E. B. 
Seymour, secretary. Superintendent, W. H. Christie. 

As a manufacturing and mercantile city, Corning ranks exceedingly 
well among the industrial centers of the State This fortunate con- 
dition of affairs is largely due to the railroad facilities, by which the 
local product is easily and quickly shipped to markets in any direction. 
Indeed our enterprising city has two recognized trunk lines of railroad 

the Erie and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, while the Fall 

Brook system is so complete and important to local interests as to be 
of equal value with the lines mentioned. In addition the Fall Brook 
Company have here their central offices for business management, 
while their construction and repair shops furnish employment to hun- 
dreds of workingmen. 

One of the most important industries of Southern New York is the 
Corning Glass Works, which, with its allied interests, furnishes em- 
ployment to about 1,000 persons, and also, through its pay rolls, 




HARRY C. HEERMANS. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 271 

provides the means of subsistence to at least 3,000 more. In Corning 
these works were established by the removal of the Brooklyn Flint 
Glass Works in the year 1868, being induced to such course through 
the representation of Elias llungerford that coal, rents and employees 
could be procured in this village at less expense than in the former 
location. At that time the company comprised Amory Houghton, sr., 
Josiah Oakes, George P. Bradford and Amory Houghton, jr. As an 
inducement to the removal, the village, through individuals, took $50,- 
000 of stock, while the company took $75,000, and also brought to 
Corning 100 regular and skilled employees. A reorganization was 
effected at the time of the removal and the concern became known as 
the Corning Flint Glass Company. For three years at least the com- 
pany did business at a heavy loss, finding the Cumberland coal not 
suited to their purposes, and being brought into direct competition 
with the large Pittsburg factories; and in 1871 it became necessary to 
dispose of the local plant, which was purchased by Nathan Gushing, of 
Boston, and placed in charge of Amory Houghton, jr., as manager. 
With an exceedingly doubtful future before him, Mr. Houghton began 
the operation of the works, on borrowed capital, running economically, 
devising and introducing specialties, endeavoring in every way to place 
the works on a paying basis. Subsequent results showed the wisdom of 
his policy, for the end of the year showed a small profit. In 1872 Mr. 
Houghton purchased the works and became the sole proprietor. Three 
years later, in 1875, the "Corning Glass Works" was incorporated 
with a capital of $50,000, Amory Houghton, jr., president and treas- 
urer; Charles F. Houghton, vice president, and Henry P. Sinclair, sec- 
retary. From the time of the purchase in 1872, under the new man- 
agement, this enterprise has been successful from every point of view, 
and is now regarded as the leading industry of Corning and one of the 
most noted in the State of New York. As originally established in 
1868, the works covered two acres of ground, and employed about 150 
men, boys and girls ; as now constituted the works cover six acres, and 
employ regularly about 400 persons, and occasionally as many more. 
Connected with this splendid industry are the cutting shops, although 
under different ownership and management, but taking the raw product 
from the glass works and finishing it so beautifully that Corning is 
known throughout the land as the "Crystal City." 



272 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The well known glass cutting firm of J. Hoare & Co., whose wares 
are sold throughout the United States, and in many foreign countries 
as well, was the outgrowth of a business established in Corning in 1868, 
by John Hoare, he coming to the village with the Brooklyn Flint Glass 
works. Mr. Hoare began in a small way and increased the capacity of 
his shops as rapidlj' as the demand for his|products increased, and it is a 
fact well known that the output from the Hoare works is among the 
best in the world, while the proprietor himself was the pioneer manufac- 
turer of rich cut glass in this country ; and he was the first man who 
ever turned glass in a lathe, and also the first who ever made glass for 
store window sashes. At the noted exhibitions of fine goods at Boston, 
Philadelphia and Baltimore, Mr. Hoare was awarded the first prize in 
each case, and generously turned over the exhibit to his principal cus- 
tomer in each city. At the Columbian Exposition he was awarded 
four medals for superiority, in design, finish and general beauty. The 
works of J. Hoare & Co. are an important industry in Corning and 
furnish employment for about 250 persons. 

In 1890 T. G. Hawkes & Co. was incorporated for the purpose of 
carrying on a general business in cutting and selling fine glassware. 
However, since 1880 the name of T. G. Hawkes has been known in 
local manufacturing circles, and during the period from that until the 
present, the product of the Hawkes factory have found their way into 
almost every civilized country where fine cut glass is appreciated and 
used. Previous to 1880 Mr. Hawkes was an employe of John Hoare, 
but in the year mentioned began business for himself in Corning, in a 
small way at first, but enlarging the capacity of his shops as demand for 
for his product has increased ; and in the short space of fifteen years he 
has built up a business that requires the employment of 245 workmen. 
As evidence of the superior excellence of his goods, we may state that 
at the Paris Exposition, in 1889, the Hawkes exhibit was awarded the 
grand prize in open competition against the entire world. Nearly all the 
articles comprising that exhibit were eagerly sought and taken by the 
nobility of Europe. 

Among the other substantial manufacturing industries of this pro- 
gressive city we may mention the Corning Brick and Terra Cotta 
Works, which, in its special product is a noted concern in the country. 




STEPHEN T. HAYT. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 273 

and one of great importance in local circles, employing many persons 
in its various departments. The officers of the company are C. A. 
Rubright, president ; H, O. Dorman, vice-president ; C. W. Rubright, 
general manager, and Morris E. Gregory, secretary. 

The Southern Tier Mills are also worthy of special mention, and were 
built in 1868 by Hayt & Olcott, the firm being succeeded by Mr. Hayt 
in 1869. The buildings were burned in 1879, and immediately rebuilt, 
with brick, far more substantial than the old building, and equipped 
with modern machinery for the manufacture of flour. The present 
capacity of the mills is 200 barrels of flour per day. 

The Preston and Heermans foundry and machine shops were estab- 
lished in 1867. 

The Corning Iron Works were founded in 1889 t>y William E. Gor- 
ton and manufactures all kinds of cast iron work and railway specialties. 
The officers of the company are William E. Gorton, president, and E. 
D. Mills, secretary and treasurer. The company was incorporated in 
1893 ; capital $100,000. The Corning Lumber Company is another 
substantial business enterprise of the city, officered as follows : Glode 
Requa, president ; George W. Foster, secretary ; W. H. Clark, treas- 
urer. The Corning Manufacturing Company are builders of the popu- 
lar "Victor Warm Air Furnace." The officers are E. P. Graves, presi- 
dent ; V. Haischer, secretary, and E. R. Stasch, superintendent. The 
Corning Stone Company, whose extensive works are southwest of the 
city, was organized many years ago. and is therefore one of the old in- 
dustries of the locality. They produce fine building and dimension 
stone. The officers are Jared Pratt, president ; E. C. English, secretary 
and treasurer. The Corning Stove Company manufactures the well 
known Garnet stoves and ranges, do a large business and employ many 
workmen. The officers are George W. Drake, president; L. D. 
Streeter, vice president; L. H. Drake, treasurer. The Hood Furnace 
and Supply Company, manufacturers of hot air furnaces, is another 
staple industry of the city. Its officers are C. S. Hood, president ; W. 
A. Adams, vice-president, and James C. Hood, secretary. 

In addition to the industries thus specially mentioned are many others 
of less magnitude, yet all combine to promote local growth. In mer- 
cantile pursuits all branches appear to be well represented, with compe- 
39 



274 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

tition in each line of trade sufficient to prevent monopoly. The stores, 
blocks, and public buildings of Corning surpass those of any other 
municipality in the county, and the number of commercial men who 
daily register at the principal hotels indicate a heavy volume of trade in 
retail as well as wholesale houses. Much of this prosperous condition 
is due to the energetic efforts of the Board of Trade, which comprises a 
number of the best and most liberal men of the city. The board is a 
large body in point of membership, and its object is to promote the 
growth and welfare of the city in every direction. The officers are 
Stephen T. Hayt, president; Quincy VV. Wellington, vice-president; 
William Walker, treasurer; John L. Lewis, secretary; and O. W. 
Wellington, Amory Houghton, jr., S. T. Hayt, George J. Magee, Austin 
Lathrop, T. S. Pritchard, George W. Pratt, George Hitchcock, John 
Hoare, Thomas G. Hawkes, William Walker, John Peart and Justin M. 
Smith, trustees. 

The city is well supplied with hotels, in fact appears to have more 
public houses than the demand requires. The traveling patronage is 
distributed among the three principal houses, the Dickinson, the St. 
James, and the Wellington, the first mentioned being the largest and 
best equipped. 

The history of Coming's banks, past and present, may be briefly 
stated. The old Bank of Corning, the pioneer of the financial institu- 
tions of the village and city, was organized and began business June lo, 
1839, being then founded and supported chiefly by the Corning Com- 
pany. Its career covered a pej-iod of about twenty years, with varied 
successes and reverses, yet useful on the whole. It went into liquida- 
tion about 1856, and its currency was redeemed by stockholders, who 
also paid the depositors. Ne.xt came the George Washington Bank, 
organized under the State law by J. N. Hungerford and George W. 
Patterson, with $50,000 capital. This bank first began business in 
Concert block, and later on built and occupied the present P'irst National 
Bank. The life of the George Washington Bank was comparatively 
brief. Mr. Hungerford withdrew from the concern in 1859, and organ- 
ized what was known as the "J.N. Hungerford Bank," which he continued 
until his death. His e.\ecutor, Mr. Hadden, took the assets and un- 
dertook to pay the creditors, but his tragic death only served to further 





U44^yLf^ ^^2%^^^^^^ 




CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 275 

complicate the affairs of the bank, and it finally passed out of existence 
in 1883, and was soon forgotten. The Corning Savings Bank was 
organized by Cole & Tliompson about 1856 or '57, and did business 
about five years. 

The banking house of Q. W. Wellington & Co., known throughout 
the entire State as an entire!)' safe and reliable jirivate bank, was organ- 
ized under the laws of New York, on the 1st of September, 1862, and 
issued currency until the arbitrary provisions of subsequent legislative 
enactments necessitated redemption and retirement of its bills. The 
members of the original firm were Quincy VV. Wellington and Samuel 
Russell, jr. After four years Mr. Russell withdrew, and Mr. Welling- 
ton operated the bank as sole owner until 1884 when his son, Benjamin 
W. Wellington, acquired an interest and became partner. However, 
the old firm stj'le of 0. W. Wellington & Co. has ever been the desig- 
nation of the bank's management, and its standing in financial circles is 
too well understood to require any comment in this chapter. Glancing 
over the last report of the condition of business in the bank, we notice 
a surplus of nearlj' $105,000 ; undivided profits, $38,000, and an aggre- 
gate of deposits, $690,000. Of a truth this bank needs no further com- 
ment at the hands of the present writer. 

The First Nantional Bank of Corning was organized in May, 1882, 
by the late Franklin N. Drake, assisted by Judge Bradley, C. C. B. 
Walker and others. However, Mr. Drake was the leading spirit of the 
enterprise, a large stockholder, and held the office of president from the 
organization until the time of his death, December 28, 1892. He was 
then succeeded by his son, James A. Drake, the present chief officer of 
the institution, and at the same time Judge Bradley was elected vice- 
president. The first board of directors comprised F. N. Drake, O. W. 
Bump, George B. Bradley, Kdwin C. Cook, James A. Drake and C. C. 
B. Walker. The original capital was $50,000, later on increased to 
$100,000, but subsequently reduced to the amount first mentioned. 
The first cashier was O. W. Bump, who was succeeded by James A. 
Drake, and on the election of the latter to the presidency, D. S. Drake 
was appointed in his place. This bank is an entirely safe, successful 
and well managed institution, enjoying the confidence of business men 
throughout the region. Its accumulated surplus amounts to $75,000. 



276 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The present directors are James A. Drake, George R. Bradley, D. S. 
Drake, C. M. Hyde, C. E. Drake and G. W. Bump. 

By an act of the State Legislature, passed July 19, 1853, the village of 
Corning was designated as the seat of justice for the second jury dis- 
trict of Steuben county. This was a fortunate event in the early history 
of the place and one which contributed much to local growth and im- 
portance. The court-house was built during the years 1853—4, at an 
expense of $14,000. It stands on a commanding elevation of land just 
outside the business center, and is a comfortable structure though now 
quite old and hardly in keeping with the beautiful dwelling properties in 
the vicinity. However, the supervisors of the county have authorized 
an appropriation of $10,000 for a new court-house in the district, to 
which the city will undoubtedly add a considerable amount for the 
same purpose. 

The First Presbyterian church of Corning, as now designated, was 
originally organized as the Presbyterian church of Painted Post, and lo- 
cated at Knoxville. The society was formed in iSio, but not until 
1832 was a church home provided A second edifice was erected in 
Corning village in 1842, and in 1843 the name was changed to First 
Presbyterian church of Corning, and incorporated as such. The pres- 
ent substantial church edifice was built in 1867. A second Presbyte- 
rian church was organized in Corning in 1845, by withdrawing mem- 
bers from the mother society. The only pastor of the new church was 
Rev. Horatio Pettingill, D. D. The offshoot united with the parent 
church in 1849. The succession of pastors of this church has been as 
follows: Clement Hickman, 1812-16; Thomas Lounsbury, 1821-23; 
Mr. Gilbert, 1823-25; Reuben Sanborn, 1826-27; David Harrower, 
1827-29; David Higgins, D.D.,1829-31 ; John Barton, 1832-35 ; John 
Smith, 1835-38; F. VV. Graves, 1838; Samuel M. Hopkins, D.D., 1840- 
42; Joshua B. Graves, 1842-47; Job Pierson, 1847-49; A.L.Brooks, 
1848-51 ; R. E.Wilson, 1851-55 ; Darwin Chichester, 1856-59; Will- 
iam A. Niles, D.D., 1858-72 ; Anson G. Chester, 1872-75 ; M. L. P. 
Hill, 1875-82; John S. Bacon, acting pastor from 1882 to 1893. Rev. 
Dr. Alfred J. Hutton, the present pastor, was installed in February, 
1895. This church has 300 members. Its elders are Uriah D. Hood, 
Cyrus S. Hood, Charles E. Benedict, Edward Clisdell, and Francis A. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 277 

Williams. The deacons are Rollin P. Perry. Noble Hill, and C. W. 
Ecker. Trustees, George B. Bradley, William W. Adams, John H. 
Lang, H. C. Heermans, David S. Drake, Alfred M. Gannon, Edward 
ClisdcU, F. D. Kingsbury, and H. P. Sinclaire, jr. 

Christ church, Episcopal, and its parish, in Corning, were organized 
April 2, 1 841, by Rev. Richard Smith. The Corning Company donated 
to the church a lot on West Market street, on which a chapel was built, 
and subsequently used until the erection of the stone edifice on the cor- 
ner of Walnut street and East avenue in 1854. However, the congre- 
gation and society at length outgrew the church home, and during the 
years 1893-94 the present beautiful church edifice was erected. This 
is without question one of the most elegant and complete church struc- 
tures in the southern tier, and was built at a total cost of about $75,000. 
The memorial windows are noticeable features of the interior, among 
them that privided by Mrs. Amory Houghton, jr., in memory of her 
father, Alanson Bigelow ; also that furnished by Marvin Olcott in mem- 
ory of his parents ; by William Bigelow in memory of his children ; by 
Charles F". and Mrs. Houghton in memory of their daughter ; together 
with three others in the chancel, furnished by the Chancel Guild. The 
rectors of Christ's church, in succession, have been as follows : Richard 
Smith, M. A. Nickerson, J. Field, James Eaton, G. M. Skinner, F. J. R. 
Lightbourn, N. Barrows, E. Z. Lewis, L. D. Ferguson, Lucius Sweet- 
land, William Montgomery, Joseph Hunter, E. S. Wilson, S. R. Fuller, 
Roy McGregor Converse, and Walter Coe Roberts, the latter the pres- 
ent rector, who came to the church in April, 1888. The communicat- 
ing members in Christ's church number 274. The wardens are John 
Hoare and Joseph J. Tully ; vestrymen, Q. W. Wellington, Aniory 
Houghton, jr , Charles F. Houghton, J. B. Maltby, Thomas G. Hawkes, 
R. H. Canfield, Austin Lathrop. E. A. Kreger. 

Methodism in Corning began as early as the years 1832, although 
not until 1 839 was the Corning circuit formed. The first house of wor- 
ship was built in 1839, the second in i860, and the third, the present 
large and beautiful church edifice, during the years 1893-94. It stands 
on the site of the old church, and cost $40,000. This church has more 
than 800 members, and is the oldest in Steuben county. The present 
pastor, Rev. Henry C. Woods, began his services here in 1891. 



278 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

St. Mary's church, Roman Catliolic, of Corning, was the outgrowth 
of early missionary services conducted by Rev. Father Patrick Bradley 
about the year 1842. Seven years later a church edifice was built, but 
the larger church, the present edifice, was begun in 1866 and was in 
course of construction for several years before completion. In 1873 
the bishop of the diocese purchased the old State Arsenal on the hill, 
which was converted into a convent for use of the Sisters in charge of 
the parochial school connected with St. Mary's parish. In December, 
i860, Father Peter Colgan, present priest in charge, was appointed to 
St. Mary's. 

The Baptist church of Corning was organized August 24, 1841, with 
twenty-four original members. The church edifice was erected in T849 
and 1850, and dedicated May 8th of the year last mentioned. The 
church numbers 242 active members, and is under the present pastorate 
of Rev. P. W. Crannell. 

A Free-Will Baptist church was organized in Corning in 1865, but is 
not now in existence. Other and more recent organizations in the city 
are the Congregational, Free Methodist, and German Lutheran. The 
First Congregational church of the Fifth ward was formed as a society 
in September, 1889, with thirty-seven members, but now numbers 
about 200. Rev. Nathaniel E. Fuller has been the pastor since organ- 
ization. The Free Methodist church was organized in 1894 and built 
a house of worship during the same year. The German Lutheran So- 
ciety, also recently formed, purchased and now occupy the old church 
edifice of Christ church The pastor is Rev. W. Stern. 

Painted Post Lodge, No. 117, F. & A. M., was organized under dis- 
pensation from the Grand Lodge, in June, 1808, with John Knox, mas- 
ter. This lodge at one period in its history was known as No. 203, but 
in 1856 the number was changed to 117, which, it is understood, was 
the original designation. The membership numbers 196. The past 
masters have been as follows: John Knox, 1808-14; Joseph Gillett, 
1815-17; John Knox, 1818-21 ; Henry Stearns, 1822; Laurin Mall- 
ory, 1823-25 ; Daniel E. Brown, 1826-31. No further record of the 
lodge is extant previous to 1846, and it is probable that there was a 
suspension of work during that period. The masters since 1846 were 
Samuel Boyer, 1846-48 ; B. P. Bailey, 1849-53 ; William A. Spencer, 




'^9t^-JAfnnRfiu0Jl W^r*/'"^ 



"^JiEitOT MSSyiEMKFCTi) lS»]iS^^%^ CJOILdlS.^^o 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 279 

1854; J. B. Lower, 1855-57; J- H. Lansing, 1858-59; C. May Gam- 
man, 1860-61; John levers, 1862-65; F. E. Spaulding, 1866-67; C. 
II. Thomson, 1868-69; T. S. Pritchard, 1870-71 : H. A. Balcom, 1874 
W.J. Bryan, 1875-76; J. J. TuUy, 1877-78; J. S. Earle, 1879-80 
A. D. Robbins, 1881 ; C. E. Greenfield, 1882 ; James Hoare, 1883-84 
A. J. Etheridge, 1885-86; W. F. Sheehan, 1887-88; A.J, Etheridge 
1889; G. B. Hill, 1890; W. F. Sheenan, 1891 ; John Comosh, jr., 1892 
E. B. Seymour, 1893-94; W.J. Cheney, 1895. 

Corning Chapter, No. 190, R. A. M., was chartered February 7, 1866, 
and now numbers about 125 members. The past high priests have 
been as follows: Charles H. Erwin. 1866; C. S. Cole, 1867-70; Ed- 
ward Clisdell, 1871 ; G. W. Fuller, 1872-74; J. H. Hitchcock, 1875-76; 
T. S. Pritchard, 1877-82; C.E.Greenfield, 1883; A. D. Robbins, 1884; 
J. S. Earle, 1885 ; W. A. Wicks, 1886; G. B. Hill, 1887; W. E. Van- 
derhof, 1888; W. F. Sheehan, 1889; T. S. Pritchard, 1890; James 
Hoare, 1891 ; T. S. Pritchard, 1892-93 ; John Comosh, jr., 1894-95. 

Corning Council, No. 53, Royal and Select Masters, was instituted 
June 5, 1 87 1. The Thrice Illustrious Masters have been as follows: 
H. A. Balcom, 1871-74; C. H. Thomson, 1875-77; A. D. Robbins, 
1878-81 ; T. S. Pritchard, 1882-84; G. B. Hill, 1885-86; W.A. Wicks, 
1887; J. S. Billington, 1888; C. V. Hutchins, 1889; John Comosh, jr., 
1890; H. C. Austin, 1891 ; C. E. Greenfield, 1892; Hugh H. Ken- 
dall, 1893-95. 

The Masonic bodies of Corning also include four Scottish Rite organ- 
izations, to which we may also briefly refer in the following order: 

Corning Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32', instituted September 14, 1866. 
Post Commanders — Charles H. Thomson, 33"^, 1866-78; Frank D. 
Kingsbury, 32", 1879-81 ; George W. Fuller, 33°, 1882-84; Truman 
S. Pritchard, 32", 1885-87; A. D. Robbins, 32°, 1888-90; Charles E. 
Greenfield, 32°, 1891-93; Hugh H. Kendall, 33°, 1894-95. 

Corning Chapter, Rose Croix, A. A. S. Rite, was instituted Septem- 
ber 14, 1866. The past masters have been as follows : Austin Latlirop, 
32°, 1866-67; Frank D. Kingsbury, 32", 1868-79; Charles H.Thom- 
son, 33"^, 1880-82 ; Daniel F. Brown, 32'=, 1883-85 ; George W. Fuller, 
33°, 1886-89; Truman S. Pritchard, 32'', 1890 95. 

Corning Council, Princes of Jerusalem, A. A. S Rite, was instituted 



280 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

September 14, 1866. The past M. E. Sov. P. G. M's. have been as fol- 
lows: George M. Smith, 32^, 1866-68; Robert J. Burnham, 32", 1869- 
71 ; Frank D. Kingsbury, 32°, 1872-73; Daniel F. Brown, 32°, 1874- 
82; Charles H. Thomson, 33°, 1883-85; Frank D. Kingsbury, 32^^, 
1886-89; Hugh H. Kendall, 33°, 1890-94; George B. Hill, 33°, 1895. 

Corning Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. Rite, was instituted Septem- 
ber 14, 1866. The past T. P. G. M's. have been as follows: Henry A. 
Balcom, 32°, 1866-79; Joseph H. Hitchcock, 32°, 1880-82 ; Ahaz D. 
Robbins, 32°, 1883-85; Daniel F. Brown, 32'', 1886-90; Joseph C. 
Moore, 33", 1891-94; Egbert Shoemaker, 32°, 1895. 

The City of Hornellsville — When pioneer Benjamin Crosby 
and his immediate followers came into the Upper Canisteo country 
they little thought the lands on which they settled would ever become 
the site of a prosperous village, and much less a thriving metropolitan 
city ; and it is equally doubtful if even those enterprising early settlers 
George Hornell, Dugald Cameron or Ira Davenport ever contemplated 
such a substantial growth and development as the locality enjoyed as 
the result of their first efforts. "Yeoman" Benjamin Crosby purchased 
from Solomon Bennett, " gentleman," great lot No. 8, for three hundied 
pounds, and George Hornell bought of John Stephens lot No. 7, for one 
hundred and eleven pounds, each tract containing 1,600 acres of land 
and lying, in part at least, within the present city limits. 

However, the earlier growth of this locality was by no means rapid, 
but rather by steady yet sure advances did the village succeed the 
hamlet and the city in turn supersede the village. The first beginning 
in this direction was made by Judge Hornell when he built the grist mill 
on the site of the now called Thacher mill, followed by the erection of 
the tavern which he maintained as a public house. \'et we are told 
that when Mr. Hornell came to the place there were about seven or 
eight dwellings on the village site. In 1809 the turnpike road from 
Ithaca to Olean was opened, thus giving an impetus to local growth ; 
and about the same time, possibly before, several flat boats and arks 
were built, laden with grain and other products of the region, and trans- 
ported to Baltimore and other available markets. This led to the con- 
struction of several warehouses along the river front in the hamlet. In 
1815 Col Ira Davenport came to the settlement and opened store in a 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS 2S1 

building constructed by him for that purpose, and he has been men- 
tioned as the first merchant of the town. Soon afterward, in iSi6, 
Dugald Cameron built a saw mill on the island, near the old stone quarry, 
just above the bridge, which locality, it is believed, became known as 
" Cameronia." The statement has also been made that a post-office was 
established here under that name with IVTr. Cameron as postmaster, but 
much doubt exists regarding the accuracy of the name. So near as can 
be determined at this time the first post-office was established here soon 
after the completion of the turnpike, under the name of " Canisteo," and 
was so continued until February, 1823, and then changed to " Hor- 
nellsville." In confirniation of this assertion, we quote from Judge Hul- 
burt's description of the place in 1812, in which he says: "The settle- 
ments are of recent date and still retain their first local names. At 
Hornell's Mills, on the Canisteo, is a ferry and a road of pretty exten- 
sive travel ; here is located the Canisteo post office." (See Spafiford's 
Gazetteer, ed. 1 8 1 3). In a later edition the same authority says : " There 
are two post offices, Hornellsville, as it will soon be called, but now Can- 
isteo post-office, and Ark Port post-office;" also "There is a small 
village at Ark Port of some fifteen or twenty houses, and another at 
Hornellsville of about the same number, a store, a grist mill and a saw 
mill." 

According to Deacon Thacher's reminiscences, the residents of the 
hamlet in 1823, were Amasa Thacher, Rufus or Bulrock Mason, Du- 
gald Cameron, Thomas Bennett (tavern keeper). Squire Livermore, 
Truman Bostwick (who kept a stage house), Ira Davenport (merchant), 
Andrew L. Smith (tanner), William B. Bostwick, and the Hornell prop- 
erty — the tavern and grist mill. At that time there were eleven houses, 
including the mill, on the village site. The Cameron mill was located 
farther north, about half a mile. Mr. Adsit's recollections are no less 
interesting, and he remembers the village when it contained only twenty- 
six houses. The first brick building was erected by Colonel Davenport 
in 1828, followed soon afterward by others. Mr. Adsit built a large 
brick building in 1841. 

The period of greatest growth and prosperity in the early history of 

the village was that between 1820 and 184O, although it is impossible 

to recall the one thousand and one events that contributed to local ad- 
36 



282 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

vancement during that time. The town authorities at this period 
showed a commendable zeal in helping to build up the village, and in 
1832 purchased from Major Thomas Bennett two and three-fourths 
acres of land on the south side of Main street, for the purpose of a 
public square. In 1834 the town voted $iOO to improve the square, 
and in 1836 William Bostwick was paid $1 1 for digging the stumps out 
of the same tract. This was the origin and inception of Hornellsville's 
present beautiful park, the most attractive spot, perhaps, within the city 
limits. The later improvements, the pagoda, the fountain, and tasteful 
arrangements of walks, together with other adornments, are due to the 
generosity of local government and the liberality and public spiritedness 
of the citizens. 

The most fortunate event in all the history of Hornellsville, and that 
which has contributed most largely to both early and more recent pros- 
perity, was the construction of the Erie railroad, with its attendant 
shops and business departments. Rumors that a railroad was in con- 
templation became current in this locality soon after 1830, and within 
the next year or two the surveyors appeared in the valley, though the 
people here were in much anxiety lest the road should be actually built 
through the Conhocton rather than the Canisteo valley ; and it was not 
until the coming of the famous old " pile driver " that the inhabitants 
of Hornellsville were fully assured that the line through this valley had 
been accepted by the company. The preliminary surveys were made 
in 1832, and in 1833 the company was organized. The work of con- 
struction was begun in this vicinity in 1841, but not until the first day 
of September, 1850, did the first locomotive appear in the village. 

The line of road then built was what is now locally termed the Sala- 
manca or Western division of the N. Y. L. E. & W. railroad. The At- 
tica and Hornellsville railroad, now known as the " Buffalo road," was 
incorporated May 14, 1845. Other companies were allowed to pur- 
chase its stock, and in April, 185 i, the name was changed to Buffalo 
and New York City railroad. Still later, through various transfers and 
processes of law, this line, with the western branch, became merged in 
the present Erie system. The Attica and Hornellsville road was built 
in 1852. 

It was not the mere building of a railroad through the village that 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 283 

contributed so much to itsearly welfare, although that consummation was 
an important factor in advancing local interests ; but the greatest bene- 
fit was derived through the establishment of a division terminus at the 
place and the erection of shops for purposes of construction and repairs 
to railroad equipment. There is now paid out montlily in Hornellsville 
by the Erie company an aggregate of about $60,000, three-fourths of 
which remains in the city ; and there are generally employed here in 
one capacity or another from 800 to 1,000 men, while the terminal fea- 
ture iiiatcriall}- makes this place the temporary home of perhaps 200 
more men. 

Incidentally we maj- mention the fact tiiat construction of the first 
railroad through the village was due largely to the persevering efforts 
of Judge Hawley, Rufus Tuttle, Martin Adsit, T. J. Reynolds, John K. 
Hale, T. J. Magee, Walter G. Rose, Charles N. Hart, and others asso- 
ciated with them in promoting local interests. Within the last half 
score of years the city has been given the advantage of still another line 
of railroad, from which the merchants and manufacturers of the locality 
are the greatest beneficiaries. We refer to the construction and opera- 
tion of the road built b)- the Rochester, Hornellsville and Lackawanna 
Company, now known, however, as the Central New York and West- 
ern. This road proper runs from this city to Hornellsville Junction, 
thence over the line of another company to Wayland, where it connects 
with the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, thus affording direct 
connection with Rochester on the west, as well as important points 
east. The road was built and completed during the fall of 1887, and 
was brought about through the unselfish efforts of Judge Hakes, Benton 
McConnell, George N. Orcutt, Irving W. Near and Charles Adsit. 

Returning again to the subject of early history, the fact may be noted 
that in 1832 the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches were 
organized, each of which, together with all other religious societies are 
more fully mentioned on later pages of this chapter. In 1833 the " little 
red school house " was built and stood near the site of the Tribune 
building. The Park School property was secured by the district in 
1844, and soon afterward a school was opened there. This subject, 
however, will be fully treated in a later portion of this chapter. 

Soon after the completion of the railroad the inhabitants began to 



284 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

discuss the subject of incorporation. In this matter Dr. John H. Lillie 
was a leading spirit, and as he found a local population of 1,814, when a 
short time before there were only 700, it was evident that the people 
were entitled to advance from the hamlet to the village character. 
James B. Finch made the necessary surveys, and on the 28th day of 
June, 1852, the "Village of Hornellsville " became a body corporate 
and politic, through the order of the court of sessions of Steuben 
county. 

The first election of officers was held on August 30 following, at 
which time John H. Lillie, Thomas Snell, J. T. Wilbur, Richard Durbin 
and William R. McCormick were chosen trustees. The board elected 
Dr. Lillie president, and Horace Bemis, clerk, together with all other 
officers authorized by law. 

" The first board of trustees," says Mr. Tuttle's article, " was enter- 
prising and progressive. It legislated for a turbulent element and had 
to build everything ' from the stump.' Sidewalks were the first enter- 
prise undertaken, and on September 27, a special election was held, 
which voted to build walks on Main, Canisteo, Genesee, Cass, Taylor 
and Albion streets." 

However, in the course of the next fifteen years following the first in- 
corporation, the growth in population and the advancement of all local 
business interests demanded that broader powers be accorded the munici- 
pal government. Therefore, recourse was had to the Legislature, and 
on the 9th day of April, 1867, an act was passed, entitled '"An act to 
amend and consolidate the several acts relating to the village of Hornells- 
ville." 

This charter fi.xed the village boundaries as they had previously ex- 
isted under the former government, and divided the territory into five 
wards. The officers provided under the act were a president, a trustee 
from each ward, police justice, three assessors, a collector, clerk, treas- 
urer, superintendent of streets and not more than three policemen ; the 
clerk, superintendent of streets and policemen to be appointed by the 
board, and all other officers elected by the people. 

Under this charter government the affairs of the village were con- 
ducted for a period of about twenty years, when, in accordance with 
an express demand, the Legislature in 1888 passed an actincorporating 




E. F. WILLETS. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 285 

the " City of Hornellsville," thus advancing our once little hamlet to a 
municipality of the highest grade. Subsequent amendments have been 
made to the city charter, providing for contingencies and improvements 
not contemplated in the original act. 

At the first city election held in 1888, these officers were chosen: 
IWayor, James B. Day ; aldermen, Patrick Broderick, Robert Carberry, 
George H. Dove, Edward F. Houser, E. H. Lanphear, Thomas C. 
McCarthy, Charles F. McGuire, Thomas Ryan, T. J. O. Thacher, 
Edward Tolan, Charles D. Walters, and Otto Walther ; city clerk, 
Harris C. Sawyer ; recorder, Wm. C. Bingham ; chamberlain, VVm. K. 
Smith ; overseer of poor, Aaron Ross ; commissioners of excise, Eda 
N. Alden, Frank Tanner and Wm. 11. Reynolds ; sealer, Nicholas 
Schu. Mayor Day was re-elected in 1890, and was succeeded in 1892 
by Edward F. Willets, the latter being also re-elected in 1894. 

The city officers for the year 1895 are as follows: Edward F. Willets, 
mayor; Henry L. Nash, city clerk; Winfield S. Newman, recorder ; 
E. L. Dolson, city attorney ; M. V. Sherwood, chamberlain ; J. W. 
Shelley, overseer of the poor; J. M. Harding, street commissioner; 
aldermen, T. H. Coleman, E. Y. Butler, First ward,'; E. H. Lanphear, 
G. A. Waldorf, Second ward ; E. Powers, John McDougall, Third 
ward ; John Haire, E. H. Nelson, Fourth ward ; W. E. Curtiss, G. A. 
Prentiss, Fifth ward ; Charles Conderman, Frank A. Jones, Sixth 
ward ; supervisors, George B. Elwell, Alfred E. Bovven and Charles J. 
Clark ; justices of the peace, Frank Kelly, Lewis H. Clark and Frank 
J. Nelson ; assessors, David Wellever, Wm. B. Van Dusen, Hiram H. 
Carney. 

The Police Commission was established under the charter and is one 
of the efficient departments of government. The present commissioners 
are Morris Smith, president; and G. 11. Dore, Matthew Dewey and 
D. E. Fleming. Chief of police, Michael Hickey ; captain, Edward B. 
Shepard. 

The city Fire Department was first organized on September 25, 
1852, under the village government. Charles Mcllvaney was chief en- 
gineer, E. J. Richardson and Charles Strawn, assistants. From this 
primitive organization the present department has grown and developed, 
and at this time is better equipped and trained than ever before in its 



286 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

history. This branch of city government was placed on secure basis 
by the act of incorporation, passed April 29, 1875. The present de- 
partment consists of Maple City, Emerald, Prindle, and Erie Hose 
companies, each well housed and equipped ; also Babcock Hook and 
Ladder Company, who operate the " truck," and one good Silsby 
steamer. The latter, however, is not frequently called into service, as 
the excellent water supply system of the city affords all needed pressure 
for both fire and domestic purposes. The officers of the fire depart- 
ment are Frank L. Howard, chief engineer; John j. Baker, first assist- 
ant ; and Henry Lundrigan, second assistant; F. A. Jones, secretary. 

The Sewer commission was created by special act of the Legislature, 
for the purpose of constructing and maintaining a complete system of 
sewers for the city. The commissioners are J. B. Kennelly, president ; 
G. P. Rishel, secretary ; and F. G Babcock, VV. A. Stephens, S. E. 
Brown and F. T. McConnell. 

The Park commission was also constituted by special act of the 
legislature, and the electors voted for the park scheme on May 6, 
1 89 1. The first commissioners, F. G. Babcock, F. D. Sherwood, 
Patrick Enright, R. K. Faulkner, Benton McConnell, and Charles Adsit, 
purchased the Jones Driving Park property, some twenty-one acres, 
and subsequently added to its area by other purchases. This property 
is located on Seneca street, and is leased to the Farmers' Club. The 
present park commissioners are C. Cadogan, president ; J. VV. Nichol- 
son, secretary ; E. S. Brown, P. Enright, M. E. Page and J. O. Adsit. 

The city excise commissioners, provided by statute, are W. H. Pran- 
gen, president ; H. R. Wagner, secretary, and P. Houck, treasurer. 

The City Hall was built in 1877, on Broad street, and here all the 
business of the municipality is transacted. Hornellsville is bonded to 
the extent of $162,500, of which $100,000 is for sewers, $12,500 for 
pavements, and $50,000 for the park. The first pavement was laid in 

1893- 

St. James Mercy Hospital receives annually from the city excise 

funds the sum of one thousand dollars. This mention naturally leads 
us to refer at some length to this most praiseworthy institution, its origi- 
nator and founder, and the persons connected with its management. 
The Rev. Father James M. Early was appointed to the pastorate of • 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 287 

St. Ann's church and parish in November, 1879, and from that time 
until his death was one of the most earnest and unselfish Christian 
workers in this field. Soon after his pastorate began Father Karly 
often expressed a desire to establish a hospital in HornellsviJle, and in 
his will made generous provision for that purpose. However, during 
the month of February, 1890, through the assistance of F. G. Babcock, 
Father Early purchased the once known Van Scoter property, on Can- 
isteo street, souti), for which he paid $5,000 cash. The necessary im- 
provements and modifications were at once made to the building, and 
soon afterward tiie property was deeded to a board of trustees, consti- 
tuted and incorporated for that purpose, under the name of trustees of 
St. James' Mercy Hospital. According to the provision made by the 
founder, the board shall be composed of, ex officio, the bishop of this 
diocese of the Roman Catholic church, the rector of St. Ann's parish, 
two Sisters of Mercy, and the mayor of the city ; also four citizens of 
Hornellsville. The first trustees were designated by Father I'^arly, and 
comprised the iw officio members and Harlo Hakes, Joseph Cameron, 
James M. Welsh, and Dr. J. G. Kelly. The trustees organized on 
March 3, 1890, and elected Judge Hakes, president; Sister Dolores, 
vice-president ; Joseph Cameron, secretary, and Mr. W'elsh, treasurer. 
These officers, except tlie vice president, have been continued in their 
respective positions to the present time. The first matron was Sister 
Mary Catherine ; the present matron is Sister Angela. 

The good work accomplished by this institution, the outgrowth of tli-j 
generosity and philanthropy of Father Early, needs no recital here. 
The rich and poor alike receive the same kind treatment and attention 
at the hands of the devoted sisters who have direct control of the hos- 
pital. The institution is supported by popular contribution and the 
city fund referred to. The annual expense of maintenance amounts to 
about $3,000. The staff of medical attendants has been organized 
through the efforts of Dr. Kelly, and comprises the physicians of the 
city. 

Another of the important and interesting departments of municipal 
government is the educational system, at present perfected to a degree 
that places it in favorable comparison with that of any city in the 
State, and far in advance of many of them. We are told that the first 



288 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

school of the then hamlet was opened through the efforts of Judge 
Hornell about iSio, and that Sarah Thacher was its first teacher. The 
building stood near the corner of Main and Arkport streets. The next 
school was that of district No. 7, predecessor to the Central school, and 
was maintained in a log house on lower Canisteo street. 

The first building erected for school purposes was also a log struc- 
ture, and stood at the lower end of Main street. Here at one time 
George Hornell, jr., taught. The third school stood near the "Canisteo 
block," and among its early teachers were Rev. Samuel \\ hite, James 
Osborne, Mr. Case, Mary Morris, Pamelia Stephens, Deacon Thacher, 
and later John S. Livermore, Dr. Thomas, Orange McCay and others. 
In 1833 the " little red school " was built on the Tribune building site, 
and was burned in the great fire of 1868. The early pedagogues here 
were Washington Cruger, Samuel Porter, H. V. R. Lord, Samuel 
Street, Hiram Bennett and others of later date. 

In 1844 the district purchased the Park school site, and tlie first 
school house built there was also used for town hall and theatrical per- 
formances. But notwithstanding its various uses here were taught 
youths and misses who are now our best business men and most cul- 
tured women. Recalling a few of the many names possible of mention, 
let us note Judge Solon O., T. Dwight, Safford M. and T. Scott Thacher ; 
also Col. Frank B, Doty, Martin and Levi Doty, Emmett and Charles 
Reynolds, Maxwell Cameron, Scott Belden, Matthew Hale, Russell M. 
Tuttle, the Prindle boys, and the Bennetts, Stephenses, Caldwells, Mor- 
rises, Browns, Popples, Hawleys and a host of others. The first teacher 
here was Rev. O. B. Clark who opened his school in February, 1845. 
The old building was modified, enlarged, and in fact replaced, but to- 
day the site is occupied with one of the most modern, convenient and 
attractive school buildings in the southern tier. It is known as the 
Park School, and bears the year mark " 1886." 

The present educational system was adopted in 1872, and the aft'airs 
and management of schools is vested in a Board of ICducation, 
authorized to levy and raise a tax sufficient for all purposes of main- 
tenance, additions, repairs and equipments, independent of any other 
branch of city government. The plan of naming each school was 
adopted in 1888. The city now has five public schools, viz.: The Park 



II 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 289 

School, built 1886, having 213 pupils; the Lincoln School, on Canisteo 
street, attendance, 400 ; the Columbian School, built 1893, cost $20,000, 
located on I'earl street, 319 pupils; the Irving School, formerlj' First 
ward school, 265 pupils ; the Hryant School, formerly Sixth ward, 249 
pupils. 

The present Board of liducation is comprised of J. E. B. Santee, 
president; Stephen Hollands, J. W. Nicholson, F. C. Prindle and Cass 
Richardson. The secretary of the board is Joseph Cameron. Members 
of the board are elected from the city at large, and hold office for a 
term of five years The city schools are under the superintendence of 
W. R. Prentiss, appointed in 1887 as successor to Robert Simpson. 

In this connection we may also properly mention some of the past 
and present private schools which have been opened in the village and 
city; among which were those of Rachel Bennett, Hannah Wilbur, 
Harriet Waldo, Mrs. Van Court. Mrs. Schuyler, Helen Thacher. In 
August, 1862, Mrs. B. A. McNall (Belva Lockwood) organized a young 
ladies' school in the M. E. church. She lived here several years and 
had a good school. Mary Dwight also had a good private school, and 
as well had Professor Ford. Dr. Jamison taught penmanship in the 
Park school. 

St. Ann's Union Academic School, parochial in its general character, 
and attached to and sustained by the parish of St. Ann's church, was 
founded during the pastorate of Father M. Creedon, which began Oc- 
tober 1 r, 1863. This is a large school, numbering 435 pupils, and is 
under the State regenc)'. The teachers are selected from the Sisters of 
Mercy, nine of whom devote themselves wholly to the work of educa- 
tion. The only other educational institutions of the city are the Busi- 
ness Colleges, of which there are two, both well conducted and afford- 
ing excellent opportunities in their special branches. 

The ecclesiastical history of Hornellsville, town and city, is alike rich, 
interesting and instructive, and although the local churches are men- 
tioned in another department of this work, they are of sufficient im- 
portance to tills chapter to demand more than a passing allusion to 
them in this place, even at the hazard of repetition. 

Gleaning information from all sources, we learn that as early as 1799 
religious services were held at the house of Judge Hornell by Robert 

37 



290 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Logan, a Presbyterian, and that about the same time Rev. Jolin Diirbin, 
Methodist, preached in a log house in Main street. From tiiis time 
forth occasional services were lieKl in the little settlement by ministers of 
different denominations, but not until about the year 1830 does there 
appear to have been made any successful effort at church organization ; 
and as the Methodists and Presbyterians were originally in the mission- 
ary field about the same time, so, also, their society organizations were 
at about the same date, the former slightly in advance. 

The present Park Methodist ICpiscopal church had its inccptinn in 
the little primitive meetings held during the early years of the century, 
and a society came into existence in the year 1S30. The members met 
in dwellings and school houses until strong enough to erect a church 
home. This was accomplished in 1832-33. The second edifice was 
built in 1864-5 (cost $9,500), and the present structure in 1878-9. 
From first to last the church has ever increased, steadily and surely, 
and now it has a membership of 700, with 171 probationers. During 
the history of the mother society, two other churches have been formed 
in the city, each drawing a portion of its original membership from the 
Park organization. The pastors of the church have been Revs. Asa Story, 
1830; \V. D. Gage, 1835; Robert Parker, Nelson Hoag, 1837; Ira 
Bronson, Nelson Hoag, 1838; Samuel Church, 1839; D. B. Lawton, 
1840; V. Brownell, 1841 ; Philo Tower, 1842; W. E. Prindar, 1843 ; 
Sheldon Doolittle, 1844; W. E. Prindar, 1846; John Knapp, John 
Spink, 1847-48; Carlos Gould, 1849; S. B. Rooney, 1850; James 
Wilson, 1851; A. S. Baker, 1852; James Ashworth, 1853; N. A. De 
Puy, 1854; H. N. Seaver, 1856; W. C. Huntington, 1857; "j. I^- 
Jacques, 1859; J. Walters, J. B. Knott, 1861 ; E. P. Huntington, 1862; 
C. M. Gardner! 1863-66; C. P. Hart, 1S67; Thomas Stacy, 1868; W. 
C. Mattison, 1870; E. Wildman, 1872; C. C. Wilburn, 1873; K. P. 
Jervis, 1S74; L. A. Stevens, 1877; C.W.Winchester, 1878-80; S.W. 
Lloyd, 1881-83; J. E.Williams, 1884-86; E. H. Lattimer, 1887-89; 
Ward D. Piatt, 1S90-92 ; L. A. Stevens, 1883; Ward B. Picard, 1894. 
The trustees of this church are William O'Connor, Charles W. Kress, 
Joseph L. Schaumburg, F. G. Schutl, S. M. Townsend, James H. 
Stevens, George Hollands, John D. Mitchell. Superintendent of Sun- 
day school, L. B. Crandall. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 291 

The East Avenue Methodist Episcopal church society was organized 
and the edifice built during tiie year 1885, and though but ten years 
old is an entirely progressive body, liaving 190 full members, and 33 
probationers The pastors have been Revs. F. S. Roland and F. H. 
Van Kuren, the latter now officiating. 

The South Side M. E. church was organized about the 1st of Janu- 
ary, 1895, by certain withdrawing members from the Park churcii ; not, 
however, with the approval of the mother society. The new organiza- 
tion has a small though neat edifice at the corner of Canisteo and Van 
Scoter streets. The members number about fifty persons, and are under 
the pastoral charge of Rev. George S. Spencer. 

The First Presbyterian church of Hornellsville was organized by 
Revs. Moses Ordway and Moses Hunter, on July 10, 1832. The 
original members were twelve persons who presented letters of dismis- 
sal from other churches, and sixteen received on confession of faith. 
The first trustees were James McHurney, Ira Davenport, Samuel Mul- 
lioUen, Truman Hostwick, Philander Hartshorn and Otis Thachcr. After 
the church and society were organized attention was at once given to 
providing a church home. For this purpose Dugald Cameron donated 
two lots on Main street, each 4x8 rods in size, and here the edifice was 
built, at a cost of $3,000. The original building was 39x40 feet, with 
side and end galleries. The several subsequent enlargements to the 
building were made in 1862, 1871, 1875 and 1877, the latter being the 
lecture room addition. The manse was purchased during the pas- 
torate of Dr. Pettengill, and stood on Main street. Tiiis property was 
sold in 1862, and in the spring of 1873 the society purchased the prop- 
erty now occupied by the pastor. 

This churcli is among the strongest religious organizations of the city, 
both in influence for good and in membership. The members on the 
roll now number 472, and in the Sunday school are 267 attendants, and 
32 teachers. The ministers, supplies and pastors, in succession, have 
been as follows: Moses Ordway, July 10, 1832; George P. King, Sep- 
tember, 1832 ; Moses Hunter, March, 1834; vacant from March, 1835, 
to October, 1837 ; Henj. Russell, October, 1837; Samuel W. May, sup- 
ply, 1839 ; John W. Hopkins, first pastor, 1839-41 ; Charles H. Smythe, 
1841-42; Elias S. Peck, 1842-43; Thos. M. Hodgman, 1843-45; 



292 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Foster Lilly, 1845-48 ; Horatio Pettengill, second pastor, June 10, 
1 849-September, 1857; F. W. Graves, 1857-58; Ira O. De Long, 
1859-60; Milton Waldo, 1 861-71 ; W. A. Niks, April, 1872-April 7, 
1884 ; Edward M. Deems, installed May 10, 1890, the present pastor. 
Elders, Nathan Piatt, T. Scott Thacher, Geo. W. Seymour, C. H. Hub- 
bard, Alex. Davidson, Geo. H. Miller, Wm. A. Tracey and C. H. 
Glady. Superintendent of Sunday school, Alex. Davidson. 

The Hartshorn Presbyterian church was organized February 26, 1891, 
and was the outgrowth of the mission Sunday school and chapel founded 
in 1883 through the generosity of Charles Hartshorn. About two 
months before his death Mr. Hartshorn deeded the chapel property to 
his wife, who, in turn, conveyed it, without consideration, to the trustees 
of the newly organized society. The present members number about 
sixty- five, and in the Sunday school are eighty attendents. The pastors 
have been Revs. William Veenscoten, George F. D'anforth and Andrew 
Brown, the latter now officiating. 

St. Ann's church, Roman Catholic, was organized as a parish and 
a church home provided in 1849, under the pastoral charge of Father 
Michael O'Brien. However, masses were said in this region as earl)- 
as 1843, by Father Benedict Bayer, followed in 1844 by Father 
McAvoy, the latter continuing his missionary labors in this field 
until 1849. Next came Father O'Brien, under whom the little chapel 
on Cass street was built, and the churcii placed upon a substantial 
footing in the village. Then, following through the successive pas- 
torates of Father McCabe, Daniel Moore, Joseph McKenna, Terrance 
Keenan, and James McGlew, under each of whom the church constantly 
increased in members, we reach the year 1863, during which four priests 
were in the parish. Fathers John Lawton, W. A. Gregg, R. J. Story 
and M. Creedon. The latter came in jDctober of that year, and during 
his earnest labors here the first portion of the large edifice on Erie 
avenue was erected and St Ann's Academic school was founded. He 
died in 1870, and was followed bj' Father Wm. J. McNab. Francis 
Clark came in 1873, and was in turn succeeded, in November, 1879, by 
Rev. James M. Early, who, during his pastorate, enlarged the church 
and also founded St. James Mercy Hospital. Father Early died in 
February, 1890, and was succeeded by James O'Loughlin, and the 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 293 

latter by Rev. Arthur Barlow, who came to the parish June lo, 1893. 
The parish of St. Ann's contains about 700 families, or a total of 3,500 
persons. 

The earliest missionary work of the Protestant Episcopal church in 
this field began about the year 1850, when Rev. Asa Griswold read 
services to the few adherents of the church then living in the locality. 
Tiiese informal services were continued for a year or two. the Metho- 
dist edifice being occupied for a time, and later the old Washington 
Hall which burned about 1859. On the 6th of March, 1854, a meeting 
was held for the organization of the parish of Christ's church, and the 
election of wardens and vestrymen. At this meeting were present 
Martin Adsit,John M. Wisenell, Truman Warner, Nirom M.Crane, John 
Jamison, Aaron Morris, Wm. H. Chandler, Chas. Strawn, Peter C. Ward, 
Thomas Snell, Russell Pardee, George Huckett, Charles L. Prindle and 
Charles K. W. Baldwin. On the 20th of March following, the church 
was duly incorporated under the name of " Rector, Church Wardens 
and Vestrymen of Christ's Church in the town of Hornellsville, County 
of Steuben." The first officers were Rev. James A. Robinson, rector; 
Aaron Morris and Charles L. Prindle, wardens ; and Peter C. Ward, 
Martin Adsit, William H. Chandler, Charles Strawn, George Huckett, 
T. Jefterson Magee, Thomas Snell and Nirom M. Crane, vestrymen. 
The corner stone of the church edifice was laid in Ma)-, i860, and the 
church was consecrated by Bi.shop De Lancey, on April 10, 1862. The 
first service in the new church was on Christmas day, i860. The old 
edifice still stands and is kept in such excellent repair that to day it is 
one of the most attractive structures of its kind in the city. Rev Llojd 
Windsor became rector January i, 1859. and died in the performance 
of his duty during service, on June 30, 1889. His rectorate therefore 
covered a period of more than thirty years. In another department of 
this work will be found a biographical sketch of the life of this beloved 
rector and esteemed friend, but here we may sa\' that his memory is 
preserved in the beautiful memorial window in the diancel. The 
present rector, Rev. Edwin S. Hoffman, came to the city in March, 
1890. In the parish are about 160 families, and the communicating 
members number 262. The church raises annually between four and 
five thousand dollars. The present wardens are Martin Adsit and 



294 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

Judge Harlo Hakes. The vestrymen are Dr. J. S. Jamison, Don L. 
Sharp, John K Chapman. C. B. Windsor. L. W. Rockwell and Henry 
E. Gilpin. The parish societies are the Woman's Missionary Auxiliary, 
Ladies' Guild, The Unity, St. Agnes' Guild, Daughters of the King, and 
the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. 

The First Baptist church of Hornellsville was organized October 17, 
1852, with fifteen constituent members. For seven years the society 
held its meetings in Union Hall, and it was not until the pastorate of 
Henry A. Rose (1856-59) that the brick edifice on Church street was 
built. The church now numbers 430 members. The present trustees 
are J. W. Nicholson, W. E. Tuttle, Alfred E. Brown, Herbert M. Hor- 
ton, S. D. Pitts, E. M. Le Munyan. Deacons, S. D. Pitts, O. S. Palmer, 
Aaron Brown and M. Tuttle. The pastors, in succession, have been 
Thomas S. Sheardown, 1852; William Luke, 1854-55; Henry A. 
Rose, 1856-59; John B. Pittman, 1859-61 ; Jacob Gray, 1861-63; A. 
G Bowles, 1863; Isaac C. Seeley, 1864-67; Joel Hendrick, 1867-72; 
D. Van Alstine, 1872-79, followed by T. J. Whittaker, A. Coit, Jesse A. 
Hungate, and Will C. Gates in the order named. Mr. Gates came to 
the pastorate about November i, 1894. 

The South Side Baptist church was established as a mission of the 
mother church in the year 1884, but was granted a separate organiza- 
tion and pastor on September 18, 1893. At that time the members 
numbered seventy-six; in 1895 the membership is 155, while the Sun- 
day school has 153 pupils. The first pastor was Elder G. W. Grimm, 
succeeded in May, 1894, by Rev. George H. Thompson. The deacons 
are Isaac Thomas, Jacob Hodge, Frank Towner and A. C. Boyce. 

The Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's church was organized in 1885, 
and the edifice erected in 1 886, and in its membership numbers about 
fifty families. In the Sunday school are ninety pupils. The parsonage 
was built in 1893. The church was organized by Mr. Miller, and under 
the pastorate of Carl Graf the house of worship was built. The later 
pastors have been Revs. Edward Schuelke, A. Brown, and M. O. 
Poole. 

Among the other religious societies which in the past have had an 
existence in the city, may be mentioned the First Universalist church, 
organized May 23, 1868, by Rev. A. G. Clark ; also we may recall the 



\ 



il 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 29.'> 

Jewish congregation, Ahaval-Achini, organized in June, 1876, by 
Rabbi Israel Erlicli. and which passed out of existence about 1892. 
The Seventh Day Baptist believers formed a society in the village, 
April II, 1877, but this, too, is among the things of the past. 

In 1849, "hen Martin Adsit was engaged in mercantile pursuits, he 
began in a small way to do a banking business in the rear of his store. 
This was the first attempt in this direction and met with such approval 
in business circles that it rapidly grew into importance. Mr. Adsit con- 
tinued this branch until 1 863 and then organized the First National 
Bank. In the meantime Samuel Hallett opened a private bank in the 
village, which in March, 1856, developed into the Bank of Hornellsville, 
an incorporated concern with $100,000 capital, and authorized to issue 
currency. This bank did business several years, under the management 
of Mr. Hallett and Frank McDowell, and finally went into liquidation. 

The First National Bank of Hornellsville was organized in November, 
1863, by Martin Adsit, Ira Davenport, and others, with a capital of 
$50,000, authorized to issue $200,000 of stock. Business began May 
I, 1864, at the corner of Main and Canisteo streets, and was subse- 
quently moved to the present building on Main street. The first offi- 
cers were Ira Davenport, president, and Martin Adsit, cashier. After 
two years Mr. Adsit succeeded to the presidency, and Charles Adsit was 
elected cashier. Tiiese respective offices they have continued to fill. 
The present capital of the bank is $100,000; surplus, $20,000. The 
officers are Martin Adsit and Charles Adsit, president and cashier, and 
Ira Davenport, vice-president; also Martin Adsit, Ira Davenport, E. J. 
Adsit, S. G. Adsit, Charles Adsit and F. A. Bull, directors. 

After the afifairs of the old Bank of Hornellsville were wound up. the 
firm of N. M. Crane & Co. began banking in the same building, and 
continued through a long period of years. Nirom Crane was the active 
man of the concern, and S. H. Crane was for a time its cashier. The 
firm failed July 31, 1893. 

The present Bank of Hornellsville was organized and opened its doors 
for business on h'ebruary i, 1875. Its capital is $50,000; surplus, 
$20,000. The officers are F". G. Babcock, president; W. E. Pittenger, 
cashier ; C. C. Babcock, assistant cashier ; F. G. Babcock, C. C. Bab- 
cock and Mrs. Elizabeth Babcock, directors. This institution is organ- 
ized under the laws of this State. 



296 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

The Citizens' National Bank was organized and began business in 
1 88 1, with a capital of $125,000, which, however, was subsequently 
reduced to $100,000. The first president was John Santee, followed by 
Charles Hartshorn, and the latter succeeded (October 17, 1887) by 
Charles Cadogan The surplus and undivided profits of the Citizens' 
liank aggregate $25,000. The present officers are Charles Cadogan, 
president; J. K. B. Santee, cashier; Charles Cadogan, George N. Or- 
cutt, C. H. Hartshorn, John M. Finch, J. B. Woodbury, D, K. 
Belknap, C. F. Strack, F. D. Sherwood, George D. Terry and J. E. B. 
Santee, directors. 

Tradition (we have no positive record) informs us that Judge Hornell 
was the first postmaster at this place; that the office was established 
soon after the opening of the old stage road in 1809, and that the name 
of the office previous to 1823 was Canisteo. In the year mentioned 
it was changed to Hornellsville. So near as local authorities can 
determine the postmasters in succession have been as follows : 
George Hornell, Ira Davenport Dr. Manning Kelly, John R. Morris, 
John K. Hale, Maj. Thomas J.Reynolds, Martin Adsit, Andy L Smith, 
Dr. Luman A. Ward, E. G. Durfey, J. W. Shelly, S. M.Thacher, Fran- 
cisco M. Cronkrite, William H. Greenhow, George L. Tubbs and Will- 
iam H. Murray. 

The Hornell Library, in which every patriotic person in the city feels 
a just pride, was the outgrowth of a series of lecture courses inaugur- 
ated for public edification and entertainment about the year 1866. 
The profits of a third course were saved and the young men having the 
matter in charge determined to establish a library in the village. These 
managers became also managers of the library association formed in 
1868, and were Miles W. Hawley, I, W. Near, Dr. E. J. Johnson, 
Stephen F. Gilbert, S. M. Thacher, N. P. T. Finch, J. W. Shelley; 
Charles Adsit, president ; John M. Finch, vice-president, and N. M. 
Crane, treasurer. Horace Bemis secured the passage of an act author- 
izing the trustees to have the excise moneys of the village, amounting 
to about $1,500. This sum. however, was afterward reduced to 
$500. The association now receives annually about $1,500. On 
March 3, 1888, the Jewett Club building on Canisteo street was 
[)urchased at a cost of $8,000. The library nou cojitains 10,000 



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CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 297 

volumes. The free circulation system was adopted in 1889. The 
present officers are De M. Page, president ; Dr. C. S. Parkhill, vice- 
president ; James M. Welsh, secretary and treasurer. Managers, 
J. \V. Burnliam, Cass Richardson, C. W, Etz, \Z. D. L. Robertson, 
William H. Van Dusen, J. E. B. Santee, Dr. C. G. Hubbard, R. M. 
Tuttle. Librarian, Miss Isabella A. Charles, assisted b)' Miss Mary A. 
Windsor. 

The Steubrti Sanitarium Association, although not a public institu- 
tion of the city, is nevertheless noteworthy as one of the factors in 
municipal and individual welfare. The building, situate in the north 
part of the city, is located on a commanding elevation, and is provided 
with every essential requisite to health and comfort. In November, 
1894, the Sanitarium passed under the care of Dr. J. E. Walker, as 
superintendent. Soon after he with others purchased the establishment, 
and have made it one of the most successful medical and surgical insti- 
tutions in the country. It has among its consulting stafifsonie of the 
highest talent in Western New York. The most complicated medical 
and surgical cases are given all the advantages known to science. 

The Forty- seventh Separate Company, N. G. S. N. Y., was organized 
September 30, 1 89 1. The first officers were Avery McDougall, cap- 
tain ; T. G. Babcock, jr.. first lieutenant, and Wm. S. Charles, second 
lieutenant. The company numbers seventy-five men, well uniformed 
and equipped and thoroughly drilled. In April, 1893, the State appro- 
priated $32,000 for the erection of an armory in the city, and added 
$12,000 a \ear later. The county also contributed $12,000 to the 
building. The armory, one of the largest and most attractive public 
buildings in the county, was begun October 19, 1894, and was com- 
pleted during the summer of 1895. 

The Hornellsville Co-operative J.oan and Savings Association was 
incorporated and organized in 1888, and is under the supervision of the 
State banking department. As a purely local concern it is worthy of 
notice, and as an investment is far preferable to man\' of the outside 
companies which promise greater returns. 

The Hornellsville Water Company is a local improvement concern, 
though owned by foreign capital. The water system of the city 
as 



298 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

is exceptionally good, the supply abundant, and results satisfactory. 
The works were constructed in 1882, water being taken from springs 
(through a large reservoir) in the town of Fremont, six miles from the 
city, and elevated at least 250 feet above city base level. 

The Hornell Gas Company have about six miles of street mains in 
the city. Its capital stock is $40,000 The officers are Mrs. Jane A. 
McDougall, president; John McDougall, secretary, and F. G. Babcock, 
jr., treasurer. 

The American Illuminating Company was organized in 1886; capi- 
tal, $78,000. Officers: J. M. Finch, president; J. E. H. Santee, treas- 
urer ; L. T. Mason, secretary and manager. 

The manufacturing and mercantile interests of this city are measur- 
ably proportionate to its population and other adjuncts of the munici- 
pality. The statement has frequently been made that in manufactures 
Hornellsville is somewhat behind other similar cities, yet in the light of 
years of travel and observation, tlie writer is inclined to the belief that 
this city compares favorably with others of its population throughout 
the region, and, coupled with the vast railroad interests found here, ever 
in operation, stands in advance of many in the southern tier Among 
the important industries of the day may be mentioned the McConnell 
Company, whose extensive wood working establishment employs 200 
workmen. This was the outgrowth of an older business started many 
years ago by Morris Smith, and purchased' b)' Asa McConnell and Ben- 
ton McConnell in 1868. After several changes in proprietorship the 
company was incorporated, and now, under the name abrtve noted is 
the largest manufacturing enterprise of the city and one of the largest 
and best of its kind in the country. Benton McConnell is president ; 
Floyd T. McConnell, general manager; Claude Hallett, secretary-, and 
Claude Jones, treasurer. 

J. M. Deutsch & Co. are manufacturers of furnituie, and in connec- 
tion with their works is also the Woodward F"ence Wire Co., which to- 
gether form an extensive plant and furnish employment to forty or fifty 
men. Mr. Deutsch began business here in 1866 as one of the firm of 
Deutsch & Tschachtli, and in 1871 occupied the Barclay factory build- 
ing of still older date. 

The O'Connor tannery was established in 1865 by William O'Connor, 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 299 

and since that time has been in successsul operation, and now employs 
about fifty men. The firm now consists of Mr. O'Connor and his son, 
George \V. O'Connor. 

The well known Thacher Mills on Main street occupy the site where 
Judge Hornell started his primitive mill previous to 1800. The present 
mill was built by the late Judge Thacher and is now owned by J. T. O. 
Thaclier, though leased by G. VV. Morris. 

William Richardson's large boot and shoe factory is also one of the 
old industries of the place and was established in 1871. Here nearly 
175 employees are furnished with work. 

The Hollow Cable Manufacturing Co. began operations in 1873, and 
from that to the present time have been recognized as one of the leadmg 
business houses of the city. The company was organized in 1888 
with Othaniel Preston, sr., as president, Henry C. Preston, treasurer, 
and Othaniel Preston, jr., secretary. Since the death of O. Preston, sr., 
(March 27, 1893) the business has been conducted by the sons men- 
tioned. They employ about twenty-five men. 

The St. Julian Gear Co. was established in 1880, by Charles O. Rose 
for the manufacture of wagons and carriages. Here about thirty men 
are employed. 

A. T. Prindle & Son is a firm of tanners and the outgrowth of a 
business founded in this city in 1861 by A. T. & M. Prindle. The 
present firm employs about thirty men. 

In the same connection we may also note the Underwear Manufac- 
turing Co., commonly known as the White Goods factory, at the corner 
of Canisteo and Loder streets, which was established July i, 1888. At 
full capacity this factory employs one hundred hands, chiefly women 
and girls. The members of the firm are F, D. Sherwood, George D. 
Terry and W. F. Sherwood. The firm succeeded the company in 1891. 

The Rockland Silk Mills were started in 1887 by Edwin S. Brown 
who came to Hornells\ille from Paterson, N. J. The present factory 
was built in 1894. Here are employed in all departments 1 10 persons, 
two-thirds of whom are young women. The product of these mills is 
" organzine " and " tram," or warp and filling. 

In 1889 John O. Adsit established m the city a large general machine 
shop and foundry. This he conducted till about January i, 1895, when 



300 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Daniel H. Rogers succeeded. Here are employed about twenty work- 



men. 



The Truss and Cable Fence Wire Co. was established in 1889, for 
the manufacture of fence wire, the patent of Dr. Lee Rishel. In the 
works are now employed about twelve men. The present proprietors 
are Charles O. Rose and George P. Rishel. 

The Merrill Fabric Glove Company, for the manufacture of silk gloves 
and mitts, was established during the winter of 1890-91, and is among 
the leading industries of the city. Employment is furnished here for 
about one hundred men. 

The Preston Brick Company was organized in i8,0O by Othaniel Pres- 
ton and his sons for the manufacture of brick from the shale rock found 
in this vicinity. This firm furnishes employment to twenty-five men. 

It is estimated that the city of Hornellsville has a total of about 250 
merchants and persons otherwise interested in such mercantile "pursuits 
as are incident to every well ordered municipality ; and while every 
branch of trade is well represented, neither public or private interests 
appear to have suffered through over-competition. In mercantile cir- 
cles the business men of this city are honorably regarded. Statistics 
prove that at least ninety per cent, of merchants fail at some time during 
their busines career, and while such disasters are not unknown in Horn- 
ellsville, it may be said that the general average of failures have not 
been increased by the experiences of local merchants. 

The city possesses the necessary elements of prosperity in almost 
every direction. It has a fine opera house, and several large halls for 
public assemblages. In the matter of hotels, too, the city is fortunate, 
having at least three public houses that are regarded as first class. 
These are the Osborne House, named for its original founder, though 
burned and rebuilt in 1874. It was the property of VV. C. Brainerd, of 
Buffalo. The Page House, owned by Esek Page and sons, was built 
about 1 87 1 or '72, on the site of the still older Hornellsville Hotel. 
The name Page House was adopted in 1887. The Sherwood House 
was formerly the Schu House, though now greatly enlarged and im- 
proved. It is owned by F. D. Sherwood and George N. Orcutt. 

The street railroad system of the city is worthy of special mention. 
The now known Hornellsville Electric Railroad was begun in May, 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 301 

1892, and the city branch was in operation on August 5th following, 
with five motor cars. The Canisteo division was begun on October 
23, 1892, and finished on December 30th thereafter. The equipment 
now consists of eight motors and five trailers. Power is furni.shed by the 
American Illuminating Company. The railroad company employs 
twenty- five men. 

Evening Star Lodge, No. 44, F. & A. M., was chartered June 11, 

1816, although the history of the Masonic fraternity in this city ante- 
dates that time. Informal meetings were held and as early as January, 
1 8 14, and there may have been some work done here under dispensa- 
tion. So near as can be ascertained the first officers were Andrew 
Simpson, W. M.; Timothy Perry, S. W., and John Stephens, J. W. 
Among the other earl)- members were James Jones, Nathaniel Thacher 
and William Mulhollen, while visiting brethren were Andrew Morris, 
Uriah Stephens, William Hyde, Samuel O. Thacher, Elias Perry, Sam- 
uel Lenox and Samuel Darby. The lodge, it appears, was originally 
an institution of Canisteo proper, and first came to Upper Canisteo in 

18 17. Notwithstanding its vicissitudes, which have also been a part of 
the record of all pioneer Masonic societies, this lodge has been an endur- 
ing institution, its aggregate enrollment numbering several hundred 
members. The present number is about 125. The past masters have been 
H. E. Huvinger, \V. L. Collins, G. H. Dore, W. W. Howell, J Mounce, 
W. H. Sims, A. M. Lewis, C. E Evans, jr., H. D. Leach, John Mc- 
Dougall. Present officers, H. T. Harris, W. M., I. S. Lanning, S. W., 
W. U. Rixford, J. W., H. H. Carney, treasurer, W. H. Sims, secretary, 
O. S. Palmer, chaplain, Joseph Mounce, S. D., Gee Becker, J. D., M. 
Hill, S. M. C, G. B. Daley, J. M. C, F. Donahue, tiler. 

Hornellsville Lodge, No. 331, F. and A. M., was chartered June 24, 
1854, and throughout the period of its history has enjoyed a constant 
and healthfiil growth. It has now nearly 225 members. The past 
masters have been E. G. Gilbert, H. P. Johnson, Robert Laughlin, J. I. 
Bentley, P. C. Hufstader, L. S. Boardman, George W. Griswold, S. Os- 
soski, P. M. Nast, jr., Don L. Sharp, F. A. Jones, William S. Charles, 
Avery McDougall. The officers for 1895 are: Joseph Schaul, W. M.; 
Samuel Erlich, S. W.; O. E. Elwell. J. W.; S. Ossoski, Treasurer; Don 
L. Sharp, Secretary ; L. W. Rockwell, S. D.; William H. Prangen, 



302 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

J. W.; O. W. Pratt, S. M. C; G. I. Blackmer, J. I. C; W. E. Waldorf, 
Organist ; F. Donahue, Tiler. 

Steuben Chapter, No. loi, R. A. M., was chartered February 23, 
1825, and has since had an active organization in the city. Its members 
now number 141 Masons. The past high priests are : Morrison 
Harding, H. E. Buvinger, H. P. Johnson, G. W. Griswold, L. S. Board- 
man, H. O. Fay. D. L. Sharp, P. C. Hufstader, P. M. Nast, jr., S. Os- 
soski, W. H. Sims, F. A. Jones and S. Lang. The present officers are : 
W. H. Prangen, H. P.; C. E. Evans, jr., K ; John McDougall. S.; John 
I. Bentley, Treasurer; O. W. Pratt, Secretary; W. H. Van Dusen, 
Chaplain. 

Hornellsville Council, No. 35, R. and S. M., was chartered February 
I, 1870. The present membership is 72. The officers are W. H. Sims, 
T. 111. M ; O. E. Ellwell, Dep. T. 111. M.; I. S. Lanning, P. C. of Work; 
W. E Waldorf, Recorder; W. H. Prangen, Treasurer; J. S. Norton, 
Captain of Guard ; J. I. Bentley, Con. of Council; W. H. Van Dusen, 
Chaplain. 

De Molay Commandery, No. 22, K. T., is another of the higher 
Masonic organizations of the city, and in membership is one of the 
strongest, the number now being 150. The past eminent commanders 
have been H. E. Buvinger. A. H. Bunnell, W. L. Collins, H D. Leach, 
G. W. Griswold, W. H. Prangen, J. I. Bentley, .S. F. Smith, F. H. 
Robinson, George T. Rehn, Louis S. Boardman, The present officers 
are: F. A. Jones, E. C; W. H. Sims, Gen'l'o ; Avery McDougall, 
Capt. Gen.; J. I. Bentley, Ex-Prelate; G. A. Waldorf, Treasurer; W. 
E. Waldorf, Recorder; F. A. Jones, Trustee. 

The other Masonic organizations having an abiding place in the city 
are Hornell Consistory, No. 40, S. P. R. S., 33^, attached to which are 
Rose Croix Chapter, 17-18^; the Council of Princes of Jerusalem, 
15-16°, and Lodge of Perfection, 4-14°. The Masonic Hall Associa- 
tion was incorporated in 1869, and is designed to care for the property 
and interests of the order in general in the city. 

Odd Fellowship in the city is well represented in four substantial 
organizations, being Oasis Lodge, No. 251, Steuben County Lodge, 
No. 331, Canacadea Encampment, No. 117, I. O. O F., and Canton 
Loyal, No. 153, P. M. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 303 

The principal officers of Oasis Lodge are : VV. J. Haliett, N. G.; 
Alfred Webb, V. G.; W. W. White, permanent secretary. This lodge 
lias 150 member. 

Steuben County Lodge has a membership of 190, and is officered as 
follows : N. G., R. H. Foster ; V. G.. A. L. Shannon ; recording sec- 
retary, A. L. Harrisim ; permanent secretary, W. A. Tracy ; treasurer, 
F. J. Hutchinson. 

Canacadea Fncampnient has about eii^hty members, and is governed 
by these officers: C P., F. J. Abbott ; 11. P., A. M. Webb ; S. W., A. 
Seal; J. W., G. F. Avery; scribe, R. H. F'oster ; permanent scribe, 
H. S. Pettibone ; treasurer, G. G. Wafer. 

Canton Loyal, P. M. No. 43, has thirty five members. Its present 
officers are: Captain, \V. H, Owm ; lieutenant, G. G. Walzer; en- 
sign, W. I"". Simms ; clerk, R. H. Foster ; accountant, J M. Peterson. 



CHAPTER XVIIL 

CITIES. VILLAGES AXU HAMLETS. 

The Village ok Addison. — In the south part of the town of 
Addison, at the confluence of Tuscarora Creek with the Canisteo. is an 
enterprising and constantly growing incorjjorated village of about 2,200 
population, named after the town in which it is located. It has been 
said that Addison stands in much the same relation to Corning as Can- 
isteo bears to I lornellsville. In truth there may be some force in this 
remark, for Canisteo and Addison have long been regarded as sister 
villages, settled originally by the same sturdy stock, and whose de- 
scendants appear to have been imbued with similar traits and like 
worthy purposes. Both villages have the advantages of the Erie Rail- 
road ; both have the Canisteo River, and while the western village has 
Bennett's Creek, Addison has the Tuscarora. Still, beyond the fact 
that every friendliness exists between the inbabitants of these villages, 
there is nothing in common between them. 

William H. Jones was one of the pioneers of the town, also of the vil- 



304 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

lage, and kept one of the early hotels north of the river, on the 
" Pumpelly Lot," as conimonly known. Solomon Curtis laid out a part 
of the village lots on this side, and William W'ombaugh was another 
conspicuous factor in early history, though his lands lay south of the 
river. The latter was a man of means as well as enterprise. He built 
saw and grist mills, a log distillery, carding machine, and otherwise con- 
tributed largely to early village history. Yet, for several years the few 
mills and many public houses were about the only visible evidences of 
village settlement. However, Addison was a hamlet of much impor- 
tance in the region, and so great was the volume of business that a post- 
office was established here as early as 1804. Lumbering was for many 
years the leading industry, hence here was the rendezvous for buyers 
and dealers, while raftsmen were counted by hundreds. There were 
John Loop, Shumway& Glover, Wilcox, Birdsall & Wetherby, all lum- 
bermen and merchants, and all in active business as early as 1830. Later 
on came John and Peter P. Loop, Caleb Wetherby and Reed A. Will- 
iams, who were partners in business and large operators. These were 
followed by Thompson & French, who built a store at the corner of Wall 
and Railroad streets. This firm sold out to William R. Smith and Eli 
Fitch Later business men and merchants were Ransom Rathbone, 
S L. and Joel D. Gillett, A. Cone, C. E. Gillett, George Wells. E. L. 
and E. R. Paine, George Graham, N. W Mallory, Thomas and Benja- 
min Phillips, Merriam & Haynes, Dr. Bradley Blakeslee, Ezra J. 
Brewer, Hiram Sleeper, and others, whose names are now lost, but all 
of whom were active figures in town and village life and by their efforts 
contributed not a little to early local prosperity. 

These men laid the foundation for the village and a later generation 
of inhabitants completed the municipal superstructure, a,nd to day the 
joint efforts of both builders are rewarded in one of the most cosmo- 
politan villages of Steuben county; and it is no idle or fulsome compli- 
ment to say of Addison that it is now regarded as tlu: best village of the 
county, interest for interest and resource for resource. 

In 1854 the population and business interests of the village were so 
large and of such a character that it became necessary to partially sep- 
arate it from the town at large ; local improvements were necessary 
and the town, not being directly interested, was not willing to bear any 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 305 

part of the expense. Tlierefore tlie people of tlie hamlet availed them- 
selves of the general laws relating to village incorporations, and in Jan- 
uary, 1854. by an order of the Court of Sessions, Addison became a 
body politic and corporate, authorized to elect officers, inaugurate 
local improvements and levy and collect taxes to meet the expenses 
thereof. At the first election of officers the trustees chosen were 
Frederick R. Wagner, Bradley Blakeslee, Parley Guinni[), Stephen 

Lewis, White and Thomas Paxton. At the first meeting of the 

trustees Dr. Wagner was elected president, and I. V. L. Meigs, clerk. 

This limited municipal government was found sufficient for temporary 
purposes, but as the village grew in population and business importance, 
broader powers and more thorough government became necessary, and 
the result was a special act of the Legislature, passed April 12, 1873, 
granting a charter to the " Village of Addison," including within its 
boundaries specified territory, and dividing the latter into two wards. 
The Canisteo was the dividing line The first officers under the char- 
ter were J. V. Graham, president; John W. Clark, clerk; Chaun- 
cey D. Hill, treasurer; Sanford Elmor, collector; Daniel D. Hickey 
and E. S. Mead, trustees of First ward, and Lorin Aldrich and James 
D. Goodley, trustees of Second ward. 

In this connection it is also proper to note the names of the officers 
of the village for the year 1895, v'^- George Crane president ; George 
J. Ameigh, George Wetherby, George Allison and S. M. La Grange, 
trustees; E. E. Burdick, clerk; George J. Truell, treasurer. 

According to the present disposition of business Addison is well 
provided with mercantile and manufacturing interests, with good 
churches, five in number, exceptionally excellent schools, two sound 
banking houses, and all other institutions which contribute to municipal 
welfare. There are also two good and representative newspapers, the 
Advertiser, a Republican paper, founded in 1858, and the Record, 
established in 1880, and the exponent of Democratic doctrines, general 
and local. 

The present fire department comprises Phoenix and Wells Hose 
Companies, and Baldwin Hook and Ladder Company, all well equipped 
with good apparatus, and liberail)' supported by the village and people. 

The Addison Water Works Company was established in 1889, the 

39 



306 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

water supply being taken from a reservoir elevated above the village 
level. It is a private enterprise and owned b)- foreign capital. 

In the montli of December, 1847, twelve prominent men of Addison 
formed an association for the purpose of founding and building an acad- 
emy. They purchased a four-acre tract of land north of the village, on 
which, in 1848, the building was erected. The promoters of this worthy 
enterprise were Henry Wombaugh, Rufus Baldwin, Joel D. Gillett, 
Elihu Wittenliall, Erastus Brooks, Orange Se)mour, William H. Gray, 
Bradley Blakeslee, William Bradlej-, James Baldwin, William R Smith, 
and Arthur Erwin. The original academy was in all respects a worthy 
institution and was well supported, but the building was destroyed by 
an unfortunate fire in October, 1856. Subsequently another association 
of citizens established a private academic school, and the latter con- 
tinued in fairly successful operation until the organization of Union 
Free School District No. i, in the year 1878. The first Board of Edu- 
cation comprised Jesse K. Strock, John F. Turner, George Farniiam, 
John W. Dininny, James M. Wood, John Mitchell, David Darrin, 
Henry S. Jones and William A. Smith. In connection with this school 
was an academic department, and upon a substantial and generously 
supported basis it has ever since been maintained. At the public 
expense an excellent school building was erected in 18S8, and the 
Grammar School on Tuscarora street in i 889. 

The present Board of Education is comprised of William T. Moran, 
president ; Fred C. Tabor, W. O. Feenaughty, William A. Storey, Dr. 
George Crane, Daniel D. Hickey, Arthur P. Hill, H. W. Sanford, sec- 
retary, and S. V. Lattimer, treasurer. 

The financial institutions of the village are the Addison Bank and the 
Baldwin Bank. The former was established by incorporation, May 17, 
1856, with a capital of $50,000, and with William R. Smith and Charles 
H. Henderson as active owners and managers, the former president and 
the latter cashier. The corporation was dissolved about 1861, and 
fram that time the bank has been conducted as a private enterprise. 
The bank building was erected in 1873. The Baldwin Bank began busi- 
ness in January, 1874, under the ownership of James Baldwin and 
Charles D. Williams, wiiich proprietors were succeeded in April, 1880, 
by Henry Baldwin and Mrs. Sarah Weatherby. This bank is now 




HENRY BALDWIN. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 307 

operated by James Baldwin, and, like its cotemporary in the village is 
a safe financial institution 

The churches of Addison are also worthy of at least a mention in 
this chapter although a more detailed history of each will be found else- 
where in this work. Those at present existing are Protestant and 
Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Hajitist and Roman Catholic, each 
holding regular services, well organized and instruments of good in the 
community. 

All branches of mercantile business appear to be well represented, 
but lack of space prevents us from an individual mention of each mer- 
chant. However, it is pardonable that the manufacturers should be 
specially noted, for Addison enjoys the pleasant notoriety of having 
several industries of importance. In this connection we may mention 
the sash, door and blind factory, lumber yard and general wood-work- 
ing establishment of Park, Winton & True ; the large foundry and ma- 
chine works of E. S. Chatfield ; the "A. & P." machine shops; John 
Schmitt's brewery ; the Owen planing mill, and the extensive roller 
flouring mill of Curtis & Paxton. F". H. Wheaton owns the electric 
light plant, furnishes light for the streets and buildings, and also operates 
the pump house. The principal hotels of the village are the "Ameri- 
can " and the " Wyckofif." 

Addison Hili, is a small settlement in the southwest part of Tus- 
carora, containing a post-office, a (ew dwellings, a store and a black- 
smith shop. The local storekeeper and postmaster is Fayette V. Howser ; 
the blacksmith, William Crowell. 

The Village of Arkport. — This pretty and busy little hamlet 
of about 400 population is located in the extreme northern part of the 
town of Hornellsville, in the vicinity where Chistopher Hurlbut made 
his first settlement, and from which point the famous ark was sent down 
the Canisteo in 1800, laden with grain. Judge Hurlbut was the founder 
of the place, the builder of the first mill and hotel, and also proprie- 
tor of the ark. Although this village has never attained either popula- 
tion or business interests sufficient to justify incorporation, it is never- 
theless a place of some importance in the county, and as a shipping 
point for agricultural products it is quite noted. It is a station on the 
Buffalo division of the Erie, and also on the Central New York and 



308 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Western Railroad. Since the construction of the road last mentioned 
the business interests have materially increased. 

Arkport has two churches, Presbyterian and Methodist Protestant, 
and an excellent school. In 1894 the village, with some adjacent ter- 
ritory, was formed into a Union Free School district, superseding the 
old system formerly in operation. The members of the Board of Educa- 
tion are L. C. Healy, president, and N. O. Wheeler, Hiram Ellis, A. A. 
Sewell, Henry Colgrove, and Charles Lawrence. The school building 
is of brick and frame, substantially built, and is regarded as one of the 
best rural schools of the county. Three teachers are employed. 

The industries of Arkport comprise the large planing mill, the feed 
and grist mill, the Stephens wagon factory. The business men are 
Taylor Brothers, general store; Daniel Curry, store; M. Weber, gun 
store ; Willis Ellis, grocer ; Hiram Ellis, hardware ; Healy & Daven- 
port, produce dealers and feed mill ; Colgrove & Son, produce dealers ; 
William M. Hurlbut, lumber dealer ; A. M. Eiband, large planing mill; 
Stephens' wagon factory; James F. Deeters, harness shop; Ira Haga- 
dorn, wagon shop; Marshall Emery, jeweler ; H. L.Gillette, druggist; 
Calvin Hawkins, proprietor of Hawkins House, and J. D. Taylor, post- 
master. 

Atlanta. — Thirty-five years ago a writer of local history said: 
"Blood's, a hamlet, is a station on the railroad, one mile from North 
Cohocton. It is named from Calvin Blood. This is rendered an im- 
portant station on the railroad from its connection with the Canandai- 
gua Lake route. A daily line of stages runs to Naples, at the head of 
the lake, and a steamer plies daily between the latter place and Canan- 
daigua." A still later writer describes Blood's Station as a thriving 
little hamlet on the railway and point of departure for the stage route 
to Naples and Canandaigua ; and further says a post-office was estab- 
lished at Blood's, April 21, 1871, through the instrumentality of Asa 
Adams, who was the first postmaster. From this we may correctly 
infer that the residents of this locality were compelled to repair to the 
north hamlet for their mail previous to 1 871, when the post-office was 
located at Blood's. However, long before this the hamlet was one of 
the recognized centers of the town, and one of importance in various 
directions. But from these elements there has grown a thriving village. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 309 

and in the course of time, in fact at a quite recent date, the old name of 
" Blood's" or " Blood's Station," was discontinued and in its stead the 
more euphonious designation of " Atlanta " was adopted. 

The railroad, and the diverging stage route to Naples, gave Atlanta an 
importance forty years ago, and from that time to the present there has 
been no retrograde movement, and to-day the hamlet stands prominent 
among the several villages of the town. However, a disaster came to 
local interests during the month of September, 1895. ^nd by it several 
large buildings were burned to the ground. The principal sufterers 
from this fire were John Dunn, H. W. Hatch, L. D. Hodgman, L. R. 
Partridge, Henry Clark, and T. J. Cornish. 

The business interests of Atlanta at the present time are represented 
substantially as follows: D. C. Borden, T. J. Cornish, and J. C. Whit- 
more, grocers; J. Radish, drugs; W. E. Waite, hardware; Wheaton & 
Wells, meat market ; G. Kesler and Frank Davy, blacksmith.s ; John 
Spencer and Byron Hayes, feed mills; F. Parks, clothing; John Lang- 
don and John Dunn, hotel keepers. 

The Free Methodist church of the town is located in this village, and 
in the matter of schools there is an association with North Cohocton in 
a union free school and district. The school house is located between 
the villages, convenient to both. 

The Village of Avoca. — It is extremely doubtful v.hether pioneer 
Buchanan ever contemplated the possibility of an attractive and flour- 
ishing village near the point where he located in 1794 and opened a 
public house. Still this worthy frontiersman lived to see a post settle- 
ment where Avoca now stands, though the locality was then commonly 
known as "Buchanan's," also as " Eight Mile Tree." It was the begin- 
ning made by the pioneer that led to the founding of the settlement and 
subsequent village, and the store opened by George and Alon/.o Simons 
made the latter a fi.xed fact. Yet the Simons Brothers' stock of goods 
comprised only a small quantity, the whole amount being brought to 
the place on two pack horses. In 1818 the settlement had attained 
sufficient importance to justify a school, hence one was started at that 
time, and about nine years later the Methodists built a small meeting 
house in the hamlet. 

However, the name Avoca was not given the village until the latter 



310 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was well founded, and was adopted, it is said, at the request of a young 
lady of the settlement, she at the time being on her death- bed. Among 
the hamlets of the valley this was for many years one of minor impor- 
tance; a convenient stopping place on the stage route, a post-office point 
of some little note, but previous to the construction and operation of 
the Buffalo, Corning and New York Railroad in 1852, Avoca enjoyed 
none of its present prominence. But even railway companies are capa- 
ble of ungenerous actions, and exorbitimt freight charges sometimes 
have a tendency to delay municipal growth. Such was the case with 
Avoca for many years, but a competing line, as the D., L. & W. Rail- 
road proved to be, relieved the abuses of the past and gave additional 
impetus to all local enterprises. Manufactures were established, busi- 
ness interests were enlarged and increased, and even the farmer reaped 
a full share of the profits created by this new thoroughfare of travel and 
transportation. 

In 1883 the village was incorporated and its first officers at once made 
provision for such conveniences and protection as villages require. The 
ordinances provided for streets regularly laid out, for sidewalks, lights, 
and also the health of the inhabitants. A good supply of pure and 
wholesome water was obtained from a reservoir located about two miles 
northwest of the village, and with this assured increased fire protection 
was a natural consequence. Thus suitably provided witli all the ele- 
ments of municipal convenience, and with a location in the most beau- 
tiful part of Cohocton valley, the observer is both pleased and sur- 
prised at the attractions and business thrift which seem to prevail on 
every hand. To-day Avoca has a population of about one thousand 
inhabitants, and is well supplied with business and manufacturing enter- 
prises. Of the milling interests we may note the Avoca Milling Com- 
pany, and the firm of Billings, Beals & Company, flour manufacturers, 
the saw mill of M. A. Hoadley, and the cigar factory of W. N. Clutchey. 

The mercantile interests are represented as follows: Smith & Hoad- 
ley, C. W. Marlatt, and W. R. Sutton, general merchants ; J. M. Willis, 
grocer ; Robert Gay, grocer and baker ; D. S. Jolly, restauranter ; W. 
H. Fultz and J. Hall, clothiers ; J. B. and M. A. Sturdevant, hardware 
dealers; J. W. Griswold and Frank Gilmore, jewelers; Baldwin & 
Mattice, furniture dealers; E. D. Hess, druggist; A. White, photog- 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 311 

raplier ; Charles Cropsey, druggist; J. Towner and Gallup & Abbej-, 
meat dealers; B. Palmer, shoe shop; A. L. Richards, D. Roberts, 
wagon makers; G. O. Noxon, broom maker; Milo Sharp and Henry 
Zignfuss, harnessmakers ; W. C. Loucks, L. S. Veeder and J. C. Hovey, 
hotel keepers. In the same connection may be mentioned the Avoca 
Advance, an enterprising weekly iiewsijapcr, established about 1878. 
and since March, 1S88, owned and published by George G. Silsbec. 

The officers of the village for the year 1895, are as follows: J. B. 
Sturtevant, president ; Walter H. Wood, J. Hall and Oscar C. Billings, 
trustees ; William R. Sutton, treasurer ; J. H. Shaffer, collector. The 
Board of Water Commissioners comprises J. Hall, president ; Walter H. 
Wood, secietary; Oscar C. Billings, treasurer, and J. B Sturtevant, 
commissioner. 

The public institutions of the village comprise the graded school, also 
the ]5aptist. Evangelical Lutheran, and Methodist Episcopal churches. 
The history of Avoca religious societies will be found in a later cha[)ter 
of this volume. 

Bradfoud Village. — This little hamlet is located in liie northeast 
part of the town of the same name, and while it has never attracted any 
special attention as a business center, it is nevertheless a convenient 
trading point and sufficient for the needs of the inhabitants of the sur- 
rounding country, h'rederick Bartles was the first settler in the village, 
the builder of the first mills, and proprietor of the first store. As at 
present constituted the business interests comprise three or four good 
stores, and also the hotel, mills, shops and other lesser industries inci- 
dent to rural villages. Here also are three churches and a good school. 
The churches are the Baptist, Methodist and Protestant Episcopal, each 
of which is mentioned elsewhere in this work. 

BUENA Vista. — Buena Vista is a pleasantly situated hamlet located 
in tlie south part of the town of Howard, and was established as a post- 
office and trading center for the convenience of the inhabitants. Its 
business interests are few, comprising the general store of F. W. Spencer 
and the blacksmith shop of W. E Drake. Here is located the Wesleyan 
Methodist church. 

Burns. — Ikirns is the name of a small hamlet and station on the line 
of the l{ric and also the C. N. Y. & W. railroads, to the construction of 



312 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

which it owes its greatest importance. The merchant of this place is 
P S. Jones, who also holds the office of postmaster. 

Cameron Village. — During the early history of the town, the vil- 
lage was the center of trade and population, and here for many years 
there assembled the worthies of the vicinity and the numerous lumber- 
men who operated in the region. In the town chapter we have re- 
ferred to the primitive industries which led to the founding of a village 
settlement, and also to its subsequent growth and final decline in im- 
portance. The first store was kept by Andrew Erwin, an Irishman, 
and Martin Rumsey was another early merchant at the Corners, as then 
known. Still later business men were Ebenezer Van Tuyl, John Cherry, 
S. M. Rogers, Herman Swift, Morgan & McKay, Peter Chase, Swarth- 
out & Pierson, and others. 

The village is built on a narrow strip of land in the Canisteo valley, 
and is surrounded by high hills. A main street runs through the ham- 
let, parallel with the river, and along this the buildings and principal 
residences are built. The present mercantile interests are the stores of 
J. D. Wheeler, Mrs. William Hallett, and F. L. Hawley. The later 
industries of this immediate vicinity are the Cameron f5our, feed and 
custom mills and the Boyd saw and feed mills. The Adamson saw mill 
is located three miles north. 

Cameron Mills. — The original designation of this hamlet was 
" Hubbardville," and so named from Daniel Hubbard who came from 
Broome county half a century or more ago and built the first flour mill 
in the town. He also opened a store for the accommodation of his 
customers, and naturally a post-office was established there. This part 
of tile town was in Cameron, and as the milling interests were impor- 
tant, the name of Cameron Mills was adopted. Furthermore another 
post-office by the name of " Hubbardsville" was in existence in Madi- 
son county. 

The present Cameron mills are owned and operated by J. T. Beck- 
with. The merchants here are Crawford Bros., and Watson Northrup. 
Dr. J. W. Blades has a drug store. Postmaster, James Crawford. 
The public institutions are the district school and Methodist Episcopal 
church. A Catholic chapel was built here several j'ears ago. It is at- 
tended from Addison by Father Noonan. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS 313 

Campbell Village. — This little hamlet is located near the center 
of the town of the same name, and was brought into existence by the 
earliest settlers, who built mills on the Conliocton River. The first grist 
mill was built by Gen. John Knox and Archie Campbell in l8i2, and 
stood across the raceway from the present Beniis mill. In 1846 a com- 
bined saw and grist mil! was built by Marcus Wheelock for Andrew 
Langdon. In 1855 the business interests of Campbelltown. for the vil- 
lage was once so called, comprised three saw mills, one flouring mill 
and two tanneries. At tiiat time there were about twenty dwellings and 
one church in the hamlet proper. The present industries are the saw 
mills of John P. Clark and Floyd Fuller; the grist mill owned by the 
Bemis estate, established in i860 ; and the hay-press and hay and grain 
business carried on by R. P. Myhers, the latter established in 18S5. The 
merchants of the village are Bowlby & Piatt, A. B. White, J. L. Van 
Kirk, George C. F. Sharp, John M. Clawson, George N. H. Piatt, Mrs. 
E. B. Williams. H. B. Willard, John Worden (barber), John Eggabroat. 
postmaster, Emmet B. Ross. The Bank of Campbell began business 
in July, 1877, with George R. Sutherland, president, and VV. S. Clark, 
cashier. 

The Village of Canisteo. — In the general division of the lands 
of township 3, range 5, Col. Arthur Erwin drew lot number one, but 
soon afterward exchanged lots with Solomon Bennett, the latter being 
the first settler at the place afterward called Bennettsville. Lot No. i 
covered substantially the present village site, but previous to the white 
occupancy here stood the Delaware Indian town which had been dig- 
nified by some writers with the name of "Kanestio Castle." This an- 
cient village is said to have contained about sixty hewed log houses, 
with stone chimneys in each, and to have been the home or seat of 
operations of a noted "Delaware King," known as At-weet-sera. The 
place was destroyed in 1765 by direction of Sir William Johnson. 

The honor of having been the pioneer on the village site may be ac- 
corded to Colonel Erwin or Solomon Bennett, probably the latter, as he 
opened the first store and kept the first hotel. The first blacksmith was 
Nicholas Doughty, a well educated German and worthy citizen. How- 
ever early may have been the founding of the village, it did not attain 
a standing of any importance among the municipalities of the county 

40 



314 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

previous to the year 1850, at which time the Erie Railroad was put in 
operation. This gave impulse to the growth of the place, but not until 
the year 1868 did it become a manufacturing center, when Lawrence 
Allison built the,large boot and shoe factory, furnishing employment to 
nearly one hundred persons. This was followed by another similar fac- 
tory, a planing mill, sash, door and blind factory, bent wood works and 
a chair factory; and within the next five years the manufactured pro- 
duct was worth $i,ooo,000 a year. In 1868 the village proper had but 
350 inhabitants; ten years later the population reached 2,000. 

The Canisteo Academy was one of the most praiseworthy institutions 
ever founded in the village, and one which has endured and enjoyed a 
successful existence to the present day. It was built by popular sub- 
scription to the capital stock, at an entire cost of $17,500. The insti- 
tution was chartered March 15, 1868, and its first Board of Trustees^ 
who were also in fact its founders, were Lewis F. Laine, Henry Hamil- 
ton, Commodore P. Chamberlain, Nathaniel C. Taylor, George Riddell, 
John H. Consalus, Joshua C. Stephens, Edward P. Bartlett, Mortimer 
Allison, Lucius A. Waldo, John Davis and Richard Allison. The build- 
ing is of brick, three stories high and beautifully situated on an eminence 
overlooking the village. It was finished and opened in September, 
1871. The present attendance at the academy averages about 125 
pupils annually, the patronage being drawn from the county at large 
and even beyond its borders. 

The present trustees and officers are: Lucius A. Waldo, president; 
F. H. Robinson, vice-president; W. E.Stephens, secretary; George L. 
Davis, treasurer, and Herman E. Buck, Oran Lathrop, A. N Burrell, 
N. S. Baker, William H. Ordway, William G. Porter, Charles Mead, 
William P. Bailey, O. O. Laine, S. P. Marsh, Ira W. Hall, Enos Smith, 
Mortimer Allison and J. E. Shaut. The academy has an endowment 
fund of $2,000. 

As years passed and the population and business interests of the 
village increased, there was created a demand for improvements and 
expenditures in which the town at large were but little interested, and 
for which the outside taxpayers were not disposed to contiibutc. To 
provide the necessary revenues the village residents determined to pro- 
cure an order of incorporation under the laws of the State, therefore. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 315 

in 1873, the Court of Sessions made an order incorporating the Village 
of Canisteo. Thus our interesting little place threw off the hamlet and 
adopted the municipal character. 

The first village election was held May 16, 1873, at which time these 
officers were chosen : Lucius A. Waldo, president; Mortimer Allison, 
L. P. Weed, Smith Eason, trustees ; Daniel Upton, collector; William 
H. Mead, treasurer. William E. Stephens was the first clerk ; Hiram 
J. Colgrove, police constable ; Hiram C. Whitwood, street commis- 
sioner. One of the first duties ol the trustees was to provide sidewalks 
through the principal streets, which being done, a system of lighting 
was adopted and a fire department organized, the latter the nucleus of 
the present efficient body. The present department comprises Canisteo 
Hook and Ladder Co., No. i, Waldo Hose Co., No. 1, Drake Hose 
Co., No. 2, Weed Hose Co, No. 3, and a company of fireprotectives. How- 
ever, the steamer seems to have lost its usefulness since the construction 
of the water supply system, hence its company disbanded, and the 
"Truck" was purchased in its stead. The steamer, a good La France 
engine, is held in reserve for any emergenc)'. The fire department 
building was erected in 1880. 

The Canisteo Water Works system and company is another of the 
worthy institutions of the village, and another evidence of local thrift 
and progress! veness. The works were constructed in 1887, at a cost of 
about $45,000 Water is obtained from a reservoir on one of the hills 
outside the corporation limits, while the source of supply is a series of 
springs in the vicinity of the reservoir. The company has laid seven 
miles of mains through the streets of the village and have 219 taps and 
fifty-one fire hydrants The officers of the company are: O. O. Lane, 
president ; De M. Page, secretary, and W. G. Porter, secretary. 

The Canisteo Electric Light and Gas Company, and the Fuel Gas 
Company, are also worthy of mention among the local improvement 
companies of the village, and though not yet fully developed, are prom- 
ising of good results in the future and will undoubtedly add materially 
to the business importance of Canisteo. 

The Union Free School of Canisteo enjoys the reputation of being 
one of the best and most thorough institutions of its kind in this part 
of the county. Many years ago the old district system was aban- 



316 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

doned and in its stead the people voted for a Union Free School, 
with an academic department. Tne present Board of Education com- 
prises H. S. Beebe, Elijah Hallett, W. B. Taylor. A. H. Burrell, William 
D. Carter, Harrison Crane and I. E. Lyon. 

With these and other kindred institutions added to the ordinary local 
interests, it will be seen that Canisteo is a village of importance among 
the municipalities of the county. However, still further advances are 
expected in the near future, for on the roadbed of the old Canisteo and 
Whitesville Railroad Company there is promised to be built a line of 
railway from the village up Bennett's Creek to Oswayo, via Rexville 
and Whitesville. For this enterprise the people of Canisteo have pledged 
the sum of $20,000. 

As at present constituted Canisteo enjoys the reputation of beingone 
of the most pleasantly situated and best governed villages in the county. 
As a manufacturing center it has considerable importance and all mer- 
cantile interests are well represented. It is a temperance village in 
which there are no saloons. The principal manufacturing industries are 
the large tannery of Richardson, Crary & Co., formerly Richardson 
& Shaut, built in 1880; the tannery of Charles Flohr's Sons, established 
in 187s by Charles Flohr. Flohr's custom and merchant mills were 
started about the same time but are now discontinued. The Canisteo 
Sash and Door Works is a large concern employing about one hundred 
men, and were originally known asthe Vorhis Planing Mills, established 
in 1868. The present company is comprised largely of non-resident 
capitalists. W. D. Carter, successor to H. Carter & Sons, is proprietor 
of an extensive foundry and machine shop. This industry was founded 
in 1873. 

The Canisteo Shoe Co. abandoned the village in May, 1895, t^'^us 
taking from our little municipality one of its most important industries. 
L. Allison & Co. began the manufacture of boots and shoes in the vil- 
lage about fifteen years ago, the firm being succeeded in 1884 by the 
Allison Boot and Shoe Co. The Levi S. Davis shoe factory was one of 
the important local industries and was originally established by Isaac 
Allison. The Weed Saw and Stave mill was established by L P. Weed 
in 1854. The Canisteo Spoke Works were started by Stephens Bros, 
about 1882. John Carroll, the present proprietor, succeeded to the 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 317 

business in 1886. Among the other local industries may be mentioned 
the Hub and Spoke Works of Thomas Slosson ; the wagon factory of 
Alfred Slosson ; the pearl button factory of D. A. Tucker & Son; the 
chair factory of Taylor Bros, and the planing mill of Shell I. Wilkins. 

The village has half a dozen hotels, prominent among which are the 
Canisteo House, the Commercial House and the Riverside House. The 
general merchants are E. Clarkson & Rro. and Felix D. Clossey. The 
dry goods merchants are William Riddell, C. E. Smith and G. J. San- 
ders. The grocers are George Walker & Co., T. K. Brownell, James 
Roblie, L. Davison, L. P. Rice, Charles Mead, Ralph Dunham and 
Mrs. Baker. The druggists are J. W. Mitchell, E. L. Hess and George 
P. Reed & Co. Furniture dealers, Stephens & Hitchcock, and E. A. 
Carter & Son. Hardware dealers, O. O. Laine, W. P. Goff, and 
Burrell & Carroll. Jewellers, E. H. Miner & Co., Bate McKean, and 
William Dudley. Bakers, T. N. Wallace, Miner Merwin and Frank 
Hallett. Tinsmiths, F". J. Kearns and Wells Trowbridge. Boot and 
shoe dealers, H. E. Ruck, John A. Wirt and T. K. Brownell. Meat 
markets, John Bailey and J. Bert Williams. 

The Bank of Canisteo was established in 1876, and did business in the 
building at the corner of Main and Depot streets. The officers were 
Mortimer Allison, president; Lawrence Allison, vice-jDresident, and 
and W. W . Ball, cashier. However, in 1883, the banking interests in 
the village suffered seriousl}' through financial disaster, although the 
affairs of the bank were not wound up until the next year. The present 
substantial banking house of Porter & Davis, the members of which are 
W'illiam E. Porter and George L. Davis, began business in the early 
part of 1884. 

Among the fraternal and social organizations of the village may be 
mentioned Morning Star Lodge, No. 65, F. & A. M., which was char- 
tered about 1840, although it was the outgrowth of old P^vening Star 
Lodge, the latter being established in this village as early as 18 14 or '15. 
In this connection also, we may mention the Men's Association, a relig- 
ious organization, entirely informal in its character, yet one of the most 
deserving and praiseworthy institutions in the village. 

The officers of the village for the year 1895 are as follows : Herman 
E. Buck, president, and O. O. Laine, L Edward Lyon, A. H. Bunell 



318 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

and William E. Flohr, trustees ; John Jackson, clerk ; George L. Davis, 
treasurer; Seymour B. King, collector. Population in 1890,2,071. 

CatoN Village. — This pretty little hamlet is attractively set 
among the hills, near the center of the town, where hardly more than 
half a century ago was a dense growth of mixed hardwood timber. 
The first store was opened here in 1849 by W. D. Gilbert, while near 
the four corners was still earlier established the post office called Worm- 
ley, Samuel Wormley, postmaster, and also tavern keeper. As a vil- 
lage Caton has little importance, yet for the convenience of the in- 
habitants of the vicinity a mill and one or two stores have been main- 
tained here for many years. The present merchants are C. B. Snyder 
and A. J. Whitney, the latter also being owner of the mill. The Caton 
Mill was built by Whitney & Deyo in 1880. The local postmaster is 
Osceola Gilbert. 

The Village of Cohocton. — On the 4th day of July, 181 3, at a 
general celebration participated in by the inhabitants of the town of 
Cohocton, at their established trading center, a large liberty pole was 
raised, and from this event the settlement was named Liberty. This name 
was continued through all generations and years of progress and de- 
velopment until July, 1891, when an order of incorporation was pro- 
cured, by which 941.20 acres of land were declared to be a body cor- 
porate and politic and to be known by the name of the " Village of 
Cohocton." Having attained this dignified character the old name of 
" Liberty " was dropped. However, the new designation, Cohocton, 
has been the established post-office name from a time far back in local 
history. At the election at which the voters decided upon the question 
of incorporation, 141 votes were in favor of such action and eighty-nine 
against the proposition. 

Liberty, or Cohocton, has witnessed many changes during the period 
of its existence, from the time when Jonas and James Cleland came 
into the region and made their first imi^rovemcnt, but the real fact or 
event which led to the founding of the settlement is not disclosed by 
published record, and tradition (the historian's final resort) furnishes 
nothing definite upon the subject. However, it is believed that the 
necessity of a convenient trading center in the town led to the hamlet, 
and subsequent lumbering, milling and accompanying mercantile inter- 



i 




ALBERTUS LARROWE. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 319 

ests, ill fact established its permanency. Here, previous to the construc- 
tion of the railroad, was a central lumber point and the railway com- 
l)any found profit in building a station at the place. One industry led 
to another and in the course of a few years a hamlet of importance had 
been built up. I'Orty yeafs ago the place had half a dozen good gen- 
eral stores, three public houses, a good school, and several church 
societies. In 1859 William VV. Warner established the Coliocton Jour- 
nal, through which paper the town and its advantages were widely ad- 
vertised throughout the county. Between 1840 and i860 the village 
enjoyed an excellent reputation as a lumbering and farming locality, 
hence subsequent growth was natural. In 1875 business interests were 
increased at least threefold be\ond those of a quarter of a century be- 
fore, and at the present day they are greater than at any time in vil- 
lage or hamlet history. 

Let us note briefly the principal institutions and interests of Cohoc- 
ton. and otherwise obtain a fair pen view of this enterprising municipal- 
ity. There are six churches, viz.: St. Peter's Roman Catholic, St. Paul's 
Lutheran, Zion Lutheran, Universalist, Presbyterian, and Methodist 
I''piscopal. The village has an excellent graded Union P'ree School, 
the affairs of which are under the direction of a Board of Plducatioii, 
comprised as follows: P. J. Rocker, president; C. W. Stanton, secre- 
tary; and J. L. Goff, Asa McDonnell, A. H. Wilcox, James Fox and 
W. E. Adair. 

The water supply was secured and system completed in the fall of 
1893. This department is controlled by three commissioners, Charles 
Oliver, Merritt Dusenbury and A. Weld The officers of the village 
are W. E. Adair, president; L L. Goff clerk; J. L Bartheline, T. B. 
Fowler, Webster Edmunds, trustees; E. B. Slayton, treasurer; P. A. 
Seeley, collector. The trustees are the village assessors 

Noting briefly the village interests of the village, we may mention the 
A. Larrowe Milling Company, and the Model Roller P'lour Mill, both 
large and successful industries. Wilcox & Son are coal dealers, also 
proprietors of a saw mill. The local druggists are Miraiu Wygant and 
Hill & Vorhees ; the dry goods houses are those of F. R. Harris, Shults 
& Shiefen, and Foults Bros.; the grocers are W. J. Becker, K. L. Jenks, 
Henry Michael, A. Dewey, and J. L. Bottleman ; the hardware dealers, 



320 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

George W. Peck & Co., and M. Kimmel & Son ; boot and shoe dealers, 
R. J. Rocker (also clothier), Fults Bros, (also clothing), and Henry 
Snyder; jeweler, James M. Reynolds; baker, Henry Smith; furniture 
and undertaking, T. S. Crosby & Son ; produce dealer, Charles Keefer ; 
coal dealer, George E. Wagner; music dealer, W. E. Adair; cigar 
manufacturers, Frank Crew, J. S. Schubmehl & Co., and Frank 15. 
Folts ; bottling works, Fred Lamb ; photographers, Messrs. Hoffman 
and Chubbuck ; meat markets, C. Sherman, and Henry Finch. There 
are also two barber shops, si.x blacksmiths, one wholesale liquor store 
(Casey & Lickey), and four hotels. 

The village also has one good private bank, an institution of years 
standing and known for the careful methods of its managers, W. J. 
Shults & Co. 

There are two good newspaper publications having a seat of opera- 
tions at Cohocton — the Times, owned by S. D. Shattuck, and the Index. 
Hyatt C. Hatch, proprietor. (See Press chapter for more extended 
mention of newspapers.) 

Thus it will be seen that Cohocton, the successor of the old hamlet of 
Liberty, is in all respects a well ordered village, supplied with all the 
requisites of flourishing municipalities. On every hand are evidences 
of thrift and enterprise, while within are the substantial elements of 
success. 

Cooper's Plains. — In the north part of the present town of Erwin, 
near the Campbell line, John Williams settled about the year 1795. 
Local tradition has it that Williams was a " Hessian " soldier in Bur- 
goyne's army and was included in the surrender at Saratoga in 1777. 
When the Genesee country was opened to settlement, Williams came 
to the region and made a residence in the then town of Painted Post. 
Among the later land owners or settlers in this locality were Judge 
McBurney, Alson Pierce and the Cobbs, all as early as 1814 and 1815. 
Finally a settlement was started and a post station established, the 
post-office being, it is said, a shmgle nailed to a tree, under which let- 
ters and papers were placed. 

Judge, or as otherwise known. Dr. Cooper, came to this part of the 
town in 1828, and was in fact the founder of the hamlet. In 1841 he 
built a large residence and laid out into lots a part of his farm. Albert 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 321 

Mulligan opened a store, Col. Uri Balcom built a saw mill, and Anson 
Buck opened public house. Thus the hamlet was founded, but after 
the timber lands had been cleared business began to wane, and only as 
a station in a fertile region on the line of the Erie and D. & W. Rail- 
roads has the place any importance. 

CUKTIS is a small settlement on the railroad, southeast of Campbell, 
where in 1835 Col. Balcom built a saw mill. The post-office was es- 
tablished here in 1875. The present postmaster is Jerome J. Quinby, 
who also has a general store. In 1854 the firm of Howell, Curtis & 
Co. built a large tannery at this place, and for one of the partners the 
post-office and village were named. The tannery was burned in 1858, 
and rebuilt by Curtis Bros. It was burned a second time in 1869, but 
immediately restored. The concern is now owned and operated by the 
U. S. Leather Company. At the post office called East Campbell, 
Eugene Smith has a grocery. The postmaster is Harmon Stevens. 

Dyke is a post hamlet near the center of the town of Hornby, and 
was established August i, 1889, for the convenience of the people of 
the vicinity. Here is located the " Shady Grove " district school and 
the VVe.sleyan Methodist church. The merchant here is Manley L. 
Baker, who is also postmaster. 

E.A.ST TroUI'SRURG is a post-office in the east part of the town 
where is a small settlement and one or two industries. In this locality, 
also, is the East Troupsburg Baptist church. The local postmaster is 
Stephen C. Brewer. This hamlet has a store and a few other interests 
of lesser importance. 

Erwin. — In the southwest part of the town of Erwin, on the line of 
the Erie Railroad, is a small hamlet known as Erwin. The station was 
built in 1873, and about that time E. E. Townsend was appointed post- 
master. The present postmaster is James VV, Thompson. 

FereNBAUGH. — This hamlet, a post office and station on the line of 
the now called Fall Brook road, was named in allusion to one of the 
prominent families of Hornby. The hamlet itself is small, its industries 
few, yet as a shipping point for farm produce it has some prominence. 
The merchants here are h'erenbaugh Bros. The postmaster is John H. 
Ferenbaugh. 

Freeman. — This little hamlet is situated near the center of the town 
41 



322 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of Tuscarora, and includes about thirty dwellings, a church, two stores, 
a district school, recently built, a saw and feed mill, and a few shops. 
The hamlet was named for one of the old and prominent settlers of the 
localit)'. The present merchants are Atwood Weeks and William H. 
Whitcomb ; blacksmiths, Martin Andrews and Levi Chase ; shoemaker, 
George Mullen. Postmaster, William H. Whitcomb. 

Gang Mills. — This hamlet was a place of much importance during 
the lumbering period of town history in Erwin. A firm comprised of 
Isaac Gray and Piatt and Dana purchased, about 1832, a 4,000 acre 
tract of timber from the William Erwin estate, and built and put in 
operation a large saw mill. The locality afterward became known as 
Gang Mills, but with the devastation of the forests the importance of the 
settlement also departed. 

Gibson's Landing (Catawba P. O.). — This is a pretty little hamlet 
on the lake front, and, during the period of canal-boating on the lake, 
was an important shipping point. It is now a summer resort, enjoying 
an excellent standing in that respect, and still possesses a certain prom- 
inence from a commercial standpoint. The Lake Keuka Wine Cellars 
are near the hamlet. The officers of the company are George H. Keeler, 
president; R. R. Soper. vice-president; Monroe Wheeler, treasurer, 
and Charles G. Wheeler, secretary. 

Goodhue Lake is the name of a post hamlet situated in the north- 
west corner of the town of Addison, near the small body of water of 
the same name. A post-office was established here for the convenience 
of the inhabitants of this locality, and naturally a little trading center 
has been built up. William A. Jimmerson is the merchant and post- 
master at this place. Here also is a district school. 




GEORGE GIBSON. 



CITIES, TILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 323 



CHAPTER XIX. 
CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 

The Village of Greenwood. — This little hamlet of about 250 in- 
habitants is situated in the southeast part of the town of Greenwood, on 
what is known as Bennett's Creek, and distant ten miles from Canisteo. 
It contains three churches (see church history), several stores and shops, 
and a number of manufacturing industries. Mail reaches here daily 
from Canisteo. 

The merchants of the village are George M. Webster & Co., large 
general stock; N. E. Coston, general store ; Woodward & Young, gen- 
eral store; Shaw & Austin, and J. M. Cheesman, hardware; and S. A. 
Scribner, harness dealer. The manufacturing interests are the machine 
shops, foundry and planing mill owned by George M. Woodward ; the 
wagon and carriage shops of T. E. Mallory; the wood-working factory 
of Byron Rugar, and the lumber business of G. D. Woodward. 

The town at large has eleven school districts, No. 2 comprising the 
village school. This is a school of advanced standing, a Union Free 
School, with an academic department. Here are employed a principal 
and two assistants. 

The Village of Ham^IONDSPORT. — In the year 1802, Gen. George 
McClure purchased several hundred acres of land in Pleasant Valley 
near Cold Spring, on which he caused to be built a saw mill, fulling 
mill, flour mill and carding machine. About the same time he also 
opened a store on the site of Hammondsport, and by all his operations 
laid the foundation for what has now become one of the most progress- 
ive villages in Steuben county. General McClure also built the first 
vessel on the lake, the Sally, a small schoner of about thirty tons burden, 
and thus was the pioneer in opening Lake Keuka to navigation. The 
schooner is said to have been built in 1 803. 

However, it remained for a later comer to found the village in fact. 



:i'24 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Capt. Jolin Slicther was the orit^ina! settler on the village tract, in 1796, 
and a [joition at least of his lands afterward passed to Judge Lazarus I lani- 
niond. This was in 1807, and about the same time the purchaser came 
to reside on the land. lie at once saw the possibilities of a village at 
the head of the lake, hence laid out a series of lots, and also donated a 
pleasantly located tract of land for a public park or square. Still many 
years passed before the settlement assumed the proportions or character 
of a settlement, and even as late as 1825 the lands in the vicinity were 
used chiefly for farming purposes. 

In the year last mentioned, William Hastings opened a well stocked 
store, and Lemuel D. Hastings acted in the capacity of clerk. In the 
following fall Ira G. Smith, of Prattsburg, built a store and soon after- 
ward a number of business interests were tstablished about the public 
stpiare. In 1 830 the Crooked Lake canal was begun, and finished the 
next year, and from this time Hamnioiulsport became a place of con- 
siderable importance in the commercial world and the future success of 
the village was assured. Among the varied industries of early and even 
later days, was that of boat building. The Keuka was put upon the 
lake in (835, a steamboat of good capacit)-. Others followed in suc- 
cession, as necessity reciuired, or as competition suggested, until at 
length historic and beautiful Lake Keuka became known for the num- 
ber and quality of her steam craft. In 1831 General McClure built a 
saw and plaster mill in the village, also a good dwelling ft)r his own 
use. John Randel came in 1833, and built a store, and was a prom- 
inent merchant and citizen for the ne.Nt quarter of a century. The 
stone n>ill was built in 1835-6, by Meredith Mallory, and though the 
enterprise was not successful as a business venture, the old mill iMiild- 
ings became one of the conspicuous laiulmarks of the region. 

Among the early business men of Hammonilsport, in atldition to 
those already mentioned, we may recall the names of A. M. Adsit, 
Delos Rose, William Hastings & Co., Adsit & Co., J. W. Davis, Lemuel 
D. Hastings, and G. W. Nichols. The first school house was built in 
1827, and stood where St. James' church was afterward erected. The 
large and attractive stone school house was erected for academic pur- 
poses in 1858. J. W. McLaure)' was it principal for the first si.\ or 
more years. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 325 

One of the most desirable public improvements, 'and one which has 
proven of the greatest material advantage to the village, was the con- 
struction of the Bath and Hammondsport railroad, begun in 1872 and 
opened for traffic in 1874. \iy the opening of this thoroughfare of 
travel and traffic the county seat and the interior of the county were 
given direct and rapid communication with the Erie Canal and the 
New York Central railroad, while the benefit to Hammondsport inter- 
ests were greatly increased. I'or this short road the town of Urbana 
bonded to the extent $40,000, and the village $30,000. In fact they 
built the road or at least furnished the means with which it was con- 
structed. 

As the hamlet grew and increased in population and im|3ort.ince, the 
inhabitants became desirous to make improvements and establish insti- 
tutions which were not directly beneficial to the town at large, and to 
which the people of the hitter were not inclined to contribute. There- 
fore it was determined that a corporation should be established, ami to 
this end Delos Rose, .S. 15. h'airchild, William Hastings, S. Watrous, 
I lenry Heiiham and Ik'njamin Hennitt petitioned the court for an order 
of incorporation under the provisions of the law. The order was granted 
and Hammondsport became a body corporate and politic on the i6th 
of June, 1856. The area of the village at that time was about 172 
acres, and within its boundaries were 530 inhabitants. At an election 
held June 29, 1856, the electors ratified the cor|5oration measure by a 
vote of forty- seven to thirty-four. Thus it is seen in this case, as in 
nearly all other similar movements, the opponents were a strong mi- 
nority of the voting element. However, the spirit of progress and en- 
terprise prevailed and the village of Hammondsport took a place among 
the municipalities of .Steuben county. 

The first election of village ofticcrs was held November 22, 185G, and 
resulted as follows : Trustees, William Hastings, John Randel, J. N. 
Crane, J. W. Davis, Clark j^ell ; assessors, Orlando Shepard, Uenjamin 
Bennitt ; collector, Lewis Wood; treasurer, John Watrous; clerk, B. 
Frank Drew. In January, 1871, a village charter was granted Ham- 
mondsport, and our little municipality increased and broadened her 
])0wers and advanced her corporate character. The first meeting for 
election of officers under the charter was held March 21, 1871, and 



326 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Absalom Hadden was elected president ; George W. Nichols, Allen 
Wood and Walter L. Moore, trustees; Benjamin F. Drew, treasurer, 
and George C. Wise, collector. The first clerk of the board of trustees 
was William W. Wright ; David Burch, police constable, and J. B. Van 
Auken, chief engineer of the fire department. 

At this time the fire department was carefully reorganized and be- 
came an important adjunct of the village. In fact all departments 
of local government were then firmly established and Hammondsport 
advanced to the degree of a municipality of the second class. The 
present department consists of a good horse power fire engine, a 
hook and ladder, and also a hose company. In 1894-5 ^ water works 
system was established, the source of supply being the abundant springs 
on the well known Scofield farm. Fire hydrants have been distributed 
throughout the streets, placed at convenient points, and with simple 
gravity pressure the village has excellent fire protection, and is, more- 
over, supplied with pure and wholesome water for all domestic pur- 
poses. The plant complete was constructed at a total cost of about 
$25,000, and is owned by the village. 

Hammondsport enjoys the pleasant notoriety of being one of the most 
attractive and desirable residence villages in Steuben county. Situated as 
it is in the very midst of a vast vineyard region and on the head waters 
of charming Lake Keuka, added to which may also be mentioned a 
rich agricultural and fruit producing country, all elements combine to 
make this one of the most delightful localities in the Genesee country. 
The people, too, are known to be hospitable, entertaining and progres- 
sive. The manufactures are chiefly wine and other products of the 
vine and fruit tree. 

The officers for the year 1895 are as follows: Trevor Moore, presi- 
dent; Henry Frey, Milan H. Hall, Phineas H. Casterline, trustees; G. 
W. Hubbs, clerk, and Aaron G. Pratt, treasurer. The president and 
trustees constitute a board of village assessors. The estimated popula- 
tion of the village is 1,000; in 1890 the number was 934, and in 1880 
was 775. 

The manufacture of wines may be regarded as the staple industry of 
the village and its immediate locality, and in this production much cap- 
ital is employed, while directly and indirectly hundreds of workmen are 





i^ ^^'^ 




ryy-^^ /^ht^ 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. '327 

engaged. So great indeed is this industrj- that we may briefly refer to 
some of the more important wine producing companies. The Urbana 
Wine Company "was organized in 1865, having an original capital of 
$250,000. The present capital is $100,000. The extensive cellars arc 
located on tiie west side of the lake, four miles below the village. 
Among the many and various grades of wine manufactured here may be 
specially mentioned the famed " Gold Seal," a purely dry wine much 
prized by epicures. The ofificers of the company are Harlo Hakes, 
president ; D. M. Hildreth, vice-president : H. A. Switzer, secretary ; 
W. W. Allen, treasurer, and John W. Davis, general manager. It is 
only a just compliment to say that much of the success achieved by the 
Urbana Wine Compan>- is due to tlie untiring efforts of Mr. Davis. 

The Pleasant \'alley Wine Company may be sufficiently introduced 
to the reader by the mere mention that at its cellars is manufactured 
the noted " Great Western," an exceedingly choice dry wine. The 
works are located at Rheims, a small hamlet and station on the line of 
the Bath and Hammondsport railroad, and less than two miles south of 
the village. This company was organized in i860. Its officers are 
James Lyon, president ; De Witt Bauder, secretary and treasurer, and 
Jules Masson, superintendent. 

The Germania Wine Cellars are located between Hammondsport and 
Rheims, but, like the others, is regarded as a village industry. The 
proprietors here are Frey Brothers (John and Gottlieb), who are own- 
ers of a large and well established plant Jacob Frey established the 
business of which this company is the outgrowth about thirty- five years 
ago. 

The cellars of the Columbia Wine Company are. also located at 
Rheims, and are owned by Henry Frey and J. S. Hubbs. Here is con- 
ducted a large and successful business, though the industry itself is of 
more recent founding than some of those mentioned above. 

The Hammondsport Wine Company is distinctly an industry of the 
village, and was incorporated October 24, 1880. Its capital is $50,000, 
and the output is justly noted for purity and general excellence. The 
officers of the company are Edwin S. Underbill, president ; G. I. Allen, 
treasurer; G. H. Wheeler, secretary, and II. G. Layton, superin- 
tendent. 



328 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

The Port Glen Wine Company's cellars are also to be mentioned and 
are in all respects worthy of patronage. They are under the proprie- 
torship of A. F. Bricout. 

Auxiliary to these leading industries are several manufactories de- 
voted to box, package and basket making, all furnishing employment to 
workingmen and women, and contributing in some degree to the 
general welfare. H. M. Champlin has a good roller flouring mill, with 
a capacity for the manufacture of fifty barrels of flour per day. Another 
flourishing industry is a broom factor)-, located just outside the village 
limits. On the inlet are a number of busy enterprises, chiefly box or 
basket factories, while the latest acquisition up the stream is the State 
Fish Hatchery. For the convenience of the inhabitants living in the town 
south of the village post offices have been established at various places. 
One is at Rheims, with DeWitt Bander postmaster, while a second, still 
further up the stream, is called Taggart ; John W. Kirkham, postmaster. 

In the village of Hammondsport is an excellent school, for the people 
of this town have ever been noted for generosity in the matter of afford- 
ing proper education to the youth of the locality. A reference to the 
town history will disclose the fact that as early as 1795, long before a 
village was thought of, Messrs. Reed, Stone and Baker were given by 
Charles Williamson fifty acres of land for the benefit of a public school. 
This tract was afterward deeded to trustees, this being one of the few 
towns in which the people received the full benefit of the donor's gen- 
erosity. The first village school stood where St. James' church was 
built, and was erected in 1827. The academy was built in 1858, and 
aud was afterward used by the district under the Union Free School 
system. The present members of the board are J. W. Keeler, Will S. 
Wood, J. S. Thorp, H. Y. Rose, H. J. Moore and Mrs. Matilda 
Bennett. 

All branches of mercantile business appear to be well represented in 
Hammondsport, and there is little evidence of overcompetition. There 
are several hotels, the largest being the Fairchild House, near the land- 
ing. The others are the Steuben House, the Park Hotel and the Grand 
Central. At present the excise commissioners have granted eight vil- 
lage licenses. The merchants are "Rothschild & Oloskey, clothiers; 
C. A. Champlin, general merchandise; George H. Keeler, hardware; 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS 329 

Frank Crookston, grocer ; George Vroom, grocer ; Orson Brundagc, 
grocer; Jolin R. Brown, shoe dealer ; Mr. Brough, clothier; James H. 
Smellie, druggist; L I. Rose & Son, dry goods; F. W. Fawcett, furni- 
ture dealer. At Lakeside the business men are George M. Chapman, 
grocer; H. J. Moore, druggist; E. K. Chapman, baker. 

The Bank of Hammondsport, as now known, is the outgrowth of a 
banking business started in the village in 1876 by H. C. Ainsworth, as 
a branch of a still older business in Prattsburg. At one time the firm 
of bankers was Ainsworth & Co. The bank was continued unin- 
terruptedly until 1894, and was then purchased by John J. Frey and 
Aaron J. Pratt, by whom it is now conducted under the firm name of 
F're\' & Pratt. The members of this firm are tried business men, 
prompt and reliable in all their transactions. Their office contains one 
of the best banking equipments in the county, ami is provided with a 
remarkably secure safe and a correspondingly strong and firmly con- 
structed vault. 

The church history of Hammondsport is interesting and worthy of 
record, for a perusal of which the reader is directed to another depart- 
ment of this work, wherein will be found at least a brief sketch of each 
organized church society in the county. 

HarmoNYVILLE (Pulteney P. O.). — This little hamlet, severally 
known as indicated above, is pleasantly situated in the northeast part 
of the town, yet among the villages of the county possesses little im- 
portance It is on the main thoroughfare leading from Hammondsport 
to Branchport, and about a mile distant from the lake. A trading cen- 
ter was established here many years ago, and until lake traffic drew 
trade to the eastward was the most important hamlet of the town. The 
public buildings here are the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal 
churches and the district school house. The merchants are G. VV. Peck 
& Company, general store; F. N. Goodrich & Company, general store ; 
Coryell & Connell, general store; A.J. Nichols, drugs, etc. The man- 
ufacturing interests are few, chiefly basket and box factories to supply 
the demands of the grape and fruit growers. 

Haktsvii.le Center (Purdy Creek Post- Office), is a small 
hamlet situate north of and near the center of the town, on the upper 
waters of Purdy Creek. The first business in this locality was done a 

42 



330 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

mile above the present hamlet, near where a cheese factory was built. 
Joseph Henry opened the Center House in 1851, and two years after- 
ward this became the business center. The post-office was located at 
Charles N. Hart's dwelling. J. D. Russell established a permanent 
store here in 1868, since which time two stores have generally been in 
operation. The present public buildings are the school house and the 
Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches, both of which are mentioned 
elsewhere in this work. The merchants are F. E. Carney and F. W. 
Spencer, proprietors of general country stores. Here, also, is a saw 
and feed mill, owned by William Donaldson. The other local interests 
are the blacksmith shop of Mr. Fuller and the harness shop of James 
Goodno. D. A. Oaks is proprietor of the Call Hill cheese factory. 
Another similar industry in the town is in process of erection. The 
postmaster at Purdy Creek is Scott Van Buskirk. 

Haskinville. — This little hamlet is situate in the northeast part of 
the town of Fremont, and was named for William Haskin, early settler 
and progressive citizen. At this place William Holden had a shingle 
mill as early as 1834, and soon afterward sold out his improvement to 
Mr. Haskin; and the latter built here the first tavern in the town in 
1836. Around this the village was built up. Its early interests com- 
prised the hotel, a store, cheese factory, shoe and blacksmith shop, to- 
gether with about twenty dwellings. The present business interests are 
the store of Silsbee & Bowen, the hotel of Eli Chase and a few small 
shops. The postmaster is Ziba C. Silsbee. The Wesleyan Methodist 
church at this village is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. 

HiGHUP is the somewhat characteristic post-office designation of a 
locality in the northeast part of the town of Troupsburg, which was 
formerly known as East Troupsburg. Other than enjoying an elevated 
situation, and being surrounded with thrifty farmers, this place pos- 
sesses little general importance. The present postmaster is Samuel S. 
Wyckoff. 

Hornby, — This is perhaps the largest and greatest among the ham- 
lets of the town of the same name. Its public buildings comprise the 
Presbyterian and Baptist churches, the district school, and the town 
hall (for here the town business is transacted). The residences number 
about thirty. The leading industry comprises the flour, feed and saw 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 331 

mills of C. G. Wheat & Son. The merchants are M. A. Eddy, A. W. 
Howell, and C. L. Smith, proprietors of good, well stocked general 
stores. The local postmaster is Clark L. Smith. 

Ho\V.\RD. — This little hamlet is located in the south part of the 
town, and is perhaps the principal business center. The village begin- 
ning was made by the opening of a store and the erection of the saw 
and grist mill mentioned in the history of the town. As settlement 
progressed other industries were established, an academy was founded, 
two churches were built, hotels were opened, and the so-called Howard 
Flats became a place of some importance in local annals. However, 
the population of the village proper has not at any time exeeded 250 
inhabitants, and now has less than that number. 

The present business interests of the village comprise the general 
stores of Goff & Swain and D. Ray Bennett ; the saw mill of J. W. & 
M. M. Bennett; the cheese factory of Bennett & Glover, and the black- 
smith shops of Frank H. Sharp and Horace Bennett. There are also 
two hotels, the National, kept by Judson Wells and the Central House, 
William Burleson proprietor. 

iNCLE.siDE. — This pleasantly situated little hamlet was primarily 
known as Riker's Hollow, and so-called after an old family in that 
locality. The merchants here are John D. Avery and Wyman Drake, 
the latter being also postmaster. Dr. William M. Fulkerson, supervisor, 
is a resident at this place. Three miles south of this hamlet, in Lyon's 
Hollow, so-called, is the saw mill of Edward Drake. At Ingleside is an 
M, E. church. 

The Vill.\GE of Jasper. — This pretty little hamlet of perhaps 350 
population, is the chief center of trade in the town, and the story of its 
early history is best told in the words of another : " The old business 
portion of Jasper known as the Five Corners, was centered around 
Adam Brotzman's tavern, and contained, besides the tavern, a saw mill, 
two stores and a post-office, the latter the first in town, and William 
Gardner postmaster. The office became an object of contention be- 
tween the rival corners, and during John G. Marlett's term, became 
" Marlatt's Corners." Near this place Harvey Phoenix opened the first 
store, and was succeeded in 1834 by Edward Craig, who moved the 
goods to Five Corners. Andrew Craig was soon afterward made post- 



382 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

master and brought the office to the store. Thus the village was 
founded, and later interests gradually increased the local population to 
its present number. The merchants of to-day are D. C. Hunter, gen- 
eral store; J. W. Wallace, general store; Andrew Murphy, hardware; 
Charles B. Hilborn, general merchandise; C. E. Brown, furniture and 
undertaking ; H. B. Andrews, market, F. S. Viele and M. N. Samett. 
The village also has a good school, three churches (elsewhere mentioned 
in this work) and the shops and lesser business enterprises incident to 
similar hamlets. 

Kanona. — According to the recollections of Irving W. Near, the 
pioneer in fact of t'lie little village called Kanona was Col. Henry Ken- 
nedy, yet at this point as early as 1794 a tavern was kept by John 
Mahon. In 1795, the year in which Duke de Liancourt travelled 
through this region, a small settlement had been built up on the village 
site. Col. Kennedy, however, made a substantial improvement here, 
and from him the place became known as Kennedyville. Among 
the other early settlers here were Brigham, Elijah and John Hanks, in 
1804, and Jeremiah Wheeler in 1805. These settlers were Vermonters, 
drawn to the locality by the cheapness and fertility of the land. P>astus 
Glass came to Kanona about 1806, and built a sawmill about three- 
fourths of a mile below the village. Clinton Nixon built a saw mill and 
tannery in the village in 1830. Among the early prominent men of the 
locality were Russell Kellogg, George Dawson, Samuel Tyler, Zera 
Bradley, and Oliver Allen, all of whom are now dead. 

Mr. Near also informs us that about 1836, a new class of people came 
to the locality, many of them from the Mohawk Valley. Also from the 
same authority it may be stated that Ann Parker taught the first school 
in this district, in a school house built in 18 10, on the site now occupied 
bv business blocks. The Universalists were the first religious denomi- 
nation in this part, followed by the Christians, and the two built a union 
meeting-house. The Presbyterian church was built in 1831, but was 
afterward transferred to the M. E. Society, by whom services have ever 
since been maintained. 

The name of the post-office was changed from Kennedyville to Ka- 
nona in 1852, through the efforts of Brigham Hanks and Reuben Robie. 
The name then adopted was the Indian designation of Five Mile Creek, 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 333 

and means " rust)- water." The first railroad, now the Erie, was built 
through the town in 1853, from whicli time everything relating to travel 
and transportation was changed. The D., L. & W. Road was opened 
for traffic in 1882, and the Kanona and Prattsburg road in 1889. 
These thoroughfares of travel have built up Kanona and made it a vil- 
lage of some note in the Conhocton Valley. Here are about seventy- 
five dwellings, several good stores, shops and ail other industries found 
in similar villages. 

Keuka. — A hamlet on the lake of the same name derives whatever 
importance it possesses from its value as a shipping point for grapes 
and various other kinds of fruit grown in the region of which the hamlet 
is the center. The Keuka House and the Helvetia are prominent 
public hostelries, while the nearby resort known as Grove Spring, with 
its large hotel, adds to local prosperity. The general store at Keuka is 
owned by A. C. Waggoner, who is also postmaster. 

LiNDLEY. — When this town was erected from Erwin the center of 
business was transferred from Erwin Center, or as now known Presho, 
to Lindley, and the clerk's office has since been maintained there. This 
event, together with the fact that the hamlet is situated near the center 
of a rich agricultural region, and is a natural trading point, has given 
to it whatever importance it has. Here are two churches, Methodist 
Episcopal and Free Methodist, the town hall and district school. The 
merchants are H. F. Hill and Dr. J. McManus. Postmaster, Marvin 
Stowell ; William Hutchinson, blacksmith and town clerk. 

Lynn. — This place is hardly more than a post office station, and is 
located in the southwest part of the town. The postmaster is Aaron 
Porter Borden. Here is a store, school house, and a Methodist Episco- 
pal church. 

MiTCHEl.l.svii.i.E is the name of a small hamlet and post-office 
situated in the southeast part of the town of Wheeler, near the Urbana 
line. The office was established here for the convenience of the inhab- 
itants of this part of the town, and naturally a trading center was soon 
built up. The hamlet contains one general store, a Methodist church, 
the district school and a few shops. Mail is received by stage from 
Rath. 

NeiI-'s Creek is a post office and hamlet in the extreme western 



334 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

part of the town of Avoca ; a convenient center in the heart of a pro- 
ductive farming community, but of no considerable importance among 
the villages of the county. The postmaster at this point is Matthew 
N. Silsbee. 

North Cohocton, the companion hamlet to Atlanta, distant 
north one mile from the latter, is a pleasant little burg on the lines of 
railroad which cross the town. Forty years ago the settlement con- 
tained one church, a store, a few shops, and about thirty dwellings. The 
first merchant was Solomon Hubbard, succeeded by William A. Gil- 
bert. At the present time the churches are the Methodist Episcopal 
and the VVesleyan Methodist, while the business interests comprise at 
least a dozen substantial stores, about as follows : Wetmore Bros., gen- 
eral merchandise ; E. S. Carpenter, druggist ; C. E. Moose ; W. L. 
McDorn & Co., general store; C. A. Greisa, furniture and undertaking; 
J. P. Wetmore, clothing; John Wood and M. Peck, blacksmiths; 
C. B. Stoddard, wagonmaker; H, Nye, flour and feed; Ira Wagner, 
hotel. 

The North Cohocton and Atlanta Union School and district, as now 
known, was established in 1872, and the academy building, south of 
the village, was erected in 1874, at a cost of $4,000. About 200 pupils 
are in constant attendance at this school. The present school board 
comprises H. W. Hatch, president; R. P. Moulton, secretary; A. R. 
Wetmore, treasurer ; and Beech Drake, W. C. Waite and S. M. Decker. 
Principal, M. C. Plough. 

North Urbana. — This small hamlet is situated in the eastern part 
of the town of Urbana, near the Wayne town line and about a mile 
distant from Lake Keuka. As a business center the place has little im- 
portance, yet its location in a rich vineyard and agricultural region, 
makes it a convenient post-office point for the people of both towns. 
Here are generally maintained two churches and a district school. The 
local postmaster is J. W. Wheeler. 

Painted Post. — This pretty little village was incorporated under 
the laws of the State on the i8th of July, i860, but away back in the 
early years of the present century a settlement was made on the site 
and some business was transacted. As early as the year 1801 a post- 
office was established and Howell Bull was the first postmaster. He 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 335 

was succeeded b\- Thomas McBurney, F"ebruary i8, 1805, and the 
latter was in turn superseded by John K. Evans, February 4, 18 17. 

According to Charles H. Erwin's history of the village, Francis 
Erwin erected a frame hotel on the village site in 1822, that being the 
first frame building in the village. During the same year Capt. Sam- 
uel Erwin built a framed store, and John Arnot, late of Elmira, was its 
first tenant. In 1812 the Erwin House was erected. " In 1824," 
says the same authority, " John VVygant cut the sheet-iron Indian," 
which long graced the village, perched upon a painted post. In 1848 
A. H. and E. F. Erwin, with I. P. Bennett and Henr>' S. Brooks, 
erected an extensive foundry and machine shop, also a large business 
block of three stores Tiiis was perhaps the leading enterprise of the 
village for its time and had the effect to add materially to local growth. 
Indeed, so vast and varied were business interests at this time that a 
banking house became necessary, and Asa Foster and Cephas Piatt 
purchased and removed to the village the old Cayuga Lake Bank, of 
Ithaca. This was in 185 1. 

In 1850 the New York and Lake Erie Railroad was put in operation 
between Corning and HorncUsville, and two years later the Buffalo, 
Conhocton Valley and New York Railroad joined with the Erie at 
Painted Post. The Western Union Telegraph Company completed its 
line in 1855, and by this and the railroads the then little hamlet en- 
joyed commercial advantages equal to any municipality in the southern 
tier. The "Empire" block was built in 1841 ; a Masonic Lodge was 
installed in 1850, and the Corning, Painted Post, Cooper's Plains and 
Monterey Plank Road Company was organized in 1852. Eight ye^rs 
later, or in i860, tiie village became incorporated, officers were elected, 
improvements inaugurated and carried to completion, and the result was 
a permanent 4nd attractive village, supplied with business and manu- 
facturing interests, and inhabited by a thrift)-, energetic and public- 
spirited class of people. 

However, this prosperous condition has not been established without 
local misfortunes and disasters, for at least twice in its history has the 
village been visited with destructive fires; the first in May, 1861, and 
again in February, 1873. But the burned buildings were in due time 
restored and the loss was only temporary. 



336 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The Painted Post Gazette was the first newspaper of the village, es- 
tablished in 1846 by Mr. Fairchild. The second paper was the Herald, 
founded by Ransom Bennett and B. M. Hawley. The Times made its 
first appearance in 1 870, under the management of W. C. Bronson, H. 
C. Higman and S. H. Ferenbaugh. 

The first school in the village, which was also the first in tht- town, 
was that taught by John E. Evans ; and the first school house was 
built of plank on land furnished by Capt. Samuel Ervvin. About 1848 
or '49, Arthur Erwin built a large frame building on the south side of 
the river, and this was used for a district school until 1868, when the 
large and commodious brick school house was erected. About this 
time a union free district was organized, including the village tract and 
surrounding territory. The school has always been admirably managed 
and liberally supported, and now ranks among the best institutions 
of its kind and grade in the county. The present Board of Education 
comprises Dr. J. G. Webster, president ; W. F. Bronson, secretary, and 
F. H. Loomis, T. F. Minier and W. A. Allen. 

Referring briefly to the business and mercantile interests of this 
thrifty little village, it may be stated that all branches appear to be well 
represented, with little evidence of over competition. However, we are 
forced to remark that Painted Post is too near the city of Corning for 
the best results to local merchants, but, notwithstanding all this, we 
find several substantial business houses here, which may be noted about 
as follows: D. Forer & Son, and G. J. Blakeslee, large general stores; 
S. W. Gorton, grocer ; Orcutt & Loomis, druggists ; Ira Stiles, jewelry ; 
W. F. Bronson, hardware ; James Berlon and G. Wheadon, meat mar- 
kets ; B. C. Wood, gunsmith ; A. H. Wood, taxidermist ; Wm. Beebe 
and J. Johnson, shoe shops; A. B. Hurd and William Hill, wagon 
shops; E. A. Stout, G. L Mclntyre and C. Van Gelder, blacksmiths. 

The manufacturing interests comprise the widely known Weston En- 
gine Company, manufacturers of steam heaters and steam engines, 
without question the leading industry of the town. Stanton & Brew- 
ster and W. S. Hodgman have lumber mills, and Mr. Hodgman is also 
proprietor of a good flour and feed mill. F. J. Townsend manufac- 
tures a wire fence stretcher. The banking house of A Weston & Co. 
is the only institution of its kind in the town. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 337 

The village officers of Painted Post are A. E. Gokey, president ; J D. 
Orcutt, clerk ; L. B. Hodgman, treasurer ; A. E. Gokey, G. W. Fritts, 
J. \V. Borst and D. 11. Lee, trustees. 

Perkinsville was so named in compliment to Benjamin Perkins, an 
early settler and prominent man in the western central part of the town. 
He built the first saw mill in the town. However, the hamlet did not 
attain to a position of more than passing importance previous to the 
opening of the D., L. & W. railroad, which naturally gave impetus to 
all local interests ; and the still more recent construction of the C. N. Y. 
& \\^ road, as now known, added to the prominence of the hamlet. The 
merchants here are Frank Bricks, Stephen Bricks and Peter Kuhn, gen- 
eral stores ; John Ritz and George A.Didas, boots and shoes ; Mrs. T. 
M. Fowler, grist mill. The hotels are the Steuben, the Miller, the Per- 
kinsville, and the Lackawanna. John Smith is a manufacturer of cigars ; 
Nicholas Mather has a market, and W. F. Schubmehl and Mr. Schoon- 
over are local blacksmiths. Postmaster, Peter Didas. One of the 
Wayland Portland Cement companies has its seat of manufacture at this 
place. The churches are the Catholic and Lutheran. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Cri'IES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 

The Village of Prattshurg. — In the eastern central part of the 
town of Prattsburg, at the northern terminus of the Kanona and Pratts- 
burg railroad, is situated an incorporated village, named for the town, and 
both in honor of and allusion to the chief promoter and founder in fact 
of the original settlement, Capt. Joel Pratt. The village, in its hamlet 
character, antedates the town in name if not in history; but it is doubt- 
ful if even Joel Pratt ever contemplated the founding of a village settle- 
ment, as a part of his chief enterprise, further than to establish a con- 
venient trading center for the accommodation of the scattered inhabi- 
tants. Joel Pratt, jr., and Ira Pr.itt first drew attention to the settlement 

by opening a store, and in 1806 or '7 Aaron Bull opened a tavern in a 
43 



338 - LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

log house. Judge Porter also built a good mill. A public square was 
laid out and in i8oS three log houses were built around it. In the same 
year Prattsburg was designated as a post-office station, and post riders 
began regular trips betwen Geneva and Bath, passing through the set- 
tlement. However, through some political maneuvering, the route was 
afterward changed to the east side of Lake Keuka, to the great sorrow 
and inconvenience of residents of the village. Still, after a time a sys- 
tem was re-established and mails came regularly to Prattsburg. But the 
one event which, above all others, contributed to the welfare of our vil- 
lage was the construction and operation of the Kanona and Prattsburg 
railroad ; a recent consummation, to be sure, yet none the less welcome 
or desirable. The work of construction was begun July 29, r888, and 
the first train passed over the completed road October 9, 1889. Pratts- 
burg capital made the road possible, and Prattsburg enterprise pushed 
it to a successful completion ; and the whole of northern Steuben county 
reaps the benefit of its operation. 

Returning again, however, to the early history of the village, we find 
that in 1803 the inhabitants of the locality organized a religious society, 
and provision was also made for a primitive school. The road to Bath 
was laid out in 1805, and two years later roads were built to Crooked 
or Keuka Lake and to West Hill. From this time Prattsburg became 
the principal trading point of the region and a future village was assured. 
A cemetery was also laid out in 1 806. 

From these humble elements has grown the present village of about 
800 inhabitants, and we may say, as does its enterprising newspaper — 
The News, " it is one of the most beautiful villages of Steuben county, 
the northern terminus of the railroad, which, by connecting with the 
Erie and the D., L. & W. railways, renders the place easy of access. 
Daily communication is also maintained with the Northern Central, and 
the steamers on Lake Keuka." Still further the same paper continues: 
"The merchants and business men of Prattsburg are wide-awake and 
among the most enterprising business men of the State, and are finan- 
cially safe and reliable. . . There are four regular church services 
— Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Catholic, while various young 
peoples' societies hold regular meetings." 

In 181 2 the most important of these four schools of the town was 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 



339 



that maintained in the village, following which others were opened and 
thereafter continuously supportd. Mowever, the necessity of a school 
of more advanced standard became apparent, and as its result there was 
founded and incorporated, on February 23, 18^24, the Franklin Academy, 
This school at once took rank among the successful academic institu- 
tions of W'estern New York and for a period of nearly half a century 
enjoyed a prosperous existence. In 1868, under the provisions of the 
Union PVee School law, the institution changed its character and thence- 




Franki.in Acahismv, Prattsburg. 



forth became known as the P'ranklin Academy and Union Free School ; 
still maintaining, however, its old standard of excellence and promi- 
nence. Its management and affairs passed from the trustees to the 
newly constituted Board of Education. The faculty comprises a prin- 
cipal, preceptress, and four assistants. The members of the present 
board arc H. J. Pinneo, president ; H. G. Skinner, jr., secretary, and 
Frank Hall, Byron Chisom, Henry Horton, Seymour Coggswell, W. G. 
Dean and William Howe. Treasurer, E. K. Smith. 



340 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

As the village grew in population and commercial importance the 
necessities of public improvement demanded that the hamlet character 
be laid aside and that the little berg take upon itself the more dignified 
title of corporation. To this end a petition was presented to the court 
of sessions, with result that on the 8th of November, 1848, Judge Mc- 
Master made an order of incorporation as required by law, subject to 
ratification by the electors of the described territory. This was done at 
a subsequently held election. 

Still later, on the 20th of February, 1877, at an election held for that 
special purpose, the freemen voted to procure a village charter, accord- 
ing to the provisions of the law. This being done, the powers and 
authority of the corporation were materially enlarged, and by it Pratts- 
burg became a municipality of the second class. The first trustees and 
officers under the charter were E T. Watkins, president ; and Wm. S. 
Foster, A. H. Van Housen, Henry A. Ackerson ; Wm. W. Green, clerk ; 
A. K. Smith, treasurer. 

The village officers for the year 1895 are as follows: Frank Hall, 
president ; James Coryell, Frank Flaherty and Angelo Walker, trustees ; 
Charles H. H. Boyd, collector ; W. F. McLean, treasurer ; Benjamin 
Castor, street commissioner; W. G. Dean, police justice; William F. 
Wilcox, clerk. 

The business and mercantile interests of Prattsburg have advanced 
and kept even step with progress in other directions, although as a 
manufacturing village circumstances and location have prevented any 
prominence beyond the supply of domestic demand. In trade circles 
all branches appear to be well represented, with sufficient competition 
to prevent the possibility of monopoly and its consequent exactions. 

The merchants and other business houses may be mentioned about as 
follows: Coggswell Bros., John Van Tuyl, W. A. Watkins and J. L. 
McCarrick, dealers in general merchandise ; G. V. Conine, mens' fur- 
nishings ; Wurth & Flaherty, and Jacob T. Smith, grocers ; Barnum 
Cole, flour and grist mill ; George W. Peck & Co., and Flynn & Walker, 
hardware ; C F. Hayes and W. G. Look, druggists ; Z. J. Terry and 
John A. Shea, furniture dealers and undertakers ; D. R. Edmond, jew- 
elers ; Charles L. Baker and Bailey & Knapp, meat dealers; F. D. 
Gillett, baker ; Mrs. S. D. Cornell, Miss Lina C. Graves and Mahn & 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 341 

Stoddard, milliners ; M. C. Curran, restaurant and bakery; Philip Geiss, 
tailor ; C. L. Pullar, dentist ; Coryell & Clark and W. P. Dean, hay 
dealers ; Flint H. Lewis, coal dealer ; Frank Hall, general insurance ; 
H. B. Howe, market gardener ; John C. Clary, cooper ; H. J. Pinneo, 
painter; V. H. Cook, wagonmaker ; Germain Clark, saw mill; G. H. 
De Witt, photographer ; D. R Myers, harnessmaker ; J. H. Keeler, 
harnessmaker ; B. P. Austin, painter; George Bancroft, livery; Frank 
Relyea, landlord. The Piattsburg Creamery, one of the most complete 
of its kind in the region, was built in the spring of 1895. It is managed 
by Charles H. Higbee and Frank Flaherty. The attorneys of the vil- 
lage are James Flaherty (also postmaster), J. K. Smith and Harvey D. 
Waldo. The banking house of C. P. Smith was originally established 
in 1861, while that of W. F. McLean has been in operation since 1880. 

The society organizations of the village are Prattsburg Lodge, No. 
583, F. & A. M.; Prattsburg Lodge, No. 598, L O. O. F.; Gregory 
Post, No. 649, G. A. R; Prattsburg Grange, No. 112, P. of H.; K. O. 
T. M., Prattsburg Tent, No. 230 ; Banner Lodge, No. 533, L O. of G. T., 
and the Prattsburg Cornet Band, F. F. Neff, leader. Of Protective 
F"ire Company, S. D. Cornell is foreman, and G. W. Howe, secretary. 

Presho. — This little hamlet was for many years known as Erwin 
Center, and previous to the division of the old town of Erwin, in 1848, 
was a place of considerable importance in local aft'airs. The town meet- 
ings were held here and other business was attracted to this central 
part of the town as then constituted. It was also a lumbering center of 
note forty and more years ago. and after the forest growths were cleared 
and agriculture became the chief pursuit of the inhabitants, it became a 
shipping point on the commonly called Blossburg railroad. The recent 
name — Presho — was given in allusion to a prominent family of that 
part of the town. T. J. Presho is now the local storekeeper and post- 
master. Here is located the Methodist Episcopal church, the district 
school, and the saw mill of H. M. McCullough. 

Ratuboneviii.E. — In the year 1842 Gen. Ransom Rathbone came 
to the Canisteo valley to engage in manufacturing and shipping lumber. 
Unquestionably he was a man of excellent judgment in business affairs, 
for his efforts here were fairly rewarded. Not a pioneer in the locality, 
he nevertheless opened the first store in the town, secured a post sta- 



342 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

tion, was active in organizing the town itself, and, in return for his ser- 
vices, the latter was named in his honor, as well as the hamlet. Half a 
century ago this was the center of an extensive lumber region, where 
many enterprising operators were engaged in lucrative business. This 
led to the starting of other industries, and a little energy and push 
created a village settlement. Among the persons engaged in milling 
and kindred pursuits, were Orman S. and Keyes Whitmore, who began 
in 1845. Ten years later Henry Rathbone built a fair sized flour and 
grist mill. In the year first mentioned General Rathbone opened his 
store and secured the post-office. A meeting house for religious wor- 
ship was soon erected, a school house was opened, and by these insti- 
tutions the village was created. The operation of the railroad only 
added to local prosperity, and Rathboneville became an established and 
permanent fact; and to-day it is the principal village of that town. 

The population of the " ville," as briefl)' called, is hardly more than 
one hundred and fifty, yet here is a busy hamlet. The leading indus- 
tries are the saw and grist mills of F. J. Brady ; the hay press of E. M. 
Cafferty ; large general stores of M. P. Young and J. F. Boyer ; tobacco 
store and barber shop of town clerk, Jesse F. Cole; the blacksmith 
shop of W. S. Wilson, and the hotel (Magnolia House) kept by H. 
Bird. The public institutions are the district school and the M. E. 
church. 

The Village of Rexville. — In 1849 Charles and Daniel Rexford 
came into the valley of Bennett's Creek and built a saw mill on the site 
of the village named for them. They also erected the first frame build- 
ing in the town and opened a tavern which was called the " Eagle." 
These enterprising brothers were also instrumental in bringing about 
many improvements in the settlement and were in all respects useful 
and progressive citizens. However, they sold the tavern to James 
McCormick and soon afterward left the village. In 1855 Jesse Jones 
and Dr. Cyrus B. Knight opened a store in the village, and soon after- 
ward a mail route was established through this part of the valley. Thus 
the village settlement became a fact, and although never having more 
than 200 population it is a business center of some importance. The 
public buildings are the Methodist Episcopal and Roman Catholic 
churches and the district school. The merchants are Failing & Co., 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 343 

Mrs. Sarah P. Harden, Joseph McKeon, Bernard Harrigan anil John 
McCorniick. Postmaster, John P. Harden. The manufacturing indus- 
tries of the village are the combined saw and grist mill, built in 1872 
and 1876, owned by Mortimer Richey ; the cheese factory owned by 
O. Snyder and operated by Edwin Carpenter, and a few other small 
shops. 

RlSlNe;viLl,E. — This hamlet is located in the southwest part of the town 
about three miles from Thurston village. It was named in allusion to 
Noble A. Rising and was brought into existence by the erection of a 
large mill in the year 1852. The mill was built by Josephus Turbell 
and was one of the most complete of its kind in the county at that time. 
Harley Sears opened a store near the mill in 1853, a school and church 
were established about the same time and Risingville soon became a 
settlement of some importance. The post-office was established in 1853, 
Noble H. Rising, postmaster. The only business interests of the village 
of the day are those carried on by E. J. Jerry. 

ROGEKSVii.LE. — Among the earliest settlers on the village site were 
Jonas Bridge, Prosper Booth and Daniel Handy, who with John Miller 
built a flour mill in 1822. The post-ofnce, which down to about 1848, 
had been located at Beachville, was removed to this village, and at the 
same time William C. Rogers moved to the old store from Beachville 
and opened therein a select school which soon afterward became the 
academy. In 1850 a foundry was established by R. W. and D. Dans, 
near the store, for the manufacture of stoves and farming implements. 

The Rogersville Academy, a notable institution during its palmy days, 
was organized in 1849, and the buildings were erected in 1852. The 
Rogersville Union Seminary, an institution designed for the higher edu- 
tion of young ladies, was incorporated by the regents January 28, 1853. 
However, both of these institutions lost much of their old time impor- 
tance with the gradual enlargement of the public school system of the 
town. At its best Rogersville had a population of about 250 inhabi- 
tants. Twenty years ago its business interests comprised three or four 
stores, a good hotel, three blacksmith and two wagon shops, a broker's 
office and a flouring mill. There were also the academy and the semi- 
nary and the Methodist Episcopal and the Universalist churches. 

The present business interests of the village are the well stocked 



344 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COTJNTT 

stores of Henry Weirmiller and Mundy & Root, general merchants ; the 
flour and feed mill of Byron Wallace, and the saw mill of Jacob Kurtz. 
The post-office designation of this village is South Dansville ; postmas- 
ter. Dyer L. Kingsley. 

SaVONA Village. — On the 30th of April, 1833, the village of Savona 
was incorporated, and thereafter became separated from the mother 
town of Bath so far at least as local government was concerned. The 
name of this little village is all that now remains of the once known 
town of Savona which was annexed to Bath in 1862. Had the town 
scheme been perpetual, our village would have been its principal trading 
center and metropolis, yet notwithstanding the annexation, the life of 
the place, both in hamlet and village character, has been one of con- 
tinued growth and prosperity. With the natural attractions of the 
county seat and the superior trading facilities offered by the enterpris- 
ing city of Corning, business interests in Savona have been compelled 
to establish themselves against opposing circumstances, yet they have 
grown with other branches of village life and are now firmly established. 
In fact Savona enjoys the same advantages of location as does Bath, and 
like it is in the center of a rich agricultural region. The Erie and 
D. L. & W. railroads are built through the village, affording excellent 
shipping facilities both east and west. The Conhocton also contributes 
its share in promoting the public welfare. It is not frequent that two 
incorporated villages are built up within the limits of one town, as in 
Bath, and both be prosperous, while the first established and incorporated 
happens to be a county seat. From this condition of things we may 
conclude that there is much of enterprise and progressiveness on the 
part of the younger village and its inhabitants ; at least the residents 
and business men of other localities claim this for Savona, and as the 
opinion is disinterested it carries the conviction of truth. 

From old records it is learned that this part of the town of Bath was 
for many years within the general region called Mud Creek, from the 
fact that that stream discharges into the Conhocton at the village site ; 
and in the early history of the town this point of junction was an im- 
portant center to lumbermen and boatmen on both streams. The pio- 
neer of this locality was Thomas Corbitt, 1793, followed by John Dole- 
son and Henry McElwee in 1794, and soon afterward by Henry Bush 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 34.'i 

and others. A post-office and trading center was established here about 
i823,Elisha McCoy being of one the early postmasters. Among the other 
early settlers in the locality were John Moore, David Whitaker, Uriah 
Hughes and others now forgotten. 

The water privilege offered by Mud Creek and the Conhocton had 
much to do with the founding of a village in this part of the town, and 
it only remained for the industrious inhabitants of that time and of later 
years to enjoy railroad facilities when that popular thoroughfare of 
transportation and travel superseded the slow current of the streams. 
Within a stone'sthrow of the the school house in the village can be 
found at least half a dozen substantial citizens who remember the infancy 
of Savona, and also the once wide popularity of Mud Creek. However, 
all is now changed by the the march of progress, and where only a few 
years ago was a struggling hamlet is now a flourishing village of si.x 
hundred inhabitants. The public buildings comprise the Baptist and 
Method'st churches, and the village school. A Union school district 
was org..nized in 1891, and the Savona school now compares favorably 
with any of like size in the county. The board of education is composed 
of Charles Peterson, Daniel Collier and A. Burt. 

The village officers are John P. Hedges, president, and Will Sanford, 
Jerome Freeman and George Stinson, trustees, T. C. Wall, clerk, and 
W. E. Joint, treasurer. 

The business interests comprise the grist mill of George Allen, the 
sash and blind factory of George Scripture, the planing-mill of Clarence 
Hubbard and the "patent sluice" factory of Charles Davis. The mercan- 
tile interests include two good general stores, Sanford & Stinson, and 
William Stevenson ; two drug stores, W. H. Ward and G. U. Sexton ; 
one hardware store W. E. Joint ; one furniture and undertaking store, 
A. Gushing ; a jewelry store W. M. Shutts ; two hotels, three black- 
smiths, a carriage shop, a cigar factory (John Ward), a music store, 
meat market, barber shop, two milliners, and several shops, such as are 
usual to country villages. Savona has one good, live newspaper, the 
Savona Review, well edited, and published by T. C. Wall. 

SONORA. — This hamlet is a small post-office settlement in the north- 
east part of the town of Bath, and three miles north of Savona. Haifa- 

a century ago Sonora and Savona were regarded as sister hamlets, the 
44 



346 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COTINTY. 

advantage and location, however, being with the latter. The store of 
P. A. Bryant, a blacksmith and carpenter shop, comprise the business 
interests of the place. Here, also, is the school of district 14, and a 
Methodist church. 

South Addison. — In the early history of the north part of the 
present town of Tuscarora, Amos Carr made a settlement and improve- 
ment, and from him the locality was designated Carrtown. However, 
when a post- office was established in the little hamlet which was built 
up, the name South Addison was adopted, and has since been continued. 
About a mile from this settlement was built in 1856 a large tannery, 
around which another cluster of dwellings was built. The present in- 
stitutions of South Addison comprise the nearby school and the M. E. 
church. 

The Addison tannery was built in 1856, by Robert Hammond, and 
although twice partly burned, it has been an important industry of the 
town. It was bought in 1865 by W. Stratton, from whom it became 
known as Stratton's tannerj'. In 1893 it became a part of of the large 
syndicate called the United Leather Company. 

South Bradford is a hamlet situate in the south part of the town 
of Bradford, and on the highest land in the town. JoelHallock cleared 
the first land on the village site. Increase Cooley was the first store- 
keeper, and Moses Ellas the first hotel- keeper. The present interests 
comprise two stores, a few small shops, while the public buildings are 
the Baptist and Methodist churches and the district school 

South Howard. — This is a post-office station located in the south- 
east part of the town. Postmaster, Samuel T. Hoagland. 

South PulteNEY, or Bluffport, is a hamlet and post-office in 
the southeast part of the town of Pulteney. 

South Troupsburg is a post-office hamlet in the south part of the 
town of Troupsburg. The postmaster here is James B. Murdock. This 
place has a general store. 

Stephens Mills. — This little hamlet, otherwise known as Fremont 

Center, was named in allusion to Elisha G. Stephens, who for a period 

of more than half a century was identified with the best interests and 

• history of the town. In 1833 Mr. Stephens purchased the Upson farm, 

near the center of the town, and engaged extensively in milling, lum- 




JAMES B. MURDOCK. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 347 

bering and farming, and as a result of his industry the village settle- 
ment was built up. He also established the hotel and secured the post- 
ofifice for this place. The hotel he built in 1854, and in 1839, on the 
death of his daughter, caused the pretty cemetery to be laid out. In 
the village are three churches, tlie Methodist Episcopal, Advent and 
Evangelical, the latter just outside the village proper. 

The merchants at the center are N. Davis, E. R. Killbury, B. Pickle 
& Son and E. L. Welsh. The industries are the mill, established by 
Mr. Upson, and now owned by Jesse L. Spaulding; W. B. Stephens' 
saw mill and shoe last factory, and the blacksmith shops of J. A. Kester 
and L. Clark. The local postmaster is John Helmer. 

Thurston Village. — This hamlet is situated in the east part of 
the town on Michigan Creek, and until a comparatively recent day was 
known as Merchantville. In 1841 Edwin Merchant bought the village 
site and opened a blacksmith and wagon shop between Hawley's farm 
and Eddy's tanner}'. In 1845 he built a saw mill, and in 1854 Alva 
Carpenter and O. P. Alderman bought a stock of goods of Harley Sears 
and began doing business. From that time Merchantville has been a 
trading point and business center. Mail is received daily from Camp- 
bell station. However, Thurston village has lost much of its oldtinie 
importance and now numbers hardly more than 100 inhabitants. Here 
is located the Methodist Episcopal and Christian churches, the district 
school house, two stores, a few shops and about twenty-five dwellings. 
The merchants are J. \V. Colson and J. M. Alderman. Postmaster, 
Frank Allerton. 

TfjWLESViLLE. — This hamlet is located about a mile west from the 
town line, on the Turnpike road, and was named from Richard Towle, 
a prominent early settler in the vicinity. This place has two churches, 
the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal, a school, four stores and one or 
two shops. The merchants are H. Clark McChesney, Hollie Hoagland 
and Will Boughter, general stores; G. R. De Groat, hardware. Black- 
smith, George Wyckoff. 

Troupsburg Village is a pleasantly situated hamlet, near the cen- 
ter of the town and on Troup Creek. Independent of the surrounding 
country, the hamlet has little history, for its founding and subsequent 
growth were almost wholly due to the necessities of the inhabitants of 



348 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

the locality; and not at any time during the period of its history has 
the local population exceeded 250. Pioneer George Martin, better 
known as "Captain" Martin, made the hamlet beginning here when he 
built the saw mill on the creek many years ago. This improvement 
was followed by the country store, then a public house, and finally the 
the small shops incident to such places completed the village settlement. 

However, as the hamlet grew in importance and the surrounding 
township became freely settled, an academy was founded which en- 
joyed for many years a prosperous existence, and afforded educational 
advantages not obtainable in all towns. After its destruction by fire the 
academy was followed by a graded district school of excellent standing 
among the institutions of the county. As at present constituted the 
business interests of Troupsburg comprise several well appointed gen- 
eral stores, saw and feed mills, several blacksmiths and wagon and repair 
shops, a good hotel and about forty dwellings. The Methodist Epis- 
copal and Baptist churches are also located here, and will be found more 
fully mentioned in another department. The postmaster at Troupsburg 
is Benjamin F. Ford. 

Wallace. — This is a small hamlet situated northeast of Avoca, in 
the Conhocton Valley, and on the line of the Erie and Delaware, Lack- 
awanna & Western Railroads. To these lines of travel the hamlet owes 
its greatest prosperity and almost its very existence. The local post- 
master is J. H. Cotton. 

Wayland Village. — The town of Wayland was brought into ex- 
istence chiefly through the efforts of John Hess and Myron M. Patchin, 
and the village in an equal measure was brought into life by the energy 
of James G. Bennett, also one of the leading men of the town. He 
secured the consolidation of the previously existingpost-offices of Patch- 
inville and Begola, under the name of Wajland Depot, in 1848, by which 
designation the place was known until 1884, when the word "Depot" 
was dropped. As Mr. Jervis has said, "The building of the Erie Rail- 
road determined finally the location of the village and assisted in its 
growth. The nearest station to Dansville, all the traffic from that en- 
terprising village passed through Wayland ; and the old stage coach, 
with its four horses and Captain McHenry in charge, is vividly re- 
membered by the older citizens — the four horses reduced to one and the 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 349 

old coach exchanged for a 'buck-board' made its last trip over this his- 
toric route on July 20, 1889." However, later railroad constructions 
added greatly to local advancement. The now known Delaware, Lack- 
awanna & Western road was built tlirough the town and opened for 
traffic in 1882, and the Rochester, Hornellsvilie & Lackawanna began 
business January 25, 1888. By the latter the village was given direct 
communication with Horneiisviile, and the tiiree thoroughfares of travel 
and transportation combined to make this village one of the most im- 
portant railroad points in the county. The village, too, has profited by 
these roads, and if we may be guided by the prophecy of observing 
men the future of Wayland is to be one of continued prosperity and 
substantial growth. 

In 1877 the population and business interests were such as to create 
a demand for incorporation. Consequentl)' in April of that year the 
Court of Sessions made an order by which the place advanced from the 
hamlet to the village character. The first officers were elected on May 
22, 1877, and were as follow? : H. S. Rosenkrans, president; N. N. St. 
John, Guy Bennett, Henry Schley, trustees ; Torrey S. Beeman, col- 
lector ; George Morehouse, treasurer. C. C. Tinker was the first clerk. 
The present officers are : Geor£;e C. Whitman, president ; B. Kusch,jr , 
Frank Kester and W. W. Capron, jr., trustees and assessors ; P. H. 
Zimmerman, clerk; Frank K. Smith, treasurer; S. B. Young, collector. 

The incorporation of the village was an absolute necessity, for at that 
time the population appro.ximated 600, and improvements were needed 
which could not be secured at the general expense of the town. The 
trustees first caused suitable sidewalks to be laid, then secured a system 
of street lighting, and provided against some of the annoying elements 
incident to hamlets. A small though efficient fire department was 
organized, the present apparatus being a good truck. Champion Hook 
and Ladder Co., comfortably housed in Music Hall. 

The Union School of the village is one of its best institutions, aca- 
demic in character, and standing in the front rank among the schools 
of the county. The present trustees are W. W. Clark, Julian A. Mor- 
ris, William Flory, George C. Beitzel and R. C. Nicl. 

The business interests of Wayland are noted for their stability, and 
notwithstanding the disastrous fire of 1883, by which many buildings 



350 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

were destroyed, the present condition of affairs is an improvement 
upon the former. In truth, there is much progressiveness and public- 
spiritedness on the part of this German and American municipality and 
its people. There are a number of good hotels, among them the 
Bryant House, kept by O. F. Leiders ; the Commercial, by N. Schu, 
jr.; the Central, by Shepard Rowell ; the Wayland, by Thomas Cramer ; 
the Engel, by Frank Engel, and the Rauber, by J. N. Rauber. 

The mercantile interests are represented substantially as follows : Dry 
goods, J. I. Sterner, A, L. Morley, C. Gottschall & Son ; grocers, 
John C. Mehlenbacker, Weinhart Bros., Kausch Bros., T. K. Smith, 
W. N. Deitzel, Mrs. M. Rauver ; hardware, M. Kimmel & Son, Geo. E. 
Whlteman & Co.; druggists. Guile & Snyder; baker, Gunderman & 
Huppes ; furniture, J. A. Rosenkrans, agent ; boots and shoes, George 
Nold, G. Zeilbeer & Son ; meat markets, George Fox, Frank Reufern- 
barth ; jewelers, A. J. Pardee, J. M. Purcell ; undertakers, V. Kausch, 
jr., Rosenkrans & Tinker ; cigar dealers and makers, Sherman Bassler, 
A. M. Hartshorn ; wholesale liquors, Edward Tyler ; coal and produce, 
W. W. Capron, jr., H. W. Hatch & Son, B. J. Scott & Son; bankers, 
Morris & Morris, a private bank, established in 1887. 

The Wayland Register and the Union Advertiser, are enterprising 
weekly newspapers published in the village, the former by Bert Goodno, 
and the latter by H. B. Newell. 

Among the manufacturing industries of the village the cement com- 
panies demand first attention. The Wayland Portland Cement Com- 
pany began the manufacture of a superior grade of cement in 189 1, 
and almost at once gained great popularity with their product in the 
market. The works were burned July 4, 1892, but were immediately 
rebuilt. This concern manufactures 300 barrels of cement daily. A 
second company under the same name is ready to begin business, and 
also promises to become an extensive industry in the village. The pro- 
prietors of the company first mentioned are T. Millin & Co. Messrs. 
SchafTer and Wolf are proprietors of a combined planing and saw mill, 
and are also contractors and builders. The second saw mill is owned 
by W. F. Kiel. The village blacksmiths are B. J. Scott, Frank Kester, 
J. M. Ryder, William Drumm, H. Teed and E. Harter. The flouring 
mill at Patchinville is owned by J. P. Morsch. 




MARTIN KIMMHL. 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS 351 

In addition to the business interests already enumerated, we may 
mention as elements of municipal life four organized church societies, 
the Methodist Episcopal, Evangelical, Roman Catholic and Christian ; 
also tlie customary social and fraternal organizations, prominent among 
which is Lodge 176, I. O. O. F. The principal entertainment hall is 
Wienhart's Opera House. The population of Wayland village in 1880 
was 605, and 679 in 1890. 

Wayland Depot is a hamlet on the D., L. & W. Road. Here are 
two hotels and the station, but no business interests of any impor- 
tance. 

Wayne Villa(;e is a pretty little hamlet lying in the northeast por- 
tion and partly in the adjoining county of Schuyler. As a trading 
center the village possesses some commercial importance yet a fair pro- 
portion of business interests are outside the boundaries of this town. 
The more recent enterprises are embraced in three good general stores, 
two feed mills, a saw mill and basket factory, and a few shop.s. Here, 
also, are two hotels, a good school, and the Episcopal, Baptist and 
Methodist churches, the latter being referred to elsewhere in this work. 
The postmaster at Wayne is Edson Bailey. 

Wayne Four Corners is a settlement and trading center in the 
south part of Wayne, having a few business interests of various kinds. 
The postmaster here is C. A. Castner. 

West Caton. — A post-office was established at this point in 1S88 
(May 29). The hamlet is situated in the northwest corner of the town. 
The merchant here is S. E. Ouackenbush, and the mill proprietor C. D. 
Barnard. The mill was built in i860. Postmaster, S. E. Quacken- 
bush. 

Wheeler Village. — This little hamlet is pleasantly situated near 
the center of the town of the same name, and although it has never 
attained to a position of an)' special prominence among the villages of 
the county, it is nevertheless an important trading center and also an 
excellent shipping point on the line of the Kanona and Frattsburg Rail- 
road. The necessity of a trading post within the town led to the build- 
ing up of the hamlet and a post-ofiice was established here many years 
ago. Levi Gray was the first postmaster, followed by Daniel Gray, 
O. v. Marshall and Ephraim Auils in the order mentioned. The busi- 



352 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ness interests of the hamlet are few, yet sufificient to supply all local 
demands. The merchants are E. K. Derick and Fred F. Lewis, while 
the other interests are embraced in the few small shops incident to 
country hamlets. However, the saw mill owned and operated by 
Charles M. Renchan is one of the largest industries of its kind in all 
Steuben county. The village church and district school are the only 
public buildings worthy of note. 

The Villa(;e of VVoodhull. — This is one of the most important 
of the unincorporated villages in the county, and is situated near the 
center of a large farming district, hence attracts trade of such character 
as to materially advance all local interests. Moreover, the village is 
noted for its delightful situation and beautiful surroundings. The first 
beginning on the village site was made in 1806 by Caleb Smith, builder 
of the first mills in the town. Micajah Sherwood was also an early 
settler here and largely instrumental in building up the hamlet. Jus- 
of the Peace Calvin Searles was an early comer here, as also were 
Joseph Tubbs, landlord ; Levi Tubbs, carpenter and shoemaker ; Lyman 
Rosier, blacksmith ; Ichabod Leach, merchant and potash manufac 
turer ; Ira Smith, storekeeper, and others. In these primitive indus- 
tries was laid the foundation of the village, and after the separate or- 
ganization of the town the little hamlet became the chief center of 
trade. 

The village is on both sides of the Tuscarora, the stream being 
spanned by » substantial bridge. The public buildings of the village 
are the churches (elsewhere mentioned) and the public schools. The 
merchants are E. & D. Colvin, C. W. Tubbs, N. B. Payne, Gee & Stroud, 
general stores; J. S. Warner and J. C. Husted, druggists; James A. 
Walker and George A. Candy, hardware ; E. & D. Colvin, and White 
Brothers, meat markets; F. S. Prutzman and M. E. Colvin, jewelers; 
H. P. Smith & Son, furniture dealers. The local lawyer is E. T. HoUis; 
the milliners are Mrs. Payne and Mrs. HoUis ; the blacksmiths are Ran- 
dall Prutzman, Jacob Salisbur)', Samuel Colgrove, ; wagon shops, W. 
P. Perry, M. P. Wilson, and Frank Olin ; barber, S. H. Barrett, who is 
also town clerk. The hotels are kept by James R. Lautz and Edward 
Potter. 

Woodhull is also the seat of publication of a good family newspaper, 



CITIES, VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. 353 

the Southern Steuben Republican, edited and published by R. C. Park. 
This paper was founded in 187935 the Steuben Sentinel and independ- 
ent in politics, but eventually becoming a Republican paper, changed its 
name to Republican. 

In addition to the business interests noted, the village and its imme- 
diate vicinity is the seat of several manufacturing industries, also worthy 
of mention. They are the furniture factory of William Benjamin; the 
saw mill and feed mill of Lamson & Rartle ; the saw, feed and cider 
mills of James W. Miller; the saw and grist mills of Baldwin & Stryker, 
and the cheese factories of George Harris and William Wildrick. In 
addition to these are the lesser interests and industries, all of which 
combine to establish a prosperous suburban village. The postmaster of 
WoodhuU is S. L. Wildrick. 

The Woodhull Academy and Union School is the pride and glory of 
every loyal inhabitant of the town, and is indeed a worthy institution. 
It was built in 1868 and designed for academic purposes, the most 
prominent of its supporters being Hamilton Marlatt, and Orrin B. 
Baxter, the former donating the site on which the building was erected. 
The academy was incorporated under the statute, but was soon after- 
ward deeded to the district and established as a Union Free School, 
with an academic department. The first principal was Prof Jeffreys. 
The present principal is Miss Belle Ingersoll. The members of the 
Board of Education are Delancy Colvin, S. L. Wildrick, N. P. Matson, 
Hiram Ten Broeck, and William Carpenter. 

Young Hickory is a post-ofiRce and trading hamlet in the south- 
west part of the town of. Troupsburg, where is one or two industries. 
Postmaster, Nathan E. Wallace. 

45 



354 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XXI. 
CHURCHES. 

The Presbyterian church at Arkport was organized in 1852, although 
services of this denomination had been held in the locality for many 
years previous. About the time of organization and building the 
church edifice this society was very strong in the south part of the town, 
and although the church has ever continued to work, during recent 
years there has been a noticeable decline in interest and membership, 
the number now being about 1 10 The Sunday school is large, having 
170 pupils under the superintendency of John Hurlbut The present 
pastor. Rev. Erwin C. Hull, came to this church in April, 1885. The 
trustee are William S. Hurlbut, Lot Reznor, Norman O. Wheeler, Seth 
M. Huntly, Henry Sharp, Michael Webber, James P. Wolever, Henry 
Colgrove, Wright Newsom. 

The Methodist Protestant Church at Arkport was organized in July, 
1884, and was the outgrowth of a class formed many years ago on 
Pennsylvania Hill. In the same year also, the neat church edifice was 
built, at a cost of about $2,500. Rev. F. A. Snow was their pastor, 
and was followed by W. T. Edds and O. P. Wildey, the latter now offi- 
ciating. The membership is about 100, and the trustees are G. C. Syl- 
vester, Arthur Hathaway, M. A. Emery, Harrison Osborne, and Ira 
McMichael. 

The First Presbyterian church of Hornellsville was organized July 
10, 1832. (See history of city of Hornellsville.) 

The First Methodist Episcopal church (Park church) of Hornellsville 
was organized in 1830. (See history of city of Hornellsville.) 

St. Ann's Roman Catholic church of Hornellsville was organized in 
1843. (See city history.) 
The First Baptist church of Hornellsville was organized in 1852. (See 

city history.) 



CHURCHES. 355 

Christ's church, Episcopal, of Hornellsville was organized March 6, 
1854. (See city history.) 

The East Avenue M. E. church, Hornellsville, was organized in 1885. 
(See city history.) 

The South Side M. E. church, Hornellsville, was organized 1895. (See 
city history.) 

The Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's church, Hornellsville, was organ- 
ized in i860. (See city history.) 

The Hartshorn Presbyterian church, Hornellsville, was organized in 
1890. (See city history.) 

The South Side Baptist church, Hornellsville, was organized Septem- 
ber 18, 1893. (See city history.) 

The Jasper Baptist church was organized on the 9th of February, 
18 1 7, its original members being Nathaniel and Rebecca Seelye, Bed- 
ford, William and John George, Charles and Phebe Card, and Lurena 
Harrington. Fourteen were added to the church in June, 1817. This 
organization was effected in Troupsburg, which then included this local- 
ity in part, and the society was first known as Troupsburg Baptist 
church, but later changed to Jasper Baptist church. The first church 
house was begun in 1834, and finished in 1841. The church at present 
is included in the Canisteo River Association, and is small, having but 
forty-two members. The church property is valued at $1,500. The 
pastor is Rev. A. W. Mettlar 

The First Presbyterian church of Jasper was organized October 29, 
1829, with twenty-five members, although as early as 1825 Enoch Ord- 
way formed a Presbyterian Sunday school, and in 1828 a society was 
organized to form Sunday schools throughout the town. The church 
was annexed to the Presbytery of Bath and afterward of Chemung, but 
was restored to the Bath Presbytery in 1847. As the first regularly in- 
corporated religious society in the town, this church received the "gos- 
pel lot " from the Pulteney Association. The first house of worship was 
built in 1844, but was burned in 1846. The second building, located in 
the Hampshire settlement, was erected and dedicated in 1847, t>ut was 
abandoned in 1872, on the completion of the large and attractive edifice 
at Jasper village. This church now numbers 108 members, and is under 
the pastoral charge of Rev. Charles McCarthy. 



356 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The First Methodist Episcopal church of Jasper was the outgrowth 
of early class meetings held by Mrs. S. A. Grinolds and Mrs. Smith, be- 
ginning about 1818, and soon afterward a church organization was 
effected, although a house of worship was not built until about 1834 or 
1835. The present edifice at Jasper village is an attractive and com- 
fortable building, and, with the parsonage, is valued at $7,^.00. The 
church has 130 members, and the Sunday school 195 attendants. The 
pastor is Rev. John Wootton. The Talbot Creek or North Jasper M. E. 
church is an offshoot from the village church, and is a part of the same 
charge, under the same pastorate. The members number about forty 

persons. 

The First Wesleyan Methodist church at West Jasper was organized 
in March, 187 1, at the " Gully" school house, by Rev. Mr. Sinabaugh. 
There were less than half a dozen original members, but the number 
is now grown to sixty- one. The church house was built in 1874, and 
dedicated February 14, 1875. This society is now without a pastor. 

The Presbyterian church of Woodhull was organized October 15, 
1 83 1, by Rev. Isaac Flagler, with sixteen original members. The first 
pastor was Rev. Warren Day, followed by Rev. Mr. Pomeroy. This 
society received the " gospel lot " from the Pulteney Association for the 
first organized church in the town. In 1861, in association with the 
Methodist society, this church erected an edifice at Hedgesville. 

The Union Baptist church of Woodhull was organized in March, 1858, 
and was the result of a union of two older societies, known as the 
Woodhull Baptist church, formed November 20, 1835, and the Newville 
Baptist church, organized in June, 1849. The united societies caused 
to be erected the church edifice at Woodhull in 1856. This is now and 
for many years has been one of the strongest churches of the town, the 
present members numbering 123. The pastor is Rev. G. W. Barnes. 
In the Sunday school are eighty pupils, under the superintendency of 
J. C. Husted. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Woodhull dates its history back 
to a little earlier than 1840, although an organization was not eftected 
until 1846, when a church was built in Woodhull village. A second 
organization was effected in 1848, and in 1 861 a church edifice built at 
Hedgesville, in union with the Presbyterian society. The M. E. 



CHURCHES. 357 

churches of VVoodhull now number 148 members and nine probationers. 
The present pastor is Rev. J. L. King. 

The Free Baptist church ofWoodhull was organized about 1834, with 
seven original members. The second church was organized February 
18, 1852, at which time eleven persons constituted the membership. 
The house of worship was built at an expense of $2,000, and was dedi- 
cated in August, 1875. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Greenwood was organized in 
1827, under the class leadership of Enos Mead. Methodist services, 
however, were held in this vicinity as early as 1825-26, by Rev. Asa 
Orcutt. The society maintained an existence for nearly twenty-five 
years, meeting in convenient places, but in 185 i a reorganization was 
effected and the affairs of the church established upon a more secure 
basis. The edifice in the village was built by popular contribution, and 
cost $5,000. It was dedicated September 14, 1876 This church has 
an active membership of ninety-nine, with nineteen probationers. In 
the Sunday school are 108 pupils. The present pastor is Rev. D. E. 
Stiles. 

The Universalist churcli of Greenwood was organized in 185 I, and 
the house of worship in the village was erected in 1852. The first 
meetings of this denomination were held in the old stone school house. 
The society is now without a pastor. 

The First Christian church of Greenwood was formed February 19, 
1876, by Rev. John H. Cheeseman, who began his work in the town 
about 1871. The original members numbered seventeen persons, but 
materially increased. In 1878-9 the church edifice on Main street was 
erected. The pastor is Rev. E. D. Chapman. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Rexville was not organized until 
within a quite recent date, although Methodist meetings and services 
were held in this locality as early as 1 831, and were continued regularly 
until the society was formed. The church edifice in the village was 
built in 1870 and dedicated in August of that year. 

St. Mary's church, Roman Catholic at Rexville, was regularly organ- 
ized as a parish about the year 1869, although several priests had said 
masses and conducted services in this field regularly since 1845. Father 
McMuUen moved his residence from Greenwood to Rexville about 1870 



358 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and within the next two years a church edifice was built. The structure 
was burned February 13, 1877, and immediately replaced with the 
present edifice. A parochial school was established in this parish in 
1889, but soon afterward discontinued. The present pastor of St. Mary's 
is Rev. Dr. H. J. McConnell. 

The Presbyterian church of Canisteo was formed in 1836, but after a 
few years of struggling existence the society dissolved. No special 
effort at reorganization was made previous to July, 1849, when Rev. 
Horatio Pettengill began preaching in the village, and the result of liis 
labors was a complete organization on March 20, 1852, with B. C. 
Richey, N. C. Taylor, W. B. Jones, Peter Myers, T. J. Magee and Wm. 
H. Mead as constituent members. A lot was purchased from the 
Pultenex' estate on which to erect a church edifice. The cost was $1,360. 
The corner stone was laid in May, 1852, and the church was dedicated 
February 15, 1853. The edifice was enlarged and remodeled in 1877. 
This is one of the large and influential religious societies of the town, 
the present membership numbering 308; the Sunday school has 361 
attendants, and is under the superintendence of Benjamin Stephens. The 
present pastor, Rev. Duncan Cameron, has been with this church nearly 
eight years. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Canisteo village, the mother of 
the M. E. churches in the vicinity, was formally organized about the 
year 1850, although Methodist meetings were held in the town about as 
early as 1800. and were continued with some degree of regularity 
through all the years down to the time of organization. The first trus- 
tees were Jeremiah Baker, Stephen Taylor, John H. Consalus. E. L. 
Gray, C. P. Chamberlain and Wm. B. Jones. The church edifice was 
built in 1856, dedicated in 1857, and rebuilt in 1875. The present 
members number 221, and in the Sunday school are 330 pupils. The 
pastor is Rev. O. S. Chaniberlayne. 

The Baptist church of Canisteo was organized as a branch of the 
mother church at Hornellsville. November 30, 1876, although Baptist 
services in the town were held many years previously, and at Adrian a 
society had an existence. The original members of the new society 
numbered fifteen, and Rev. C. K. Bunnell was the first pastor. The 
fine brick edifice was was built in 1880 The first Baptist society in the 



CHURCHES. 369 

town was formed in 1866. The present membership is 134. Pastor, 
Rev. E. P. Rrighani, settled in 1890. Clerk, T. K. Brownell. 

St. Joachim's church, Roman Catholic, at Canisteo, was organized 
about 1883, and the church edifice built at the same time, on a lot 
donated by Mr. Vorhis. This parish includes about forty families, and 
is attended from St. Ann's at Hornellsville, Rev. A. R. Barlow, pastor. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Fremont was organized as a class 
in 1 83 1, although the first meetings of this denomination in the town 
were held as early as 1828 in various localities. As a result of these 
early missionary labors three separate classes or societies were formed 
in tlie town and were located at Rig Creek, Briar Hill and at Fremont 
Center. At the latter place a substantial church edifice was built in 
1873. The Methodist charges in Fremont are now supplied by Rev. 
E. S. Wilcox. 

The Wesleyan Methodist church of P'remont was organized as a class 
at the Gulf school house in 1 831, and the Haskinville circuit was formed 
in 1855. The church edifice at the village was dedicated in December, 
1876. The present pastor is Rev. James Bowen. 

The Evangelical Lutheran church at Fremont Center was erected in 
i860, although missionary preachers came among the German element 
of population in this town as early as 1828; and their services were 
continued with some degree of regularity until the society was formed. 
The membership in this church is constantly growing. The last pastor 
was Rev. Mr. Dayton. 

The P"irst Advent Christian church of P""remont was organized in 1870 
by Rev. William Fenn, of Rochester, who first preached in a tent on 
the flat south of the present meeting house. The present edifice was 
built in I 87 1. The pastor is Rev. PI. S. Jiskok. 

The Cameron Presbyterian church was built in the south end of 
Cameron village in 1853, ^nd its society received the Pulteney donation 
of 100 acres of land to the first organized church of the town. The 
society passed out of existence many years ago and the Baptist organ- 
ization purchased its meeting house. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in Cameron was founded in 1812, 
when Rev. Abner Chase preached in the house of Phones Green in the 
Canisteo valley, and in the services conducted in after years by other 



360 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

missionary workers in the same field. The first regular organization 
was effected in 1834. by Rev. Ira Bronson. Isaac Santee was the first 
class leader. The first church building was constructed in 1842, being 
a store remodeled for the purpose of worship, and was located at West 
Cameron. It was deeded to the society by Luther White in 1865. 
From this humble beginning the church in the town has been built up, 
and now, within the limits of Cameron are four organized Methodist 
societies, each with a comfortable house of worship, and all under the 
charge of Rev. W. D. Allen. They are located, respectively, at Cam- 
eron, West Cameron, North Hill and South Hill. The village class was 
formed in 185 i, with thirteen members. The South Hill church was 
built in 1872. The members of the church in the town number 100, 
with ten probationers. 

The Baptist church of Cameron was constituted in 1847, although 
meetings of the denomination were held in the town several years pre- 
viously. The society purchased the old meeting house formerly occu- 
pied by the dissolved Presbyterian church, the building being removed 
to a more suitable location and rededicated in October, 1871. In the 
south part of the town is located the East Cameron Baptist church, 
which was dedicated June 3, 1861. The association records give this 
church a membership of fifty-one persons, many of them residents of 
Woodhull. The Baptist clergymen in the town are Revs. C. E. Stuart 
and A. W. Mettlar. 

The Christian church of Cameron was organized about the year 1850, 
and the edifice in the east part of the town was built in 1854. 

The Roman Catholic church at Cameron is of recent organization, 
and is attended from Addison by F"ather M. Noonan. 

A Presbyterian church and Sunday school were organized in the 
southeast part of the county, in the town now called Caton, about the 
year 1825. Meetings were held in Gilbert's mill, also in barns, for sev- 
eral years, and in 1833 ^ house of worship was completed. Rufus and 
William L. Howe and Stephen L. Gregory built the edifice. After a 
struggling and feeble existence of about thirty years this society dis- 
solved. 

The Methodist Plpiscopal church in Caton had its inception in the 
class formed in 1833 by Thomas Wheat, a local preacher. The society 



CHURCHES. . 361 

was formed soon afterward and meetings were held in school houses and 
dwellings until 1840, when the house of worship at the Center was com- 
pleted. It was dedicated in 1842. The second church edifice was 
dedicated January 16, 1868. The present pastor of this church is Rev. 
D. B. Kellogg. 

The Caton Baptist church was organized August 23, 1832, as the 
First Baptist church of Painted Post, and in 1840 became known under 
its present name. In 1842 the church was made a separate charge. 
The first edifice was erected on the hill, overlooking the village, near 
where the old cemetery is located. The second house of worship was 
built in 1862. The present membership numbers fifty-one persons. 
Pastor, Rev. L. D. Ayers. 

The Free Methodist church of Caton was organized in 1865, and 
about the same time the house of worship was built in the northeast part 
of the town. Pastor, Rev. G. T. Labrum. 

The First Baptist church of Campbell was organized as a branch of 
the Savona society, in 1870. In 1873 the house of worship was built. 
At present this church is a joint charge with Erwin, the total member- 
ship being 153. I'astor, Rev. J. C. Stowell. 

The Catholic church at Campbell is a recent organization, and in its 
parish includes all the Catholic families of the vicinity. It is attended 
from Bath. 

The F"irst Presbyterian church of Campbell was organized February 
14, 1831, and was the outgrowth of the older society known as the 
Campbell and Mud Creek church, the history of which dated back to 
the year 1812 The church edifice was built in 1833. and was replaced 
with a more substantial structure in 1867; dedicated February 4, 1868. 
The society has a good parsonage. The present members number abont 
125 persons. Pastor, Rev. E. P. Salmon. 

The Methodist Episcopal church'of Campbell was formed as a class 
about 1827, and as a society soon afterward. However, it was not until 
1869 that the society purchased and occupied the old Presbyterian 
church building, which was remodeled and improved. It was dedicated 
January 21, 1869, This church has i 14 members and probationers, and 
a Sunday school of ninety- five pupils. The pastor is Rev. D. L. Pitts. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in Thurston has comprised three 

46 



362 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

separate charges. The first class was formed in the Bonny Hill district 
about the year 1825, and for many years was a part of the Bath charge. 
A church edifice was built and dedicated in 1843. The Methodist 
Episcopal church of Risingville was organized about 1850, and its church 
edifice erected in 1864. The class at Merchantville was formed previ- 
ous to 1850 and its church edifice was built in 1861. The churches 
last mentioned are under the pastoral charge of Rev. D. L. Pitts. 

The Clinton church of Thurston was organized March 26, 1836, at 
Smith school house in Bath, but in 1842 was transferred to West Hill 
in Thurston, The church edifice was dedicated June 27, 1852. The 
members number about seventy- five. This society is now without a 
pastor. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in Wayland dates back in its history 
to the first years of settlement in the town by the pioneers, yet the 
absence of reliable data precludes the possibility of furnishing data of 
either organization or subsequent growth. Two sepaiate charges have 
been established, the one at Loon Lake and the other at Wayland vil- 
lage, the latter a large and growing church both in influence and numer- 
ical strength. The present members number ninety persons, with 100 
pupils in the Sunday-school. The present pastor is Rev. W. O. Feet. 

The German Evangelical church of Wayland dates its organization 
back to about the year 1868, and a house of worship was built about 
the same time. The new edifice in the village is a substantial and com- 
fortable structure. The society is strong in members and influence. 
The present pastor is Rev. J. W. Thompson. 

The Christian church of Wayland was organized in 1864, and a chapel 
was built during the same year. This society is without a resident 
pastor. 

The German Lutheran church, St. Peter's at Perkinsville, was orga- 
nized in 1845, ^^^ includes in its membership about 150 of the German 
families in this part of the town. The house of worship and the parson- 
age are valued at about $5,000. Pastor, Rev. R. Krause. 

The Church of the Sacred Heart, Roman Catholic, was organized in 
1850, its parish including the catholic families (many of them German) 
in that part of the town. Connected with church is a parochial school, 
having seventy pupils, under the instruction of three Sisters of Mercy. 
The priest in charge of the parish is Rev. Father A. L. Huber. 



CHURCHES. 363 

St. Joseph's church, Roman Catliolic, at Wayland village, was orga- 
nized as a parisli in 1880, and regularly incorporated the following year. 
The parochial school was organized in 1884. It has sixty-five pupils 
undor the instruction of three Sisters of Mercy. Pastor, Rev. C. Kaelen. 

The First Baptist church and society of Hartsville were organized on 
the second Sunday in November, 1838, the original members being ten 
in number. This is a comparatively large society and has a comfor- 
table meeting-house at Hartsville Center. It numbers about ninety 
members but at present is without a pastor. In 1894 this church did 
not report to the association. 

The First Methodist ICpiscopal church in Hartsville was organized by 
Rev. James HemingwEy in June, 1825, with Lewis Clark and Robert 
Martin, stewards. The substantial church edifice at Hartsville Center 
was built and dedicated in 1870, and adjoining it is a comfortable par- 
sonage. The church numbers fifty-nine members and six probationers, 
and in the Sunday-school are forty-five pupils. The present pastor is 
Rev. George L. Spencer of Hornellsville South Side M. E. church. 

The Seventh Day Baptist church of Hartsville, was organized in 1836, 
by Hiram P. Burdick, and was the outgrowth of his early and boyhood 
christian teachings and life. The meeting-house in the west part of the 
town was built in 1856, and cost $2,800. 

The East Troupsburg Baptist church was organized in 1857, as- 
sociation minutes, although Baptist services were held in the locality as 
earl)' as 1835, and early meetings were held in dwellings and school- 
houses. The " Chenango Settlement " church was built and dedicated 
in 1875. This church now numbers ninety-six members, and is under 
the pastoral care of Rev. J. W. Lyon. 

The Troupsburg Baptist church was organized in 1844, the result of 
the labors of Rev. Mr. Wade. The edifice at the Center was built in 
1874. The present membership in this church is 128, with fifty-two 
pupils in the Sunday- school. Pastor, Rev. I. H. Beman. 

The Troupsburg Free- Will Baptist church was organized in 1850, 
and numbered about forty persons. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in Troupsburg dates its history 
back to the year 1819, when pioneer Uzal McMindes formed and led a 
class at the houses of Mr. Douglass and Samuel Rice. Samuel Griggs 



364 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

and Samuel Cady were later class-leaders. This society was donated 
the " Gospel lot " by the Pulteney association, being lOO acres of land. 
The church edifice at the Center was built in 1872. The Methodist 
members in this town number 108, and in the Sunday-school are ninety 
attendants. The present paster is Rev. F. H. Rowley. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Dansville was the outgrowth of 
early meetings on Oak Hill as early as the year 1817. Parker Buell 
and James Bronson were the first preachers, and Robert Butler the first 
class leader. An organization was perfected about the same time and 
in 1819 the first log church in the town was built. This old building 
was abandoned for the new church edifice at Rogersville which was 
dedicated July 19, 1841. In 1862 a new church on Oak Hill was built 
and dedicated. This is one of the largest churches in the town the 
members numbering 230. The Sunday-school has 150 attendance. 
Pastor, A. R. Cheverton. 

The First Baptist church of Dansville was organized about the year 
1820 with ten members but after a struggling existence of about half a 
century, during which the society suffered from factional differences, 
the organization was dissolved. 

The Universalist church of Dansville was organized about 1850, 
chiefly through the eftbrts of Rev. Asa Upson. The church edifice was 
built in the village in 1852. This society, like some others in the town, 
has experienced a life of vicissitudes and for a time no meetings were 
held. It was revived, however, and placed upon a more substantial 
basis. Its present pastor is Rev. H. P. Morrell. 

The Baptist church of Howard village was organized February 6, 
1826, with nine members, and Rev. B. B. Brigham, first pastor. The 
house of worship was erected in 1835, and substantially repaired in 
1877. Present members, eighty-eight; pastor. Rev. D. J. Allen. 

The Baptist church at Towlesville, in the town of Howard, was orga- 
nized in 1844, and has since had a prosperous existence. The mem- 
bers number eighty-three, and the society is at present under the pas- 
toral charge of Rev. Mr. House, successor to Rev. C. Saulsbury. 

The Presbyterian church of Howard was organized in 1834, and dur- 
ing the same year built a comfortable house of worship. The church 
has a large membership and its services are well attended. The pastor 
is Rev. Mr. Webster. 



CHURCHES. 365 

The Methodist Episcopal cliurch of Howard is among the older re- 
ligious organizations of the town, dating its history back to the pioneer 
days. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Piercy. 

The Wesleyan Methodist church at Buena Vista is also to be men- 
tioned among tlie substantial church organization of the town of How- 
ard. The pastor is Rev. F. S. Lee. 

The Wayne Baptist church was constituted in 1 794, and is therefore 
one of the oldest religious organizations of the region. Rev. Elphraim 
Todd was the first pastor and served in that capacity for thirty years, 
until 1S23. This church has been a member of several associations, 
the Chemung, Cayuga, Ontario and Steuben, in succession. The pres- 
ant members number fifty nine, and the church property is valued at 
$1,500. Present pastor. Rev. C. Townsend. 

St. John's church, Protestant Episcopal, of Wayne, was organized as 
a parish November 20, 1871, although the mission was established in 
1840. Services have been held here frequently, though not regularly. 
In 1872 the society purchased the Presbyterian church edifice, which 
was consecrated in September, 1875. St. John's now has twenty- two 
communicating members. 

The Presbyterian church of Wayne was organized December 21, 
1809, by Rev. John Lindsley, missionary, under the General Assembly. 
However, after an existence of about half a century the society was dis- 
solved in 1869, and the church edifie was sold to St. John's church. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Wayne was formed February 28, 
1837, although class meetings had been held in the town at a much 
earlier date. A church house was provided in 1839. 

The Baptist church of Bradford was organized in 1834, having si.Kty 
constituent members, and about the same year a church house was 
erected. In 1835 the church was admitted to membership in the Steu- 
ben Baptist Association. The present members number 1 14, and the 
church property is valued at $3,500. 

The South Bradford Baptist church was organized July 29, 1848, and 
the church edifice was completed and dedicated during the following year. 
It is a member of the Steuben Association. The present membership 
is eighty-five. 

The First Methodist Episcopal church of South Bradford was organ- 



366 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

ized as a class in 1826, on Oak Hill, and the church organization was 
perfected on February 23, 1847. The original members numbered 
thirteen; the present members number 136, with thirty-two probation- 
ers. However, this number includes the members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church of Bradford, which was formed April 26, 1876. The 
houses of worship are at Bradford and South Bradford, respectively, 
and constitute a single charge. 

St. Andrew's church, Protestant Episcopal, was formally organized 
on the 8th of June, 185 i, although previous to that time services had 
been held with some degree of regularity by clergymen from Ham- 
mondsport and elsewhere. A comfortable church edifice was erected 
and consecrated in 1866, during the rectorate of Rev. J. T. Gushing. 
The present rector of St. Andrews is Rev. Henry S. Dennis. 

St. James' Episcopal church at Hammondsport was formally organ- 
ized June 15, 1829, although as early as 1825 the Rev. W. W. Bostwick 
labored as a missionary in this field. He also became the first rector of 
the newly organized parish, and continued in that relation until 1842 ; 
and during his rectorship, in 1832-33, the first church edifice was built, 
and on August 28 of the latter year the church was consecrated by 
Bishop Onderdonk. The cornerstone of a new church edifice was laid 
by Bishop Coxe, April 18, 1876, and the consecration services were held 
June 12, 1877. This latter structure fell a victim to the elements on 
August 2, 1894, and was at once replaced with the present edifice, a 
handsome building of Warsaw bluestone. The corner stone was laid 
June 8, 1895, and the entire cost of the edifice was about $13,000. The 
first rector, Mr. Bostwick, was succeeded in 1842 by Rev. Philemon E. 
Coe, a deacon, and he in turn was followed by Rev. Erastus Spaulding, 
the latter serving from 1843 to 1849. Rev L. VV. Russ came ne.vt, 
1849-50, followed by Rev. Charles Woodward, 1850-52. Rev. Robert 
N. Parke was rector from 1853 to 1855, succeeded by Rev. Daniel E. 
Loveridge, 1855-70. Rev. James Stoddard was rector from 1870 to 
1873, and Rev. John T. Gushing during 1875-74, Rev. H. B. Gardner 
came in 1875 and remained until 1880, then being followed by Rev. 
John V. Stryker, who died April 6, 1892. The present rector, Rev. 
Thomas Dirck, came to the parish in June, 1892, and under his pastoral 
direction the new and beautiful church edifice has been erected. St. 



CHURCHES. 367 

James' church is one of the most vvorthj- institutions of northern Steuben 
county. The present communicating members number 1 16 persons. 
The wardens are Joiin W. Davis and Charles C. Halsey ; and the ves- 
trymen, Henry O. Fairchild. Trevor Moore, H. J. Moon, D. C. Hauder, 
George B. Lyon, H. Y. Rose, Will S. Wood and F. C. Fawcett. 

The Presbyterian church of Hanimondsport was organized September 
14, 183 I, and its first pastor was Rev. Mr. P^lagler. The original mem- 
bers were seven in number. A lot was donated, and William Hastings 
built a church edifice for the society. A second church house was 
erected in 1847. This building still stands and is in good repair. The 
present membersiiip in this ciiurch is large — about 200 — and the Sun- 
day school has about 1 10 pupils. The present pastor, Rev. Charles L. 
Luther, came to Hammondsport in June, 1895. 

St. Gabriel's church, Roman Catholic, Hammondsport, dates its his- 
tory to about the year 1840, when missionary priests said occasional 
masses in the village. Three years later a parish and church were organ- 
ized, and in 1847 purchased and occupied the edifice formerly owned by 
the Presbyterian societ)'. The present St. Gabriel's cluirch was built in 
1886, and is certainly a substantial structure. Tiiis parish is quite 
extensive, including parts of several towns — Urbana, Pulteney, Wayne 
and Bradford. The present [jriest in charge of the parish is Rev. James 
O'Shea. 

The Baptist church in the town of Urbana includes two separate 
organizations, the one known as the Urbana Baptist church, formed in 
1835, with a present membership of fifty-seven persons, and the South 
Urbana church, formed in 1891, now having thirty-eight members. 
Pastor of the latter church, Rev. A. B. McConnell. 

The Methodist Episcopal cluirch in Urbana, ever increasing and 
growing both in strength and influence, comprises two societj' organi- 
zations and two charges, and a total membership of 232 and twenty- 
seven probationers. Two churches are maintained, at Hainniondsport 
and North Urbana, respectively, and the fair value of the church prop- 
erty is $6,500. Pastor, Rev. John Segwalt. 

The Presbyterian church in Wheeler enjoyed its most successful 
period of history and progress during the first half of the present cen- 
tury. The early settlers were chiefly Presbyterians and tliey secured 



368 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the services of a minister who preached for them as early as about the 
year 1810, although not before 1824 was there any regular organization 
effected. Among the first ministers were Revs. David Harrower, James 
Hotchkin and David Higgiiis. The church itself was organized August 
30, 1825, and was at once received by the Presbytery of Bath. How- 
ever, the after life of the society witnessed many vicissitudes and dis- 
couragements, although its membership included many of the most in- 
fluential families of the town. The legal organization was perfected in 
1832, under the name of the " First Presbyterian Society of Wheeler " 
The first church edifice was built in 1832. and the second in 1867, both 
at the Center. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Wheeler dates its history to about 
the year 1840, and had its beginning in a small class. But from this 
germ there has grown a very strong organization, now numbering in 
the town four separate charges and societies, and four church edifices. 
They are known, respectively, as the Wheeler Center church ; the 
Wheeler Hill, or First M. E. church of Wheeler; the Hemlock M. E. 
church, and the Mitchellville M. E. church. The total membership in 
these churches is large and the societies themselves are increasing in 
strength and usefulness. The members number more than 150 persons, 
and all the charges are under the pastoral care of Rev. G. R. Harvey. 
The Wheeler church was originally built in union with the Presbyterian 
society, but later the edifice passed into the ownership of the Metho- 
dists. 

The Presbyterian church of Prattsburg had its origin in the religious 
service held at the house of Jared Pratt in the year 1803, and on the 
4th of June, 1804, Timothy Field organized a Church of Christ in the 
district of Bath, at the house of John Niles. The original members 
were Joel Pratt, John Niles, Samuel Tuttle, Pomeroy Hull, Salisbury 
Burton, William P. Curtis, Martha Tuttle, Dorcas Niles, Mary Hull, 
Hannah Niles, Sarah Curtis, Lydia Beach, Mary Pratt, Olive Burton 
and Almira Tuttle. In 1806 the society determined to erect a house of 
worship, for which purpose a site was selected on the public square in 
the village. Here was built the first Congregational church of Pratts- 
burg, but as the edifice was soon found to be quite too small, enlarge- 
ments were subsequently made. On the i6th of November, 1807, the 



CHURCHES. 369 

church society was regularly and legally organized under the name of 
the .Prattsburg Religious Society. Rev. James H. Hotchkiss was in- 
stalled pastor August i6, 1809. On October 12, 181 2, the society 
voted to accept the doctrine of the Presbyterian church, and on the 
2 1 St of September, 1813, was received into the Presbytery of Geneva. 
In 1825 a new church edifice was built, on land donated by Judge 
Porter. Rev. George R. Rudd became pastor in 1830, and two years 
later the parsonage was erected. This church is undoubtedly the 
strongest in the town and has a total membership of 200 persons. The 
pastor is Rev. G. W. Warren. 

The first Methodist Episcopal society in Prattsburg was organized in 
1829, at which time also a chapel was built. The organizers of the 
mother church were Dr. Noah Niles, Aaron Bull and Bishop Tuttle, 
who withdrew their membership from the Prattsburg Religious Society. 
However, the Methodist organization was dissolved about 1840, and 
the meeting house was sold for debt, but the class remained, and in 
1847, through the efibrts of Rev. James Hall, the society was revived, 
reorganized, and placed upon a substantial basis. A church edifice was 
built on the south side of the public square in 1847, but was destroyed 
by fire in 1853. After this the society again declined although occa- 
sional services were held. A third organization was effected in 1869 
and the present M. E. church of the village is its outgrowth. Moreover, 
Methodism has spread throughout the whole town, and in addition to 
the mother church, there are now two others, those at Ingleside and 
Lynn. The members of the village and Lynn churches number 150 
and are under the pastoral care of Rev. B. F. Hitchcock. The Ingle- 
side church is a joint charge with North Cohocton, under the pastorate 
of Rev. D. C. Nye. 

The Baptist church of Prattsburg was organized on West Hill, about 
the year 1821, and Elder Nehemiah Lamb was its first pastor. A log 
meeting house was built in 1822, but after its destruction by fire, in 
1833, was replaced with a substantial frame edifice and located a mile 
east of the old site. In 1842 the society divided, the members uniting 
with four separate organizations. There was formed the First and 
Second Baptist churches of Prattsburg, also the Prattsburg village Bap. 
47 



370 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

tist church. The house of worship of the latter was built in 1845. Its 
members now number forty-two persons. Pastor, W. A. Huntington. 

The Roman Catholic church at Prattsburg has about seventy-five 
families in the parish. It is attended from Hammondsport by Father 
O'Shea. 

The Christian church at Ingleside is under the pastorate of Rev, Mr. 
Carr. 

The First Presbyterian church of Bath is one of oldest religious soci- 
eties in the whole Genesee country, and was organized as early as the 
year 1S06, although previous to that time public worship had been held 
in the town. In 1802 Rev. Seth Williston conducted services in the 
old school house at the corner of Pulteney Square. On January 6, 
1806, an organization was perfected by Rev. John Niles, and was 
named "The Bath Religious Society." Still later, January 3, 1808, a 
modification of the former organization was made, and there was formed 
"The Church of Christ in Bath, Presbyterian Congregation," and four- 
teen persons entered into covenant and subscribed the constitution. The 
church adapted Congregational form of government, and appointed 
Joseph Inslee and Samuel S Haight as deacons. Rev. John Niles was 
installed pastor on July 7, 1808, and on the iSth of September, 1811, 
the church completed its presbyterial organization by electing five 
elders viz.: William AuUs, Elias Hopkins, Samuel S. Haight, Henry 
A. Townsend and Howell Bull; and at the same time removed its con- 
nection from the Congregational association and united with the Presby- 
tery of Geneva. Mr. Niles died September 13, 18 12, and was succeeded 
by Rev. David Higgins in January, 1813. During Mr. Higgins' pas- 
torate, the first church edifice was erected, and was dedicated March 2, 
1825 The third pastor. Rev Isaac Piatt, began his service June 4, 
1 83 1, and resigned in 1844. He was followed by Rev. L. Merrill Miller, 
and the latter by Rev, George D. Stewart in 1851. Still later pastors 
were Revs. William E. Jones. James M. Harlow (stated supply), James 
M. Piatt, 1869; and M. N. Preston, the present pastor, whose labors 
began December i, 1884. The new church edifice on the south side of 
the " Square" was built during the year 1876, and was first occupied 
for service on February 22, 1877. 

It is proper to mention in this connection that in 1837 this church 



CHURCHES. 371 

was divided by the dissensions in the Presbyterian church at large, and 
the result, locally, was the withdrawal of certain members and the or- 
ganization of "The Presbyterian Church of Bath (Congregational)." In 
1 84 1 the new society erected a house of worship on Liberty street, 
where now stands the Purdy Opera House. The building was burned 
in 1871. During its separate existence, the pastors of the church were 
Revs. William Strong, Orris F'raser, Hiram Gregg, Samuel Potter, Sabin 
McKinnej', Loren W. Russ, George Hood, Edwin Benedict, H. E. 
Johnson, C. H. Delong and William Dewey. 

St. Thomas' Protestant Episcopal church at Bath was organized as a 
parish at a meeting held April 19, 1826, yet for several years previous 
to that time stated services were held by Rev. Caleb Hopkins, he being 
persuaded to visit this missionary field through the good oflfices and in- 
tercession of Mrs. Elizabeth Hull Townsend. This worthy woman has 
ever been regarded as the founder of the church in the village and its 
vicinity. The early services of the church were held in the court-house, 
but in 1836 a lot was secured on the southeast of Pulteney Square, and 
here a church edifice was built. The first regularly appointed clergy- 
man in the parish was Rev. William W. Bostwick, who conducted his first 
services here May 23, 1825, and who continued the pastoral relation 
until 1840, when he resigned. Rev. Phineas L, Whipple became rector 
soon afterward, but an untimely death cut short his career of useful- 
ness in 1844. The succeeding rectors have been Revs. Wm. D. Wil- 
son, Levi H. Corson, Almon Gregory, Oran Reed Howard, Abner Piatt 
Brush and Benjamin S. Sanderson, the latter the present rector, who 
assumed his duties on the ist of May, 1890. During Mr. Whipple's 
rectorship the "churcii plot " in the cemetery was secured, and during 
Mr. Gregory's term many improvements were made to the church prop- 
erty. The parsonage was provided in 1852. In 1854, and again in 
1859, the church edifice was materially improved, and in 1869 the new 
and beautiful edifice at the southeast corner of Washington Square was 
erected. 

The first society of the Methodist Episcopal church in Bath was 
formed on the 3d of October, 1822, and on September 4 following the 
articles of incorporation were filed in the county clerk's office, naming 
John Whiting, Simpson Ellas, George Wheeler, Jeremiah Baker and 



S74 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Darius Reed as the first board of trustees. The frame of a church 
home was put up in 1823, and although not completed until 1826, this 
was the first church edifice projected in Bath, and was used by the 
Protestant Episcopal and Baptist societies. In 1865 it was found neces- 
sary to enlarge or rebuild the church, and the officers resolved upon 
the latter course. Prompt action was taken and on May 16, 1866, the 
corner stone was laid for the Centenary Methodist Episcopal church, 
by which name it has ever since been known. In 1835 Bath was made 
a separate charge, and Rev. J. G. Gulick was appointed pastor. The 
subsequent pastors, in succession, were Revs. Chandler Wheeler, Wm. 
Hosmer, E. Dowd, Daniel B. Lawton, Philander Powers, David Ferris, 
Earl B. Fuller, S. W. Alden, J. K. Tuttle, Augustus C. George, E. G. 
Townsend, Nathan Fellows, Andrew Sutherland, C. M. Gardiner, M. 
N. Beers, George E. Havens, W. C. Mattison, Wm. Manning, A. F. 
Morey, J. T. Brownell, S. McGerald, E. T. Green, R. D. Munger, 
George Stratton, James Moss, E. E. Chambers, D.D., K. P. Jervis, T. 
E. Bell, E. G. Piper, and M. C. Dean, the latter the present pastor. 

The Bath Village Baptist church was organized March 16, 1S42, at a 
meeting held in the Methodist meeting house, together with an 
ecclesiastical council. The constituent members numbered thirty-one 
persons. The first pastor was Rev. M. Rowley, who remained from 
1842 to 1845. The later pastors have been as follows: Revs. H. 
Spencer, B. F. Balcom, B. R. Swick, J. Parker, E. C. Brown, P. Col- 
grove, E. F. Crane, D. B. Olney, E J. Scott, J. D. Barnes, E. Savage. 
H. H. Cochrane, J. W. Taylor, I. W. Emery, J. C. Cubberly, P. S. 
Vreeland. The present pastor, Rev. V. P. Mather, settled with the 
church in 1890. The first edifice of this church was erected in 1844, 
and was enlarged in 1859. Extensive repairs were made in 1870. It 
was destroyed by fire in 1887, and rebuilt the same year at an expense 
of $12,000. 

St. Mary's church, Roman Catholic, at Bath, dates its history to about 
the year 1846, when Rev. Thomas McEvoy visited Bath and found 
about ten Catholic families in the vicinity. In the following year 
Father Sheridan was placed in charge of the Catholic families along 
the Conhocton as far west as Dansville. In 1850 Father O'Flaherty 
added Bath to his charge. The early services were usually held at the 



CHURCHES. 373 

house of James Manley, but in 1850 Bartliolomew VVilks erected a 
building suitable for a church. In 1861 the parochial residence was 
built. In 1862 a Catholic school was established in the basement of the 
church, and was continued about five years, until the school building 
was completed. In August, 1886, the property adjoining the school 
estate at Bath was purchased by W. B. Ruggles, for $3,300, and on 
this site in the years 1891-2 and '93 an elegant church structure was 
erected. The corner stone was laid May 8, 1892, and on St. Patrick's 
day, 1893, the first services were celebrated within its walls. The suc- 
cession of pastors in charge of St. Mary's parish and church has been 
as follows: Tiiomas McEvoy, Father Sheridan, Edward O'Flaherty, 
Charles Tierney, John Donnelly, Joseph McKenna, T. Cunningham, 
Patrick Burns, John Castaldi, Michael Steger, J. M. McGlew, P. Mazu- 
ret, L. Vanderpool, M Darcey, J. J. Ba.xter and J. J. Gleason. On the 
24th of February, 1889, Father Baxter was transferred to Buffalo, and 
Father Gleason was appointed to the Bath church. Father Gleason 
died during the spring of 1895, and the parish is now (June, 1895) 
without a priest. 

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion church of Bath was organized 
about the year 1838 or '39, by Rev. John Tapkin, whose custom it was 
to walk to Bath from Canandaigua, Elmira, Owego and Binghamton. 
Among the early pastors who preached to the colored people in Bath 
were Revs. J. A. Logan, J. I'. Thompson, John Thomas, M. H. Ross 
and C. A. Smith. The present pastor. Rev. B. W. Swain, came to Bath 
in June, 1890, and found the ;ift"airs of the church in an unfortunate 
condition, but succeeded, after much labor, in re-establishing and build- 
ing up the society and placing it upon a secure and permanent basis. 
A large new church edifice is now in process of erection. 

The First Presbyterian church of Addison was organized in Septem- 
ber, 1832, by a committee of the Bath Presbyter)', comprising Revs. 
A. Donaldson and E. D. Wills. There were seven original members, 
and Porter Phelps and Elihu Wittenhall were elected ruling elders. 
Meetings were held in the Curtis school house previous to the erection 
of the first church edifice, in 1838. The first pastor, as the records dis- 
close, was Rev. Daniel B. Butts, who served in that capacity from 1835 
to 1839, and was followed by Revs. Lewis Hamilton, Darius A. Will- 



374 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

iams, A. H. Parmalee and others, in the order named. The new 
church liome of tliis society was built during 1881 and '82, and was 
dedicated in April of the year last mentioned. The present members 
number about one hundred and sixty-five. Tiie pastor is Rev. David 
Mackay. 

The Church of the Redeemer, Protestant Episcopal, of Addison vil- 
lage, dates back in its history to about the year 1847, when Rev. 
Gardner M. Skinner came as missionary to the region. He was fol- 
lowed by other zealous laborers, among them Robert N. Parke, and he 
succeeded in organizing the parish in April, 1854. F"rom this time the 
history of the church has been a record of continued success and 
growth, and the present healthful church is its outgrowth. A church 
edifice was completed, paid for in full, and consecrated by Bishop 
De Lancey on the 5th of April, i860. In this parish are about sixty- 
five Episcopal families The present rector is Rev. W. H. Hawkin. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in Addison dates its origin back to 
the early history of the town, and when organization took place two 
societies were formed, the one in 1835 and the other in 1841. In the 
latter year a church home was provided, the earlier services being held 
in the Presbyterian church edifice which the M. E. society aided in 
erecting. By a disastrous fire the M. E church was destroyed, and 
was replaced with the comfortable structure now occupied by the soci- 
ety. It was dedicated in 1876. The Methodist members in Addison 
number 284, with twenty-five probationers in addition The present 
pastor is Rev. A. W. Decker. 

St. Catharine's church, Roman Catholic, at Addison, was organized 
in 1854, by Father Cunningham, the zealous priest at St. Mary's, at 
Corning. The parish included all the Catholic families of the vicinity, 
and from its earliest historj' this church has grown and enlarged. The 
church edifice was built in 1854, but not until 1866 was Addison made 
a separate charge. The elegant new edifice in Curtis Square was erected 
in 1887. This church and parish are under the pastoral care of Rev. 
Father M. Noonan. 

The First Baptist church of Addison was organized May 6, 1869, 
under the faithful eftbrts of Rev. C. W. Brooks. The first pastor, how- 
ever, was Rev. S. D. Merrick, who settled in October, 1869. During 



CHURCHES. 375 

his pastorate the "chapel" was built (in 1871). The total membership 
in this church is 146, and the church property is valued at about $3,500. 
The present pastor is Rev. W. A. Billings. 

The F.vangelical Lutheran church of Avoca was originally organized 
April 9, 1842, and after a period of about twenty-five years was sub- 
stantially reorganized, adopting, on the latter occasion, a new constitu- 
tion. The church was regularly incorporated July 26, 1868, since which 
time it has been one of the permanent institutions of the Conhocton 
valley. The comfortable church edifice was dedicated January, 1870. 

The Baptist church of Avoca was organized January 13, 1847, with 
thirty-three constituent mrmbers Rev. Horace Spencer was the first 
pastor. The early meetings of the society were held in a school house 
and other convenient buildings, and not until the year 1852 was a 
church iiome erected. This church numbers eighty-eight members, 
and is attached to the Steuben Association. The pastor is Rev. J. E. 
Wilson. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Avoca is one of the largest socie- 
ties of the town and vicinity, and in its history dates back almost to the 
days of pioneership in the town, although a regular organization was 
not effected until a conijjaratively recent date. The church now num- 
bers 115 members and fifty- five probationers, including those of a joint 
charge in an adjoining town. The pastor of both churches is Rev. W. 
E. Searles. 

The Presbyterian church of Cohocton dates back in its history to the 
primitive and informal meetings held in the town as early as the year 
1802, although it was not until October 8, 1809, that an organization 
was effected, and then Congregational in form of government. On the 
lOth of April. 1823, the church became Presbyterian On April 6, 
1 8 10, Elijah Parker was chosen deacon. Revs. Aaron C. Collins and 
Abijah Warren were among the first preachers engaged, and in 1818, 
Robert Hubbard was pastor, being followed in that capacity by Revs. 
William Stone, Aaron C. Collins, Statham Clary and others On P'eb- 
ruary 3, 1830, the first meeting house was erected, and the second was 
built during the summer and fall of the year 1872. This church is to- 
day one of the largest in the town. Its pastor is Rev. Mr. Swan. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in the town of Cohocton in its his- 



376 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

tory, from first to last, has comprised three distinct organizations and 
the same number of houses of worship. The mother church, known as 
the M. E. church of Cohocton, was organized in 1829 while the church 
at North Cohocton dates its earliest meetings as far back as 18 16, 
though not then fully organized. The class from which sprung the 
Lent Hill M. E. church was formed in 1831, and the meeting house 
was built in 1834. The society was known as the " First Union Soci- 
ety of Cohocton and Prattsburg." The church house for the society 
first mentioned was provided soon after 1830, and the building was 
substantially remodeled in 1872. This church seems to have experi- 
enced many changes during the period of its history. It was reorgan- 
ized in 1845, and was made a separate charge (" Liberty charge "), in 
1873. According to the Conference report there are two Methodist 
charges in the town, at Cohocton and North Cohocton, respectively. 
Of the first the pastor is Rev. T. F. Parker, and of the latter, Rev. D. 
C. Nye. 

The First Universalist church of Cohocton was regularly organized in 
September, 1859, although for a number of years previous to that time 
those of this faith had held meetings in the town. A meeting house 
was begun in i860 and completed and dedicated in 1863. The pastor 
of this church is Rev. H. P. Morrell. 

The Catholic church (St. Peters) of Cohocton, was erected in 1861. 
Rev. Father M. Steger was the first missionary priest to read mass in 
the town. The present priest in charge is Rev. Father M. Krischel. 

St. Paul's church, German Lutheran, of Cohocton was organized in 
1 861, by former members of the Lutheran church at Perkinsville. The 
newly formed society at once erected a small house of worship, and also 
chose as trustees Philip Zimmer, Henry Schuriegel, Henry Hengle and 
Philip Bortz. The present pastor of this church is Rev. Mr. Pfiefter. 

The Evangelical Lutheran Zion church of Cohocton was an offshoot 
from St. Paul's church, formed in 1869 by members of the old society 
who severed their relations from it. The meeting house was built dur- 
ing the same year. The pastor is Rev. Mr. Rummell. 

The Free Methodist church at .Atlanta is under the pastoral care of 
Rev. M. S. Babcock. 

The Wesleyan Methodist church at North Cohocton is under the pas- 
toral care of Rev. W. F. Dutcher. 



CHURCHES. 377 

The Presbyterian church of Painted Post was organized about 1835, 
and the church edifice was built in 1840. This was the first religious 
society in the village and has had a continuous existence to the present 
time. The pastor is Rev. J. Robinson. 

The Methodist Episcopal church at Painted Post was organized about 
the year 1850 and at the same time a church home was built. This is 
now a large church numbering 200 full members and probationers, with 
a proportionally large Sunday school. The present pastor is Rev. 
Arthur Osborne. 

The Baptist church of Erwin, at Painted Post, was organized in 1854, 
and in i860 a chruch was erected. The present membership is eighty- 
eight. Pastor, Rev. C. G. Dilworth. 

The Baptist church of Hornby dates its history back to the year 1820, 
when Elder Beebe preached and labored in this missionary field, hold- 
ing services on Nash Hill. However, it was not until several years 
later that a formal organization was effected. The Baptist families in 
the society number about thirty-five members, and the church property 
is valued at $2,000. The present pastor of the local church and society 
is Rev. O. N. Fletcher. 

The Presbyterian church of Hornby was organized at the Knowlton 
school house, September 14, 183 i, by a committee from the Presbytery 
of Bath. The original members numbered twenty-one, who were re- 
ceived into the church by Rev. B. B. Smith. The first pastor, however, 
was Rev Mr. Barton. A substantial church edifice was built in 1852, 
located at Hornby village. 

The Wesleyan Methodist church at Dyke, in the town of Hornby, 
was organized in 1843, and for several held meetings in the Knowlton 
school house ; and still later in the Presbyterian meeting house. On 
March 4, 1877, the society dedicated a new church edifice near the lit- 
tle hamlet now called Dyke. 

The Methodist Episcopal church of Hornby was organized as a class 
in 1843, by Rev. James Hall. The church was divided, a por- 
tion of its members withdrawing and forming the Wesleyan so- 
ciety. A Methodist Episcopal reorganization was efi'ected about 
1863, under the leadership of Rev. A. H. Shurtliff and A. P. McCabe, 
the latter being class leader. Meetings were held in the church edifices 
48 



378 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of other denominations for several years. This society does not now 
report to the annual conference. 

The First Baptist church of Lindley was organized June 13, 1841, 
under the missionar)' labors of that indefatigable worker, Rev. Thomas 
Sheardown, but despite of the efforts in its behalf the society existed 
less than a quarter of a century, and was dissolved about 1864 

The Free Methodist church of Lindley was organized in 1866, and a 
church edifice was built at Lindleytown w-ithin the next two years. The 
present pastor is Rev. Mr. Kelly. 

The Independent church of Lindley was organized May 20, 1875, 
with about fifty constituent members. In 1877 the society became 
Baptist in religious doctrine. It does not now report to the association. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in Lindley was organized at the 
Center in 1850, but did not become a separate charge until 1866. 
Still later another church of the same denomination was formed at 
Lindley, and two charges existed in the town. The church at Presho, 
and also that at Lindley, are under the pastorate of Rev. E. D. Compton. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in Rathbone comprises two charges 
and two organized societies, the one at Rathboneville, under the care 
of Rev. J. W. Miller, and the other at Cameron Mills, an au.xiliary 
charge. The first class in this vicinity was formed about 1831, and in 
1845 l^'is "Town Line church" was erected. A class was formed in 
Rathboneville about the same time, and in 1850 a church edifice was 
built. 

The Roman Catholic church at Cameron Mills is an outmission from 
Addison and is attended by Father M. Noonan. 

The Methodist Episcopal church in Tuscarora dates its history back 
to about the year 1825, although not until 1833 was a class formed. 
The first meeting house was built in 1849, but was subsequently aban- 
doned. The church in the town now forms a part of four charges, 
South Addison, Addison Hill, Orr Hill, and one other. The total 
membership is 186, with forty-five probationers. The pastor is Rev. R. 
S. Clark. 

The Free-Will Baptist church of Tuscarora was organized in 1826, with 
nineteen members, as a Free-Communion church, but changed to Free- 
Will character in 1842. The church edifice in the valley was built in 



CHURCHES. 379 

1847, ^n<^ w^s repaired in 1866, and again in 1886. The pastor is Rev. 
Mr. Streeter. Baptist meetings are also held in the southeast part of 
the town, and a .society has been formed there. 

(For history of the churches of Corning, see city chapter.) 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



WILLIAM FINDLAY ROGERS. 

Gen. William Fi.\dl.\v Rogers, superintendent of the New York State Soldiers- 
and Sailors' Home at Bath, was born in the town of Forks, near Easton, Pa., March 
1, 1820, and is a son of Hon. Thomas J. Rogers, who came from Waterford, North of 
Ireland, to this country with his father, Joseph, in 1786, settling in Philadelphia, 
where the latter engaged in manufacturing. Thomas J. Rogers learned the printer's 
trade and subsequently compiled a Biographical Dictionary for use in public schools. 
He represented the old Tenth Pennsylvania Legion in Cotigress three terms and 
served as brigadier-general of the State militia in the war of 1813, marching with his 
command to a point near Baltimore to repulse a threatened attack of the British. He 
was a life-loug Democrat, and died in 1832, aged fifty-two. His wife was Mary Win- 
ters, daughter of Christian Winters, of Easton, Pa. 

Gen. William F. Rogers, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools 
and early learned the printer's trade at Easton, Pa., whence he removed to Phila- 
delphia. In 1846 he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and entered the office of the Buffalo 
Courier. There he became an active and prominent member of the local militia, 
which he joined in 1840, and rose through all the regular gradations from private 
to major-general, a position he held until the division system was abolished. At the 
breaking out of the Rebellion in 1801 he volunteered with his company (Co. C, 74th 
Regt.) in the Union cause for ninety days, but the secretary of war declined troops 
for that period, and he immediately enlisted in the 21st N. Y. Vol. Inf., which was 
composed of ten companies and organized at Elmira, and of which he was elected 
colonel. Leaving Elmira on June 8, 1801, the regiment with Colonel Rogers at its 
head proceeded to Washington and camped at Kalorama Heights, whence they 
crossed Long Bridge and took station at Fort Runyan. There the gallant colonel 
was placed in command and remained until after the battle of First Bull Run. The 
organization then moved to Arlington Heights, where it was brigaded with the 2l)th 
N. Y. Militia and 23d and Srith N. Y. Inf. under General Wadsworth. At the open- 
ing of the campaign in March, 1802, they marched to Centerville, which they found 
evacuated, and returned to Alc.vandria to take steamers for the Peninsula, but this 
[ilan was changed. While McClellan was advancing up the Peninsula Colonel 
Rogers's detachment returned toward Centerville under McDowell, but before the 
march was completed turned toward Washington, the rebels having made a dem- 
onstration on that city. Colonel Rogers participated with his command in the Mary- 



4 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

land and Virginia campaigns and was mustered out with the regiment in Buffalo in 
in May 18G3. 

At about the same time he was appointed commissioner of enrollment for the 30th 
New York Congressional district and soon afterward received the appointment of 
provost-marshal with headquarters in Buffalo, from which he was relieved for politi- 
cal reasons at the close of the year 1863. In 1864 he was appointed auditor of the 
city ; in 1866 he was chosen comptroller ; and in 1868 he was elected mayor. While 
mayor of Buffalo he was instrumental in establishing the present beautiful park 
system, one of the finest in the United States, and in his official capacity appointed 
the first Board of Park Commissioners, thirteen in number, of which he was ex officio 
a member, and of which he was made the first president. At the close of his term 
as mayor he was elected secretarj- and treasurer of that board and held those posi- 
tions until he resigned in 1887. He was also secretary and treasurer of the Buffalo 
State Hospital while that institution was in process of construction and resigned 
those offices in the fall of 1885. In 1885 General Rogers was elected to the 48th Con- 
gress, and during his term was chairman of the Committee on Printing and a mem- 
ber of the Committee on War Claims. 

In October, 1887, he was elected by the board of trustees superintendent of the 
New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Bath, which position he still holds, 
and where he has since resided. He was one of the founders of that institution in 
1879, a member of the committee charged with selecting the site, a member of the 
building committee, and one of its trustees from its inception until 1887. The Home 
was originally started by the G. A. R. of the State. Voluntary subscriptions were 
solicited from the different G. A. R. Posts and the people, and about S80,00J were 
contributed. The town of Bath donated the farm upon which the institution is 
located and .$10,000 additional to the building fund. A portion of the present hos- 
pital and barracks A, B, and C were partially completed when the funds were ex- 
hausted. The G. A. R. commissioners then went before the Legislature and pro- 
posed that the State complete the home and maintain it as a State institution, which 
proposition was accepted. Since then the State has maintained it, the U. S. govern- 
ment contributing SI per capita for the average number of inmates in each year. 

General Rogers has been president of the State Military Association and is past 
department commander of the G. A. R. He was the organizer and charter member 
of Chapin Post, No. 2, G. A. R. of Buffalo, the second post organized in the State, 
and is a member of Bidwell-Wilkinson Post, No. 9, of Buffalo. He is a member and 
past master of Hiram and Demolay Lodges, F. & A. M., past high priest of Buffalo 
Chapter, No. 73, R. A. M., and past commander of Lake Erie Commandery, No. 20, 
K. T. He was married, first, to Miss Caroline M. Waldron, of Houesdale, Pa., who 
died in 1846. He married, second, in 1849, Miss Phebe Demoney, of Buffalo, who 
died at the Soldiers' Home in Bath in October, 1890. By his first marriage General 
Rogers had one son. Franklin, a printer of Washington. His second wife bore him 
three children: Mary W. (Mrs. William C. Brown), of New York city; Florence N. 
(Mrs. Charles N. Armstrong), of Buffalo; and Thomas J., a prominent civil engineer 
of Buffalo, who was engineer In charge of the Soldiers' Home during the laying out 
of the grounds and construction of the reservoir and water works. 



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BIOGRAPHICAL. 5 

FRANKLIN J. MARSHAL. 

Franklin J. Marshal, only survivinjj; son of the late Gen. Otto Frederick Marshal 
(which see), was born on the Marshal homestead in Wheeler, Steuben county, where 
he has spent his active life, on November 25, 1829, and received his education in the 
public schools of his native town and at Alfred University in Allegany county. He 
succeeded his distinguished father upon the paternal farm and worthfly continued 
the laudable enterprises inaugurated by that pioneer. He became a progressive 
farmer, an extensive breeder of thoroughbred merino sheep, and latterly a heavy 
grower of tobacco, carrying on all these various interests with great sagacity and 
ability. He was one of the earliest tobacco growers in town, and established a busi- 
ness in this line which has more i-ecently been largely increased by his only son, 
Otto F. , the present supervisor of Wheeler. 

Mr. Marshal inherited the native characteristics of the German race. Enterpris- 
ing, public-spirited, and honest, liberally endowed with the attributes which marked 
his father's notable career, he chose the life of a husbandman w-ith innate knowledge 
of its requirements, and succeeded beyond the average degree. He attained the dis- 
tinction of a representative farmer and won the approbation of all classes of citizens. 
He has long been an active and influential member of the Steuben County Agricul- 
tural Society, and for one year served as its president. His advice upon various mat- 
ters has been frequently sought and freely given, and his friends are numbered by 
the score. For many years he was an influential factor in politics, often a delegate 
to political conventions and for several years supervisor of his town, serving with 
credit and fidelity. 

October IT, 1854, Mr. Marshal was married to Miss Valora E. Smith, of Avoca, 
Steuben county, by whom he has two children: Dollie V. and Otto F. The latter 
was born on the Marshal homestead in Wheeler on August 5, 1860, and obtained his 
education at the Franklin Academy in Prattsburg. He has spent his life upon the 
original farm, where he is heavily interested in growing tobacco and breeding regis- 
tered merino sheep. He is a member of the Steuben County Agricultural Societv, 
and is serving his fourth term as supervisor of Wheeler. 



JOHN G. KELLY, M. D. 

Dr. John G. Kelly was born in Bergen, Genesee county, N. Y., February 12, 
1857, the third son of a family of seven children of James Kelly, a farmer and stock 
breeder of Genesee county. He was educated in the common school, Bergen High 
School and Brockport State Normal School, where he taught school two terms in the 
academic department. He took up the study of medicine in tne fall of 1881, enter- 
ing the medical department of the University of Buffalo from the Normal School, 
and graduating from that institution February 26, 1884. He was interne in the Sis- 
ters' Hospital of Buffalo the last two years of his medical school attendance, and 
April, 1884, came to Hornellsville, where he has since been engaged in regular prac- 
tice of his profession, and has won the highest esteem and respect of his numerous 



6 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

friends and acquaintances. In 1888 he became identified with the drug firm of 
George T. Reed & Co. , now composed of G. T. Reed, Franklin D. Sherwood and 
Dr. J. G. Kelly. He is a member of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Asso- 
ciation, Steuben County Medical Association, the Erie Railway Surgeons' Associa- 
tion and the New York State Railway Surgeons' Association. He is the chancellor 
of Branch 33, C. M. B. A., and ex-president of the A. O. H., and was a delegate to 
the State Convention in 1894. June 1, 1887, he married Theresa Henneberg, of Port 
Jervis, N. Y. , by whom he has five children. In politics the doctor is a Democrat, 
and represented the Third Ward in the Board of Alderman in 1891-92; was health 
officer in 1886-87. He is chairman of the Democratic City Committee at the present 
time. He has been president of the St. James Mercy Hospital staff of physicians 
since its organization ; also he is one of the trustees of the hospital. 



JOHN D. CONDERMAN. 

John D. Conderman was born in Warren, Herkimer county, N. Y., September 30, 
1820. He was the son of Adam J. and Elizabeth Conderman who were of Dutch 
Protestant descent. His forefathers were among a colony of Dutch who left their 
country on account of religious persecution. Their fleets became separated in their 
voyage to this country, some landing on the coast of New England, the others enter- 
ing New York harbor from whence they migrated up the Hudson and out the Mo- 
hawk locating in Herkimer county. 

In 1834 Adam J. Conderman together with his family consisting of his wife and 
ten children, five sons, Abraham, David, John D., Caleb and Hiram, and five daugh- 
ters, Mary, Margaret, Eliza, Rachel and Cathenne, moved to what was known as 
Dutch street in the town of Fremont, Steuben county, N. Y., where his family grew 
up and where he spent the major portion of his remaining days, dying at the home 
of his son John D., at the age of eighty-six. He fought in the war of 1813 and his 
father, John Conderman, the namesake of John D., was an officer in the Revolu- 
tionary war. 

John D. Conderman, at the age of twenty-six, married Aseneth Spaulding, daugh- 
ter of George and Elizabeth Spaulding, then residents of the town of Howard. N. Y., 
and purchasing a farm on tlie cross road from Dutch street to what was known as 
the Big Creek Post-office, erected a log house and began life in common with pioneers 
of that day. 

Here he lived and raised his family consisting of four sons. Frank Conderman, 
who is the present owner of a large farm on Dutch street which has never been owned 
out of the Conderman family, being settled by John Conderman in 1815. Lavurn D. 
Conderman who now resides in Fremont Center, and who also is the owner of a large 
farm adjoining his father's old homestead. Charles Conderman, a practicing attorney 
and counsellor at law in Hornellsville, and George Conderman, a practicing physi- 
cian and surgeon in Hornellsville. 

John D. Conderman was a man of exemplary habits, very energetic and industrious, 
possessed of a very keen intellect and extra good judgment and being blessed with a 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 7 

wife who proved herself a helpmate, always willing and capable of doing her share 
in their voyage through life and to whose foresight and good counsel a large share 
of their ultimate happiness and success was due, passed a life of almost continued 
success resulting in the accumulation of a goodly fortune as a result of their toil. 

He never sought political distinction but was always looked upon as one of the 
staunchest and representative men of the town, so much .so that his home was made 
the headquarters of salesman and drovers who availed them.selves of his judgment 
in buying all kinds of stock but more especially to horses, for horses being one of his 
hobbies of life, his farm was always well stocked with the finest horses that the coun- 
try afforded. This business, though obsolete now, was one of considerable moment 
in those days, and was a means of profit which together with good management and 
economy .soon made him the owner of 1,000 acres of Fremont's choicest lands. 

During the Anti-Renter Insurrection his ideas of justice would not permit him to 
sympathize with them in their position taken, thus provoking their wrath which was 
aggravated by their appreciating the strength his influence might have exerted if 
directed in their interest, they threatened him with all kinds of bodily and personal 
injury, as the burning of buildings, etc., and even did go so far as to shoot his horses 
while running in the pastures. But right triumphed at last, for while they were 
spending their time and means fighting their claims he had paid for his home and 
several farms besides. 

In 1874 he removed to Hornellsville, N. Y., where his remaining days were pleas- 
antly spent in looking after his large property interests and educating his sons. He 
died July 17. 1890, leaving his widmv and four sons to survive him. 



MARTIN PINNEY. 

Martin Pinnev, a life-long leading citizen of northern Steuben and for more than 
half a century one of the foremost residents of Prattsburg, was born in that town on 
the farm now owned by Purlee Fisher on the 16lh of April, 1836. His father, Aaron 
Pinney, son of Philander, was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., August 28, 
1801, and came to Prattsburg in 1822, where he married Miss Sophronia, adopted 
daughter of Jeduthan Higby ; in 18.54 he removed to the village, where his wife died 
in 1872, and where his death occurred in 1881. He was supervisor of the town sev- 
eral years. Martin Pinney was the eldest of their nine children, and was reared on 
the paternal farm, where as a youth he worked summers, teaching school winters. 
At the Franklin Academy, where he finished his education, he bore the reputation of 
a progressive and faithful student. At an early age he began his long and success- 
ful mercantile career as a clerk at Bath and Avon, and in the fall of 18.5;! he returned 
to Prattsburg, where he established himself in business in the old " Kremlin Block " 
in partnership with William B. Boyd and James J. Hotchkin under the firm name of 
W. B. Boyd & Co. Upon the death of Mr. Hotchkin and the retirement of Mr. Boyd 
two years later, Mr. Pinney formed a partnership with H. B. Williams, as Pinney & 
Williams, which continued a long time. In 1860-61 he built the handsome brick 
Pinney block and carried on a successful mercantile trade there from April 1, 1861, 
for twenty-eight years. 



8 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Mr. Pinney was especially prominent in the development of the village of Pratts- 
burg, to the cause of which he gave much time and untiring energy. His faith in its 
future was unswerving, and his zeal in promoting its material interests never faltered. 
In this respect he became the leading and influential citizen of the place. Being a 
heavy taxpayer, and intimately identified with its growth and prosperity, he was 
ever foremost among the representative inhabitants in fostering and encouraging 
every movement which had the welfare of the village at heart. He was the chief 
promoter of the Kanona and Prattsburg railroad, and to him more than to any other 
man is due the inception and construction of that line from Kanona northward. As 
the business of his village increased in volume he intuitively foresaw the necessity of 
such a road, and long before it was started he put forth every energy for its consum- 
mation, even to involving his entire fortune in the interests of the project. He was 
the prime mover in organizing the company, and upon its incorporation was elected 
its president, a position he held until shortly before his death. He lived to see the 
line completed and distributing its benefits to the town he honored with his residence 
and business ability. 

Mr. Pinney was also prominent in various other connections. A life-long Demo- 
crat he was for several years the supervisor of Prattsburg, and in local politics bore 
the distinction of a leader. In education he always took an active interest, particu- 
larly in planning for the prosperity of the academy, in which he personally looked 
after matters of detail. He was for a number of terms a member and president of 
the Board of Education, and for along time a trustee of the Presbyterian church, of 
which he was a regular attendant and liberal supporter. A great reader of the Bible 
he was a devout christian, and in various ways fostered and encouraged the cause of 
religion. Dignified, courteous, and simple in manner, honest, kindhearted, and 
generous, he won hosts of friends and bore the respect, esteem, and confidence of 
every one. He was a devoted husband, and found in his home the height of enjoy- 
ment. He lived the life of an upright citizen, and left an indelible impression of his 
eventful and successful career upon the community. 

Mr. Pinney was married, first, on October 20, 18.i8, to Miss Electa Jane Gillett, 
who died in 1863. October 20, 1865, he married Mrs. Fannie Lewis Smith, whose 
death occurred September 18, 1893. On February 14, 1894, he was married to Mrs. 
Elsie J. Combs, who survives him and occupies the handsome homestead in Pratts- 
burg village, where he died on Sunday morning, July 1, 1894, at the age of a little 
more than sixty-eight years. 



GEORGE HOLLANDS. 

George Hollands was born in Sussex county, England, on January 9, 1841. His 
parents, WilHara and Charlotte Hollands, with a family of six children, came to this 
country in the year 1850. Soon after their arrival they found their way to Mansfield, 
Tioga county, Pa., where they have since resided. Four more children were born to 
them after their arrival to this country. They are still livmg and enjoying reason- 
ably good health and are in their eighty-fourth and eighty-first year of age respec- 
tively. George Hollands, the subject of this sketch, at the age of eleven years found 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 9 

a home with a respectable farmer, with whom he was to live until he was twenty-one 
years of age, with the understanding that he was to receive a common school educa- 
tion and when he became of age he was to have a good suit of clothes and §100 in 
money. Before arriving at the age of maturity, however, the war broke out, and in- 
September, 1861, he left the farm and enlisted in Co. B, 101st Pa. Vols., and served 
in the army for the period of three years and ten months, during which timelje was 
engaged in many important battles. He was wounded in the battle of Fair Oaks on 
May ;51. 1802, and was taken prisoner at the surrender of Plymouth, N. C, April 20, 
180-1. Pie was an inmate of Andersonville and Florence prisons until the following 
December, and has never recovered from the exposure and suffering of that terrible 
summer. He was shipwrecked in the Potomac River while on his way to join his 
regiment in April, 180.5, and was only saved from a watery grave by clinging to the 
mast of the ship all night, where he was picked up in an exhausted condition by a 
United States gunboat, the following morning. He was discharged from the service 
in July, 1865, having risen from a private to the rank of first lieutenant. Soon after 
the close of the war he embarked in the grocery business at Hornellsville, under the 
firm name of Hollands & Fletcher, occupying what was then known as the old 
" Mamouth Store," opposite the Park. On January 2, 1860, he married Lydia Bailey 
of Mansfield. Pa. Five children were born to them, viz : Minnie, now the wife of 
Charles A. Smith of Middletown, N. Y. ; Eva and Robert, who died of diphtheria in 
October, 1870; George Hollands, jr., who was born in November, 187."), and who is 
now at the age of twenty years, carrying on an extensive grocery business in the 
village of Bath, under the firm name of Geo. Hollands, jr., & Co. ; and Burr R. Hol- 
lands, who was born in June, 1878, and is now being educated as a pharmacist. Mr. 
Hollands is an enterprising citizen, a man of .sober and industrious habits and a 
prominent member of the First M. E. church of Hornellsville. He has always been 
a prominent and active member of the Republican party and has had the honor of 
representing his ward as village trustee for six years prior to the organization of 
the city. In 1879 he was elected to the important office of county superintendent of 
the poor, in which capacity he served for three years. In 1886 he very ably repre- 
sented the town of Hornellsville on the Board of Supervisors. He was commander 
of Doty Post, No. 226, G. A. R., for two years, 1889 and '90. He was one of the in- 
corporators of the Hornell Sanitarium Co. and for several years a director and treas- 
urer of said company. In the fall of 1891 he was elected sheriff of Steuben county, 
which office he very satisfactorily filled for the term of three j-ears. A few months 
after his retirement from the ofiice of sheriff he, in company with Mr. O. L. Thomp- 
son, purchased the interest of J. W. Bachman of Hornellsville, N. Y., in the drug 
trade, and at the present time are carrying on a very prosperous business under the 
firm name of Thompson & Hollands. 



FURMAN GARDNER. 

Flrman Gardner, one of the leading pioneers of the town of Wheeler, was born 
in Albany county, N. Y., November 7, 1793, being an only child and was left 
an orphan at a very early age. When seven years old he was brought to this then 
B 



10 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

wild and picturesque section by Capt. Silas Wheeler, from whom the town subse- 
quently received its name, and with whom he lived until he attained his majority. 
On June 17, 1817, he married Miss Elizabeth Myrtle, eldest child of Philip and Mar- 
garet Myrtle, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1799, and who came here with her 
parents in 1800, settling on the farm now owned by D. Z. Gibbs. The newly married 
couple located on the farm now owned and occupied by their son, William Gardner, 
where they spent the remainder of their lives. He died June fi, 1S5(), and his wife 
on December 22, 1883. 

Mr. Gardner was one of the hardest working men in town. Endowed with 
a robust constitution he cleared his forest farm, mainly with his own hands, convert- 
ing it from an unbroken wilderness into a pleasant and fruitful home, and addmg to 
it from time to time until he owned 170 acres. He was industrious and prosperous, 
and systematically followed the business of agriculture upon what might be termed 
modern methods. He was long regarded as one of the best farmers in town. His 
first house was a log cabin, rude and inconvenient, but suitable for those days. This 
was finally superseded by a more pretentious frame dVvelling, and this in turn 
eventually gave place to the present house, built and occupied by their son William. 
Thus three habitations for the family have been erected on the same site, two of 
them by the subject of this sketch. 

In the common affairs of life Mr. Gardner always took a keen interest, and in fur- 
thering every worthy movement he gave both time and means. While a young man 
he served hts country as a soldier in the war of 1812, and in later years he was active 
as a substantial citizen in public matters, particularly in the cause of religion. In 
politics he was a lifelong Whig, but never sought office nor official distinction. He 
was long a prominent member and liberal supporter of the Wheeler Presbyterian 
church, and throughout a useful life bore the respect, esteem and confidence of a 
wide circle of friends and acquaintances. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gardner had born to them six sons and four daughters, namely: 
Sarah (Mrs. Ezra Haire), widow, born May 9, 1818, of Wheeler; Silas, born Aprd 2, 
1820, deceased; Rebecca (Mrs. A. J. Raplee), born September 18, 1823, a widow, of 
Hillsdale, Mich. ; Polly, born March 31, 1825, died August 2, 1827; Henry, born Oc- 
tober 5, 1828, of Wheeler; Addison, born October 16, 1832, of Bath Mich. ; William, 
born May 25, 1834, of Wheeler; Benjamin, born March 2, 1837, died August 22. 1839; 
Thomas, born August 14. 1839, of Wheeler; and Harriet (Mrs. William Rose), born 
August 16, 1842, of Bath, Mich. 

Mrs. Gardner practically spent her entire life in the town of Wheeler, and witnessed 
its transformation from dense forests to a prosperous community. She related in 
later years many interesting stories of the Indians and pioneer times, when settlers 
did not enjoy the benefits of modern civilization. She was one of the original mem- 
bers of the Pre.sbyterian church in 1835, as was also her husband, and remained a 
communicant of that body until her death. Endowed with rare personal qualifica- 
tions she was a true woman, a consistent and devout Christian, and a worthy help- 
mate and mother. 




FUKMAN GARUNhR. 



BIOGRAPHICAL U 

GEORGE C. McXETT, M. D. 

Georof C. McNf.tt, M.D , of Kath, youngest child of the late Col. Andrew J. Mc- 
Nett, was born in Buffalo, X. Y., July 11, 18r)T. His paternal grandfather served as 
a commissioned officer at Sackett's Harbor during the war of 1812and gallantly saved 
the garrison from capture by the British; for this act he was subsequently placed in 
charge of the post and neighboring lighthouses. Col, Andrew J. McNett, a native of 
Henderson, Jefferson county, born in October, 1819, completed his education in 
Belleville Union Academy,' studied law with Augustus Ford at Sackett's Harbor, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1847. Settling in Buffalo he formed a partnership with 
Hon. Hiram Barton, the mayor of the city. He became a recognized leader of the 
Democratic party there, and was elected alderman of the Seventh ward in 1855, dis- 
trict attorney in 1856-57, and member of assembly in 1858. In the Legislature he 
was made chairman of the Committee on Railroads. In 1859 he settled in Belmont, 
Allegany county, where he practiced his profession until 18G1, when he enlisted in 
the Vicl N. Y. Vols, as captain. June 12, 1863, he resigned that post and was com- 
missioned lieutenant-colonel of the 141st Regt. Vols., and was mustered out June 25, 
1865. He participated in many of the principal battles of the war and lost an arm at 
Peach Tree Farm on July 20, 1804. In the fall of 1860 he was commi: sioned a cap- 
tain in the 44th U. S. Infantry, assisting m the reconstruction of Virginia and act- 
ing as mayor of the cities of Lynchburg and Suffolk. He was subsequently appointed 
judge-advocate of the Washington district, serving under Generals Emory, Canby, 
and Brooks. He was placed on the retired list with the rank of colonel on Decem- 
ber 10, 1873. Colonel McNett was repeatedly supervisor of Belmont, president of the 
village, and was a candidate of his party in Allegany county for congressman, judge 
and surrogate, assemblyman, and district attorney, and never failed to reduce the 
majority of his opponent in a Republican stronghold. He died in Belmont on March 
8. 1895. He married Miss Abby Clark, daughter of John Clark, a wealthy citizen of 
Belleville, Jefferson county, who survives him. as do also their three children: 
Priscilla (Mrs. J. E. Norton), of Rutherford, N. j. ; James H., of Horncllsville; and 
Dr. George C. , of Bath. 

Dr. George C. McXett attended the Union School of Belmont and completed a four 
years' course at Alfred University in 1876. He received the degree of M. D. from 
the medical department of the University of the City of New York in 1881, and im- 
mediately afterward began the practice of his profession at Belmont, where in the 
same year he joined the Allegany County Medical Society, of which he is still a mem- 
ber, and of which he was president. 

In the winter of 1883-84 he took a post-graduate and polvclinic course at the Post- 
graduate School in New York city, and in 1886 he removed to Bath, having received 
the appointment of surgeon to the Soldiers' Home. He filled that position with dis- 
tinguished ability until 1889, since which time he has been engaged in general prac- 
tice, making surgical operations and disease of the nervous system a specialty. 

Dr. McNett is one of the leading members of the medical profession in Western 
New York. As a citizen he has always taken a keen interest in public affairs and en- 
courages every project which promises benefit to the community. For the past two 
years he has been health officer of the village of 15ath. He is a member of the New 



12 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

York State Association of Railway Surgeons and is also a prominent Mason, being a 
member of Belmont Lodge, No. 474, F. & A. M., Wellsville Chapter, No. 143, R. A. 
M., Corning Consistory, 32° Scottish Rite, and Ismaiha Temple, Nobles of the 
Mystic Shrine. He has held all the chairs in the order and was past master of Bel- 
mont Lodge, "and is also a member of the Elks, No. 63, Elmira. 

June 1, 1882, Dr. McNett married Mary Agnes Stewart, daughter of Dr. E. S. 
Stewart, a prominent physician and banker of EUicottville, Cattaraugus county. They 
have one child, Celia. 



HENRY W. FERINE. 

Henry W. Ferine, of Bath, the oldest merchant in Steuben county, was born in 
South Dansville, N. Y., July 3, 1821, and is the eldest of seven children born to Will- 
iam Ferine, jr. His grandfather, William Ferine, sr., came to this country from 
France about 1750 and took an active part as a cavalryman in the Revolutionary war. 
He first settled in Washington county, N. Y., whence he moved at a verj^ early day 
to Dansville, Livingston county, where he followed farmmg upon land now occupied 
by a large portion of the village, of which he was one of the founders. William 
Ferine, jr., was born February 25, 1792, in Livingston county, and settled in South 
Dansville; he subsequently returned to Dansville and died there in May, 1879. He 
was one of the founders, a prominent member and long a deacon of the Dan.sville Pres- 
byterian church, and married Miss Abigail K. Whiting, daughter of Col. John Whit- 
ing, of Bath. She was born August 29, 1801, and died February 11, 1858. Of their 
seven children Henry W., the eldest, and Clarence (born February 3, 1842), the 
youngest, of New York city, are living. 

Henry W. Ferine was educated in the public schools of Dansville and the high 
school of Bath, where in 1835 he entered the employ of Hon. William S. Hubbell, a 
leading dry goods merchant, with whom he remained five years. He was then a 
clerk for four years in the same business for Timothy Whiting, with whom in 1844 he 
formed the partnership of Whiting & Ferine, which continued until 1847, when Mr. 
Whiting retired. In 1848 Mr. Ferine became associated with his brother, William 
W., under the firm name of H. W. Ferine & Co.. and continued thus till 1860. In 
1862 he took in Moses Davison and William H. Nichols as partners under the style 
of H. W. Ferine & Co., which continued for three years. He carried on the business 
alone until 1892, w^hen he formed the present firm of Ferine & Davison by taking in 
his former partner, Moses Davison. Mr. Ferine has been in continuous trade in Bath 
since 1844, and is the oldest merchant in Steuben county. He commencedon a small 
scale and gradually increased his business until he became the most extensive mer- 
cantile dealer in that village, doing more at one lime than all the other merchants 
combined. He built the Ferine block in 1861-02, and upon occupying it es- 
tablished the first department store in the county, which he has continued uninter- 
ruptedly to the present time. An establishment of that character in a place like Bath 
was then a novelty and many were the predictions of its failure, but Mr. Ferine has 
successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the enterprise and with great skill has 
made it a permanent and profitable concern. 




/C 



':^^ (tK-^^Z^^^^^tt-^-^-r/ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 13 

Mr. Ferine has built more structures in Hath than any other one man. He has 
erected four imposing business blocks and three of the finest dwellings in town, and 
has always taken an active interest in local affairs, particularly in public improve- 
ments. He is heavily interested in various enterprises of a general and private na- 
ture, and is one of the largest ta.xpaycrs ni the village. He was one of the prime 
movers in securing the Erie railroad and the Soldier's Home, and to these and many 
other institutions he has given freely. No movement which promises benefit 
to the community is consummated without his aid and encouragement. He has 
always been a Republican and somewhat active in politics, and for several years 
served as village trustee, two of which he was president. He is one of the represen- 
tative and influential citizens of the town and county, and and is ever ready to ad- 
vance the material interests of the people, especially in the cause of education and 
religion. 

August 28, 1W47, he married Miss Elizabeth S. Read, daughter of Capt. James 
Read, of Bath, a lady of great refinement of beauty of character, who died March 27, 
1894. They had three sons; James R., born Augost 3, 1848, died November 5, 1864; 
William H., born December 3, IS.iO, died May 10, 1874; andCIarence R., born March 
3, 1867, died September 16, 1869. 



ALANSON STEPHENS, 

Ai. ANSON Stkphf.ns, eldest son of Benjamin Stephens, was born in Hornellsville, 
on a farm on December 8, 1820, and is the oldest living native of the town. His 
.great-grandfather, Uriah Stephens, born in 1724. came with his son Elijah from the 
Wyoming valley in Pennsylvania to what is now the town of Canisteo, Steuben 
county, in 1789, settling on lot 8 on the 2.5th of December of that year, and being 
one of the original seven owners of that township. Uriah Stephens died there Au- 
gust 14, 1800; his wife was born in 1731 and at the time of her death was ninety-four 
years old. Their son Elijah succeeded to the homestead and reared a large family 
of children, of whom Benjamin, the father of the subject of this sketch, died June 4, 
1837, aged thirty-eight, being born in Canisteo in 1799. The family is of Engli,sh 
descent, and is one of the oldest and most respected in Steuben county. Its mem- 
bers have for one full century taken an active part in business, social, and official 
life and in various capacities have served their townsmen with fidelity and distinc- 
tion. 

Benjamin Stephens married Arathusa Hamilton and had born to him six children, 
all living, as follows: Alanson, Elijah, Daniel, Albert, Helen, and Cordelia. Mr. 
Stephens settled in the town of Hornellsville and died here, as did also his wife. 

Alanson Stephens received such meagre educational advantages as the public 
schools of his native town afforded. His early lile was spent principally in hard 
work upon his father's farm, where he acquired the robust constitution and thrifty 
habits which later proved of inestimable value. While a youth he learned the trade 
of carpenter and joiner and followed that occupation about six years, when he decid- 
ed to embark in more promising fields of employment. He engaged extensively in 
lumbering in Hornellsville, and during several years cleared some 1,500 acres of 



14 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

heavy pine timber in the town, manufacturing it into lumber on the premises and 
shipping the products to distant markets. He had a large saw mill on the Canisteo 
river that was twice burned and twice rebuilt under his ownership, and there he met 
with two or three serious accidents which threatened his future activity. He con- 
tinued this business until his supply of timber was exhausted, when he turned his 
energies to agricultural pursuits, which have since largely engrossed his attention. 
He owns three farms, aggregating about 500 acres, all lying just south of the city, 
and upon the one he occupies he settled in 1852. In 1^80 he started a meat market 
in Hornellsville which was continued about twelve years by his son, Walter A. 
Stephens. 

Mr. Stephens has been a lifelong Democrat and is the oldest school official in point 
of service in the county. He served as school trustee of the village of Hornellsville 
for eighteen consecutive years, or until the village board of education was organized, 
when he became a member and the first president of that body. He held both of 
these positions for fifteen successive years, completing a continuous service of thirty- 
three years. During that period he had charge of the erection of the First ward and 
Lincoln school buildings and the reconstruction of the Sixth ward and Park school 
houses. No man has taken a deeper or a more active interest in the development 
of local education than has Mr. Stephens, and no one has devoted more time and 
energy to the cause. He was loan commissioner for the State for three years, high- 
way commissioner of his town for eleven years, and supervisor of Hornellsville two 
terms. He was one of the organizers and first membersof the Hornellsville Farmers' 
club, and as superintendent had charge of the grounds and construction of the 
buildings, etc. , at the time of its inception. Ever since then he has been actively 
identified with that organization. In various other movements — in religious and 
social matters, in public affairs, and in numerous business relations — Mr. Stephens 
has been a foremost promoter. 

He was married in 1841 to Miss Catherine Doty, of Hornellsville. She died March 
7, 1863, aged forty-one, leaving five children, viz.; Christopher B., born April 19, 
1844, died in 187C; Thaddeus A., born September 1, 1845; Walter A., born March 6, 
1853; William D., born October 10, 1854; and Catherine E., born September 25, 
1856, who married September 7, 1876, Henry M. Bennett, who with Alanson Stephens 
conducts the meat market previously mentioned. Mr. Stephens married for his 
second wife, in July, 1881, Mrs. Fhilena Pickard, of Hornellsville, 



EDWARD F. WILLETS. 

Hon. Edward F. Willei s, who has filled the office of mayor of the city of Hor- 
nellsville since March, 1892, was born in the town of Ledyard, Cayuga county, N. Y., 
and is the youngest of three .sons of Abram Willets, a native of Queens county, who 
spent the last years of his life on a farm upon which the subject of thisskctch passed 
his infancy and youth. He completed his education at Poplar Ridge Seminary, and 
at an early age engaged in mechanical pursuits, which he followed for five years. He 
then entered mercantile bu.siness in Lake Ridge, Tompkins county, and later in 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 15 

Fleming. CayuRa county, and thence in 1857 removed to Angelica, .Mlegany conntv, 
where he was engaged in lumbering for a time. Leaving there he operated a saw 
and flouring mill in Belmont until 1877. when he went to Bradford, I'a.. and engaged 
in the oil business, with which he has ever since been identified. 

In 1883 Mr. Willetts removed to Hornellsville, where he has since resided. He has 
been a life-long Republican, and for many years an active and influential factor in 
political affairs. He was for four years supervisor of the town of Amity, Allegany 
county, and while a resident of that county served also as internal revenue collector 
four years. After coming to Hornellsville he represented the city for four years on 
the Board of Supervisors, and in 1893 was elected mayor, to which office he was re- 
elected in 1894. In all these positions he has served with satisfaction to his con- 
stituents. As mayor he has been instrumental in effecting many notable and sub- 
stantial improvements, which testify to his progressive spirit and enterprise. Dur- 
ing his occupancy of the office of mayor the present electric street railway system 
was placed in operation, the sewer system was constructed and two miles of brick 
pavement w-ere laid in the city. Mr. Willets was the first Republican mayor of Hor- 
nellsville and the second elected since the city's incorporation. 

Mr. Willets was married in 1856 to Miss Amelia Smith, of Ledyard, Cayuga county. 
They have no children living. 



JOHX \V. DAVIS. 

John W. Davis, the eldest child of Orlando Davis, and the grandson of a sol- 
dier of the war of 1812. was born in Sherburne, Chenango county, M. Y., Octo- 
ber 5, 1820, and received his education in the public schools and academy of his na- 
tive town. His father drove a team from Hartford to New Haven, Conn., iluring 
the war of 1812, and late in life moved to Yates county, X. Y., where he died in Jan- 
uary, 1880, aged eighty-six years. He married in 1819 Mrs. Fanny Adsit, widow of 
Leonard Adsit and daughter of Noah Davenport, a prominent farmer and merchant 
in Columbia county. She had five children by her first husband, viz.: Albert, 
Arunah M. , James M. , Martin and Alma ; by her second marriage she had three sons : 
John W. Davis, the subject of this sketch; Charles D., of Yates county, and George, 
who died, aged thirteen. She died April 28, 1871, at the age of eighty-six. 

John W. Davis came to Hammondsport, Steuben county, in 1837, as clerk for his 
half-brother, A. M. Adsit, who was engaged in general merchandising and forward- 
ing. He remained in that capacity until 1842, when he was admitted to partnership 
under the firm name of Adsit & Davis, which continued till 1851, when Mr. Adsit 
moved to St. Lawrence county and Mr. Davis became sole owner of the business. 
He then increased the scope of his operations and carried on a large mercantile, pro- 
duce storage and forwarding trade alone until 1877. when he closed out one of 
the most extensive and successful concerns ever prosecuted in Hammondsport. He 
was a heavy dealer in lumber, grain and wool, which he shipped to eastern markets. 
He was the principal owner and manager for a considerable time of a line of some 
twelve freight boats that ran between Hammondsport and New York, which was in- 
stituted by A. M. Adsit at the opening of the Crooked Lake Canal. In this business 



16 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Mr. Davis was remarkably successful, and acquired as wide a reputation as his vil- 
lage in days when it was noted as one of the leading and most important grain and 
lumber markets in the State. He was by all odds the heaviest operator in produce 
in the county, and discontinued the trade only when the grape industry superseded 
all other interests. 

In 1881 Mr. Davis became a director and general manager of the reorganized Ur- 
bana Wine Company, one of the largest corporations of the kind in this famous sec- 
tion, and these positions he has ever since held. He has been interested in farming 
and grape growing since 1865, and owns and occupies the place upon which the first 
grape vines in town were set. These were planted more than sixty years ago by 
Rev. W. W. Bostwick, and have continuously borne excellent fruit. Mr. Davis has 
long been one of the prominent and extensive viniculturists of this locality, and to 
him much of its fame as a grape section is due. He was largely instrumental in 
bringing about the construction of the Bath & Hammondsport Railroad, and upon 
the organization of the company was elected its first secretary and director, which 
latter office he still holds. He has also been a director in the Lake Keuka Naviga- 
tion Company most of the time since its inception, and has always taken an active 
interest in the material prosperity of his village and town. 

Mr. Davis is a Republican and has been a prominent factor in local politics, though 
not in the sense of a politician. He was supervisor of Urbana in 1848, member of 
Assembly in 1880, and was one of the first board of trustees of the village of Ham- 
mondsport, an office he held several years. He has also been president of the vil- 
lage and was one of the prime movers in effecting its incorporation. He has been a 
member of St. James's Protestant Episcopal church about forty-five years, and has 
served successively as vestryman, junior warden and senior warden much of that 
time. To this parish he has given valuable services, especially during the erection 
of the new edifice, which cost about §15,000, and which is one of the finest village 
structures of the kind in the country. As chairman of its building committee, com- 
posed of able and representative men, he has had the principal charge of its con- 
struction during the summer and fall of 189.J, and to him is largely due the efficient 
management which has characterized the work- 
August 10, 1848, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Sarah Hunt, of Dansville, N. Y., 
daughter of Richard Hunt, of Illinois. She died July 3, 1894, aged seventy-two. 



WALTER LULL MOORE. 



Walter Lull Mocire, son of Nathaniel Moure, was born in the town of But- 
ternuts (now Morris), Otsego county, N. Y., November 1, 1815. He was reared a 
farmer, a business he followed there until 1863, and obtained his education in the 
public schools of the neighborhood. Endowed with the sterling characteristics of a 
worthy parentage, he imbibed the qualities which make the successful man and re- 
spected citizen, and from an early age pursued a career of quiet but marked useful- 
ness. On September 7, 1842, he was married to Miss Esther Adelia Fairchild, of 
New Lisbon, Otsego county, who was born April 29, 1822. Before this, on February 




FARY B. BEHCHER. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 17 

24, 1838, he was commissioned by Gov. William L. JIarcy a lieutenant in the 251st 
Regt., infantry, 2d Brigade, 6lh Division, New ^ ork State Militia, and on August 8 
of the same year was promoted captain, which position he resigned July 14, 1842. In 
1863 he came with his wife and four children to Hammondsport, Steuben county, 
where he spent the remainder of his life, dying January 7. 1893. His estimable wife 
preceded him on December 29, 1876, beiug killed in the memorable railroad accident 
at Ashtabula, Ohio, of that date. 

Arriving at Hammondsport, Mr. Moore engaged in viniculture, a business he prose- 
cuted with marked success until his death. He was one of the pioneer grape grow- 
ers in that now famous section, and for mauy years carried on an extensive vineyard. 
About 1865 he also engaged in the manufacture of cabinet ware and grape boxes in 
partnership with his brother-in-law, S. B. Fairchild, under the firm name of Fair- 
child & Moore, and continued about five years, when the firm sold out to Fairchild 
Brothers. 

Mr. Moore was a man universally respected and esteemed, not only for his busi- 
ness qualifications, but also for his many social attributes. He was a life-long Demo- 
crat in politics, but never an officeseeker. Public-spirited and enterprising, he lib- 
erally encouraged and supported all worthy movements of general benefit, and took 
a keen interest in the welfare of village and town, especially in religion and educa- 
tion, being for a time school trustee, and during nearly his entire residence in Ham- 
mondsport a vestryman of St. James's Protestant Episcopal church. 

His children were Anna (Mrs. Elbert McMinn), born March 3, 1845, died May 12, 
1884; Trevor, born April 13, 1846, president of the Central New York Grape Grow- 
ers' Union during its existence, and a heavy shipper of grapes, of Hammondsport; 
Hobart J., born December 14, 1850, a prominent druggist of Hammondsport; and 
Clara A. (Mrs. J. C. Mitchell), born September 11, 1854, of Chicago. 



FARY B. BEECHER. 

Farv B. Bi-.echf.r, of Atlanta, Steuben county, is a lineal descendant of one of the 
immortal band of Pilgrims who sailed for this country in the Mayflower in 1620. 
This paternal ancestor had three sons, Hezekiah, Lines, and Lyman, and from the 
latter descended Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. '1 homas K. Beecher, and Mrs. 
Harriet Beecher Stowe. To the posterity of Hezekiah Beecher belongs the subject 
of this sketch and his father, Randall F. Beecher. The latter came from Madison 
county, N. Y. , about 1840, and settled on a farm in the town of Fremont, Steuben 
county, where he also practiced as a licensed veterinarian, and where he died. He 
married, first, Miss Serepta Cass, who bore him three children ; Andalusia, Nason, 
who died in the Union army in the Rebellion, and William Henry, deceased. His 
second wife was Wealthy Doneha, who was the mother of one son, John D., who 
served in the Civil war and afterward settled in Allegany county. For his third wife 
Mr. Beecher married Statira Sanford, by whom he had ten children who attained 
maturity. Wealthy, of Buffalo; Orrin H., a teacher at Lima. N. Y. ; Eunice (Mrs. 
Lewis B. Ward), of Fremont, Steuben county; Mark H., of Buffalo; Fary B., the 
c 



18 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

subject of this sketch; Luke A., a furniture dealer in Atlanta; Amenzo J., aeon- 
tractor and builder in Buffalo; Murray C, who died in Chicago in 1894; Scott M., of 
Buffalo; and Gertrude C. 

Fary B. Beecher was born on his father's farm in Fremont, Steuben county, June 
2, 1856, and received his early education in the public schools of his native town. He 
attended the Rogersville Union Seminary for a time then taught school several 
years. Deciding upon a professional life he eiitered the otiice of O. S. Searl, of 
Cohocton, where he became a faithful disciple of Blackstone, and from whence he 
was admitted to the bar in 18H1. He immediately settled in Atlanta, where he has 
very successfully practiced his chosen profession ever since. 

Mr. Beecher is a staunch Democrat and active in the councils of his party. He 
takes a keen interest in local affairs, in the advancement of his village and town, and 
is prominently identified with its material growth and prosperity. He is a member 
of and has held nearly every office in Kanawha Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Atlanta, and 
has taken the past official degree of the District Grand Commandery and also in 1893 
the Grand Lodge degree at Buffalo. He is also a prominent member of the Atlanta 
Presbyterian church. 

Mr. Beecher was married in 1881 to Miss Emma E. Johnson, of North Cohocton. 
They have four children: Don L., Dana C, Una M., and Marion. 



OTTO FREDERICK MARSHAL. 

Gen. Otto Frederick RL\kshal was born in the village of Zeisar, Prussian Saxony, 
Germany, August 14, 1791, being the only son of Daniel Marshal, field chaplain, who 
enjoyed the favor of Fredeiick the Great, the sovereign of that country.' Upon the 
death of his royal patron in May, 1799, father and son came to the United States, 
landing in Boston, whence they took a stage to New York city, where they arrived 
in June. There Daniel Marshal, being a talented linguist, opened a select school, 
and also invested his small means in German linen, ivory combs, and other notions, 
opening a modest store at the Bowery in Chatham street. In the spring of 1801 he 
gathered his effects together and started for the interior of the State, taking a sloop 
to Albany, where he procured transportation to Schenectady. He there purchased 
a small boat, took aboard his baggage and supplies, and with his son poled his rude 
craft up the Mohawk River to Utica, then a frontier village. There was a German 
settlement about a mile from the village, and ten miles below another. The elder 
Marshal had taken orders, and was therefore qualified to preach, and for several 
years ministered to the spiritual wants of these settlements in their own language. 
About a year after their arrival in Utica he purchased a lot on Genesee street, 
erected a house, and opened a small store. In 1800 a German farmer persuaded him 
to visit with him the Genesee country. They came to Geneva and were advised by 
the agent of the Pulteney estate there to apply at the office m Bath. Marshal did .so, 

• Several autograph tetters of Frederick tlic Great to l^aniel Marshal, as -well as one from 
General Washington, are in the possession of the pioneer's great-grandson. Otto K. Marshal, of 
Wheeler, by whom they are highly prized. 



jj^s^PSBI^'v^, 






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y 


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h 


%l 





J. H. LHWIS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 19 

and found a lot on Five Mile Creek, in Wheeler, which suited him. Part of it was 
owned by Valentine Bear, a (lerinan, who sold his right and improvements to Mar- 
shal. He also purchased an additional forty acres adjoining, and then returned to 
his home in Utica. In 1809 he disposed of his house and lot and closed out his little 
store, preparatory to his removal to this county. He waited till the ICth of February, 
1810, for sleighing, and then engaged a party to bring hmi and his son, with his 
goods, to his lauds in Wheeler, where they arrived on the 22d of that month where 
the general ever afterward resided, a period of more than eighty years. The 
father soon after hi-i settlement here married a young widow. On the 27th of May, 
1812, he died. February 10, 1814, Gen. Otto F. Marshal married Miss Dolly Neally, 
a sister of the late Samuel Neally. There were born to them three sons and two 
daughters. Oue son, Frank J. Marshal, of Wheeler, survives him. He died January 
10, 1891. 

General Marshal was one of the most distinguished men the town of Wheeler ever 
honored as a resident. His first service in the State militia was as third corporal in 
1810, and he rose by regular gradation until his apjiointment as major-general of the 
30th Division on June 20, 1833, a position he held until he resigned in 1845. He 
took a becoming pride in that organization, was regarded as a model officer, and was 
present as a commissioned otticer at the execution of Robert Douglass in Bath. By 
the gift of his townsmen he held every town office from pathmaster to supervisor 
e.KCept constable and collector. He was long a justice of the peace and about twelve 
years county superintendent of the poor, and in 1837 was appointed postmaster of 
Wheeler. In 1846 he was elected to the State Legislature and served creditably his 
term. He was also commissioner of deeds many years. He was a life-member of 
the Steuben County Agricultural Society and never failed to have an attractive exhibit 
at its annual fairs. He was literally the father of that .society by virtue of great 
efforts for its organization and his unceasing anxiety for its welfare and continued 
usefulness. No other man ever did so much for that body or contributed so largely 
towards its permanent exi.stence. At the time of his death be was its oldest and 
most honored member. In all the affairs of life his great desire was always to aid 
his fellow-citizens and promote their best interests in word and deed. He was plain 
and simple in his manners, as becomes an American by birth as well as by adoption. 
He was frank and cordial in his deportment, without roughness or bluster. Always 
hopeful, always cheerful, slight in form and spare in habit, his great age was due as 
much to his social qualities as tc a vigorous constitution. His memory of men and 
events was wonderful. It is doubtful is he ever forgot a person he once knew, or 
was unable to recall some incident connected with him. He attained the great age 
of nearly ninety-nine years and five months, and died universally respected, esteemed, 
and beloved. 



JACOB H. LEWIS. 

Jacob H. Lewis, third son of Herman and Margaret (Thompson) Lewis, was born 
in Brunswick, Rensselaer county, N. Y., January 10, 182G, and came with his parents 
to the town of Wheeler, Steuben county, in 1828. His father was born of Holland 



20 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Dutch parentage in the Mohawk valley on April 28, 1787. and served for a time in 
the war of 1813; he was a life-long farmer, and with the exception of a few years 
spent in Yates county, Avoca, and Bath, lived in Wheeler from 1828 until his death 
on January 5, 1873; his wife, Margaret Thompson, daughter of Daniel Thompson, 
who came to this town in 1840, was born July 12, 1797, and died August 19, 1860. 
Their children were Daniel D., born October 10, 1818, died December 23, 1893; Jane, 
born May 24, 1820, died October 2ll, 18()0; Catherine, born February 9, 1832; John 
M., born February 9, 1824; Jacob H., the subject of this sketch; Barbara, born Feb- 
ruary 10, 1828. died November 4, 1881; Emeline, born January 3, 1831, died March 
23, 1857; Lemuel, born March 7, 1834; Mary E , born February 29, 1836; and George 
W., born November 7. 1839. 

Jacob H. Lewis was educated in the public schools of Wheeler, where he has lived 
since the age of two years. He was reared upon his father's farm, and early mani- 
fested an inclination for an active life. When fifteen he began farming for himself 
and at nineteen he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed successfully for 
ten years. He then purchased a farm of 113 acres, wh'ch he sold twelve years later, 
and he then bought a farm of 135 acres on Wheeler hill, a part of which he still owns. 
While farming he also bought sheep and shipped them to western markets. In 1885 
he moved to Wheeler village and engaged in general merchandising, which he con- 
tinued with marked success until 1894, when he turned the business over to his only 
son, F. F. Lewis, and retired permanently from active life. 

Mr. Lewis is a Democrat in politics and has always taken a prominent part in 
town affairs. Public spirited, enterprising, and sagacious he encourages every 
worthy movement with a degree of liberality that characterizes a progressive citizen. 
He was assessor nine years, town clerk two years, and supervisor two terms, and in 
all these capacities distinguished himself for rare fidelity and uprightness. He was 
one of the chief promoters m Wheeler of the Kanona and Prattsburg railroad, to 
which he donated considerable land for right of way. In other minor enterprises of 
a private and public nature he has been equally prominent, and in matters affect- 
ing the social and moral welfare of the community his influence is often felt for the 
good. 

February 12, 18.54, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Belinda Hankinson, second 
daughter of Joseph and Susan (Myrtle) Hankinson, of Wheeler. They have one son, 
Fred Francis Lewis, born December 1, 1855, who married Miss Kate Cook, daughter 
of Adam Cook, on April 5, 1882. 



JOHN H. KEELER. 

JoH.N' H. Kkeler was born at Mauch Chunk, Pa., January 1, 1822, and inherited 
the sturdy characteristics of a Holland Dutch ancestry. When a young man he 
came to Penn Yan, N. Y., where he acquired a common school education. He early 
learned the trade of tinsmith in Waterloo, Seneca county, and about 1848 removed to 
Hammondsport, N. Y., where he entered the employ of Randall & Neil, stove foun- 
drymen and tinsmiths, whose business he very soon bought out. This was the prac- 
tical beginning of a long a useful career. He manufactured stoves, plows, tinware, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 21 

and agricultural implements until about 1805, when he sold the foundry and devoted 
his attention to a vineyard near the village. In January, 1870, he purchased the 
hardware store of Allen & Brownell and placed his sons, John W. and George H. 
Keeler, in charge under the firm name of J. H. Keeler & Sons. Mr. Keeler died 
May 17 of that year, and about four years later the mercantile business was sold to 
Robie & McNamara, who a year afterward was succeeded by George H. Keeler and 
O. H. Younglove. This firm was followed by George H. Keeler, the present pro- 
prietor. 

John H. Keeler was a lifelong Republican and an ardent advocate of the princi- 
ples of his party, but he never became an office seeker nor a politician. He devoted 
his time and energies solely to business and acquired unusual success. He was one 
of the first vineyardists in this now famous grape section, and practically demon- 
strated his faith in its future by founding the valuable vineyard owned by his two 
sons. In social and business life Mr. Keeler was a man of strict integrity, endowed 
with the attributes of a respected and successful citizen, and esteemed for his many 
excellent qualities of head and heart. He took a keen interest in all movements 
conducive to the welfare of his town and village. 

In 1845 he was married to Miss Sarah E., daughter of William McConnell, of Sugar 
Hill, Schuyler county, who was the mother of his five children, three of whom died 
in infancy. She met a sudden death in the memorable railroad wreck at Jackson, 
Mich., on October 13, 1893, while on her way to the World's Columbian E.\position at 
Chicago. Their surviving children, born in Hammondsport, are John W., born June 
19, 1849, and George H., born September 17, 1853, both of whom are representative 
business men and leading citizens. 

John W. Keeler was educated in Hammondsport Academy, graduating in 1868, 
and became a clerk for K. Church & Co., hardware dealers, of Bath, with whom he 
remained until 1879, when he returned to Hammondsport, where he has since been 
engaged in viniculture. In 1894 he was appointed one of the original Board of Water 
Commissioners to establish the present water system for the village, and in Decem- 
ber of that year was made superintendent, which position he now holds. He was 
married in 1877 to Miss Lizzie P., daughter of Dr. John Read, of Bath. They have 
three children; John W., Daisy L., and Lois R. 

George H. Keeler was graduated from Hammondsport Academy in 1873, and en- 
gaged in viniculture until 1879, when he became a dealer in general hardware, which 
business he still continues. He was one of the originators of the Lake Keuka Wine 
company in 1886 and has served as its president ever since. He is al.so an extensive 
grape grower and farmer. A Republican in politics he has held neatly every town 
office, serving as town clerk, highway commissioner, and supervisor thre2 terms, and 
president of the village four years. He has also been chief of the fire department 
for ten years, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs. He married 
in 1875 Miss Eva D., daughter of John Quick, of Hammondsport. They have six 
daughters, viz.: Sarah E., Lottie J., Mary L., Bessie V., Georgia May, and Flor- 
ence D. 



22 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

MARTIN KIMMEL. 

Mautin KiMMF.i. wds born in Bavaria, Germany, February 13, 1831, came to 
America in 1847. and settled in South Dansville, Steuben county, where he worked 
by the month for eight years. He inherited the progre';sive characteristics of his 
race, and in early youth obtained as thorough an education as the limited means of 
his parents permitted, but the knowledge with which he is endowed to-day 
was largely acquired in the practical affairs of life and in personal application to 
minutest details. Determining to start himself upon a business career he purchased 
a stump machine and profitably manipulated it two seasons. He then formed 
a partnership with William Cotton and bought a steam saw mill at Haskinsville, but 
one year later became sole owner. In 1860 he moved the mill to Wayland and con- 
tinued it with different partners until 1805, when he purchased and moved on to a 
farm of 176 acres one-half mile west of the village. Later he bought '220 acres ad- 
joining and owns now in all about 400 acres of the best farming land in town. In 
1884 he bought the site and erected a brick block in Wayland, and in it opened a 
large hardware store, first under the name of Martin Kimmel & Co. This he still 
carries on, the present firm being Martin Kimmel & .Son, which was formed in 1887. 
In 1890 he also started a hajxlware store in Cohocton under the same firm name and 
still continues it. This store is managed by Peter Kimmel, while the one in Wayland 
is in charge of John Kimmel. 

Mr. Kimmel has long been one of the representative men of the town, which he 
served four years as supervisor. He has always taken a keen interest in local affairs, 
and in various movements his aid and influence have been exerted for the general wel- 
fare. He was married in 1855 to Miss Catherins Gross, of Perkinsville, who died in 
1862, leaving three children, namely: Joseph, of Dakota, born in 1856, married Addie 
Steinhart, of Dansville, N. Y., and has two children, Joseph and Laura; Margaret, 
of Wayland, born in 1860, married Peter Yohon, and has four children, Clara, Mar- 
tin, Katie, and Peter; and Mary, of Wayland, born in 1862, married John Quantz, 
and has five children, Mary, Martih, Peter, George, and Katie. Mr. Kimmel mar- 
ried for his second wife Mrs. Clara (Foot) Kirk, and they have ten children : Martin, 
born December 28, 1864, married Mary Shultz, and had three children, Josephine, 
Katie, and Agnes; John, born April 32, 1867, married Mary Engel, and has two chil- 
dren, Victor and Leo; Frank, born August 17, 1809, married Lizzie Munding; Peter, 
born November 24, 1871, married Catherine Mertz; Catherine, born November 24, 
1878; Anna, born February 1, 1876; Clara, born April 22, 1878; Jacob, born May 7, 
1880; Lizzie, born September 19, 1882; and Lena, born March 19, 1886. 



HARLO HAKES. 

Hon. Harlo Hakes was born in Harpersfield, Delaware county, N. Y. , Septem- 
ber 33, 1833. He spent "his time until about twenty-eight years of age upon his fath- 
er's farm, attending school winters until he was seventeen, and was for eight suc- 
cessive terms a teacher. In the year 1851 he entered the office of Rufus King, of 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 23 

Davenport, Delaware county, as law student, where he remained two years. He 
then became a student with Judge Harris, of Albany, and after attending one course 
of lectures at the Albany Law School, was admitted to the bar, in l.S,j;!, and in May 
of the same year settled in Hornellsville, where he has remained in the practice of 
his profession until the present time. 

In the year 1855 Mr. Hakes married Mary, youngest daughter of J. D. Chandler, 
of Hornellsville. Their children are M. Evelyn, Hattie V., and Carrie M. 

Mr. Hakes was chosen to represent his assembly district in the State Legislature 
for the year 1856, and served on the judiciary committee during the term. In 18t)2 
he was elected district attorney of the county, which he held for three years. Dur- 
ing the year 1865 he associated with him in the law business James H Stevens, jr., 
a gentleman of fine legal ability. This firm enjoyed a very large law practice in this 
and surrounding counties during the term of partnership. 

In the year 1867 Mr. Hakes was appointed registrar in bankruptcy for the Twenty- 
ninth Congressional District. He has been somewhat active in political circles, and 
interested in questions affecting the changes in our nation's history. He was origi- 
nally a member of the Whig party, and was a delegate to the Baltimore Convention 
that nominated Bell and Everett for president and vice-president, since which tmie 
he has been a supporter of the Republican party, and its representative of the 
Twenty-ninth Congressional District of New York, as a member of the Cincinnati 
Convention in 1876 that made Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes the Republican nominee 
for the presidency of the United States. 

In addition to his professional and official duties, he has been thoroughly identified 
with the growing interests of the city of Hornellsville, and largely interested in 
real estate. In 1873 he o])ened " Hakes avenue," connecting Main and Genesee 
streets, and donated it to the then village, and since that time has purchased and 
improved that portion of the city known as " Riverside Place," connecting Main with 
Elm street, where he has built several substantial dwellings. 

In 1883 was elected to the c ffice of county judge for Steuben county, for the term 
of i-ix years, and in 1889 the confidence of the people was again expressed by re- 
electing him by an emphatic vote to the same office. His keen perception, sound 
judgment, strict integrity and fair dealing have secured to him a large measure of 
success and the confidence of the community. 



RU.SSELL M. TUTTLE. 

^ RussKi.i. M. Tlttle was born in Almond, Allegany county, N. Y., January 12, 
1840. and has been a resident of Hornellsville since 1842. He was a son of Rufus 
Tuttle, who was for more than thirty years a prominent business man and a re- 
spected citizen of Hornellsville. He was married November 7, 1807. to Ervilla, 
daughter of the late Dr. Levi S. Goodrich. He received his education at the Hornells- 
ville public .schools, at Alfred Academy, and at the University of Rochester, where 
he was graduated in 1862. 

In August, 1862. he enlisted in the 107th Regiment, New York \'olunteers, and 



24 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

served with the Army of the Potomac, in the Atlanta campaign, and in the "march 
to the sea." He was promoted to second and first lieutenant, and at the close of the 
war received an honorary commission as brevet captain United States Volunteers. 
He was on staff duty nearly two years, as topographical engineer and A. A. A. G., 
with Generals T. H. Ruger and W. T. Ward, of the Twentieth Army Corps. 

Mr. Tuttle was elected president of the village of Hornellsville in 1808, and repre- 
sented the Second Assembly district of Steuben in the Legislatures of 1880 and 1881. 
He has taken especial interest in the organization and management of the Hornell 
Library Association. 

His chief interests have been in the newspaper and printing business. He was an 
editor and proprietor of the Hornellsville Times from its establishment in 1867 to 
1879, and again from 1888 to the present time. 



CLAIR S. PARKHILL, M. D. 

Dr. Clair S. Parkhh.l was born in Howard, Steuben county, N, Y., November ITi, 
1842. The youngest son of David Parkhill, his boyhood was spenton the homestead 
farm and in attendance at the district school. 

His father, David Parkhill. was born in Minden, Montgomery county, 1804, and 
came with his parents, Timothy and Anna (Rurey) Parkhill, to the town of Howard 
in 1818. In 1823 he married Eveline, daughter of Reuben Ferris. Their children 
were Delia, Willard, Albert (deceased), Dr. Reuben F. , Ann and Dr. Clair S. 

In 1876, David Parkhill moved to Hornellsville, where he died November 8, 1892. 

The Parkhill family traces its ancestry to a French lad taken from the wreck of a 
vessel in the English Channel. The boy was adopted by an English gentleman, who 
had a country seat situated in a large park at Torquay, England, known as Park 
Hill. Being unable to make his name known to his rescuers, the boy was called 
Parkhill, after the name of this manor, where he was taken to reside. He grew to 
manhood, married, and lived at Havershaw, England. His two sons joined King 
William III., Prince of Orange, in the war between Catholics and Protestants in Scot- 
land and Ireland, 1688-97. 

After the war one of these sons remained in Scotland, the other settled in Derry 
county, Ireland. During -the early part of the seventeenth century four brothers of 
one of these families, of the Scotch branch, landed at Plymouth, Mass., one brother 
and sister remaining in Ireland. The names of those who immigrated to this country 
were Nathaniel, the father of Timothy Parkhill ; David, James and Hugh. Two 
brothers and their families remained for some years in Massachusetts, but subse- 
quently Nathaniel moved to Vermont, thence to Springfield, Otsego county, N. Y. 
James and Hugh remained in the New England States. Descendants of these four 
brothers are widely scattered over the United States. Burk's History of Peers puts 
the Parkhill family down as of Scotch origin. 

At the age of fourteen Doctor Parkhill entered Kaverling Union School at Bath. 
From there he returned to the farm and remained there until eighteen years of age. 
In the fall of 1862 he entered Michigan University, where he studied for two years, 
and then returned to his native town and entered Albany Medical College, from 




CALVIN E. THORP. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 26 

which he was graduated llecember 24, !«()(!. He began llie practice of the profes- 
sion with his brother, Reuben F., in the town of Howard, and continued with him 
for seven years. September, 1873, he came to Hornellsville and took up the prac- 
tice of the profession in this city, where we now find him, one of the leading physi- 
cians of this county. 

The doctor is a member of the American Medical Association, the New York State 
Medical Association, the New York State Medical Society, president of the New 
York State Railway Surgeons' Association, member of the Association of Surgeons 
of the Erie system, the surgical section of the Medical Legal Society of New York 
city, the Steuben County Medical Society, and member and ex-president of the Hor- 
nellsville Medical and Surgical Association. He is also the company's surgeon at 
Hornellsville for the N. Y. , L. E. & 'W. Railway, and president of the medical and 
surgical staff of the St. James Mercy Hospital. He is a member of the Masonic 
Fraternity, Evening Star Lodge, No. 44, and one of the supporters of the R. R. Y. 
M. C. A., and a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1884 he served as presi- 
dent of the village and was a member of the Board of Education four years. 

March 20, 18H7, he married Marjory P.. daughter of William Rice of Howard. Hy 
this marriage he had four children: Louise, the wife of Blake B. Babcock ; Carrie, 
who died at three years of age; Walter, who died at seventeen years of age; and 
one who died in infancv. 



CALVIN E. THORP. 

Cai.vin E. Thuri' was born in Otsego county, N. Y., May 37, 1829, and is 
a son of Nelson Thorp, who took up a tract of land and settled on Potter 
Hill, in the town of Cohoctou, Steuben county, in 1837. Nelson Thorp was a 
stirring man of considerable influence, and engaged extensively in lumbering, and 
later in fanning. A Whig in politics, -he took an active interest in local affairs, and 
held .several important town offices. His wife was Lucy Snyder, and their children 
were Calvin E., James N. and George, Mary and Charles, deceased. 

Calvin E. Thorp was educated in the district .schools of Cohocton, and at the age of 
twenty-one went out to work by the month. In 1852 he engaged in lumbering on his 
lather's land, having a saw mill, which he successfully carried on for several years 
prior to leaving home. About 18(i.') he settled where he now resides, and since then 
he has been a heavy dealer in live stock, wool, carriages, agricultural implements, 
etc. He is one of the leading citizens of the town of Cohocton, and has always 
taken a lively interest in public affairs, and e.specially in politics. A staunch and 
unswerving Republican, he has held several town offices, and was first elected super- 
visor in 1879. and served in all three terms. He was a charter memberof the Cohoc- 
ton Lodge of Odd Fellows and has been a member of Liberty Lodge, No. 510, F. H: 
A. M., about forty years. 

Mr. Thorp was married, first in 1853, to Miss Luna M. Carrington, who died April 
3, 1873. leaving tive children: Oscar D. , of Buffalo; Charles M., a farmer of Cohoc- 
ton; Walter E., of Hartland. Mich. ; Jennie M. (Mrs. Frank M. Larrowe), of Cohoc- 
ton; and George A., a general dealer in Cohocton. He married, second, Jennie S. 
Myers, of Cohocton, in 1874. 

D 



26 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

HIRAM W. HATCH. 

HrRAM W. Hatch was born in the town of Cohocton, Steuben county, January D, 
1846. His grandfather. Matthew Hatch, a man peculiarly fitted by nature for pio- 
neer hfe, left Whitehall. N. Y., in 1812, and settled in Bath, where he resided one 
year. In 1813 he settled on a farm on Lent Hill in the town of Cohocton, being the 
third to locate on that elevation, which was named from its first white settler, Abram 
Lent, whose daughter Matthew Hatch married. Mr. Hatch had five sons and one 
daughter, viz.: Sylvanus, Philip, Barnabas C, Matthew, jr., Hiram, and Cerisa 
(Mrs. William Hyatt). Barnabas C. Hatch became a prominent and influential citi 
zen of Michigan, where he served as county judge, member of assembly, etc. The 
other sons settled on Lent Hill and were respected and thrifty farmers. Sylvanus 
Hatch was a captain in the old State militia, a life-long farmer, and a man of ster- 
ling character, whose aid and advice were often sought upon matters of importance, 
and who was universally esteemed for his many excellent qualities. He was born in 
Whitehall, N. Y., June 11, 1802, and died in Cohocton in 1874, and was buried in the 
Hatch burying ground on Lent Hill. He was married in 1839 to Miss Emily Peck, 
who survives him and resides in Atlanta. She was born July 11, ISllt. Their only 
son was Hiram W. Hatch, the subject of this sketch. 

Hiram W. Hatch inherited all the ennobling and thrifty characteristics of his 
respected ancestors. Born and reared on the parental farm, where he formed those, 
habits of integrity and practical labor which have marked his life, he early became 
imbued with the attributes of a successful career and put forth every energy to 
secure the results of such advantages as his surroundings aftorded. He finished his 
public school education in the old Naples Academy and remained on the homestead 
assisting his father until 18T0, when he settled in the village of Atlanta and engaged 
in the hardware trade, which he successfully contmued till IXHl. In 1871 he also 
engaged in the produce business, dealing in grain, potatoes, wool, etc. In this he 
became an extensive operator, succeeding beyond the average dealer, and with it he 
has ever since been prominently identified. He is also extensively engaged in farm- 
ing, owning several farms in this and adjoining counties. In 1884 his son, Hyatt C. 
Hatch, became his associate and in 1893 the firm name of H. W. Hatch &• Son was 
adopted. In September, 1895, his son-in-law, C. Gilbert Lyon, and cousin, William 
E. Otto, were admitted as partners and the firm became Hatch, Otto & Co. Their 
business extends along the lines of the Erie and D. L. & W. Railroads throughout 
Western New York and the firm is one of the most extensive operators of the kind in 
this part of the State. They handle immense quantities of potatoes, grain and wool 
annually, involving transactions aggregating hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Mr. Hatch commenced a business career before he had reached his majority. 
While still a farmer with his father he dealt quite heavily in live stock, in which he 
was remarkably successful. In his commercial life he has followed the strict rules of 
integrity which underlie all honorable dealing, and has won the respect and good 
will of every one with whom he has had business relations. His natural business 
qualifications and the confidence impo.sed in him by the community have brought 
him a large measure of success. He is a man of unusual public spirit and his sub- 
stantial aid and generous support have always been freely given to any public im- 




HIRAM W. HATCH. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 27 

provement that merits his sanction. Ilis career, both commercially and socially, 
has been marked by uninterrupted success. He is honest and truthful, kind, courte- 
ous, and popular, prudent and sagacious, trustworthy, vigilant, and upright, and his 
life has been founded upon those principles of integrity and fairness toward his fel- 
low men which invariably prove resjionsible for such success as he has attained. His 
counsel is esteemed by all who care to profit by it in practical affairs. In the several 
stations of life he has exhibited those sterling qualifications that contribute so much 
toward his own personal success, and by his genial way has won a warm place in the 
hearts of his associates that is equally gratifying to them and to himself. He was 
the fir.st president of the Atlanta and Xorth Cohocton Building and Loan Association, 
and since its organization has been president of Erie and Niagara Land Company of 
Bath, which owns valuable real estate in Buffalo. His interest in public affairs has 
led him to a considerable extent mto politics. A Republican of the staunchest char- 
acter he served as highway commissioner several years, as supervisor two terms, and 
often as delegate to county, district, and State conventions, and also as a member of 
the Republican town and county committees manyyear-S. Although not a member 
he was long a trustee of the old Atlanta Baptist church and in 1894 became one of 
the first board of trustees of the new Presbyterian church, which he joined as a com- 
municant, and of which he was among the founders, 'i'o this worthy cause he has 
contributed generously and largely made possible the construction of the elegant 
new edifice, and as a trustee he was a member of the building committee during its 
erection in 180.5. He has always been deeply interested in educational matters and 
locally he has served as a member of the Hoard of Education for fifteen years being 
president of that body most of the time He was largely instrumental in placing the 
present academical department of the Atlanta Union School under the Regents. In 
his home Mr. Hatch is especially fortunate. He has practically spent several win- 
ters in the South, and in travel finds both recreation and knowledge, for he is a 
shrewd observer as well as a practical man. > 

Id 1866 Mr. Hatch was married to Miss Celestia Bush, daughter of John Bush, 
of Naples, N. Y. They have three children: Hyatt C. Minnie L. (.Mrs. C. Gilbert 
Lyon), and Mary E., all of Atlanta. 

Hyatt C. Hatch was born in the town of Cohocton in 18fiT, and received his educa- 
tion in the public schools and in the Atlanta LInion School. At the age of seventeen 
he became associated with his father in, business, and shortly afterward entered 
Eastman's Business College of Poughkeepsie, from which he was graduated, the 
highest in his class, in April, 1887. He continued his business relations with his 
father and in 1893 the firm name of H. W. Hatch & Son was adopted. Besides this 
he has personally carried on various business relations, principally in real estate, in 
which he has been very successful. He was elected one of the first elders of the At- 
lanta Presbyterian church in 1894 and has officiated as superintendent of its Sunday 
school since its organization. In politics he is a staunch Republican and a member 
of the Republican town and county committees. He was elected supervisor of Co- 
hocton in February, 1893, and re-elected in February, 1894, for two years — an office 
he filled with great satisfaction. He was married August 24, 1893, to Miss F. Edith 
Armstrong, daughter of Seth W. Armstrong, of Oaks Corners, Ontario countv. 
They have one son, Bernis Warner Hatch, born September 19, 1894. 



26 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

LORENZO HULBERT. 

Moses Hulbert, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Hampshire 
county, Mass., August 7, 1770, and was of the fifth generation in direct descent from 
Sir Justice George Hulbert, who in 1632 was made a knight of the order of the gar- 
ter for bravery in battle, and who settled in New England early in the seventeenth 
century. Moses Hulbert, after a brief residence at Fort Ann, Washington county, 
K.Y., came to the town of Dansville, Steuben county, in 1816, and located on a farm 
on North Oak Hill, where he lived the remainder of his life, dying about 1846. He 
followed both farming and coopering. He married, first. E.xperience Birge, who 
was born April 35, 1776, and their children were Harriet, born April 8, 1796; Almira, 
born April 38, 1800; and Cornelius, born March 6, 18lt2. His second wife was Esther 
Hannum, who was bom January 17. 1775, and their children were Julius, born Octo- 
ber 26, 1805; Lester, born July 6, 1808; Justus, born November 13. 1810; Elmina. 
born October 23, 1812; and Joel Coleman, born November 12, 1815. Julius Hulbert, 
born m Fort Ann, came to DansviUe with his parents, and on April 9, 1828, was 
married to Eliza Brown, who was born in New Hampshire in October, 1804, and 
died January 22, 1894. Immediately after his marriage he purchased the farm ad- 
joining his father on the south, upon which Lorenzo Hulbert now resides, and there 
he lived until his death on Sept. 14, 1874. He first built a log house in the pine 
forest and finally cleared the entire farm. He was a man of a retiring disposition, 
prominent in educational matters, for many years a member of the M. E. church, 
and long a drummer in the old State militia. His children were Velina, born De- 
cember 16, 1829, married L R. Trembly August 16, 1848, and died in Washington, 
D. C, January 4, 1892; Moses, born August 5, 1833, married Laura J. Boylan Sep- 
tember 10, 1856, enlisted in the 188th N. Y. Vols., and died in Richmond, Va., May 
17, 1805; Esther A., born December 11, 1835, married D. V. Sutfin January 1, 1856. 
and died in Dansville February 5, 1868; and Lorenzo, bom February 18, 1843. 

Lorenzo Hulbert, the youngest and only surviving member of this pioneer family, 
was reared upon the parental farm and completed his education at Rogersville L'nion 
Semmary, which at that time was a flourishing institution. He succeeded bis father 
upon the homestead and has always resided there. He was largely instrumental in 
organizing Oak Hill Grange, No. 574, P. of H., and served as its master for five 
years, declming a re-election, but accepting the office of secretary. He has been sec- 
retary of the Steuben County Grange for five years and county deputy and inspector 
for three years. A staunch Republican he was elected supervisor of Dansville in 
1892 and again in 1894 for two years — a compliment for both himself and his party 
in that Democratic stronghold. In November. 1895, at the annual session of the 
Board of Supervisors, he was the prime mover in organizing the Steuben County 
Supervisors' Association, of which he was elected president. In all these positions 
Mr. Hulbert has served with great credit and ability, and with entire satisfaction to 
his constituents. 

September 28, 1869, Mr. Hulbert was married at Ha.skinsville, N.Y., to Miss Abbie 
M. Burdett, daughter of P. S. Burdett and Mary Curry his wife. She was born at 
Rogersville, N. Y., in 1851. Their children are L. Clyde, born November 9, 1875, 
and Lena M., born June 10, 1883. The family for three generations has manifested 
musical talent of a high order. 




/^f^^^^ 




DAVIU S. WAITE. 



BIOORAPHICAL. 29 

DAVID S. WAITE, 

Duty \Vai i k, one of the pioneers of Steubeu county, was born in Rhode Island in 
1785, and with his wife Hannah and three children moved from Petersburgh, Rens- 
selaer county, N. Y., in the spring of 1814, into the north part of the town of Cohocton, 
settling on what was then called the Halfway place, between Bath and Dansville, 
which contained a tavern kept by Arunah Woodard, buildings consisting of an L 
shaped log house, log barn, and a frame lean-to shed for travelers' horses. The 
location is about three miles south of the north line of Steuben county, and about 
two miles south of the great water divide between Lake Ontario on the north and 
the Chesapeake Kay on the south. 

Then there wasno nearer route between Bath and Dansville, and shaded, rough and 
muddy log paths made travel so difficult that the journey could not be made in one 
day. The tavern shed and signpost are preserved to the present day by David S. 
Waite, who lives on the place on which his father settled eighty-one years ago. One 
apple tree, which bore two apples the first year is still bearing fruit, and vi-as the 
only one on the place at that time; the trunk two feet above the ground is five and a 
half feet in circumference. ' 

The next farm on the north is supposed to be the first settled place in the town of 
Cohocton. Richard Hooker, a wealthy Marylander, came on to it, according to the 
statement of Thomas, a son, in 1T92, with eight horses and a half of a bushel of gold 
and silver, thinking that feed could be bought; but nothing could be obtained for 
feed nearer than Painted Post, and four of the horses starved to death the first winter. 
Thomas said that at that time he was five years old, and that an Indian boy came 
from the woods and played with him. Mrs. Hooker soon died, and the familv moved 
to Naples. 

One-half mile south, by the side of a brook, John Kirkwood first made a beginning, 
but sickness drove him away. The brook took his name. This town and vicinity 
was then called the Genesee country. There was an abundance of wolves, deer, 
opossums, hedgehogs, or porcupines, and some Indians. Sheep had to be yarded 
near the house every night. What little was cleared was brushy, and one could not 
see a fourth of a mile along this main river road. 

Eighty-one years ago was the beginning of highway surveys in Cohocton. The 
Arunah Woodard hotel was soon turned one part into a pioneer's dwelling, and the 
other into a neighborhood .school room, supported by subscription ; there were no 
school districts then. By a contract made in 1814 between Duty Waite and his 
neighbors, Mr. W'aite agreed to teach the school and board himself forgl2 per month. 
The maximum numVier of scholars was sixteen. The supporters were Duty Waite, 
2; Abel Karringlfm, 3; Thomas Rogers, ;5; Benjamin Rogers, 1; Arunah Woodard, 
2; William Woodard. 1; Daniel Raymond, 1; Daniel Raymond, jr., 1; Cornelius 
Crouch, 1; and Chauncy Atwell, 1. At that time no settlement had been made at 
what is now called Cohocton, but about five years later it was called " the Four Cor- 
ners," and in ten years more. Liberty. 

Eunice, the oldest child, is still living at South Jacksim, Mich. ; William W. became 
inured to the .severities of pioneer life, which developed his powers into a persevering, 
successful business man as farmer and trader; Wealthy was an accomplished school 



30 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

teacher. Two others. Ruth and Eliza, married farmers and spent most of their lives 
on farms. Sarah now lives in Horton, Mich, as a physician's wife. David S., whose 
portrait accompanies this narrative, lives on the old homestead where he was born, 
seventy years ago. An incessant and thorough laborer at farming and surveying, in 
middle life he devoted much time in teaching and superintending schools. Clark (J. 
has from youth practiced civil engineering, first in building the Krie railroad, then in 
Pennsylvania, and later in Kansas, .going there during the first border troubles, and 
has there constantly followed his profession as railroad or city engineer to the present 
time. Phoebe and Murray died while young. Mary resides near Grand Rapids, 
Mich., as a farmer's wife. A large, industrious, persevering family, acting well their 
parts in behavior, usefulness and in the responsibilities of pioneer life. 



(iEORGE GIBSON. 

Gf.orgf. Gibson was born near Ovid, Schuyler county, N. Y. , in 1S17, and is a son 
of Ira and Harriet (Coryell) Gibson, who came with their family to Pulteney, Steu- 
ben county, in 1825. Ira Gibson was born in Schuyler county in 1797, had eleven 
children, and died in 1886. His wife's death occurred in 1849. Coming to Pulteney 
he settled on a forest farm in an almost unbroken wilderness, and lirst erected a rude 
log cabin. He cleared his purchase, and lived to .see the .section become one of 
the most famous and prosperous in Western New York. 

George Gibson's education was limited to the common schools. At the age of 
fifteen he became a driver on the canal from Penn Yan to Albany, and soon 
afterward was employed on a boat as steersman or deck hand. A little later he 
was promoted to captain of the lake boat J. Price, of Geneva which ran between 
Hammondsport and New York, and which was owned by A. M. Adsit, of Hammonds- 
port. In these various capacities he continued for thirty years, when Mr. Adsit sold 
out. Meantime Mr. Gibson purchased the site of his present residence and hotel, 
at Gibson's Landing, and also 100 acres along the shore of Keuka Lake, paying §23 
per acre. He then took up his residence there. This tract was covered with heavy 
forests, which he converted into lumber, railroad ties, and ship timber. Having 
cleared a large part of it he sowed it with wheat and nearly paid for the land the first 
year. Later he built a warehouse on the lake shore, bought grain and handled 
freight for the interior of the State, and in 1863 erected his present warehouse on the 
site of the first structure. In 1864 he built his present residence and in 1887 the Gib- 
son House, grading and beautifying the grounds, and making it one of the finest 
and most popular summer resorts on Keuka Lake. He also set out an excellent vine- 
yard and became a member of the Keuka Lake Wine Company, which in 18t)0 con- 
structed the famous Keuka Lake wine cellar, one of the largest in that celebrated 
grape section. In all these important enterprises Mr. Gibson has been invariably 
successful; his large .business interests have contributed enormously to the material 
prosperity of both town and count)'. 

In politics he is an unswerving Repul^lican ; he has held various town offices and 
for eleven vears served as highway commissioner. lie was a member of the com- 



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FRANKLIN t. DAY. 



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BIOGRAPHICAL. 31 

mission which laid out the road along the west shore of the lake, a road that has 
aided largely in developing that strip of fertile laud. In lsT5 he was appointed 
agent of the United States Express Company at Gibson's Landing, and shortly after- 
ward was given the agencies of the Adams, the American, and the Wells, Fargo & 
Co., which he held until the spring of 189."), when he resigned in favor of his grand- 
son, Ira (i. Gibson. In 1881. under the administration of President Garfield, Mr. 
Gibson was appointed postmaster at Catawba, the post-name of the ofHce at Gibson's 
Landing, and continued in that position with great credit for fourteen consecutive 
years. 

Mr. Gibson was married iu 1842 to Miss Ann Leary. who was lx)rn in New York 
city in 181'', and who died in 1870. They had two children, Edward and George K. 
In 1881 he married, second, Arvesta Bailey, daughter of John S. Bailey, and a native 
of Pulteney. 



FRAXKLIX E. DAY. 

Fk.vnki.in E. D.w, eldest son of Paul E. and Polly (Blodgett) Day, was born in 
Bennington, Vt., in 1810, and cameTiTthe town of Wayland, Steuben county, in 
1821. Paul E. Day, who was born in Medfield, Ma.ss. , in 1785, moved with his wife 
and family to Genesee county, N. Y., in the winter of 1814, settling two and one- 
half miles west of Leroy. In the spring of 1819 they removed to Seneca county and 
thence two years later to the town of Wayland (then Cohocton), Steuben county, 
where Mr. Day died in 1850. In the spring of 1824 the family settled on the farm 
DOW owned by Charles F. Day. Mr. Day's children were Franklin E., the .subject 
of this sketch; Washington W., deceased, born in 1812; William P , deceased, born 
in 1814; Jackson J., born in I.SIO; Calphurnia, born in 1819; Mary J., born in 1821, 
died in 1894; Jonas B., born in 182i5; Laura L., born in 1825; and Rilev, born in 1828. 
Paul E. Day, the pioneer, built the first wool-carding and cloth-dressing mill iu the 
town in 1826, the carding machinery being added in 1833, when it was rebuilt by his 
son Franklin E., who erected his first saw mill in town in 1841 and rebuilt it in 1853. 
The first named establishment was continued until 1846. when it was converted into 
a saw mill, which is now operated by the pioneer's grandson, Charles F. Day. The 
father of Paul E. Day was Joseph Day, who came from England with four brothers 
and settled on the Connecticut River near Hartford, Conn., where thev followed the 
avocation of weavers and carders of wool; his grandsons, Washington W. and Will- 
iam P.. mentioned above, were prominent physicians. 

Franklin E. Day came into possession of the property at I'atchinsville in the spring 
of 1838 and resided there until 1868, when he removed to Rochester, where he has 
since been engaged in dealing in real estate and in building, residing at 204 Frank 
street. He always manifested a keen though quiet interest in the affairs of the 
town, and for several years served efficiently as highway commissioner of Wayland. 
He was a charter member of the Cohocton Lodge of Odd Fellows, long a prominent 
member of the Wayland Methodist Episcopal church, and now a member of the 
Brick church of Rochester. He was a representative farmer, and was also exten- 
sively engaged in lumbering, in both of which he was remarkably successful. 



32 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Mr. Day was married on January 3, 1836, to Miss Matilda Chase, daughter of 
Thomas Chase, of Cohocton, who died February 3, 1871, leaving two children: Or- 
leans W., born October 30, 1838, died March 21, 1887; and Mary M., born February 
0, 1841, who married Rev. D. M. Stuart, a Presbyterian clergyman now of National 
City, Cal. For his second wife Mr. Day married, in 1872, Mrs. Harriet A. Lee, of 
Rochester, who died July 10, 1890. Orleans W. Day married Miss Julia A. Mather, 
who was born in Geneseo, N. Y., January 28, 1836. He was engaged in mercantile 
business for several years, but finally moved on to the farm and took charge also of 
the saw mill. His children were Charles F., born in 1862; William W. , born in 186it; 
May E. (Mrs. William J. Faulkner), born in 1872; Harry W., born in 1875; and 
Amelia, born in 1878. 



LYMAN vSHEPARD. 

LvM.VN SiiKF.\Kii, son of William and Sophia (Powers) Shepard, was born on a 
farm in the town of Cohocton, Steuben county, June 6, 1826, and died there April 11, 
1891. His grandfather, Kzra Shepard, son of Jonathan and Meriani (Strong) Shep- 
ard, came to that town with his family prior to the war of 1812 and settled on the 
farm now owned by Godfrey Marshall, building a log cabin on the site of the present 
orchard, and died there. Ezra Shepard married Mary Boyce and reared to maturity 
ten children, of whom William B. was born December 18, 1794; married Sophia 
Powers, and died June 23, 1865. The children of William and Sophia Shepard were 
Polly (Mrs. Silas Hurlburt), born June 23, 1818, deceased; Riley, born April 10, 1824, 
deceased; Lyman, the subject of this memoir; Jerome, born May 13, 1829, died in 
November. 1888; Sophia, born December 8, 1833, died unmarried; Milton, born April 
9, 1835, deceased; Asahel, born March 4, 1838, of Atlanta; Maria E. , born Decem- 
ber 21, 1842, married Franklin Scnbner, and resides in North Cohocton; and three 
who died in infancy. 

Lyman Shepard was a lifelong farmer and was reared on his father's farm in Co- 
hocton, in which town he always resided excepting three years in Dansville. He 
was educated in the public schools and first settled on the place now owned by Dr. 
A. L. Gilbert, formerly owned by his- father-in-law, Reuben Clason, and in 1872 re- 
moved to the old William Waite home.stead, where he died In connection w'ith his 
farming he also engaged quite extensively m buying and shipping live stock, which he 
continued until about 1880, first with Lewis Layton and afterward with William Culver. 
In this as well as in all other occupations he was eminently successful, and won the 
respect and confidence of every one with whom he came in contact. He was a man 
of great perseverance and native energy, a steadfast believer in the principles of 
honesty, uprightness, and integrity, and a worthy and representative citizen. 
Although a Republican and later a Prohibitionist in politics, he never sought office, 
yet he always manifested a keen interest in local affairs and generously contributed 
towards ever\" movement which promised benefit to the community. Alone and un- 
aided he carved out his own fortune and lived to enjoy the accumulations of a profit- 
able career. He traveled quite extensively, spending a winter in Florida and two 




LYMAN SHEPARU. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 33 

winters in California, and beinj^ a close observer ac<iuired a large fund of general 
information. 

Mr. Shepard's first wife was Harriet Clason, daughter of Reuben Clason, one of the 
early settlers of Cohocton. She was born March 13. 1822, and died July 29, 1872.^ 
Their children were Murray, born May 12, 18.51, died October 20. 1873; Ann Eliza, 
born July 12, 1854, died August 9. 1803; Frankie. born March 13. 1860. died August 
25. 1865; and Ida K., born May 31, 1864. His second wife, whom he married Sep- 
tember 19, 1872, was Mrs. Kanny (Weld) Waite, widow of the late William Waite, 
who survives him and resides in Atlanta. Ida E. Shepard, the only surviving child 
of Lyman Shepard, was married on March 17, 1886, to Clarence G. Gray, who was 
born in the town of Dansville, December 17, 1857. They have four children: Jessie 
I., Franc II., W. Lvniau, and Sadie V. 



J. !•:. WALKER, M. D. 

Dk. J. E. Walker, of Hornellsville, Steuben county, X. Y., is the only .surviving 
son of H. L. Walker; was born in Nunda, Livingston county, N. Y. Received a 
common school education, subsequently attending the State Normal School at Gen- 
eseo. \. Y. ; commenced teaching at the age of si.xteen. and by constant work and 
untiring energy succeeded in jjrepariiig himself for the study of his chosen profes- 
sion. 

He entered a medical ollicc at the age of eighteen, graduating from the Cincinnati 
Medical College in 1876, and commenced the practice of medicine immediately after 
at Arkport, N. Y. His business became extensive almost from the beginning. 

In 1883, desiring more knowledge of some of the specialties in medicine, he ar- 
ranged to leave his business and spent several months in postgraduate work in New 
York. He returned to his old field of labor and continued his practice, riding almost 
continually until he saw it would be necessary to seek an easier field of labor. Con- 
sequently in 1892 he sold his practice and drug business and removed to Buffalo, 
where he remained a few months. Although his practice seemed assured, yet, feel- 
ing the need of a closer association with patients than was possible in private practice, 
he left Buffalo, through the influence of friends going to the Sterlingworth Sanita- 
rium as chief of staff, where he remained for a year, caring for tubercular cases, 
making special and original investigations in relation to consumption. 

Desirmg a knowledge of the methods employed in Europe, he left for London in 
October, 1893, where he remained a couple of inonths at work in the Brompton Hos- 
pital for diseases of the chest, also taking a course in bacteriology and microscopy 
in King's College. 

After comi)leting the desired amount of work in London, he visited the various 
hospitals of the French capital, also studying the methods employed in the Pasteur 
Institute. He visited several of the health resorts of the continent, among them the 
noted HonnitV Sanitarium, the finest institution in the ivorld for the care of consump- 
tives. Spent some time in Berlin, more particularly in the Koch Institute, where he 
examined many cases of tuberculosis with the physicians in charge, having every 



34 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

opportunity to study the methods employed ; spent some months in Vienna in special 
work in the Polyclinic and General Hospital, afterward attended th^ International 
Medical Congress in Rome, being made a member of this great body. 

Returning to his native country, he made a tour of the United States from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific, visiting the various health resorts, and studying the climatol- 
ogy of our own country in the interests of his profession. 

In November, 1894, he assumed the responsible position of Superintendent of the 
Steuben Sanitarium at Hornellsville, N. Y., since which time he, with others, have 
purchased it and are making it one of the best medical and surgical institutes in 
America. The most intricate and delicate medical and surgical cases are here given 
the advantages of all that is known to science. The institution has among its con- 
sultants some of the best talent in Western New York. 

He is a member of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Association, of which 
he has been president, the Steuben County Medical Society, New York State Medical 
Association, also the American Medical Association. A member of Hornellsville 
Lodge, F. & A. M., Steuben Chapter, Demolay Commandery, and a noble of the 
Mystic Shrine of Ismalia Temple, Buflfalo, N. Y. 



JAMES H. STEVENS. 

James Humphrey Stevens, a prominent attorney and well-known influential citi- 
zen of Hornellsville, was born in Dansville, Steuben county, N. Y., July 11, 1.S27, 
and has always resided in the county. 

His parents, James H. Stevens, sr. , and .Sally (Wilson) Stevens, natives of War- 
wick, Mass., and Shoreham, Vt., father and mother respectively, purchased and 
founded the Stevens homestead in the town of Dansville, which has ever since been 
in the possession of the family, and where James H. Stevens, sr., died, aged ninety- 
three years. 

Mr. Stevens was educated at the select neighborhood schools, Rogersville LTnion 
Seminary and Alfred University. He taught district and village, schools during 
winter terras for seven years. During the last two years of that time he studied 
law, taking the regular course of a law student, when he was not teaching, by read- 
ing in the forenoon of each day at his father's house on the farm, and then working 
on the farm the balance of the day; thereby practically doing nearly two days' work 
each day, after which, in 1851, he entered the State and National Law School at 
Ballston Spa, in the "San Souci" building, located at that place, where he continued, 
except about a month he was in the office of Wm. T. Odell, then district attorney of 
Saratoga county, until he was admitted to the bar, on the 5th day of January, 1852, at 
a general term of the Supreme Court, held at that place by Judges Cady, Willard, 
Hand and Allen. Soon thereafter he entered the ofHce as a clerk of the Hon. David 
Rumsey, of Bath, N. Y., and in the fall of 1853 entered the ofHce of Hon. John K. 
Hale, of Hornellsville, N. Y., \^ere he continued until on the 13th day of April, 1854, 
when he formed a partnership with the late Hon. Horace Berais, whose interest in 
the business and library he purchased in 1864. From 1864 to 1872 he was in part- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 35 

nership with Hon. Harlo Hakes, under the firm name of Hakes & Stevens, until 
August, 1M72, when Charles \V. Stevens became a member of said firm, which con- 
tinued under the same name until 1879. At the latter date the present well-known 
firm of J. H. & C. W. Stevens was formed. 

He was superintendent of schools for his native town, and resigned when he cam.e 
to Hornellsville. He has been chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Steuben 
county, and president of the village of Hornellsville. He has been three times the 
Democratic nominee for county judge and once for the Assembly, and each time 
succeeded materially in reducing the large Republican majority, but failed to over- 
come it. He has been too busily employed in the duties of his chosen profession to 
which he has been devotedly attached, having a large and generally successful prac- 
tice, to engage personally in party politics. 

He is renowned throughout Western New York as a trial lawyer of remarkable 
ability, is clear and frank in his statements, attractive and convincing in his de- 
livery. 

Since March 10, 1885, he has been the attorney for the N. Y., L. E. & W. R. R. 
Co., for business arising in the counties in Western New York in which the railroad 
runs, but chiefly in the counties of Steuben, Allegany, Cattaraugus, Livingston and 
Wyoming. During a considerable [period of his professional work, more particularly 
prior to the time he became attorney for the Erie R. R. Co., he has had a large e.\- 
perience in the counties above named as referee in cases pending in the Supreme 
Court. • 

September 24, 1858, he married Amanda Artman of Sparta, Livingston county, 
N. Y., who died April 2, 1879. August 10, 1880. he married Mrs. AIhe E. Collum, 
of West Union, Fayette county, la., with whom he is now living in the city of Hor- 
nellsville, N. Y. 



VERY REV. PETER COLGAN. 

Yerv Rev. Dean Peter Coi.ga.n was born in Ireland in 1825; studied in the private 
schools of Mount Nugent and Old Castle, and for two years was a student in the 
Diocesan Seminary at Navan. He afterwards entered the Missionary College of All 
Hallows at Dublin, where he completed his philosophical studies and began his 
course of theology. In 1848 he came to Buffalo, where he finished his preparatory 
studies for the priesthood. He was ordamed in 1850 by Rt. Rev. John Timon, first 
bishop of the diocese of Buffalo. In the same year he erected a small church, and 
banding together a number of the then scattered Catholic families of that district, 
formed the nucleus of what is now the congregation of St. Joseph's Cathedral. In 
1851 he was placed in charge of the mission of Dunkirk, which then extended over 
all Chautauqua county and parts of Erie 'and Cattaraugus counties. Here he 
erected a temporary church, and organized a congregation. Two years later he laid 
the foundation of the present beautiful St. Mary's which adorns the city of Dunkirk, 
and which is one of the most handsome church edifices in Western New York. In 
1858 he established an orphan asylum and school in the same city, both of which were 
placed in charge of the Sisters of St. Josejih. He also erected churches in the ad- 



36 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTy. 

joining missions of Jamestown and Westfield, which have since developed into flour- 
ishing parishes, with resident clergymen. He came to Corning in 1860, where he 
entered upon his duties as pastor of a poor, struggling mission, possessing' neither 
church nor school, with the exception of a dilapidated frame building entirely inade- 
quate for the purposes of worship. The condition of the parish at that time was 
anything but prosperous, as the Catholic families, with very few exceptions, 
possessed nothing in the way of real estate, and were consequently without perma- 
nent homes. His first efforts were to encourage and educate the people to the duty 
of purchasing land and owning their homes. In this he met with gratifying suc- 
cess, and in a short time the condition of the people was vastly improved. This plan 
of organizing rendered his labors so fruitful in his former mission at Dunkirk, 
Jamestown and Westfield. In 18G.5 he began preparations for the erection of a new 
house of worship for the then increasing Catholics of Corning, and in the following 
year was laid the corner-stone of the present handsome stone structure known as St. 
Mary's church. His next enterprise was to secure the State Arsenal, which he pur- 
chased in 1873, and which he converted into an orphan asylum, in charge of the 
Sisters of Mercy. In 1881 he erected a handsome school building, which has at 
present an attendance of over 400 children. For the accommodation of those living 
in the eastern part of the city he purchased, in 1886, the Salvation Army barracks, 
which he converted into a chapel, now known as St. Patrick's. iJuring the many 
years of his pastorate in Corning he has always labored for the spiritual welfare of 
the people of Big Flats and Campbelltown. having in the former village erected a 
small church, and in the latter selected the site and prepared the plans for the present 
place of worship. 

This briefly sums up the work Father Colgan has accomplished during the forty- 
five years of priestly life. The facts stand in themselves a fitting eulogy of the 
pioneer priest of Western New York, and testify, better than words can express, the 
devotion and self-sacrifice which have ever marked his labors. His career is nothing 
less than remarkable. Be it said to the lasting honor of this devoted priest that in 
all his undertakings he has been eminently successful. Gifted with an enterprise 
and business tact rarely to be found in one of his holy calling, he triumphed where 
others would fail. Wherever his charge, wherever his field of labor, the fruit of his 
priestly efforts serves as a monument to his name. 

His untiring energj', and his indomitable zeal have ever been exerted in the noble 
cause of educating the people, building up religion, and saving souls. He has shown 
himself, at all times, an exemplary priest, a pastor and friend to all who have been 
placed under his kindly care. Such is the record of nearly half a century in the 
priesthood — a record which can be pointed to with pride by both pastor and people. 
While ever an ardent lover of the Stars and Stripes of his adopted country. Father 
Colgan has never wavered in his devotion to the land of his birth. During all the 
years of his priestly career he has been an enthusiastic supporter of Ireland's cau.se, 
and more than once has lent his generous aid towards the attainment of that longed 
for freedom from British oppres-sion. Father Colgan has lost none of the energy 
which characterized his early days in the ministry. He is still as zealous as ever in 
the discharge of his pastoral duties, and although the snows of many winters have 
whitened his locks, time seems to have touched him lightly. Blessed as he is with 
remarkable vitality, the venerable dean has before him the prospect of many useful 



X BIOGRAPHICAL. 37 

years. It is the heartfelt wish of his countless friends, and especially of the devoted 
(lock to whom he has endeared himself by thirty-five years of faithful .service, that 
the beloved priest may live to witness, only a few years hence, the happy occasion of 
his golden jubilee in the ministry. 



JOHN S. JA.MISOX, .M. D. 

John Stkak.ns Jamison, Ilornellsvillc, X. Y.. was the eldest son of John 1). and 
Elizabeth (Stearns) Jamison, of Canisteo, N. V., and grandson of Capt. John Jami- 
son, of Durham, Bucks county. Pa. He was born July 26, 1822, at Canisteo, where 
his father was a leading citizen, and for many years a magistrate. After leaving 
the common school he attended the academies at Clyde and Nunda, N. Y., but tem- 
porarily failing health compelled him to relinquish his coveted idea of a graduating 
course at ITnion College. Me engaged in teaching and was for several years an in- 
structor in pennianshipand book-keeping, thus obtaining the means of defraying the 
expense of his subsequent medical studies. Senator Donald Cameron, of Pennsyl- 
vania, and ex-Governor (ieorge W. Bigler, of California, were among his pupils. 

He began the study of medicine in 1847 with Dr. D. D. Davis, of Canisteo, and 
attended lectures at Buffalo Medical College and the Tniversity of Michigan. He 
was graduated M. D. from the latter institution in April, 1852, and has since been a 
member of its alumni society. He at once began the practice of medicine in Canis- 
teo, but after one year removed to Ilornellsville, where he has remained until the 
present time. 

Dr. Jamison's father was a volunteer in the war of 1H12, while his grandfather was 
a captain in the army of the Revolution, ec)uipping at his own expense the company 
he commanded in the patriot service. He but followed their example in responding 
to his country's call in 18fil, entering the service of the United States on May 4th of 
that year as as.sistant .surgeon at the recruiting rendezvous at Elmira. He was sub- 
sequently placed in charge as examining surgeon of the volunteer forces organizing 
and quartered at that place. In the fall of the same year he accompanied the Eighty- 
Sixth New York volunteers to the field as their surgeon, with commission dated Octo- 
ber 12. 1861. At the second battle of Bull Run he became a volunteer prisoner in 
the rebel lines for eleven days, during which time he established a field hospital at 
the Van Pelt House. I'nder a llag of truce he accompanied the last of the wounded 
from the field to the general hospitals at Alexandria and Washington, 

During much of his term of service Dr. Jamison was detached from liis regiment 
on various details connected with the medical service. For his medical skill and 
efficiency he was appointed, by special orders of Major-General Meade, to the board 
of examiners for the purpose of examining medical othcersof the army. As surgeon- 
in-chief of division in the Third army corps he was made a member of the medical 
board for the purpose of examining applicants for leave of absence, discharge, or 
transfer to the Veteran Reserve Corps, by reason of physical disability. Other 
• details were as examining surgeon at convalescent camp, Alexandria, and on the 
board ajipointed for the re-organization of the ambulance system of the Third Armv 
corps. For these and other services he was officially complimented by the medical 



38 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

director of the army of the Potomac, and especially for a detailed report giving 
everything occurring in his division which in a remote degree affected the medical 
department. 

To Dr. Jamison belongs the credit of suggesting the institution at Washington 
subsequently known as the "Contraband Hospital," where the colored people, who 
had escaped from the rebel lines and were coming to Washington in large numbers, 
destitute of food and clothing, and many of them sick and suffering, could be treated 
and cared for. Noticing a block of empty buildings near the Capitol, called the 
"Duff Green Row," he suggested to General Wadsworth, then in command there, 
the plan of using it for a rendezvous and hospital for the strangers. With the aid of 
Vice-President Hamlin and the president of the Freedmen's Bureau, the general 
secured this block and ordered the doctor to put it in sanitary condition. This he 
did, and soon had the hospital department in effective operation. This institution 
was visited by the representatives of many English and European papers and received 
many favorable comments from the home and foreign press. 

On account of his large operative experience and skillful treatment of cases as 
surgeon-in-chief of division of the Third Army corps. Dr. Jamison, in June, 1866, was 
requested bv George A. Otis, surgeon and brevet licutenaht-colonel U. S. volunteers, 
to contribute to his official reports, of his operations and interesting cases during the 
war. In 1873 he was appointed U. S. pension examiner at Hornellsville, which posi- 
tion he still retains, and at present is president of the Hornellsville Board of Pension 
Examiners. 

The doctor is a Republican in politics and has been a vestryman of Christ Epis- 
copal church, Hornellsville, for more than thirty years. He has devoted much time 
to the study of botany and has valuable botanical and geological cabinets. He was 
a member of the Ninth International Medical Congress held in Washington, D. C. ; 
also a delegate for the New York State Medical Association to the Tenth Interna- 
tional Medical Congress, held in Berlin, Prussia; is a member of the American 
Medical Association; the Xew York State Medical Association ; ami was the first 
president of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Association, working under the 
code of the American Medical Association. He has published two papers on "Chronic 
Intestinal Catarrh," (see Transactions New York State Medical Association, 188'),'8(>). 

Dr. Jamison was married May 26, 1846, to Miss Lavinia, daughter of Abijah New- 
man, of Schuyler county, N. Y. , who died October 22, 1887. Their only child is 
Newman Catlin Jamison, agent of the Pullman Palace Car Company at Hornell.s- 
ville. 



CAPTAIN SILAS WHEELER. 

Thk first settlement in the town of Wheeler was made by Captain Silas Wheeler 
in the year 1800, and the town is named after him. He was a descendant of Captain 
Timothy Wheeler, who was born in England in HiO-t, and was a nephew of Governor 
Brooks of Massachuseets. 

The parents of Silas Wheeler, Jonas Wheeler and Percis Brooks, both natives of 
Concord, Mass., were married October 13, 1743, and Silas Wheeler was born March 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 39 

7, 1753, at Concord, Mass. He was married in Providence county, R. I., tcj Sarali 
(Jardner, and they remained there nearly a year with the bride's parents. Before 
the year was ended the famous fight at Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775, took 
place, in which battle many kinsmen of Silas Wheeler took part in defense of their 
homes. An "army of observation," consisting of three regiments, was at once 
organized in Rhode Island, and m a few weeks marched to Prospect Hill near Bos- 
ton. General Nathaniel Green was commander of one of the regiments raised in 
Providence, and Silas Wheeler was a private in that regiment. These three regi- 
ments formed what was known as the "Rhode Island Brigade," and were present at the 
battle of Bunker Hill. After Washington assumed command of the troops before Bos- 
ton, a body of eleven hundred men was selected from hisarmy to make a descent upon 
Quebec. This body was intended to co-operate with General Montgomery's army, 
which had set out for Quebec by the way of Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence 
River. Washington selected Benedict Arnold to command the eleven hundred men, 
with the orders to march through the Maine woods. Amoiig the first to volunteer in 
this body was Silas Wheeler, who was appointed 3d corporal in Captain Simeon 
Thayer's Company. On Se]Jtember 13, 177.5, Arnold .started with his men from 
Cambridge, and on November 3 they reached Sertigan in Canada, in a .state of 
starvation. For several days this little army had been without provisions of any 
kind. 

Caleb Haskel, in his journal of the expedition recorded at the time, says: "No- 
vember 1, 1775, set out weak and faint, having nothing to eat; the ground covered 
with snow ; traveled fifteen miles and encamped. Eat part of a hind quarter of a 
dog for supper; we are in a [jitiable condition. November 2, set out early this morn- 
ing very much discouraged, having nothing to eat or no prospect of anything; we 
are so weak and faint we can scarcely walk, obliged to lighten our packs, have been 
upon short allowance for sixteen days. November 3, about two o'clock we espied a 
house, then we gave three huzzas, for we have not seen a house before for thirty 
days. The village is called Sertigan, the people are all French and Indians." 

The day before the army reached Sertigan Captain Dearborn, afterward Major- 
General Dearborn, gave his Newfoundland dog to the men, and although the dog 
had been a great favorite with all the command, he was at once killed and eaten 
without bread or salt. 

Judge Henry, of Pennsylvania, in his journal, says: "One spoonful of the dog 
stew was ([uite enough for me," but Captain Wheeler often said that nothing ever 
tasted better to him than this meal eaten as it was after a fast of five days. Many 
men of this little army died of hunger, some |in four or five minutes after making 
their last effort and lying down. Corporal W'heeler had with him fifty golden 
guineas, and in his fight for life he threw them away, in order to lighten his load, 
and a comrade picked them up and carried them until he fell from exhaustion. 

December 1, Arnold reached Quebec, but it was not until the night of Dec. 31 
that the assault was made. Corporal Wheeler's company was in the assault, took one 
barrier of the fort, and captured 130 prisoners, but were unable to reach the second 
barrier, or to retreat. Meantime Montgomery had fallen and Arnold was wounded ; 
and after holding their position for four hours, his men were captured and taken to 
the Daui)hine Prison in Quebec. This prison was burned down in 1810. The 
American prisoners were kindly treated by Sir Guy Carlton, afterwards Lord Dor- 



40 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Chester, "the savior of Canada;" but smallpox broke out in the prison, and great 
suffering ensued, and in JIarch an attempt was made to escape but failed through 
the treachery of John Hall. The prisoners were placed in irons and su kept for two 
months. Corporal Wheeler was treated with exceptional severity, because it was re- 
ported that he had taken part in the capture and burning of the British armed sloop 
" Gaspe." 

In August, 1770, the prisoners were paroled, and on August 12 Corporal Wheeler's 
company left (Juebec for New York and arrived there September 12, but finding 
New York in the possession of the British, they proceeded to Elizabethtown, N. J. 
Captain Thayer, in his journal, says that he landed at Elizabethtown on September 
30, with nine rank and file, one lieutenant — all that returned of the eighty-seven men 
of his company who left Cambridge a year before. From Elizabethtown Corporal 
Wheeler went to Rhode Island to join his young wife, and was soon exchanged as a 
])risoner. He at once re-enhsted in the "Rhode Island Brigade," in Colonel John 
Fopham's regiment. This brigade served three years in the Continental Army. 
Many of the Rhode Island troops were permitted to volunteer for service on the sea, 
and under this permission Silas Wheeler went on board a privateer which was cap- 
tured by a British man-of-war. The prisoners were treated as pirates, were taken 
to Ireland and confined in prison at Kinsale for more than a year. Henry Gratlan, 
the great Irish orator and patriot, was in deep sympathy with the Americans in their 
struggle for freedom, and in some way Silas Wheeler was placed in communication 
with him, and was assured that if he could escape from prison, shelter and aid would 
be furnished by Lord Grattan. Wheeler planned and made his escape over the walls 
of the prison ; and amid a shower of bullets aimed at him by the guards, he made 
his way to Grattan, and the latter gave him clothing and money, and secured his 
passage to France, and when asked how he could be repaid, answered: "If you 
should have a son, give him my name, and bring him up to love liberty and his fel- 
low man." Soon after Captain Wheeler took passage for America, and lost no time 
in making his way to Rhode Island to his wife, who for nearly two years had not 
heard from him and had supposed him dead. 

It was during his service with the Rhode Island Brigade and before he went on 
the privateer that he was made a captain. He remained in Rhode Island until the 
close of the war; and on August 25, 1783, his only son was born, and to him the 
name of Grattan Henry was given. Soon after the close of the'' war Captain Wheeler 
moved to Albany county; then in 1798 to Steuben county. He was a man of great 
energy and perseverance, but liberal and generous and never a money maker. His 
son, Grattan H. Wheeler, who came with him to Wheeler, was a man of great busi- 
ness ability, and largely through his efforts ard good judgment, the great Wheeler 
farm of 5,000 acres was secured and improved ; upon that farm Captain Wheeler 
lived until his death in 1838. He never forgot his early sufferings from hunger, and 
athis house every one who came was invited toeat and drink. He planted fruit trees by 
the roadside, and raised tobacco for the free use of the wayfarer. He had three chil- 
dren, two twin girls born during the Revolutionary war, both of whom lived- and 
died in Wheeler, Ruth as the wife of Nathan Rose and .Sarah as the wife of William 
Holmes. A sketch af his son, Grattan H., appears in another place. 

Captain Wheeler was induced to settle in Steuben county by a Mr. Preston from 
Westerloo, who had purchased township G; and upon his return to Albany county, 




GRATTAN H. WHtHLER, Sr. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 41 

had spread the most glowing accounts of the fertility of the Conhocton Valley. The 
captain located on the Wheeler farm, so many years occupied by him and his son, 
Grattan H. 

His first trip to mill is worthy of record. There were at the time when he had 
occasion to go to mill but three institutions in the neighborhood where grinding was 
done: At the Friends' Settlement at Dresden, at Bath and at Naples. The mill at 
Bath had suspended operations. Captain Wheeler made a cart, the wheels of which 
were sawed from the end of a curly maple log; the box was in keeping. Restarted 
for Naples with a yoke of o.\en attached to this cart. The young men went before 
them with axes and chopped a road ; and the clumsy chariot tame floundering 
through the bushes, bouncing over logs and scrubbing the tree stumps. The first 
day they reached a point near where Prattslwirg now is — six miles, and on the second 
day reached the mill at Naples. 



GRATTAN H. WHEELER, Sr. 

Hon. GK.\Tr..\N H. Wiii;i;i.er was a son of Capt. Silas Wheeler, and was born 
August 25. 1783, in Rhode Island, and removed with his father to Albany county and 
thence in 1798 to Steuben county. He developed into a man of great business and 
executive ability; and, as stated in the sketch of Capt. Silas Wheeler, it was through 
his ability and efforts that what is known as " the old Wheeler Farm," of 5,000 acres, 
was secured and improved. He was a very successful farmer, stock raiser, lumber- 
man, and general business man ; he also became one of the most prominent politi- 
cians in Steuben county and vicinity. In 1822 he represented Allegany and Steuben 
in the Assembly ; in 18~4 he was elected and in 1826 re-elected to represent the 
countv of Steuben in the Assembly; and as State senator he represented the Sixth 
Senatorial District, then composed of the counties of Broome, Chenango. Cortland, 
Otsego. Tioga and Steuben, during the years 1828, 1829, 1830 and 1831. In the year 
1831 he ran against Hon. John Magee for Congress, defeating Mr. Magee. He 
served two years in Congress from this district, which was then composed of Steu- 
ben, Allegany and Cattaraugus counties. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Gen- 
eral Harrison in the campaign 1840, and was elected one of his presidential electors. 
After 1840 he retired from active participation in politics and devoted his energies to 
his large business interests, which had been growing even during his political career. 
He died on his farm in Wheeler in March. 18.52, from an acute disease, being a very 
vigorous man up to within a few days of his death. He was twice married, first to 
Fanny Baker, daughter of Samuel Baker of Canisteo, and after her death, to Eliza 
AuUs, the youngest daughter of William Aulls, the first settler in Pleasant Valley. 
To him and his first wife were born three children: Silas, who died in 1845 at 
Wheeler; Grattan H., who resides at Hammondsport, N. Y. ; and Sarah, who mar- 
ried Jesse Brundage and resides upon her farm about two miles from the village of 
Bath. She was the mother of Frank, Grattan H., and Capt. Monroe Brundage. 
There were born to his second wife and him eleven children, all of whom are dead 
but Kliza Armstrong, of Tiffin, O, 

r 



42 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

GRATTAN H. WHEELER. 

GR.vn AN H. Wheelkr was born in the town of Wheeler March 12, 1813, the son of 
Hon. Grattan H. Wheeler and the grandson of Capl. Silas Wheeler, sketches of 
whom appear elsewhere in this book. Grattan H. Wheeler lived on the farm with 
his distinguished father, and during the period while the latter was absent at Albany 
and Washington, assisted in the management of the large farm and business. He 
was married in 1837 to Nancy D. Sayre of Wheeler, and soon after their marriage 
they settled upon a farm about one mile from the old Wheeler homestead. He lived 
in Wheeler until the year 1857, during which period he accumulated a farm of about 
1,500 acres of land, and also built up a large lumber business. He was a first-class 
farmer in every respect and a great stock raiser, having brought into Wheeler some 
of the best blooded sheep and cattle in the county of Steuben ; and while there he 
had the reputation of having one of the finest flocks of sheep and the best herds of 
cattle in the county. 

In politics he was a staunch Whig, and was a justice of the peace and supervisor 
of the town of Wheeler; he also held many offices and positions of trust. In 1857 he 
became satisfied that there was a future for the grape industry in the adjoining town 
of Urbana, and on Decemlier 9 of that year he removed from the old home to a farm 
one mile west of Hammondsport. He began there at once the business of farming, 
sheep raising and the grape industry. He at once planted a vineyard, which was 
then the fourth vineyard planted in that town; and in the year 1860 he was one of 
the active spirits which organized the first wine company and built the first large 
wine cellar in the State of New York, and in fact east of Ohio. He had great faith 
in the future of the Lake Keuka and Pleasant Valley grape region, and he believed 
that the wine industry would eventually develop into a large business. Time has 
proved the accuracy of his judgment and belief. 

He was elected the first president of the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, and 
served in that capacity for nine successive years, when he sold his stock therein at a 
large profit and established a cellar, which was known as the Hammondsport Wine 
Company, and he continued that business until the year 1878, the present Ham- 
mondsport Wine Company having succeeded to his business name. 

Since the formation of the Republican party he has been an active Republican. 
In 1858 he was a candidate for member of assembly in this district. He is at present 
living at Hammondsport and in active work ; and at the age of nearly eighty-three 
years, is in good health, his mind as bright and active as ever. 

There were ten children born of this marriage with Nancy D. Sayre, namely: 
Fanny, Sarah, Eliza, Graham H., Emma, Monroe, Nannie, Charles G., Nellie, and 
Mary. Fanny became Mrs. H. D. Rose and now resides at Rochester, N. Y. ; Sarah 
married Lieutenant Layton, who was killed in 1863 in battle, and then in 1887 she 
married Lieutenant Cranston, of the regular army ; she is living at Elmira. Eliza 
married Major H. Gardner and resides at New York city. Emma is the wife of 
R. R. Sopher, the proprietor of the Elmira Gazette, and resides at Elmira, N. Y. 
Nannie married Major Norton and died in 1880. The three sons reside at Ham- 
mondsport. Nellie also married Major Norton ; and Mary married G. E. Mendel, and 
both reside at Wheeling, W. Va. 





*^ 



GRATTAN H. WHEELER, JR. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 43 

At one time Mr. Wheeler was the president of the Ohio River Coal Company, and 
operated that company for years on the Ohio River ; he was also president of the 
Steuben County Agricultural Society for several terms and aided materially in the 
early growth of that society, and was recently elected a life member thereof. 
For many years he was an officer of the Franklin Academy at Prattsburg, and later 
president of the Hammondsport Academy. He has always been active in educa- 
tional matters, a man of public spirit and closely identified with all which tended 
towards the progress of mankind. His wife was a woman of lovely character. She 
died May 27, 1889. 



MONROE WHEELER. 

Monroe Wheeler, the second son of Grattan H. and Nancy D. Wheeler, was born 
on the old Wheeler farm in the town of Wheeler, August 16, 1849, and lived there 
with his parents until they moved to Urbana, December 9, 1857. 

He was educated at Hammondsport Academy and Michigan University, and 
studied law his first year at Elmira with Judge G. L. Smith, and Senator Uavid B. 
Hill. The firm was then Smith & Hill. He spent the last two years of his law 
course with D. & W. Rumsey at Bath N. Y., and was admitted to the bar at Roch- 
ester, N. Y. , October 22, 1874. For three years thereafter he was managing clerk 
of the law firm of Rumsey & Miller at Bath. 

On October 24, 1879, he married Miss Emma G. White, of Cohocton, N. Y. , and 
on November 1 of that year he opened a law office at Hammondsport, where he 
has ever since practiced. During which time he has built up a large and profitable 
practice, and is now considered one of the best lawyers of his age in the county. 

He has always been an active Republican and one of the leaders of his party in 
the county for the past twelve years. He has placed many others in office, but he 
prefers for himself the practice of law to office holding. 

He has been village attorney for many years and counsel for the large wine com- 
panies at Hammondsport, and also attorney for the railroad and steamboat com- 
panies there. He is also treasurer of the Lake Keuka Wine Co. 

He has an adopted daughter and two young, sons. 



HARRY C. HEERMANS. 

H.\RRv C. Heerm.vns is a native of West Virginia, born at Fellowsville, Preston 
county, June 3, 18.52. He is the son of John and Nancy Heermans, both natives of 
Luzerne county. Pa. The family moved to Corning from Scranlon, Pa., in 1863. 
Mr. Heermans was graduated from the Corning Free Academy in the class of 1870, 
after which he entered Wesleyan University in the regular classical course, grad- 
uating in 1875 and receiving in course an honorary degree in 1878. After leaving col- 
lege he began the study of law in the office of Brown & Hadden at Corning. In 
1877 he became identified with the real estate business by entering the office of the 



44 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Fellows estate, of which his father was the sole trustee. In the latter portion of the 
year 1876 the trustees of the village of Corning vainly sought to make some disposi- 
tion of the local water works system, originally constructed for fire protection only, 
and which was then a source of continual vexation and expense to the village. 

Proposals were asked for and none received. Then Mr. Heermans, with Thomas 
Lawrence, proposed to lease the plant for a term of years and assume all responsi- 
bility for its proper management, extension and maintenance, though he met with 
discouraging advice from his best friends and the strongest possible objection from 
his father. Plowever, he acted independently and determined to operate the works 
and if possible place the system on a paying basis. The lease was made by the vil- 
lage authorities to him and his partner. Thereupon, by the investment of private 
funds and in the face of many ob.stacles and discouraging objections the works were 
placed on a successful basis. 

In the history of the city of Corning the reader will find a more complete and de- 
tailed narrative of the origin and development of the water supply system, but we 
may here state that whatever this system has become the whole credit therefor is 
due to Harry C. Heermans and his partner, Thomas Lawrence. During the term of 
eighteen years the city has been abundantly supplied with pure and wholesome 
water, ample fire protection has been furnished without cost to the city and in all 
respects Corning has a water system as complete and reliable as any municipality of 
equal size in the State. 

Notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Heermans is constantly engaged in the man- 
agement of the Water Company he has other important business interests in the city 
and elsewhere. The firm of Heermans & Lawrence are well known in this section 
as contractors in steam heating and plumbing work and supplies. He is a member 
of the firm of Heermans & Co., druggists, formed in 1882 and now doing business in 
Corning. He has been president of the Ontario Land Co. of Duluth, Minn., since 
its organization in 1886, now controlling large properties in various States. He is 
also president of other land companies and corporations in the Western States. In 
the management of these concerns he has been successful. 

In 1878 Mr. Heermans first acted as city engineer of Corning and has ever since 
been more or less identified with that department of local government. In 1884 he 
was employed to report a sewer system for the village, which was constructed in 
1886 and years following, acting at the time of construction as consulting engineer. 
In 1886 he devised a plan and constructed the water works system of Wellsboro, Pa., 
and in 1893 a similar works in Westfield, Pa. He is now city engineer in charge 
of the pavements, sewers and street railway work. He was for several years chief 
engineer of the fire department and is one of the managers of the Corning Library 
Association. 

In politics he is a Republican, firm in his advocacy of party principles, yet never 
so radical in expression as to offend his political opponents. In 1886 he was elected 
supervisor of the town and re-elected in 1887, in the latter year serving as chairman 
of the board. 

Mr. Heermans is a member of the First Presbyterian church of Corning and one of 
the trustees of the society. He has been twice married; first in 1878 to Ella Weston, 
daughter of Abijah Weston, of Painted Post. She died in 1880. In 1886 he married 
Annie L. Townsend, daughter of Edward E. Townsend, of Erwin. Four children 




GEORGE RENCHAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 45 

have been born of the second marriage: Ruth, Joseph Fellows, Jerome Townsend. 
and Helen De Kay. 

Mr. Heermans has ever been identiticd with the progressive spirit of the city of 
Corning and has been active in the work neces.sary to .secure new enterprises in the 
town. 



(iHORCE RENCHAN. 

Gf.orc.k Renchan was born in the town of Wheeler, Steuben county, N. Y., the 
23d of Sejitember. 1814. His advantages for an education were limited to the com- 
mon schools of his town, which he attended during the winter terms until he was 
eighteen years of age, and one term after he became of age. He then commenced 
the carpenter's trade without serving time as an ajiprentice, and built houses, barns, 
mills, etc., and met with unparalleled success. Many of the buildings he constructed 
are still in existence. He continued this occupation until he was thirty-five years of 
age, when he bought the farm on which he now resides and which he has occupied 
ever since. On the 31st of January, 1849, he married Sarah Rose, a daughter of 
Sherman H. Rose, of the town of Wheeler. Mr. Renchan has done a large farming 
business and is still engaged in that notwithstanding his advanced age. He has kept 
as many as four hiuidred .sheep, and up to the time of the change in the tariff by the 
Democratic party during the second term of Grover Cleveland as president, since 
which time the production of wool has been un])rofitable, and he has abandoned that 
branch of farming. He has done, also, a large business in the manufacture of lum- 
ber. In 1852 he built a large steam saw mill (one of the largest in the State), on his 
farm, and operated it about twenty-five years. The products of the mill, consisting 
of lumber, lath and shingles, were immense, exceeded by no other mill in the State. 
It is now operated by his son, Charles M. 

Mr. Renchan in politics has been a Republican since the formation of that party, 
and a staunch .supporter of its measures. Has never been an aspirant for public 
place or honors, but during the great civil war he was active in his support of the 
government, and worked untiringly with others in securing volunteers to fill his 
town's quota, giving liberally of his means for paying bounties and buying substi- 
tutes. 

Mr. Renchan united with the Methodist church of Wheeler Center about fifty years 
ago, and has been a liberal supporter of the same all these years. 'Our subject is a 
noble example of the self-made man. Commencing life with absolutely no advan- 
tages such as are enjoyed by the great majority of the youth of our country, he has 
hewn his way to a success that is highly creditable, and has been attained only by 
the most determined effort and untiring industry, and now at the advanced age of 
eighty-one years is a most remarkably well-preserved man, and in the possession of 
his faculties to a wonderful degree. 

Mr. and Mrs. Renchan have had but one child that has grown to maturity, a son, 
Charles M., whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. By adoption, when 
she was seven months old, Mr. Renchan has a daughter, Dell, who is now the wife 
of C. C. Cook, agent of the 1^., L. & W. R. R. at Kanonah, Steuben county, N. Y. 



46 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

DWIGHT A. FULLER. 

DwiGHT A. Fi'LLER was bom in the village of Cazenovia, Madison county, on the 
38th day of June, 1815. His young life was spent in the same vicinity and at the 
little hamlet called New Woodstock, where he learned the trade of tanner. In sell- 
ing the product of the tannery young Fuller frequently visited the Chemung valley, 
Elmira, Corning and Addison being the principal points for trade. At the village first 
named he saw an opportunity to start a leather business and at once made prepara- 
tions to move there, but when he arrived he found the field had been taken in the 
meantime, and not caring to enter into competition, and declining an offer of a part- 
nership, he came to Corning. This was in 1846, from which year to the time of his 
death, with the exception of a single year, he was a resident of Corning or 
its immediate vicinity, and was identified with the best interests and history of the 
growing village. 

However, in Corning Mr. Fuller did not follow his trade to any considerable extent, 
as in 1847 he became connected with the grocery business, and continued it until his 
store was burned in the disastrous fire of May, 1850. This was a serious loss to him, 
as well as to manv other local merchants, and we ne.xt find him landlord of the old 
Western House, then the principal hotel of the village, standing at the corner of 
State and Market streets. This hotel was succeeded by the Terrett House on the 
same site, of which Mr. Fuller was also proprietor until about 1857, when he sold out 
and moved to Illinois. After a year in the West, during which time he was engaged 
in business as commission merchant, he returned to Corning and opened a grocery in 
the Cowley block, and for several years afterward was an active merchant of the vil- 
lage, and was also one of the proprietors of the old Arcade. 

In 1865 George W. Fuller leased the Dickinson House, throughout the period of 
its history the leading hotel of the village and subsequent city. Mr. Fuller, our sub- 
ject, took an earnest interest in the success of the house and gave much attention to 
its management. About the year 1870 he became the owner of the well-known 
Fuller farm, now within the city limits, on which he afterward lived, supplying the 
hotel with products of the farm. In fact these properties were managed together in 
the common interest of the owners ; and we may truthfully add that in no family in 
Corning has there been shown more devoted loyalty among its members than in the 
Fuller household. The interest of one has been the common interest of all, there- 
fore, when on May 18, 1890, the destroyer invaded the home circle and removed the 
head of the family the blow came upon the surviving members with unusual severity, 
although at the time of his death Mr. Fuller had passed the allotted "threescore 
years and ten." 

Although a man of naturally quiet and conservative habits, Dwight A. Fuller was 
known for many years as one of the most genial, hospitable and generous landlords 
in the Southern Tier. In the capacity of host and entertainer he showed to the best 
advantage, yet within the sacred precincts of home his true and loyal nature was 
fully displayed. He was public spirited and generous, especially kind to the poor, 
and many indeed were the occasions on which he gave relief to distressed applicants 
of which tne public never heard. He was also much interested in Corning and its 
institutions, and while he was an infiuential man in local affairs he never sought 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 47 

political prefermeut. However, in 1860, he was appointed postmaster by President 
Buchanan, succeeding the late Charles C. B. Walker, holding ofhce one year, and 
being in turn succeeded by Col. C. H. Thompson. 

In 1839 Dwight A. Fuller was married to Jane Merrick, of New Woodstock. Of 
their six children only two are now living, George \V. Fuller and Dwight L.- Fuller, 
owners and proprietors of the Dickin.son House. Their aged mother is also a mem- 
ber of the household and is cheerfully furnished with everything that can in any way 
contribute to her personal comfort. 



WILLIAM \V. ADAMS. 

William W. Adams, mayor of Coming, was born in the town of Otsego, Otsego 
county, August 14, 1843. He came to Coming with his parents in 1850, where he 
acquired his education in the public schools. At the age of nineteen years he entered 
the employ of the Fall Brook Railway Company, where by close application to his 
duties he was advanced in standing, now occupying the position of general store- 
keeper and chief accountant in the motive power department. He has been vice- 
president of the Hood Furnace and Supply Company since its organization, and is 
also a director of the Corning Loan Association. 

Mr. Adams is a member and one of the trustees of the First Presbyterian church. 
He has always been an active Republican, believing firmly in the party and its prin- 
ciples. Although not an aspirant for political honors, he was tendered the nomina- 
tion for mayor at the city convention in 1894, and after some hesitation was induced 
to accept. As mayor he has been careful, conservative and conscientious, nol shirk- 
ing any responsibility, and having at heart only the interests of the city, regardless 
of party. 

On the (ith of January, 1870, William W. Adams was married to Frances E. 
L)e Wolf, only daughter of Hiram De Wolf, one of the pioneers of Corning. 



O. W. WELLINGTON. 

QuiNCV WiNTiiRoi' Wki.i.ington, who for more than thirty years has been known 
in banking and business circles in the Southern Tier, was a native of the old 
historic town of Moriah. Essex county, N. Y., born December 27, 1832. Ilis father 
was Samuel Barney Wellington, a native of Vermont, born September 7, 1805, and 
his mother was Amelia Green, born in Saratoga county, June 39, 1813. Samuel and 
Amelia were the parents of seven children, of whom our subject was the second in 
order of birth. 

Samuel B. Wellington was a lumberman and that pursuit brought him from Ver- 
mont into Essex county, N. Y.,and still later, in 1849. he moved his family to Tioga, 
Pa., where he afterward lived and died. During the long course of his business life, 
Mr. Wellington accumulated three fortunes, but just as frequently reverses came and 
swept them away, and he died possessed of little means, yet was ever known as a man 



48 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of straightforward honesty and integrity. Quincy W. Wellington, the subject of this 
sketch, attended school until he was fourteen years old, and then found a position as 
clerk in a store in Tioga. He was employed in this manner until 1852, when he 
formed a partnership with C W. Etz, under the style of Etz & Wellington, general 
merchants. He lived in Tioga until the death of his father, on March 1, 1854, then 
sold out his interest and moved to Corning. For three or four years he wasemployed 
as clerk in the office of the Erie railroad company, and in 1859 became clerk and book- 
keeper in the George Washington bank. Three years later, in 1863, our young man 
left the bank and in partnership with Samuel Russell, jr., organized y. W. Welling- 
ton & Co.'s Bank, which has withstood the ravages of time and financial disaster and 
panic, and to-day stands among the most solid and safe financial institutions of this 
State. Its capital is $100,000, with a surplus and undivided profits amounting to 
8145,000 additional. In 1866 Mr. Russell retired from the firm and Mr. Wellington 
contmued its management as sole owner until 1884, when his son, Benjamin Wick- 
ham Wellington, became his active partner. According to the report of the condi- 
tion at the close of business, September 28, 1895, the resources of the bank amounted 
to the sum of §929,000, and the deposit account aggregates almost $690,000. 

At first the business of the Wellington bank was necessarily small, but by careful 
investments and good judgment, the owner's means increased, and the field of opera- 
tion became enlarged until it extended throughout the county and even beyond its 
borders, and yuincy W. Wellington soon became known as one of the most success- 
ful business men and bankers of the region. Although constantly occupied with the 
affairs of the bank, our subject has nevertheless found time for other duties than 
purely personal concerns, and has given .substantial co-operation to every enterprise 
which tended to promote the interests of the town and county. Unselfish and un- 
stinted have been his contributions for all public purposes, and no deserving charity 
ever appealed to him in vain. Although a firm Republican in political preference, 
Mr. Wellington has not taken an active part in that field of action, yet is well in- 
formed on all the leading questions of the day. He is a regular attendant at Christ 
church and one of the vestry. On the 13th day of May, 1857, Quincy W. Wellington 
was married to Matilda B. Wickham, the daughter of Benjamin C. Wickham, of 
Tioga, Pa. Of this marriage six children have been born, viz; Benjamin W., now 
partner with his father; Catherine Amelia, of Corning; Samuel Barney, who died in 
infancy; Adalaide Louise, wife of Alanson Bigelow Houghton; Sarah Etz, of Corn- 
ing ; and Emily Clara, who died in infancy. 



THOMAS G. HAWKES. 

Aiior 1 the middle of the sixteenth century, during the dark and unfortunate period 
of the Reformation, in which all Western Europe was swept by a succession of re- 
ligious wars, strifes and contentions, and in which Protestant Christians were intol- 
erantly treated and prosecuted and frequently burned, Thomas Hawkes suffered 
death at the stake. His gravest ofTen.se against the papal authority and decree was a 
deep-seated conviction of right, a sincere Christian faith, and an upright Christian 
example by which both faith and life were evinced; and nowhere was his character 




'^^9^'t^^^^^^^'tr^ 





BIOGRAPHICAL. 49 

more strikingly manifested than in Ihc noble defense of his course when arraigned 
before both the bishop and the earl. His trial was the hollow mockery of justice 
which marked the era; he was condemned, and on the lOth day of June, A. U. 1555, 
was put to the stake. Mediaeval history informs us that Thomas Haw'kes, the 
martyr, was of Saxon origin, born in Esse.x. "in calling and profession a courtier, 
brought up daintily, and like a gentleman." 

One hundred and twenty years after this event (in 1726) John Hawkes, the settler, 
direct descendant from Thomas Hawkes, the martyr, left Worcestershire, England, 
and invested largely in lands in Ireland. He founded Monteen Castle, in County 
Cork, a noted estate in later years, and here he lived in affluence and comfort, one of 
the landed gentry. The settler had three sons, John, Charles, and William, and one 
daughter, Katherine. 

John Hawkes, eldest son of the settler, was born at Monteen Castle in the year 
1727, and afterward became the owner of large estates in County Cork, one being 
Surmount, on which some of his descendants have ever since lived. He attained addi- 
tional prominence as a captain of the Sup])lementary Yeoman Corps, an organization 
admirably equipped and liberally supported, yet serving without compensation. From 
this connection John Hawkes was dignified with the title of captain. He, too, lived 
in ease and affluence and was a man of education and dignified bearing. Indeed, 
pride without vanity, refined tastes, and dignity of demeanor, have been dominant 
traits of character in the Hawkes family in Ireland from the tmie of the settler to the 
present owner of Surmount. The martyr was a man of refined culture and learning. 
Capt. John Hawkes was twice married; first to Abagail, daughter of Henry Prettie, 
esq., and neice of Sir John Mead of the town of Kinsale. She bore him one daugh- 
ter, Katherine.' His second marriage was with Bridget, eldest daughter of Samuel 
Wakeley, alderman of the city of Cork.^' Four sons and five daughters were the 
issue of this marriage, among whom .Samuel, father to yuale Welsted Hawkes, was 
the fourth child. 

Samuel Hawkes married Sally Penrose, fourth daughter of Samuel and Mary 
(Randall) Penrose, of Waterford, County Cork, both representatives of families of 
position and inriuence among the gentry of Ireland." To Samuel and Sally Penrose 
Hawkes were born nine sous and two daughters, Quayle Welsted being the sixth son 
and seventh child. Samuel Hawkes founded Hawkemount, another noted estate in 
County Cork, where his life was passed, and where he reared his large and interest- 
ing family. 

(Juayle Welsted Hawkes. present owner of Surmount, was born in County Cork 
eighty-four years ago, yet despite his age is still a splendid specimen of physical 
manhood, also retaining much of his former mental vigor, and still delights to follow 
the hunt, showing all the apparent zeal of half a century ago He married Jane Gib- 
bons, second daughter of Thomas Gibbons, banker, of Fitz William Square, iJublin. 
The issue of this marriage was nine sons and four daughters, all of whom, save two, 

' Katherine Hawks married Herbet Gillman, esq., whose claujfhter Ellen married Sir Samuel 
Moore. 

' Bridget Wakely's mother, Sarah Hale, was seeond daughter to .Sir Matthew Hale, chief 
justice of the Court of King's Bench; he was born at Alderley, County (lloucester, um. 
' See " Burke's Landed (ientry of Great Britain and Ireland." 



so LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

are now living. In order of birth they are as follows: Samuel, a highly educated 
and successful physician of Wansted, a suburb of London, and who died May 21, 
1891; Sarah Anne, Thomas Gibbons (of Corning, N. Y.), Quayle Welsted, Devonsher 
Penrose, John Gibbons, Henry, John Pim Penrose, Catherine Chamney (deceased), 
William, Richard Welsted, Mary Gibbons and Elizabeth Lombard. 

Thomas Gibbous Hawkes was born at Surmount, September 2.5, 1846. He was 
educated at Queen's College, city of Cork, where he remained two years, studying 
civil engineering, but before his course was completed, impelled bjj love of adventure 
and a desire to visit the United States, he came to New York in company with a 
former classmate, who was then purser on the steamer. Landing in the city, our 
young man was possessed of just ten pounds; half of which he was obliged to spend 
to replace his overcoat which he had the misfortune to lose. He was pleased with 
the city and the business manner of its people and looked about earnestly for em- 
ployment but found none. He then determined to return home, and accordingly 
went to the steamer to arrange for his passage when chance brought him into 
acquaintance with John Hoare, then senior partner in the firm of Hoare i.^- Dailey, 
practical glass-cutters doing business in the city m connection with the Brooklyn 
Flint Glass Company. This meeting resulted in the employment of young Hawkes 
in the works of the firm, in the capacity of draughtsman, with whom he remained 
imtil 1868, when he came to Corning with the company. However, after the removal 
Mr. Hawkes continued with Mr. Hoare's cutting department until 1880, as employee, 
though during a portion of the time he had an interest in the business. Indeed, this 
young man was so constitued by nature that he could not long rest satisfied in the 
position of draughtsman. He proved faithful to every duty assigned him and when 
not otherwise engaged it was his custom to take the product of the shops and sell 
to the trade in large cities. More than this, he became thoroughly acquainted with 
every detail of the art of glass cutting, in which direction there seems to have been 
an inherent trait in his character. 

Digressing briefly from the general narrative, the statement may be made that 
Thomas Hawkes, of Dudley, was one of the most prominent of the old Midland 
glass masters, for whom the claim is made, says the Pottery Gazette (an English 
trade journal), that he was the first to introduce deep cut glass into England. It 
was " Hawkes of Dudley " who built the three grand gas chandeliers which attracted 
so much attention at the once famous Highbury Barn dancing rooms. From the 
" History of glass making in .Staffordshire" we learn that in 1805, Thomas, George 
and Abiathar Hawkes were glass manufacturers; also that "Abiathar was a candi- 
date for Dudley prior to the first election in 1832, but retired from the field. Thomas 
Hawkes was M. P. for Dudley, February, 1834-July, 1845, when he resigned." In 
explaining their retirement from business life, the Gazette says: " T. Hawkes, Dud- 
ley, worked three works in that town. His family have been absorbed in the aris- 
tocracy, and trade now knows them not. Thomas was the last of three brothers." 
We need only add that the brothers Hawkes of Dudley were related to the an- 
cestors of Thomas G. Hawkes, of Corning. Their arms and crest were the same. 

In the year 1880 Mr. Hawkes became proprietor of a glass cutting works in the vil- 
lage of Corning, beginning in a small way for his means were limited, and this was 
his first venture in a comparatively new field of action and one in which success de- 
pended alike on careful management and superior quality of product ; and in the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 51 

light of subsequent results we may well say that he made no mistake in judgment 
when he chose his pursuit and undertook its supervision in every department. A 
substantial fortune is the reward of bis industry and business capacity, while the fact 
that the " Hawkes goods" in rich and deep cut glass are known and received as 
standard almost throughout the world, establishes a character for probity and integ- 
rity which is priceless. It is a known fact, too, with the trade that the output of T. 
G. Hawkes & Co. requires no examination whatever on the part of the purchaser. 
It is not surprising, therefore, that the shop which in 1S80 employed less than twenty 
workmen has enlarged in fifteen years to furnish almost constant employment to 
nearly two hundred and fifty men. As evidence of the perfection attained in the 
manufacture of rich glass wares in these shops, the statement mav be made that at 
the famous Paris Exposition in 1.SS9, in competition with the world, the Hawkes ex- 
hibit was awarded the grand prize. Many of the pieces comprising that display 
were purchased by the nobility of Europe, and several of them by members of royal 
families. Two other noted pieces of glassware, the product of the Hawkes .shops, 
which have attracted attention on both sides of the Atlantic, were the crystal bowls 
described in the Pottery Gazette as the "finest pieces yet made by any manufacturer, 
and for beauty and perfection of cutting they are une.xcelled." One of these bowls 
was owned and highly prized by the late George W. Childs, philanthropist and jour- 
nalist. 

To accomplish the results indicated in the preceding narrative, it must be seen 
that the business life of Thomas G. Hawkes has been one of constant activity, for all 
departments of his now extensive shops are under his immediate personal supervi- 
sion. Notwithstanding this, he has found time for other duties, especially those de- 
signed to promote the welfare of Corning and its people. A glance at the records of 
various local institutions discloses the fact that for two years he filled the position of 
chief engineer of the fire department, and that he is now an active member of the 
Board of Trade, also vice-president of the City Club. He is a consistent member of 
Christ church, and one of its vestry. He is a strong Republican and pronounced 
Protectionist, yet takes part in politics only in the interest of friends. His public 
spiritedne.ss, too, is undoubted, as every measure for the public good finds in him a 
generous friend and liberal supporter. But it is at the fireside, as well as in the 
office, when unburdened of care and work, that his most pleasing traits are exhibited. 
His devotion to parents and home and family, his pride of ancestry, his genial char- 
acter, his loyalty to friends, his well trained mind, his literary taste, all combine to 
make him one of the most interesting of companions. Indeed, the love of birthplace 
and parents impels Mr. Hawkes to make annual visits to Surmount, frequently 
accompanied with wife and children ; and within a recent date he has become the 
owner of Inniscarra House and lands, conveniently situated between Surmount and 
the estate of Sir George Colthrust of Blarney Ca.stle. 

On the 15th day of June, in the year 1876, Thomas G. Hawkes was married to 
Charlotte Isidore, second daughter of the late Walter Bissell, of Corning. Of this 
marriage three children have been born : Samuel, Charlotte Jane and Alice Luella. 
This is not the place wherein to write of the domestic virtues of those whose lives 
are sketched, but if a kind and indulgent husband and parent are to be reckoned as 
a subject of comment, then the sweet word "home " never had better exemplification 
than in the household of Thomas Gibbons Hawkes. 



52 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

JOHN HOARE. 

John Hoare, more familiarly known, however, among his intimate friends as 
Captain Hoare, was a native of Ireland, born in the city of Cork, April 12, 1822, and 
was the oldest but one of the large family of children of James and Mary (Courtney) 
Hoare. He learned the trade of glass cutting with his father in Belfast, and after- 
wards, at the age of twenty years, left Ireland for England, where (in Birmingham) 
he worked as journeyman for Rice Harris, proprietor of the old establishment at the 
Five Ways; also for Thomas Webb, at Wordsley ; after this acting as foreman and 
traveling salesman for the finii of Edward Lacey & Son, of Birmingham. He was 
also foreman for Lloyd & .Summerfield (The Park Glass Company), one of the oldest 
glass houses in England. In 1848 Mr. Hoare began business for himself, and in 1853 
came to New York with his family, the extent of his finances on landing at Phila- 
delphia being just half a sovereign. However, he was one of the most skillful and 
experienced glass cutters then in this country, hence had no difficulty in finding a 
good situation. In New York he began work for E. V. Haughworth & Company on 
Broadway, and after one year, with five partners, formed a glass cutting firm, he, 
however, being the active man of the concern. After two years Mr. Hoare bought 
the interests of two members of tne firm and then organized under the name of 
Hoare & Burns. This partnership continued until 1855, when our subject purchased 
and became proprietor of the glass cutting department of the Brooklyn Flint Glass 
Company, buying its tools and machinery. In the same year the old and well known 
firm of Gould & Hoare was formed, and continued until 1861, then being succeeded 
bv Hoare & Dailey, who were in business until 1868, when the senior partner came 
to Corning. However, Mr. Hoare retained for several years his business interests in 
New York city, at the corner of White and Elm streets, and also at Greenpoint, 
Long Island. 

In 1868 Captain Hoare moved his glass cutting business from Brooklyn to Corning, 
upon the formation of the Corning Flint Glass Company, and has since been a 
resident of the city, although the firm still maintains an office and salesroom in New 
York city. The business career of our subject in Corning is too well known to re- 
quire any extended comment in this sketch, yet the statement must be made in full 
justice to him that among the men who have contributed to the establishment of the 
splendid industry of glass making and rich glass cutting in Corning, none is entitled 
to greater honor than John Hoare. In every department and detail of the art of 
glass cutting Captain Hoare is skilled, whether as designer or practical cutter. 
Indeed, in many respects he was a pioneer of the industry in America ; he was the 
first man who turned glass in a lathe, and to-day his strongest and most formidable 
competitors in business are men who learned the art of designing and glass cutting 
in his shops and under his personal instruction. In the several exhibitions in which 
the Hoare wares have been displayed, they have always been awarded the highest 
prize. We refer especially to the State exhibits in Boston, Philadelphia and Balti- 
more, and in each case the prize article was presented to Mr. Hoare's principal 
customer in each city. At the World's Fair in Chicago, the famous Columbian E.\- 
hibitiou, in 1893, the display made by the Hoare shops was awarded four medals, 
Nos. 2915, 2916, 2917 and 2918, for first, rich quality of cut glassware; second, 




'ttnp^ 



.11- '■'■^ 




/ 



<^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 53 

artistic designs; third, perfection i>f finish, including depth of cutting; fourth, 
symmetrical shapes. 

Notwithstanding Mr. Hoare's seventy-three years, he is still an active man. 
Whether m the shops, at the fireside, or at the lodge, he is always the same genial 
and entertaining companion and generous host. He takes but little part in the 
political affairs of the city or county, yet is a thorough Republican and Protectionist. 
He became a member of the Masonic order in 18.").5, joining Star of Bethlehem Lodge 
of Brooklyn, and has since advanced through the highest branches to the thirty- 
second degree. He has also taken all the degrees of Odd Fellowship, and is a mem- 
ber of the Knights of Honor. In Brooklyn, in 1861. he joined the National Guard; 
was a member of the Military Association at Albany, and in England became a 
Forester. Captain Hoare has been a vesti-yman in Christ church for more than 
twenty years, and for several years has been senior warden. He is regarded as a 
public-spirited and upright citizen. 

On the 16th of November, 1845, John Hoare was married to Catherine Dailey. Of 
this marriage eight children were born, si.x of whom grew to maturity, and four are 
now living. The six are James, of the present firm of J. Hoare & Company; 
Catharine, who married William J. White; Minnie, wife of William H. Sayles; 
John, jr.. who died at the age of thirty, while he was the valued superintendent of 
the cutting works; Timothy, who died at thirty-one; Joseph A., a physician of 
Corning, and the only son who adopted an occupation other than some branch of 
glass cutting. 



FRAXKLIX X. DRAKE. 

In the town of Milton, Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 1st day of December, 
1817, Franklin Nelson Drake was born. His father was Elijah Drake, a farmer in 
modest circumstances, yet hard working and industrious. He died in 1829, when 
Franklin was only twelve years old. His mother was Polly Tambling, a most esti- 
mable woman, native of Lee, Berkshire county, Mass. After the death of her hus- 
band the widow married Christopher Cadman, and the family soon joined the tide of 
emigration to the Genesee country in New York State, settling at Le Roy, Genesee 
county. Here the youth of Franklin was spent, at .school only a short time, for he 
was the seventh son in a large family and was early put to work. At the age of fif- 
teen years he began as clerk in a drug store in Le Roy, remaining there three years, 
after which he spent one year in the west. Still another year was spent in a drug 
store in New York city, when he returned to Le Roy and with the little amount he 
had saved from his wages opened a grocery and hardware store in the village. This 
was the goal of his ambition at the time, but the changes of the succeeding fifteen 
years opened to him the possibilities of still greater successes in larger and perhaps 
more hazardous fields of business action. After fourteen years of fair success as mer- 
chant Mr. Drake disposed of his stock at Le Roy, and in partnership with H. D. 
Graves and Harrison Harvey, under the firm name of H. D. Graves & Co., purchased 
a large tract of timber land in the tmvn of Cohoclon, Steuben county, and soon be- 
gan operations as manufacturers and dealers in lumber, shipping their product to 



64 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

northern markets for sale. Their first mill was about three miles from Cohocton 
village (then known as Liberty) on the road leading to Loon Lake. However, a 
change was .soon made in the personnel of the firm, Graves and Harvey retiring and 
Z. Waterman becoming partner with Mr. Drake. But Mr. Waterman proved an 
unsuccessful lumberman and operator, and the result was his early retirement from 
the firm, leaving our subject sole owner and proprietor. Ttown to this time and 
throughout the several changes in partnership relations the business had been reason- 
ably successful, yet it was by no means as extensive as Mr. Drake desired it to be, 
for he saw that larger and more rapid operations meant grand success from a finan- 
cial point of view. His partners did not hold the same opinion, hence the change in 
the firm. 

In the early part of 18til the firm of F. N. Drake & Co. was organized, the partners 
being Franklin N. Drake, George W. Drake and Thomas Warner. The operations 
of this firm were the most extensive of all in the history of lumbenng in the Conhoc- 
ton valley. The senior partner was the active manager of the enterprise, and he 
was earnestly assisted by his associates, neither of whom was at all timid in making 
large investments. At one time in its history the firm operated six mills, the annual 
output from which aggregated 15,000,000 feet of pine and hemlock lumber. They 
continued business throughout the period of the war. when prices were high in every 
market, and the result of their management was a substantial fortune for each of the 
partners. In 1866 the firm wasdissolved. Franklin N. and George W. Drake retiring, 
and Mr. Warner continued the business. 

Although F. N. Drake sold his interest in the lumbering enterprise in the Conhoc- 
ton valley, and in the next year, 1867, took up his residence at the village of Corn- 
ing, he by no means retired from active business pursuits. To be sure he then pos- 
sessed a fortune, but he had also demonstrated the fact that he possessed the capacity 
to originate and successfully direct large enterprises, and his past experiences only 
served to stimulate him to still greater exertions in future operations. While in busi- 
ness in Cohocton Mr. Drake had joined a company in the purchase of a large tract of 
timber and coal lands near Blossburg, Pennsylvania, the development and operation 
of which called for the construction of a railroad in order to secure the best results. 
This led to the organization of the Bloss Coal-Mining and Railroad Company, of 
which Mr. Drake was the general superintendent, or, as he was in fact, active man- 
ager of the whole enterprise. 

Still further, in carrying out the objects of the organization, in 1867 Mr. Drake 
purchased the Tioga Railroad, and waseleetedpresident of that reorganized company. 
Through his efforts, in 1876, the line of the road was extended to the city of Elmira, 
thus giving it an additional value both in frieght and passenger traffic and otherwise 
materially improving its condition. However, in 1871, the Bloss-Coal Mining and 
Railroad Company was sold to the Blossburg Coal Company, and of the last men- 
tioned corporation Franklin N. Drake was elected president ; which statement im- 
plies the ownership of a controlling interest in the capital stock of the company, and 
also the actual direction of its policy and business. Such was the case, and the re- 
mark is frequently made in financial circles that whatever measure of success was 
accomplished through the enterprise, it was due almost entirely to the energy, sagac- 
ity and excellent judgment of the managing officer. During the years 1870 and '71 
Mr. Drake was director of the Erie railroad, yet his chief attention was given to the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 55 

management of the several companies previously mentioned. However, all these 
various railroad interests were sold to the Erie road in 1881. Mr. Drake was ever 
awake to the interests of Corning, and every measure tending to promote the general 
good found in him an earnest advocate and generous supporter. In 1882 he organized 
the First National Bank, with a capital of .$.5(1,000, and was elected its first president, 
holding that office uutil the time of his death. December 28, 1892. Except for the 
united efforts of Mr. Drake and Amory Houghton, jr., it is doubtful if Corning would 
ever have posses.sed the beautiful opera house which now ornaments the city. Like 
instances of his public spiritedness and liberality might be counted by the dozen, 
but are not deemed essential in this place. 

Such is a brief resume of the principal business operations of Franklin N. Drake. 
If it indicates anything it is that he was a remarkable man in his capacity to grasp 
and successfully direct large enterprises. In such undertakings, the details of which 
would distract and paralyze the powers of men less favorably constituted for such 
operations, he seemed to see the end from the beginning. He looked over his ground, 
formed his own judgment with rapidity and almost certain accuracy, and after that 
proceeded to the execution of his plans with the serene confidence that all would end 
according to his expectations. He was, as must be seen, a very busy man; but his 
manifold interests never worried him; in all these his power was sufficient for any 
emergency and his time adequate for all requirements. While not a man of finished 
education, for his early opportunities were indeed limited, his fund of general know- 
ledge was comprehensive and useful, and was underlaid with sound common sense 
and an excellent judgment of men and affairs. Behind all this was a character noted 
wherever his name was known for sterling integrity that causes his name to be loved 
and revered. Although a close reader and observer of all that took place in public 
life he was not iictive in politics. However, while living in Cohocton, Mr. Drake 
served two years, (1863-1864) as member of the Board of Supervisors. 

Franklin X. Drake married (in 1840) Abigail, daughter of Giles Manwarring, of 
Bethany, Genesee county. To them were born three sons and three daughters, of 
whom only two sons reached manhood. Of these Henry attained the age of twenty- 
six years, and died in 1873. Except for the work of the destroyer, the domestic life 
of Mr. Drake was all that could be desired, as he pos.sessed both means and disposi- 
tion to provide his family with every luxury which adds to the pleasure of home. 



GEORGE B. BRADLEY. 

Gf.ori;k Bi-x Kwrni Bk.mu.ia, who now retires from the Supreme Court bench by 
reason of having attained the age limitation of seventy years, and who carries with 
him into retirement from the judicial office he has filled so well and honorably the 
sincere admiration and respect of the entire bar of the State, has been associated 
with the legal profession in Steuben county for almost half a century. In 1848, the 
same year in which he was admitted to practice. Judge Bradley came to Addison, 
thence in the course of a few months moved to Woodhull, practicing law at the latter 
place about four years. In the fall of 18.")2 he located permanently at Corning and 
at once began active practice in the rapidly growing village. 



56 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

George B. Bradley was born in the town of Greene, Chenango county, N. Y., on 
the 5th day of February, 182.5, and was the younger of two children of Orlo F. and 
Julia (Carter) Bradley. His father was a farmer, and George was brought up to 
farm work, attending district school m the winter. However, he did succeed, wholl)' 
through his own exertions, in obtaining a two years' course of .study at the old 
Ithaca Academy, after which he began reading law in Greene, using Judge Monell's 
office and library. He finished his studies at Fulton in the office of James Crombie, 
and at O.swego in May, 1848, was admitted to practice. He then came to Steuben 
county, practicing a few months at Addison, where his sister then lived. 

In his early professional career Judge Bradley showed commendable zeal and 
activity and was soon recognized among the leading young lawyers of the Southern 
Tier. In the conduct of his legal business he was methodical, cautious, and some- 
times laborious, and it has been said by lawyers who knew him well that he never 
went into court with a case unless it was thoroughly prepared for trial. However, it 
was his policy to discountenance rather than promote litigation, and a glance at the 
old court calendars shows his name as attorney for the defense far more frequently 
tlian for the plaintiff; and in his intercourse with clients, mature deliberation always 
preceded counsel. Before the jury he addressed himself to the understanding of his 
hearers instead of appealing to their passions, and approached the subject m hand 
with dignity and self-possession, and in the light of principle and common sense. 

Naturally a lawyer of such characteristics, and also pcssessing the respect, confi- 
dence and esteem of his fellow men, could not well avoid being drawn somewhat 
into the arena of politics, though the principles he has maintained and advocated 
have not been in accord with those of the dominant party in the county. Neverthe- 
less he has been pressed into the field as the Democratic candidate (though seldom of 
his own choice), when personal and professional influence and popularity, it was 
hoped, might turn the scale ot doubtful contest. 

hi 185Hour subject was nominated for Congress in the district composed of Steuben 
and Livingston counties, and was defeated by William Irvine. In 1871 he was the 
Democratic nominee for the State Senate in the district then comprising the counties 
of Steuben, Chemung and Schuyler, and was defeated by Col. Gabriel T. Harrower, 
though by a very small majority. In 1873 he was again in the field for the same 
office, and was elected by more than two thousand majority. He was re-elected in 
187.'). Two years later he was defeated by Ira Davenport, the rich and popular can- 
didate of the Republican party. He was a member of the Constitutional Commis- 
sion of 1872-73. In 1878 Mr. Bradley was the Democratic nominee for the office of 
Judge of the Court of Appeals, but was defeated at the polls by George F. Danforth, 
one of the ablest lawyers and most popular candidates in Western New York. In 
1883 our subject was nominated and elected Justice of the Supreme Court, and soon 
after assuming the duties of his office, which began June 1, 1884, he was appointed 
one of the Justices of the General Term in the Fifth Department, comprising the 
seventh and eighth judicial districts. However, in January, 1889, under the consti- 
tutional provision creating the court. Judge Bradley was designated one of the mem- 
bers of the Second Division of the Court of Appeals. With that body he served until 
its business was completed and the court dissolved in the fall of 1892, after which he 
was on the Circuit until the fall of 1893, when he succeeded Judge Macomber on the 
General Term bench. By the Constitution of 189i5 the__Generalj Terms of the Su- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 57 

preme Court from and after the ;ilst day of December, 1895, were superseded by 
what is termed Appellate Division in four departments, and at the same time, by 
reason of having attained his seventieth year. Judge Bradley retires from the 
bench. 

What more need be said, or what more tilting tribute can be written upon an hon- 
orable professional career than a plain statement of fact; a lawyer possessed of a 
clear and deep understanding of law; a counsellor prudent and careful, ever ready, 
but not hasty; shrewd and able to see quickly the vital points of a case; and ever 
res])ectful to the rulings of the court. Possessing these qualities as a lawyer, he was 
eminently fitted for the more exalted station on the bench, As a judge he was self- 
possessed, dignified, courteous, firm in his rulings, logical in his reasoning, kind and 
forbearing toward the profession generally, and the young lawyers in particular; 
hence his popularity and the many expressions of respect and esteem on the part of 
his colleagues on the bench and the laymen of the law. 

During the long period of his legal practice Judge Bradley had only two partners; 
first D. K. Brown, under the style of Bradley iV Brown, and second, A. S. Kendall, 
the firm being Bradley & Kendall, and in partnership from 1861 to 1884. 

In 1850 George B. Bradley married Hannah E.. the daughter of John Lattimer, of 
WoodhuU. They have no children. In religious preference Judge Bradley inclines 
to Presbyterianism, but is not a member of the church. He is, however, one of the 
trustees of the First Presbyterian church of Corning, and a regular attendant at 
service. 



STEPHEN T. HAYT. 

SrKPiiKN Thi KsioN H.WT, who has been well known ui business and political cir- 
cles \n Steuben county for nearly half a century, was a native of Putnam county, 
born in the town of Patterson, on the 5th day of June, 1823. He was the son of John 
C. and Martha T. Hayt, of Patterson originally, but later of Ithaca, from which vil- 
lage the family came to Corning in 1833, when our subject was only ten years of age. 
John C. Hayt was a physician by profession, well educated and holding a good prac- 
tice, but poor health compelled him to abandon that avocation, and he afterward 
gave his attention to lumbering. He is vi-ell remembered by a few of the older resi- 
dents of Corning, where he lived until 1854. Stephen T. Hayt was brought up at 
the same kind of work in which his father was engaged, and his somewhat limited 
early education was acquired in the school at Knoxville. At the age of seventeen he 
went to Elmira and worked as a clerk in a general store, remaining there three 
years, then returned home and was a storekeeper before he was twenty-one. After 
seven years of fairly successful life as merchant, Mr. Hayt went into the lumber 
business, buying and selling, dealing extensively as one of the firm of Hayt &: 
Towner, as known in this region, and Towner & Hayt, as designated in Albany, 
where his partner managed affairs. This firm continued its business operations until 
1868, and was then dissolved. In the same year, in partnership with Mr. Olcott, Mr. 
Hayt built the Southern Tier Mills, at Corning, but in 1869 our subject became sole 
proprietor, and for the next ten years carried on an extensive flouring business 

H 



58 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

under the old process of manufacture. In 1879 the buildings were destroyed by fire, 
but were replaced during the year with the present large brick mill, equipped with 
modern machinery, having a capacity of 2U0 barrels of flour per day, and being one 
of the most complete industries of its kind in the Southern Tier. These mills occupy 
the chief attention of Mr. Hayt at this time, although in connection with the busi- 
ness he IS a also a successful farmer and tobacco grower. 

Notwithstanding a very active business life in ordinary affairs, Mr. Hayt has 
been a more than passive factor in Steuben county in politics. In fact he was for 
many years a leader of the Republican party and one of whose counsel and advice 
were always for the public and the party's good. His first vote was for James K. 
Polk in 1844, in the memorable campaign in which the successful candidate was 
pitted against Henry Clay. In 1848 he was classed with the "barn-burners," favor- 
ing Van Buren, and in 1853 supported Franklin Pierce. Four years later Mr. Hayt 
was a strong Fremont advocate, and from that until the present time has been an 
earnest Republican, entertaining clear and well settled convictions on all public 
questions, and is perfectly candid in expressing them. Yet his Republicanism was 
not so intense as to prevent him from supporting Mr. Greeley in 1872. Mr. Hayt 
was a delegate to the National Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln in 1860: 
to the convention that nominated General Grant in 1868; to the convention that 
nominated James G. Blaine in 1884, and to the convention that nominated Benjamin 
Harrison in 1888. In 1863, and again in I860 he was nominated and elected to the 
State Senate. During his first terra he was on-the committee on canals, also on 
roads and bridges; and during his second term was chairman of the committee on 
canals. In 1866 he resigned the senatorial office and was elected Canal Commis- 
sioner of the State, holding that position three years. In addition to these offices, 
we may state that Mr. Hayt has held many positions in the county and town, and 
has ever shown an active and generous interest in all local affairs, particularly in 
such measures as have tended to promote the welfare of Corning, both town and 
city. The records show that he has been town and city supervisor twelve to fifteen 
terms, and held many other offices of local importance. Despite his active political 
career he has never seriously neglected his personal affairs, and his long business 
life has been .substantially rewarded in a deserved competency. 

On the 19th of November, 1856, Stephen T. Hayt was married to Margaret C. 
Townsend, of Palmyra, Wayne county. Of this marriage eleven children have 
been born, eight of whom are now living. 



WILLIAM E. GORTON. 

The surname Gorton stands forpioneershipin Steuben county and in the Chemung 
valley. The pioneer of the family was Peleg Gorton, a native of Rhode Island, but 
a resident of Rensselaer county during the closing years of the last century. So 
near as can be ascertained, Peleg Gorton made a purchase of land in the Chemung 
valley in 1796 or '97, where he intended to settle, but on his return to the east he was 
unfortunately killed by a runaway team. However, a number of his sons were 




/6!^^^^> 



^v. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 69 

settlers in this region in 1797, among them being Peleg, jr., Rufus, Benjamin, and 
Moses. 

Rufus Gorton, the pioneer ancestor of that branch of the family of which we 
write, was one of the earliest settlers in the valley, and engaged .somewhat exten- 
sively in lumbering, and was also proprietor of the old and historic Hammond & 
Johnson Mills. He is remembered among the pioneers as an enterprising and in- 
dustrious citizen, well endowed with energy and determination. However, he went 
farther west and was one of the pioneers of Michigan, in which State he died about 
the year 1868. In his family were seven sons and two daughters, among whom 
Samuel was the fourth in the order of seniority. He was born in the old town of 
Painted Post (now Corning) in April, 1802, and when old enough learned the trade of 
millwright. He also went to Michigan where he worked at his trade, and also at 
farming, He married Sarah Ann Daley, of Millport, Chemung county. N. Y., of 
which marriage two sons were born, only one of whom grew to maturity. 

Alonzo Hiram Gorton, surviving son of Samuel and Sarah Ann Gorton, was born 
in the town of Painted Post on the 18th of May, 1828. His youth was spent on a 
farm in Michigan, and his opportunities for acquiring a practical education were in- 
deed limited. He learned the milling and also the carpenter trade and gained a 
thorough understanding of car building, therefore, after his return to Steuben 
county he easily obtained a position in the employ of the Fall Brook Coal Company. 
He proved himself competent, reliable and honest and was advanced step by step 
in the company's work until he became general superintendent of the Fall Brook 
system, a position held by him for twenty-seven years, and until the time of his 
death, April 26, 1886. In 1850 Mr. Gorton married Maria Louise Alexander, of the 
town of Webster, Washtenaw county, Mich. They had two children, Alexander 
Alonzo, who died in infancy, and William E. of Corning. 

William E. Gorton, founder, president and manager in fact of the Corning Iron 
Works, was born in Corning village, October 19, 18.54. His elementary education 
was acquired in the local schools, and he graduated from the Academy in 1872. He 
then entered the State Normal School at Mansfield, Pa., where he remained about 
one year, then taking a graduating course at the famous Eastman Business College 
at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Later on he began a course of medical study under the in- 
struction of Dr. Updegraff, a noted practitioner and specialist of Elmira, and after 
three years of thorough elementary work, entered the Ilahnemannian Medical Col- 
lege of New York city, taking a full three years' course in tliat institution, and from 
which he was graduated with honors in 1878. After graduation Dr. Gorton received 
a most flattering and tempting offer to locate and practice in the metropolitan dis- 
trict, but an acceptance would have necessitated a considerable outlay of money, and 
also would have been at variance with his plans, hence the offer was declined, and 
our young physician returned to Corning; not, however, to enter active professional 
life, as a disciple of Hahnemann and the theories of similia similibus curantur, but 
laying aside his title of " M. D.," Mr. Gorton became clerk in the offices of the Fall 
Brook Company. The president of the road soon appointed him to the position of 
assistant superintendent, which he held and satisfactorily filled for three years, then 
resigned and engaged in railroad construction, operating principally in the South, as 
one of the contracting firm of Griffin &: Gorton. Among the lines of road which 
this firm built, in whole or in part, may be mentioned the Charleston, Cincinnati & 



60 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Chicago, a part of the Piedmont Air Line extensions in North and South Carolina, 
and also the Roanoke & Southern, in North Carolina The business of the firm was 
reasonably successful, and was, it seems, more congenial to the tastes and inclina- 
tion of Dr. Gorton than either professional work or a subordinate position in the em- 
ploy of a company or an individual. In truth, if we correctly interpret the dominant 
characteristics of William E. Gorton (and persons who knew him best say we are 
right), he is a man who prefers to direct and manage enterprises according to his 
own judgment, and in his own way, rather than carry out the orders of an em- 
ployer. 

In 1889 otir subject returned to Corning, and in the .same year established the 
Corning Iron Works, was its active manager, and when the company was incorpor- 
ated in 1893, became president. During the time he was in the South, Mr. Gorton 
was a member of the local drug firm of Gorton & Terbell. The iron works is now 
numbered among the leading industries of the city. 

William E. Gorton, during his lifelong residence in Corning, has taken an active 
part in all public enterprises. During the period of the war, even before he had 
reached his tenth year, he gained the title of " Drummer Boy of the Southern Tier." 
for it was his practice to keep the " drum rolling " at the recruiting offices in the 
region." In politics he is a Democrat, and was brought up under Democratic in- 
fluences, and while not a seeker after public office, he was nevertheless elected the 
first mayor of Corning under the city charter, his Republican opponent in that can- 
vass being Joseph J. Tully, concededly the most popular man in his party in the 
town. As the first executive officer of the city, the duty of organizing the several 
departments fell upon him, and subsequent results have shown that his appointments 
were satisfactory and for the best interests of the taxpayers. In 1893 Mr. Gorton 
was nominated by the Democratic convention as its candidate for the State senate, 
but declined to run. While not a church member he was brought up under Presljy- 
terian influences. 

On the 18th day of April, 1877, William E. Gorton was married to Clara Belle 
Stevens, daughter of Peabody Stevens, of Buffalo. Five children have been born to 
this marriage, four of whom are now living. They were Ethel Louise, Belle, Alonzo 
Hiram (deceased). William Edward, and Gretchen. 



CHARLES a. DEXISOX. 

Ch.\ki.es G. Dkmson was known in business and political life in Corning for a 
period of nearly forty years, and at the time of his death, July 2, 1892. he held the 
respect and confidence of every business man in Eastern Steuben county. In poli- 
tics Mr. Denison was firmly and emphatically Democratic, serving only the best in- 
terests of his party, and never expressing his opinions or sentiments in a manner 
calculated to create unfriendliness. Therefore he was exceedingly popular with his 
Republican neighbors, and when a candidate for office he always received a large 
complimentary vote from the opposition party. By his consistent position and frank, 
open methods, Mr. Denison became a recognized leader of the Democracy in the 
county, and one in whom the party at large had full confidence. 




ALLEN WOOD 



BIOGRAPHICAL. Bl 

Charles G. Denison was born in Montrose, Pa., ou the 23d of May, 1828, and was 
the son of Dr. Benadam Denison by his marriage with Eunice Williams, that being 
his second marriage. At the age of twenty years Charles first came to Corning, 
where he found employment in the store of G. D. Williams, one of the pioneer mer- 
chants of the village. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Denison married, and soon after- 
ward moved to Tioga, Pa., where he went into business as general dealer in mer- 
chandise. But his means and experience were limited, and despite an earnest, 
honest endeavor his business life here resulted in failure. In 1858 he returned to 
Corning and soon afterward established a general coal business, dealing as whole- 
saler in large <iuantities, with gratifying success, and as the result of a long period 
of active life he became possessed of a comfortable fortune. 

Outside of his own personal affairs, Mr. Denison took an earnest interest in the 
welfare of Corning and its various public and private enterprises. He was fre- 
quently elected trustee, and held the office of village president four terms. For 
twenty years he was a member of the Board of Education, several years its president, 
and was especially interested in advancing the standing of public schools. He lived 
to witness the consummation of his frequently expressed desire that Corning become 
a chartered city. The act was approved March 20, 1890. Mr. Denison died July 2, 
1892. His wife, to whom he was married April 10, 1855, was Martha A. Land, 
daughter of Robert Land.jthe latter for many years a prominent lumberman of Corn- 
ing, to which place he came in 1835. The children of this marriage were M. Ella 
Denison, of Corning; Carrie E., wife of Charles W. Congdon, of New York city ; and 
Charles L. Denison, of Corning, who became partner with his father, July 1, 1887, 
and is now owner of the business. 

Charles L. Denison was born July 1, ISB6, and acquired his early education in the 
Corning schools. Later on he attended the Rochester Business University, and was 
just of age when he became partner with his father. The firm of Charles G. Deni- 
son & Son was formed July 1, 1887, and still stands, though the business is now 
wholly owned and managed by the son, who has added a lumber department and 
otherwise enlarged upon the operations formerly conducted by the firm. On April 
12, 1888, Charles L. Denison married Eda, daughter of James Young, of Corning. 



ALLEN WOOD. 

Allkn Wood, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Washington, 
Dutchess county, N. Y., October 12, 1819. He was the son of Jose])h Wood, the son 
of Stephen Wood, a (Quaker, the son of Daniel Wood, the son of Jonathan Wood, who 
was born in England in 1697. The time of his migration to America is unknown. 
Joseph Wood moved from Dutchess county in 1833, and settled on a farm in the town 
Farmington, where the subject of this sketch remained vi'orking on the farm and 
attending the district school until 1841, when he completed his schooling under Pro- 
fessor H. N. Robinson, at Temple Hill Academy, (ieneseo. In 1850 he purchased a 
farm m the town of Manchester, Ontario county, where he remained till 1854, when 
he and his youngest brother David built the steamer Josejili Wood, ou Canandaigua 
Lake, receiving as a bonus from the citizens of the village of Canandaigua $1,000 as 



62 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

an inducement. In eight years the business had so grown as to invite opposition, 
when the)' sold out. Mr. Wood then accepted the position of superintendent of the 
Gas Works, which he retained for four years, when he purchased the steamer Steu- 
ben, on Lake Keuka, and removed to Hammondsport. The steamer Steuben burn- 
ing in 1864, he built the steamer G. R. Youngs, and in 1868 the steamer Keuka. 
With these boats he built up a large and profitable business; again meeting opposi- 
tion, he sold out in 1873. 

In 1875 he leased the partly completed Bath &• Hammondsport R. R., put on the 
superstructure and rolling stock, and for eleven years did an increasing and profit- 
able business. In 1886 he sold his lease to H. S. Stebbins. 

In 1887 he removed to St. Augustine, Florida, where he became mterested in real 
estate, and the St. Augustine and South Beach Railway, becoming the general man- 
ager, spending his winters there and his summers at Hammondsport, N. Y. On all 
mooted questions he is fearlessly independent. Commencing in 1840 he voted the 
Democratic ticket, then the Abolition, Free Soil, Republican, and now the Populist. 
He has always been an active promoter of popular education, and of the highest 
character, and always manifests the keenest interest in improvements in town, county 
or State. He sold his interests in Florida in 189.5, and is now livmg in retirement. 
Mr. Wood was the father of seven children, two only now surviving. 



AMORY HOUGHTON, Sr. 

Amory Houghton, Sk., founder of the glass industry in Corning, N. Y., and, for 
several years a resident of the village, was a native of Bolton, Mass., born August 
36, 1813, and was the ninth of thirteen children of Rufus and Alrigail (Barnard) 
Houghton. Rufus Houghton was the son of Jonathan Houghton, who was also 
a native of Bolton, and who served with much credit as a soldier in the Ameri- 
can army during the Revolutionary War. Jonathan, the soldier, was the son of 
Jonathan, of Lancaster, Mass., while the latter was the son of John, the Emigrant, 
who was born in 1661. and died April 29, 1684. (The Houghtons of New England 
were descended from Norman stock, and their ancestors went into England with 
William the Conqueror, A. D. 1066, and settled in Lancashire.) 

The early life of our subject, Amory Houghton, was spent on his father's farm, 
but at the age of twelve years he went to Lancaster, four miles from Bolton, where 
he attended school, and did chores for his board and tuition. After a year he re- 
turned home but soon went to Cambridge, Mass., and was apprenticed to Richard, 
.son & Houghton, to learn the joiner's trade. Had he served his entire apprentice- 
ship, young Houghton would have reached his majority about the end of the term, 
but about eighteen months before the term was ended he "purchased his time" 
from his masters at the rate of eight Yankee shillings per day. He then borrowed a 
few hundred dollars and began business as contractor and builder in and near Cam- 
bridge. For a young man not yet twenty-one his operations were looked upon as 
somewhat hazardous, and the gentleman from whom he had borrowed became anx- 
ious for the safetv of his loan ; but when he requested its return it was promptly 
paid, as were all obligations when due. So successful, indeed, was this early period 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 63 

of his business life that before Aniory Houghton was twenty-three years old he had 
saved three thousand dollars, and owed nothing. 

Notwithstanding his success as contracting builder, he soon made a change. In 
18;i(i he rented a wharf in East Cambridge, Mass.. and began the sale of coal, wood, 
bark, hay, lime, cement, snd other commodities, beginning in a small way but grad- 
ually increasing his stock as trade required until he became proprietor of a large and 
l)rofitable business. About the year 1851 an Knglishman (Gaffer Teasdale), who was 
an experienced glass factory manager, pointed out to him the possible profits of a 
well conducted glass industry, and the result was that in 1852 Amory Houghton sold 
out his wharf business and established the Union Glass Company at Somerville, near 
Boston. Mass. It was to him wholly a new business, yet the qualities of the man were 
such that he made it successful. However, in 18(i4 he sold the plant and moved to 
Brooklyn, N. Y. In this sale Mr. Houghton evidently made a mistake; not, however, 
from a bu.siness point of view, but as the result of an unfortunate train of circum- 
stances which no man could foresee or avoid. Yet this very mistake, if such it really 
was, proved of the greatest benefit to Corning, for without it the splendid indu.stry 
which has made the city famous would never have been founded there. As soon as 
he had completed the sale of the Union Glass Company, he bought out and reorgan- 
ized the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company, incorporated, the new stockholders being 
Aniory Houghton, Josiah Oakes, George P. Bradford and Amory Houghton, ir. 
Soon after the company began operations labor troubles arose, which, in connection 
with other embarrassing complications, made the business unprofitable, and at the 
end of four years the works were removed to Corning, N. Y., in the belief that 
cheaper coal and more desirable suiToundings would re-establish it upon a paying 
basis, and at the same time add materially to the commercial importance of the village. 
Before the removal the Cornmg Flint Glass Company was organized, of which Amory 
Houghton, sr. , was president, and, in fact, manager. 

The results anticipated by the removal were not at first realized. Direct comjieti- 
tion with the large and cheaply operated glass factories of Pittsburgh and other cen- 
tral cities of Pennsylvania worked to the disadvantage of the local industry, and the 
result was heavy losses to the stockholders. In fact, the efl'ort to maintain the 
works in Brooklyn, and still later re-establish them in Corning, cost Amory Hough- 
ton his fortune. The plant was sold in 1871 to Nathan Cushing of Bo.ston, and by 
him was placed under the mangement of Amory Houghton, jr., now president and 
treasurer of the Corning Glass Works, and under whose immediate direction and 
control they have become famous throughout the country for the superior . quality 
and great variety of their product. 

In 1871 Amory Houghton, sr., left Corning and retired to his farm in Northcastle, 
Westchester, county, N. Y. In 1875 he returned to Brooklyn and with characteristic 
determination undertook to rebuild and change the Brooklyn Flint Glass Works of 
former years into the Brooklyn Steam Power Works. In this undertaking his efforts 
were rewarded with only partial success; and while engaged in this business Mr. 
Houghton was taken ill, and died February 20, 1882. 

Looking back over the life of Amory Houghton, we discover a record of business 
activity ct)venng a period of more than half a century; a record of successes and 
misfortunes, yet, through all this period of varying fortunes, his strong individual 
characteristics were ever discernible. Determination of character was his prominent 



64 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



trail. This served him well, as his business life was begun under adverse conditions. 
He often felt the need of a thorough education in his early career, but he learned 
by observation and experience what the .schools never offered, and in conversation, 
in business consultation, or in whatever association he chanced to be placed, Mr. 
Hougliton was always the same agreeable, entertaining and intelligent companion, 
loving and devoted to his family and loyal to his friends. His wife, who preceded 
him to the grave by only two years, was Sophronia Mann Oakes, daughter of Josiah 
Oakes, who was a great admirer of the noted Horace Mann, for whom he named his 
daughter. She was born February 18, 1814, and died March 19, 1880. They were 
married t)ctober 5, 1836, and to them seven children were born: Amory, jr., of 
Corning; Caroline fcophronia, who died at the age of five years; Katharine Sophro- 
nia; Charles Frederic, of Corning; Alfred Augustus, a successful business man of 
Buffalo, who died October 2S, 1892; Ellen Maria, wife of George L. Abbott of Corn- 
ing; and Annie Frances (deceased), who married William A. Tuttle of Buffalo. 

From boyhood to the time of his death Amory Houghton was a member of the 
Congregational church. He gave generously to the support of the church and to all 
worthy causes, and no deserving charity ever left him empty handed. He was not 
active in politics, although a close observer and careful reader of all that took place 
in National and State aft'airs. 



AMORY HOUGHTON, Jr. 



Ami'rn Hoi'caiTo.N, Jr., eldest sou of Amory and Sophronia (Oakes) Houghton, was 
born at Cambridge, Mass., on the 20th day of October, 1837. He was educated at 
Cambridge, and was graduated from the High School in 1854. Earlier, when ten 
years of age, he also attended a private boarding school at Ellington, Conn., where 
he remained for three years. His first business engagement was in Boston, Mass., 
in 18.")4, with Lawson Valentine, a dealer in paints, oils and varnishes. After three 
veai's with Mr. Valentine, our subject became connected, in 1857, with the glass in- 
dustry in which his father was engaged at Somerville, Mass., and devoted his atten- 
tion to experiments in the composition and manufacture of the various kinds of 
glass. He had a well arranged laboratory in which he prosecuted his studies and 
experimental work, and the knowledge acquired at that time proved of great value 
in later years. 

After the purchase of the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company's Works by his father in 
1864, Mr. Houghton, jr., moved to Brooklyn, taking a small interest in the enter- 
prise, and becoming one of the stockholders in the incorporated company. Still 
later, on the removal to' Corning in 1868, he came to the then village, and continued 
his connection with the Corning Flint Glass Company throughout the tliree years of 
its existence ; and after disaster had overtaken the company and the works liad been 
sold to Nathan Cushing, of Boston, Mass., the new owner placed them in charge of 
Amory Houghton, jr., with direction to continue their operation, although the supply of 
ready capital was indeed meagre and the prospect of success exceedingly doubtful. 
However, Mr. Houghton started the smaller of the two furnaces and soon put the 
works in running order, using every possible economy, yet constantly in need of ready 




''^ 







BIOGRAPHICAL. 66 

money to pay the help This account, above all others, he insisted upon paying reg- 
ularly. Having introduced several specialties, and operating upon a very economical 
basis, the close of the year showed a profit for the owner. In 1872 the manager pur- 
chased the plant on credit, and the name of Amory Houghton, jr., proprietor, be- 
came known to Corning and to the trade throughout the country. The works were 
constantly in operation under his sole proprietorship for a period of three years, 
when, in 1875, the Corning Glass Works was incorporated, with §50,000 capital, and 
with Amory Houghton, jr., president and treasurer; Charles F. Houghton, vice- 
president, and Henry P. Sinclaire, secretary. The company formed in 1875 has con- 
tinued to the present time. 

In some respects Amory Houghton, jr., is the fair reminder of his father. That 
ever dominant trait— firm determination of character— having been transmitted 
from sire to son, and its best results are seen in the present prosperous condition of 
the Corning Glass Works. We pay no fulsome compliment to our subject when we 
say that the successful re-establishment of the Glass Works upon a secure and profit- 
able liasis was due to his personal effort, energy and determination. Busmess men 
knew him to be straightforward and honest and although his resources were known 
to be limited gave him both credit and cash without asking security. 

Xaturally, an earnest business man is constantly engaged in his personal aflfairs. 
yet Mr. Houghton has found time to interest himself in all public measures looking 
to the welfare of Corning and its people. Reference to the city history will show 
that he has been connected with .several departments of the municipal government, 
while the public knows him to be a liberal contributor to all w'orthy causes. In 
politics he is a Republican, and essentially a protectionist. He was a Garfield elector 
in 1880. Although brought up under Congregationalist influences, he has been for 
many years a regular attendant at Christ Episcopal church, and, since 1875, one of 
the vestry. The present splendid church edifice was in large measure the result of 
the generosity of Mr. Houghton and other members of his family. Other churches, 
too, and other good causes have been the recipients of his liberality and public 
spiritedness. 

In 1860, on the 19th day of June. .Amory Houghton, jr., was married to Ellen 
Anne Bigelow, daughter of Alanson Bigelow, of Cambridge, Mass. Of this mar- 
riage five children have been born, four of whom are now living, two sons and two 
daughters. His sons have been for several years connected with the works — Alau- 
.son B. in the selling department, and Arthur A. in the manufacturing department. 



CHARLES F. HOUGHTON. 

Chari.ks FRr.DERu: Houghton was born in Cambridge. Mass., on June 1, 1846. 
He attended the public schools at Cambridge until he was fourteen years of age, and 
then went to H^dward Hall's boarding school at Ellington, Conn., where he remained 
for three years. His business career began in 1863 at the Union Glass Works, Soni- 
erville, Mass., where, under his father's direction he laid the foundation of a techni- 
cal and practical knowledge of the glass business, which in later years contributed 
so largely to the success of the establishment located in Corning. In 1864 he went 
1 



66 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

with his father to Brooklyn, X. Y., and was engaged in the office of the Brooklyn 
Flint (llass Co. In 1866 he was a clerk in the wholesale drug business in New York 
city, which position he held until 1869, when he came to Corning, and was engaged 
in his father's business in various capacities. During the changes which occurred 
from that time until the organization of the present Company in 1875, he served in 
all the various departments, and thus acquired a practical knowledge of the busi- 
ness. He then became a stockholder, and later vice-president, which position he has 
since held. In the autumn of 1873 Mr. Houghton was elected to the Assembly as the 
candidate of the Republican party of the Second District of Steuben county. This 
is the only public office he has held ; but his interest in pohtical matters has continued 
unabated. In 1878, on July 2, Mr. Houghton was married to Helen, daughter of 
judge Benjamin F. Hall, of Auburn, N. Y. Of this marriage three children have 
been born, two of whom are now living. Since 1888 he has been a vestryman of 
Christ church. Mr. Houghton has always been interested in the welfare of Corning 
and has contributed liberally to all public and charitable enterprises. 



WILLIAM FAULKNER. 

WiiMAM F.WLKNEK, of Dulch origin, wus a lineal descendant of Capt. Dame! 
Faulkner, who was born in Massachusetts and became one of the earliest pioneers of 
Dansville, Livingston county, N. Y., that town being named from him. Captain 
Faulkner died at the age of thirty-eight, leaving three children, of whom John was 
born in Milton, Pa., in July, 1787, settled in Dansville in 1819, and lived there until 
his death in 1863. John Faulkner married Hannah T. Perrine, daughter of Capt. 
William Perrine, a Revolutionary soldier and a personal friend of George Washing- 
ton. She was born in September, 1787, and died m August, 1865. They had born 
to them four children : John, William, Daniel, and Susan, all deceased. 

William Faulkner, the subject of this sketch, was born in Dansville, N. Y., Octo- 
ber 1, 1813, and died at his home in the town of Wayland, Steuben county, January 
12, 1875. He was a generous, public spirited man, and though declining many offices 
was an.xious to help any cause of benefit to othertj. Mr. Faulkner engaged e.xten- 
sively in stock raising and shipping. He was especially interested in educational 
affairs and cheerfully aided every movement which promised advancement in the 
dissemination of knowledge. His family, including himself, were all Presbyteri- 
ans, and he was always liberal in the support of the church. In politics he was 
a Republican. He was a progres.sive agriculturist and enjoyed the active man- 
agement of his farms until his death, which occurred suddenly, although he had been 
in poor health for several years. Since then his affairs have been most ably con- 
ducted by his widow. 

November 16, 1836, Mr. Faulkner married Miss Sarah Kilbury, who was born in 
Fremont, Steuben county, December 20, 1820, and who survives him, residing on 
the homestead in Wayland. Robert Kilbury, her father, was born in Verm<mt in 
1796, and married in 1819 Eunice Carrington, of Hartford, Conn., by whom he had 
ten children, eight of whom are living, viz. : Sarah, Eli, Edwin, bmith, Phoebe, Mary. 
Joel, and Andrew. Mr. and Mrs. Kilbury died in 1883 and 1891 respectively, both in 




WILLIAM FAULKNER. 



BIOaRAPHICAL. 67 

the eighty-eighth year of their ajje William and Sarah Faulkner had born to them 
nine children, namely: Hannah (Mrs. Jesse Gray), born August 13, 1837; Minerva 
(Mrs Russell Kreidler), born April 12, 1S39; Robert, born October ti, 1848, died at 
his home in Hornellsville, N. Y., April IS, \H^l\ Eunice (Mrs. Henry Driesbach), 
l)orn October 3, I8-(4: Phoebe (Mrs. William McKay), born November 35, 1846; 
Klizabeth (Mrs. Chester Babcock), born October 23, 1841 ; Victoria (Mrs. Byron 
Bowen), born September il, 18.~)(); William J..T)f Wayland, born November .j, 1861; 
and Kannie (Mrs. Simon Cooley), born July Vi, 18(i6. Robert was an active politician 
and held the office of county clerk for one term, and various city offices. Was mayor 
al one time. Five of Mr. Faulkner's children were successful teachers. This family 
nearly all married farmers and have good homes, and among them Mr. Faulkner and 
his widow have twcnly-live grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. 



HIRA.M I'RITCHARD. 

HiR.-vM Pritch.vru has been an interested witness of the growth and development 
of Corning for almost sixty years. He came to the hamlet in 1838, and was em- 
ployed in the mill owned by Hayt, Land, Phelps & Bailey, of which after two years 
he became the lessee. From that until the present time he has been an observer of 
the ever progressive history of the village and an active factor in bringing about 
some of its valuable permanent improvements: and his excellent memory is still a 
reliable source of information concerning the early events of the vicinity. Hiram 
Pritchard was born in Lawrenceville, Tioga county. Pa., February 7, 1818, and was 
the son of Calvin and Anna (Kennedy) Pritchard. The father was a farmer, in humble 
circumstances, but an honest and industrious man. He died at the age of seventy 
and his wife at the age of fifty-seven years. 

As is indicated by the family name, Hiram Pritchard is of Welsh descent, and his 
life has shown him to be a fair type of his nationality, for indu.stry and perseverance 
have characterized his every effort in business life, and those qualities are the pecu- 
liar traits of the sturdy Welshman. He obtained his early education in the district 
school, though his opportunities were indeed limited, for, being the son of poor 
parents, it was necessary that he find employment. Accordingly, he learned the 
trade of miller at Factoryville, N. Y. In 1836 he married and continued work at his 
trade in Pennsylvania until 1838, when he came to Corning and was given employ- 
ment in the mill. In 1840 he rented the property and continued its operation until 
about 1843, when he opened a Hour and feed store in the village. After another year 
he engaged more actively in mercantile bu.siness by increasing his stock to include 
all general merchandise, and dealing extensively, the firm being Clark iV Pritchard. 
This continued nearly three years, when our subject sold out his interest and was 
employed in the foundry of Payne &■ Olcott in the capacity of clerk. 

However, in 1850 Mr. Pritchani went to Pennsylvania and took charge of the 
lumbering interests of the firm of Phelps, Dodge &■ Company of New York city. The 
tract he operated was in Clintcm county, on the Sinnemahoning River. In the three 
years he was thus engaged, Mr. Pritchard gained a fair knowledge of the business, 
and we next find him the tjwner of a three thousand acre tract of timber in Tioga 



6? LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

county, Pa., and there conducting an extensive and successful lumbering enterprise. 
In this venture his partners were James A. Hayt and Aaron H. Foster. At the end of 
about fifteen months our subject disposed of his interest in the business, then re- 
turned to Corning and became a dealer in lumber, operating extensively between the 
years 1856 and '63, at that fortunate period in which good profits were the result of 
judgment and large transactions. During a part of this time Mr. Pritchard handled 
as much as 10,000,000 feet of lumber annually. 

In 1863 our subject purchased a half interest in the Payne & Olcott foundry and 
machine shops, in which he had formerly been employed as clerk, and here he con- 
ducted a successful business until 1868, when he retired, possessed of a competency, 
the deserved result of years of industry, coupled with good judgment in making in- 
vestments. Outside of his busmess life, Mr. Pritchard has taken an active part in 
all matters pertaining to the general welfare of Corning, and it cannot be said that 
any good work ever appealed to him in vain; at the same time his best deeds have 
not been done in a manner to draw attention to himself. He has not been a self- 
seeker in any sense, his chief aim being to be considered one of the staunch business 
men of the town, and to so order his daily life as to secure the respect and esteem of 
his townsmen. The churches, schools and other institutions have received substati- 
tial benefits at his hands. He was one of the organizers of the Methodist Episcopal 
church of Corning, a liberal contributor to its maintenance, and has also been con- 
nected with its officiary. 

In politics Mr. Pritchard was originally a Whig, but has been a Republican since 
the party's organization. He was president of the village in 1861 and '6'2, and again 
in 1886, and during the years first mentioned secured local improvements which have 
proved of the greatest benefit to Corning, although at the time his suggestions were 
ridiculed and opposed. Especially noteworthy was his action in originating and 
carrying to successful completion the often called " Pritchard Canal," by which the 
overflow waters of the stream named Monkey Run were safely conducted to the 
river. Mr. Pritchard well knew the dangerous character of this stream in times of 
excessive rainfall, and labored long and earnestly to have built a safe conduit for its 
surplus water. In this effort he finally succeeded, though at much cost to himself, 
but to the great benefit of the village and city. In the local schools, also, he has 
shown an earnest interest, and was a member of the Board of Education fifteen 
years, beginning in 1861. He was for several years president of the board, and one 
of its active members under whose term of office the splendid academy building was 
erected. As a member of the Masonic fraternity, Mr. Pritchard has an excellent 
record and standing. He became a craftsman in November, 1863, and has since ad- 
vanced through the Lodge, the Chapter, the Council and the Commandery ; also the 
Consistory and the Scottish Rite bodies to the thirty-second degree, taking the latter 
September 14, 1866, He is a member of the noted St. Omer's Commandery of 
Elmira. 

Full fifty years of happy married life were the lot of Hiram Pritchard. His wife 
was Lucinda Searles, whom he married September 21, 1836. They celebrated the 
golden wedding, their fiftieth year of married hfe, on the 21st of September, 1886, 
and two years later the destroyer entered the home circle and took away the faithful 
and devoted wife and mother. Three children were born of their marriage, viz. : 
Truman S., Mrs. Mary M. Sayles (who died October 30, 1895), and Albert. 




JAMES B. HARGRAVE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 69 

JAMES R MURDOCK. 

Jamks B. Mukdikk, son of Edwarrl and Elizabeth (Palmer) Murdock, was born Jan- 
nary 2, 1814, in Courtrigbt, Delaware county. N. V., where his grandfather. John 
Murdock, was an early settler. Reared on the parental farm and educated in the 
common schools of his native town he began teaching district school at the age of 
nineteen and continued in that occupation with unvarying success for about twelve/ 
vears. About 1835 his father moved to Brookfield. Pa., adjoining the town of 
Troupsburg, Steuben county, N. Y., where the subject of this sketch resided for 
some time. Later James B. came to South Troupsburg, where in 1847 he built his 
present store and engaged in general merchandising, a business he has ever .since 
carried on with almost uninterrupted success. He has also been heavily engaged in 
lumbering and farming and besides has been proprietor of a grist mill. He is one 
of the oldest general merchants in Steuben county, and has always won and retained 
the conddence and respect of all with whom he has had business relations. 

Mr. Murdock early manifested a keen interest in public affairs in both Brookfield, 
Pa., and Troupsburg, seeking for what would advance the welfare of His town and 
its people He represented Troupsburg on the board of supervisors in 1855, 1850, 
1857, 1858, and 1862, and in that capacity served with rare ability and with great 
credit to both himself and his constituents. In 1871 he was elected member of as- 
sembly and in the Legislature held positions on several, important committees. 

Mr. Murdock was married to Miss Sarah L. Wombough. Their children were 
Jane E.. born in 1838; William B., born m 1839; Edward P., born in 1841; Anna 
E, born in 1843: Henry W., born in 1845; Martha P., born in 1848; Emma, died 
in infancy; Sarah A., born in 1.850; and Mary P., born in 1853, deceased. 



JAMES B. HARGRAVE. 

Ja.mes B. Hargr.wk, princijial of the Canisteo i)ul)lic schools, is a son of George 
and Sophia (Balconi) Hargrave, natives of England, and was born in Balona, Ontario 
county, N. Y., March 16. 1845. When nine years old he came with his parents to 
the town of Cameron, Steuben county, where he worked on the farm and cleared 
land until the age of eighteen. The straitened circumstances of the family com- 
pelled the youth to rely chiefly upon his own resources. While at home he attended 
the district schools when opportunity afi'orded, but his education both here and after- 
ward was the result of self-application, indomitable energy, and jintiring pre.sever- 
ance. He became a student in Alfred University and subsequently in Woodhull 
Academy, and from the last named institution was selected as a delegate to the first 
competitive examination for a free scholarship to Cornell University, which he won. 
He entered Cornell in 1868 and remained until 1872. after which he taught in Wells- 
ville and later in the Andover I'nion -School in .Mlegany county. He was graduated 
with the degree of LL.B. from the law de])artmeul of Union College in IH75 and then 
taught schools at Livonia and Livonia Station, N. Y., for two years. 

In 1877 Mr. Hargrave came to Canisteo, Steuben county, and formed a law part- 



70 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

nership with Kli Soule, but after two weeks, at the earnest solicitation of the citizens, 
he assumed charge of the public schools in that village and held the position for six 
consecutive years. After a similar period of absence he was recalled in IHHi) and has 
ever smce served faithfully as principal. When Mr. Hargrave first became connected 
with the Canisteo schools only three teachers were employed; now there are nine; 
and the standard of education has been correspondingly increased under his efficient 
and systematic management. He is one of the prominent educators of the county 
and holds a high place among the leading teachers of Western New York. He has 
been a life-long Democrat and for many years quite active m local politics, and in 
1802 was his party's candidate for member of assembly in a stronghold of Republi- 
canism, which caused his defeat by a small majority. He is a member of Canisteo 
Lodge and Hornellsville Kncampment, I. (). O. F. , and as a public spirited citizen, pro- 
gressive, enterprising, and energetic, has always manifested a keen interest in town 
affairs, supporting and encouraging every movement which promises benefit to the 
community. 

Mr. Hargravc was married in 1877 to Miss Mary A. Forrest, who died May 2, 1894. 



ALBERTUS LARROWE. 

Thk subject of this sketch, Albertus Larrowe, was born in Cohocton on the 
11th of Julv. 1826. On his paternal side, his ancestry can be traced back for several 
generations. There is a legend in the family that at the time of the persecution 
of the Huguenots, three brothers named La Rue fled from France to the I'nited 
States, landing in North Carolina. That they changed the spelling of their name 
from La Rue to Larrowe for fear of being followed to this country, and to more 
completely change their identity. They, however, retained the pronunciation of 
La Rue. It is known that there were three brothers by this nahie, who formerly 
lived iu North Carolina. One went from there to I^ouisiana, one to Kentucky, and 
one came north to New Jersey. To the latter was born a son, on the day of the 
battle of Trenton, within hearing of the guns. This child was named Albertus, and 
was the grandfather of the present Albertus. He came from New Jersey to the 
town of Reading, now Schuyler county, from there he came to Wheeler, where he 
;ifterward married Janet Aulls, of I'rbana. He had twelve children, who reached 
maturity, all born in Wheeler. In IHdti he bought from Samuel Haight, in Cohoc- 
ton, about two hundred acres of land, which forms a part of the farm now owned by 
his grandson and -namesakt. 

The father of the present Albertus was named John, and was the oldest of the 
twelve children mentioned above. He was born in 1801, and was married to Eliza- 
beth Holmes in Wheeler. Soon after their marriage, they came to Cohocton, where 
he bought from the Pulteney estate a tract of land on the Davis Creek, adjoining 
that owned by his father. On the banks of the creek he built a little home, where 
were born his four sons. A few years later he bought the Haight property from his 
father, and built a hou.se, which, when he built, the present Larrowe farm house was 
removed to the village, and is now owned and occupied by Ephraim Wemple. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 71 

The mateiiial ancestors of Alberlus Larrowc can trace their descent from Silas 
Wheeler, in honor of whom the town of Wheeler was named, and who was its first 
])ermanent settler. lie was a native of Rhode Island, was a soldier of the Revolu- 
tion, and was with Henedict Arnold in his perilous march through the forests of 
Maine, and al the assault of (Quebec stood near M«iitj>omery when he fell. He was 
four times taken prisoner, twice by land, and twice upon the high seas, as a roving 
privateersman. After his second capture upon the coast of Great Hritain he was 
confined in jail and condemned to be hanged as a pirate. He escaped by the aid of 
the distinguished orator and statesman, Henry Grattan, who procured for iiim a 
passport, and secured a passage to l' ranee, whence he returned to America. He 
settled in the town of Wheeler (then included in Bath) in 17!t!l. 

Captain Wheeler died in \H'2H. aged seventy-eight, at the home of his son, (Jraltan 
H. Wheeler. His children were the son, IJraltan H., and twin daughters named 
Ruth and Sarah. Ruth married Nathan Rose, ime of the pioneers of Wheeler. 
Sarah married William Holmes, who made the first clearing on what is known as 
the Harney farm, on the opposite side of the creek from the home of her sister. The 
first child born to them was Elizabeth, who afterwards married John Larrowe, who 
was born and brought up on the farm adjoining that of her father, and from where 
they removed to Cohocton. 

There were four sons born to them, Franklin, Albertus, Marcus Dwighl, and Will- 
iam Wheeler. They, appreciating the benefits of education, were determined that 
their boys should have all the educational advantages within their reach. These 
were necessarily most limited, consisting princijially of winter schools. A Presby- 
terian minister, a Dr. Johnson, was boarded for one winter, that the boys might de- 
rive the benefit of his college education. 'During their minority the boys worked for 
their father on the farm. Soon after attaining his majority, Albertus invested his 
scanty savings in a timber tract, in company with his brother Franklin. Their earn- 
ings were invested and reinvested until they had purchased several large and valua- 
ble tracts, iirinciiJally from the Pulteney estate, and had a good water power ,saw 
mill located just aljove the village. They built several miles of the first fence along 
the Krie Railroad running through the town, furnishing the lumber and doing the 
work for seventy-five cents per rod. The principal market for their lumber was in 
Canandaigua. It was hauled to the landing, near the head of Canaudaigiia Lake, 
where it was put into rafts, and would then wait for the wind to blow from tlic south 
to blow it to Canandaigua. The market for farm produce was either Dansville on 
the Genesee Valley Canal, or Hammondsport on Keuka Lake. 

Elizabeth Larrowe died in 1863. 

John Larrowe died in 1867. His remains were interred in the plot of ground, 
which he had already dedicated as a family cemetery. He left his farm to his two 
surviving sons, Albertus and Marcus Dwight. Albertus bought the interest of the 
latter in IsiiS, and has since owned the homestead, known as the Larrowe farm, situ- 
ated one-eighth of a mile below the village of Cohocton. The larger jiorlion of it is 
now within the cor])oratioii limits. 

Mr. Larrowe was made a Mason in 1858, at Naples, He was one of the charter 
members of Liberty Lodge No. 510, being its first master, and occupied this position 
for several terms thereafter. 

Mr. Larrowe has been an enthusiastic Re])ublican since the parlv was organized 



72 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

He was supervisor for two or three years, and has always felt an interest in the wel- 
fare of his party. 

In 1866 Mr. I.arrowe bought from David H. Wilco.N the Liberty Mills, a small water 
power mill, fitted with i\\'t> runs of stone, using wooden peg gears and the rude ma- 
chinery of that period. The graft] was hoisted to the top floor by a rope running over 
a pulley in the roof, and a man at the other end. Two years later the mill was re- 
modeled and operated as a cu.stoni mill, making a specialty of buckwheat flour in its 
season, and from that time until 1889, Mr. Larrowe continued the manufacture of 
buckwheat flour, di'opping out of the custom work entirely. The Larrowe Milling 
Co. was formed at that time, and two years later changed to a corporation, with A. 
Larrowe as president, operating the largest buckwheat mill in the world, equipped 
with the most modern machines and appliances, many of them built after Mr. Lar- 
rowe's own plans. He has always been a firm believer in pure food products, and 
Larrowe's kiln-dried buckwheat flour is one of the very few brands which have never 
been adulterated. 

Mr. Larrowe has been a tireless worker, and has always enjoyed the respect and 
confidence of all his business associates and acquaintances and a host of friends. 
Though most of the active work of the concern is now performed by younger men, 
much of the success enjoyed by the Larrowe Milling Co. Ltd., is attained by his sug- 
gestions and counsel, for which his ripe experience so well fits him. 

Mr. Larrowe was married to Harriet A. Kellogg, daughter of John Kellogg of Co- 
hocton, on February 23, 18.i4, who died in December, I860, leaving two sons, John 
and Charles. On the '23d of February, 1863, Mr. Larrowe was married to Julia A., 
daughter of lames Draper of Cohocton, who died January 4, 1864, leaving one son, 
James Erwin. 

Mr. Larrowe was married April 28, 1875, to Katherine, daughter of Shepard P. 
Morgan, of Lima, by whom he had three children, Elizabeth A., Albertus, jr., and 
Dwight Morgan. 

Dr. Larrowe was one of the organizers of the Universalist church. The site of the 
present residence of Mr. Larrowe is the same as that on which stood the house, in 
which were born the Fowler family, the eminent phrenologists, Orson, Lorenzo and 
Sarah, now Mrs. Wells. And the large elm on the lawn was set there by these 
brothers when it was a slender sapling, the size of their wrists. 



GEORGE W. PRATT 

Was born in Milo, Yates county, m 1821. He was graduated as a physician at 
Geneva Medical College in 1845, and practiced in Corning for several years, remov- 
ing to .Mar.shall, Mich., in 1849. He there became editor of the Statesman, a weekly 
Whig paper, but returned to Corning in 1851, and in July of that year became the 
editor of the Corning Journal, and part proprietor. Less than two years later he 
became sole proprietor. In September, 1891, he founded the Corning Daily Journal 
which has had a remarkable circulation in a city of about 12,000 inhabitants, the 
average circulation for the past two years being 1,500 copies. Mr. Pratt was for one 




DANIHL F. YOUNG. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 73 

term a loan commissioner of Steuben county. He was for half a dozen years the 
canal collector for the port of Corning, when the Chemung Canal was in operation. 
He has been twice the postmaster of Corning, serving each time the term of four 
years. He was a member of the first board of managers of the St. Lawrence State 
Hospital, Ogdensburg, being appointed by Governor David H. Hill, which board 
made all the contracts for the erection of buildings and purchase of site. He was 
also the petition clerk of the House of Representatives of the 41st Congress. 



DANIEL F. YOUNG. 

D.v.NiEi. F. Young, youngest of four children of Frederick and Eli/.al)eth (Youug- 
love) Young, who were born, lived, and died in Frey's Bush, Montgomery county, 
X. Y., was born in that town February 16, 1817. Reared on a farm he was a self- 
made and a .self-educated man, his education being obtained principally in public 
schools. He taught school for a time and also learned the carpenter's trade, which 
he followed as an employee of his brother-in-law, the late John I. Timcrman. He 
early developed strong scholarly habits and a metaphysical mind and manifested de- 
cided inclination for a literary cai'ecr. In 184.') he was offered and accepted the edi- 
torship of the Montgomery Phenix. then the only paper published in Fort Plain, N. 
Y., the proprietor being that well-known deaf mute, Levi S. Hackus. At the same 
time he also commenced the study of law under Wagner & Webster, attorneys and 
counsellors, but soon abandoned that profession for the more congenial editorial 
work, which he continued as editor of the Phenix for thirteen years. In 1848 he was 
appointed deputy postmaster at Fort Plain under Henry C. Adams, but shortly after- 
ward resigned to accept the post of clerk to William Dale, division superintendent of 
the Erie Canal. A little later he became a clerk in the Fort Plain Hank and was 
subsequently made its cashier, a position he heUl till after the close of the war. when 
he resigned on account of ill health. He then retired from active business and de- 
voted the remainder of his life to the care of his property and family and to literary 
pursuits. 

Mr. Young's connection with the newspaper press did not end with his career as 
editor, but continued till his death, which occurred in Jasper, Steuben county, 
August 18, 1892. He was first a Whig and later an ardent Republican, and the leading 
journals of his party often bristled with political and other articles from his able and 
versatile pen. The tiles of the Mohawk Valley Register, the New York Mail and 
Express, and many Steuben county papers contain the products of his fertile and ac- 
tive brain. (Sifted alike in prose and poetry he was a strong defender of right and 
justice, of temperance legislation, and of the jjrinciples of Republicanism. He was 
opposed to the saloon and also to all third party mcjvements, and always had the 
courage of his convictions and the honesty to boldly express the views espoused. 
He was an excellent writer — clear, concise, logical, and witty, a close thinker, tena- 
cious in belief, possessed of the qualities of a strong character and highly cultivated 
mind, and especially fond of grappling with metaphysical subtleties. On the ques- 
tion of the Freedom nf the Will, in which he was profoundly interested, and on 
.1 



74 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

which he wrote much but published little, he belonged to the school of Jonathan 
Edwards. In metrical composition he had abilities of a no mean order. He wrote a 
number of poems which clearly indicate his high intellectuality and the beautiful 
thoughts that filled his mind. During his later years he was in the habit of writing 
a poem on each occurrence of his natal anniversary, and most of them appeared in 
print. His last effort, entitled "Seventy-five," was inscribed "To R. W.' and con- 
tained nine stanzas, of which the final two are as follows: 

' ' I keep m)- frail bark near the shore, 
And smile to see my fellows strive ; 
With feebleness I ply the oar — 
The pulse runs low at seventy-five ! 

"But still God's wond'rous world is fair — 
He scatters mercies large and free — 
He plants his beauties everywhere. 
And life is still a joy to me." 

In the spring of 1885 Mr. Young settled in the village of Jasper, Steuben county, 
where he bought a handsome residence, which was burned September 12, 1891. Hither 
he had brought from the Mohawk valley his large and valuable library and literary 
treasures, which were totally destroyed. He felt this loss keenly, largely from the 
fact that age prevented him from making another collection of those "silent" and 
ever available " friends," for he prized them as only a true book lover prizes books. 
He was held in high esteem and retained the confidence of all who knew him. 

July 14, 1883, Mr. Young, while residing temporarily at Painted Post, was married 
by Rev. Joseph H. Young, rector of St. Joseph's Episcopal church, Dansville, to 
Miss Anna Rust Miller, daughter of Ur. William and Mary (Seeber) Miller, natives 
respectively of Johnstown and Canajoharie, N.' Y. She survives him, and in 1894 
married F. S. Viall, formerly a business man of CanLsteo and now a merchant in 
Jasper, where Mrs. Miller also resides. Dr. Miller lived in and died in Johnstown, 
Fulton county. His father. Dr. James W. Miller, prominent in the early history of 
that place, married Sarah, daughter of Amaziah Rust, of Revolutionary fame. 



LEONARD S. LAMSON. 

Leonard S. L.i.mson's ancestors came from England to this country in the l7th 
century and settled in New Hampshire, where members of the family became sub- 
stantial farmers and mechanics. His grandfather, Charles Lamson, emigrated to the 
town of Jasper, Steuben county, from Hadley, Mass., in 1825, and located upon what 
has ever since been the Lamson homestead. Here amid the environments of a rich 
agricultural section Leonard S. was born, a son to Sylvester and Sarah (Dennis) 
Lamson. Sylvester succeeded his father on the farm and died in 1S72; his widow 
survives him and resides with her son, the subject of this sketch. 

Leonard S. Lamson was educated in the common schools and Alfred University. 
January 4, 1864, he enlisted in Co. I, KJth N. Y. Heavy Artillerv, and served till the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 75 

close of the war. being detailed at General Tracy's headquarters in Elniira as clerk. 
After the war closed he returned to the parental farm in Jasper, where he resided 
four years, when he moved to Woodhull and settled on the homestead of his wife's 
family. There he remained a farmer until 1877. when he took up his residence in 
Woodhull village. At the same time he purchased an interest in the saw, planing, 
and feed mill, in which he has ever since carried on a successful business. 

Mr. Lamson has for several years been a prominent factor in politics in both town 
and county. He is an active Republican, a trusted leader in the councils of his 
party, and influential advocate of sound party principles. In 1890 and again in 1891 
he represented the town of Woodhull on the board of supervisors, where his efficient 
labors on behalf of his constituents were recognized and appreciated. In 1S9.5 he 
was elected clerk of Steuben county by a handsome majority. He is a prominent 
member and was for two years commander of J. X. Warner Post, No. .")65, G. A. R., 
of Woodhull, and is also a member of Tent 174, K. (). T. M. He is an active mem- 
ber of the Presb\terian church of Jasper, and has always taken a deep interest in 
the welfare and prosperity of his town. Kvery worthy object which promised to 
become beneficial to the community or jiromote general advancement receives his 
generous aid and support. 

Mr. Lani-son was married on January 23. 1864, to Miss Clara A. Millard, of Wood- 
hull, by whom he has four children ; Prof. George R. , graduate of the Geneseo State 
Normal School, and a school teacher; Fred L., a graduate of the Rochester I'niver- 
sity; and Annie E. and Clara L., at home. 



J K ROME B. MALTBV. 

Jerome B. M.m.tbv, the third of five children of Curtis and Caroline (White) Maltby, 
was born in the town of Orange, Schuyler county, N. Y., on the 19th day of June, 
1841. During his youth Mr. Maltby enjoyed the usual restrictions of farm life and 
shared the misfortunes of the average boy as to educational opportunities. Having 
attained manhood, in 1862 he went west intending to ])ermanently locate; after 
crossing the plains with an emigrant train he worked at gold mining in Idaho 
and spent one winter in San Francisco — saving from his earnings about thirteen 
hundred dollars. Returning east in 1864 he entered the milling business with A, 
Richmond at Millport, Chemung county, N. Y. A year later he came to Corning 
and purchased a third interest in the mercantile business then conducted by his 
brothers Charles R. an<t Erastus C. Maltby; at this time the wholesale grocery house 
of C. R. Maltby & Bros., was established and was continued until 1878, when Erastus 
C. Maltby retired. A few years previous Charles R. Maltby located in New York 
city for the purpose of dealing directly with importers and producers This change 
left the responsibility of the entire Ijusincss in Corning with Jerome B. Maltby. to 
whose untiring efforts and judicious management the healthy financial condition of 
the firm is largely due. The Maltby firm has the only exclusively wholesale grocery 
and provision house in Corning ; in the face of direct competition with the largest 
firms in the country, business has steadily increased and extends throughout South- 
ern New York and Northern Pennsylvania. 



16 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Mr. Maltby is identified with all public measures for the advancement of local in- 
terests and in all worthy enterprises is regarded as public spirited and generous; for 
charitable works he has an open hand. He has held the office of village trustee and 
treasurer, and has for many years been a vestryman of Christ Episcopal church. In 
politics Mr. Maltby is a Republican, but conservative in his views and expressions. 
A retiring nature, briefness of speech and conciseness of expression are his chief 
characteristics, and his business sense and forethought are notable. His position as 
president of the Southern Tier Wholesale Grocers' Association is evidence of the 
esteem in which Jerome B. Maltby is held in business circles. 



HENRY BALDWIN. 

Col. Hknrv Baldwin, whose sudden and .startling death occurred Sunday morning 
December 15, 1895, was born in Lawrenceville, Tioga county. Pa., Novembers, 1881. 
He was the third son of Rufus and Pamelia (Wombough) Baldwin, thus descending 
from the two most prominent pioneer families of the Canisteo valley. He had 
advantages for a fairly good education and graduated from the Albany Law School 
in 1854, being admitted to the practice of his chosen profession soon after attaining 
to his majority. Besides his law practice he engaged in several business enterprises 
and generally pushed to a successful conclusion all his undertakings. In 1856 he 
married Miss Arabella Bliss of Hornellsville, N. Y. His wife died in 1863. Mr. 
Baldwin did not remarry. 

In 1858 hj founded the Addison "Advertiser," and was associated for some time 
in its management with Mr. E. M. Johnson, finally disposing of his interest in the 
paper to Mr. Johnson. 

In 1861 Mr. Baldwin enhsted in the defense of the L''nion and raised the first com- 
pany that went to the front from Addison, of which he was made captain. It was 
afterwards known as Co. E, of the 134th Regiment, N. Y. State Vols. Mr. Baldwin 
served with credit to himself and led his company through the battles of Ball's Bluff, 
Harper's Ferry, Winchester, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, the seven days battles before 
Richmond, and first and second battles of Fredericksburg, besides being in many 
lesser engagements. On his return to Addison at the expiration of the term of his 
enlistment, he was active and helpful in securing recruits to fill Steuben county's 
quota as called for by the government. 

The close of the war found Mr. Baldwin in a crippled financial condition, but with 
his natural energy and a determination to regain what he had lost, he engaged in 
new enterprises and was eminently successful. 

Under the old military system of the State he became colonel of the 106th Regiment 
N. G. S. N. Y. This regiment took part in the suppression of the great railroad 
strike in 1877 and the onerous duties incident to this service being so well performed 
that the regiment and its commander received special favorable mention in genera! 
orders. 

In politics Col. Baldwin was a lifelong consistent Democrat, and he often served 
his party and the people as village trustee, and also as supervisor of his town six 
terms. So popular was he among his fellow members of the board that he was chosen 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 77 

chairman of that body for one term, fiUinjj that position with marked ability and 
great fairness. In 1885 he was chosen sheriff of the strong Republican county of 
Steuben, being elected by a handsome plurality. During his term as sheriff his health 
became much impaired and after he left the office he lived a more quiet life, busying 
himself in looking after his many interests in and about Addison. 

Col. Baldwin was a communicant of the Episcopal church of Addison, was devoted 
to it and its services, and was quick and generous in response to her calls upon him. 

Col. Baldwin was made a Mason early in life and ever took a deep interest in 
everything pertaining to the order. He was a member of Addison Union Lodge No. 
118. F. &• A. M., Addison Chapter No. 14(), R. A. M., De Molay Commandery Knights 
Templar, Hornellsville, N. Y., and Corning Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons. 

He was a volunteer fireman, being a charter member of Phoeni.\ Company, and 
an honorary member of Baldwin Hook and Ladder Co., which was named in his 
honor. In his associations of every kind, with high and low, rich and poor, Henry 
Baldwin was always courteous, kind, and con.siderate. Public spirited beyond most 
of his townsmen he was always ready to assi.st with liberality any and all enterprises 
that promised to benefit the town in which he had spent the most of his life. 

In the death of Col. Henry Baldwin Addison lost one of her most prominent and 
highly respected citizens, the people a warm friend, the church a sincere worshiper 
and his family a loving brother and devoted friend. 



NELSON COWAN. 

Nelscs Cowan, one of the earliest settlers and most prominent men of Corning, 
Steuben county, was born in Spring Mills (now Springport), Cayuga county, N. Y , 
July 2, 1816, and first came to the town of Gibson in 1886. In 1838 he .settled there_ 
and for thirty years was engaged in boating and boat building, carrying on during 
that period an extensive and successful business. His boat carried the first cargo of 
coal that was sent from Blossburg to Albany, the shipment being consigned to 
Erastus Corning for the rolling mills at Troy. He also brought from there the first 
iron for the Corning and Blossburg Railroad, prior to the construction of which coal 
was hauled by teams from Blossburg. Mr. Cowan subsequently became largely in- 
terested in the operation of coal mines, and with Hon. F. C. Dininny, now of Elmira, 
developed mines in the Pittston (Pa.) region which proved a source of wealth to all 
who were identified with them. He continued this business for twenty-five years, or 
until February, 188',), when he sold his interest to the Butler Mine Company, making 
what was said at the time one of the largest transfers of mining property on record, 
a property widely known as the Schooley and Boston jjurchase. From early life to 
March 1, 1889, Mr. Cowan was actively and successfully engaged in business, and 
throughout his long career won the confidence, esteem, and respect of all with whom 
he came in contact. He then retired, and died on June 25 of that year at the age 
of nearly seventy-three. 

While engaged in these various industries Mr. Cowan was also keenly interested in 
the social and political welfare of his town and county. He was supervisor of the 
town of Corning for four years during the war of the Rebellion, and in that capacity 



78 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

paid to every soldier the authorized bounty. At the same time he had sixty-five 
canal boats with which he supplied much of the coal then used in the interior of the 
State. He was prominently identified with every movement which had for its object 
the advancement of the community. 

Mr. Cowan was married on July 17, 1838, to Miss Emaline A. Whitney, who was 
born in Stamford, Conn.. November 4, 1818, and who lived in Danby, Tompkins 
county, N. Y., at the time of their marriage. For over fifty years she was a resi- 
dent of Gibson, where with her husband she led a very quiet life, and where her 
many good detds and charitable acts will long survive her. She died January 30, 
1889. Their only child, Adelia M., born February 3, 1842, was married on October 
17. 1859, to John Tupper, son of Dr. Archelaus Tupper. and a prominent young man 
of Corning, who died October 29, 1872. Her death occurred April 30, 1894. Their 
children were Emma B., born October 30, 1860; Luella M., born April 15. 1862, mar- 
ried C. L. Schonleber on December ."j, 1894; Ida, born April 15, 1865; Nelson ^V., 
born September 17, 1867, died January 17, 1895; Benjamin Strever, born March 5, 
1870. Emma B. Cowan was married November 26, 1879. to R. F. Park, and has chil- 
dren William Nelson, born August 5, 1883; Robert Lynton, born September 15, 1889; 
and Laura Belle, born November 18, 1893. Ida Cowan, on January 29, 1890, mar- 
ried George B. Walsh, and has one son, G. Lauriston, born October 6, 1894. Ben- 
jamin S. Cowan married, April 24, 1889, Miss Kate Rose, by whom he has two 
children: Clara Hazel, born July 7, 1890, and Virgil Benjamin, born .September 29, 
1892. Nelson Cowan reared as his own the five children of his only child, Mrs. 
Adelia M. Tupper, and also a nephew of his wife, William W. Whitney, who was 
born September 17, 1853, and who married Priscilla Mead, of Caton, N. V., by whom 
he has four children: Frank L., born April 25 1873; Kate M., born March 26, 1875; 
Emma B., born February 14, 1881; and Luella, born November 27, 1888. 



LORENZO DAVISON. 

LoRKN/o Davison was the third of a family of ten children, five sons and five 
daughters, and was born in the town of Tyrone, Schuyler county, N. Y., March 23, 
1824. His father, Lewis Davison, migrated from New Jersey to Schuyler county 
when quite young, and there met and married Jemima (iannon, who had moved from 
Orange county, N. Y. They cleared the farm upon which they raised their large 
family, and endured all the hardships incident to pioneer life. Lorenzo remained 
on the parental homestead until he reached his majority, attending .school during the 
winters when opportunity permitted, not to exceed three months a year. While pur- 
suing his studies he walked to and from the country school house a considerable dis- 
tance over rough and hilly roads. I'pon leaving the family home he learned the 
trade of carpenter and joiner, which he followed successfully for six years. 

In the spring of 1851 Mr. Davison came to Canisteo, Steuben county, and at once 
erected a large steam lumber, shingle and planing mill on the bank of the Canisteo 
River, near the site of the present Erie depot. This was the first planing mill ope- 
rated in Steuben county west of Corning, and continued operations but four years, 
when it was burned and rebuilt. In 1862 he formed a copartnership with L. A. 



T» 



"J 




LORENZO DAVISON. 



~-J 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 79 

Waldo, and engaged quite extensively in the lumber, stave, shingle and mercantile 
business, owning and operating three separate mills. This firm continued for 
eighteen years, when the partnership was dissolved. Since then Mr. Davison has 
carried on the lumber and mercantile business to a greater or less extent. During 
his whole life he has also been largely engaged in farming, owning at present a val- 
uable farm in the fertile Canisteo valley, about one mile east of the village. 

Mr. Davison is a Re])ublican and has always taken a keen though ([uiet interest in 
political affairs. He has never sought public office, yet in 187!3, at the earnest solici- 
tation of his many friends, he was elected president of Canisteo village. He has 
been a prominent member of Morning Star Lodge No. 65, F. and A. M., since 18(i2, 
and an active and leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1868. He 
is also president of the Canisteo Cemetery Association, and towards all charitable 
and business projects he has always been a liberal contributor. 

On October 3, 1850, Mr. Davison was united in marriage to Miss Louise Jackson, 
daughter of Josiah and Betsey Jackson, of Attay, N. Y., who died June 23, 1805. 
Their two children died in infancy. On November 22, 1856, he was married, second, 
to Miss Martha Carter, daughter of the Rev. Chauncey and Maria Carter, of Canis- 
teo. The result of this union was five children; Ida L., bom August 36, 1859; George 
A., born October 1, 1861, died June 7, 1862; Hiland T., born March 25, 1863, died 
December 4, 1864; Ella M., born June 14, 1865; and Milton W., born July 3, 1867, 



CONSTANT COOK. 

Constant Cook, the son of Philip and Clarissa (Hatch) Cook, was born in Warren, 
Herkimer county, N. Y. , on November 10, 1797, and there with his father passed the 
earlier years of his life upon a farm. On Christmas day, 1819, he married Maria 
Whitney, daughter of Nathan and Hannah Whitney, formerly of Fairfield county, 
Conn. In April, 1820, Mr. Cook removed to Cohocton, in this county, where for a 
time he engaged in farming; but soon became interested with the late John Magee 
of Watkins in numerous mail and passenger routes and laid the foundation for the 
fortunes which these two men subsequently built up. About the year 1840, Mr. Cook 
was appointed one of the judges of Steuben county, an office which he filled for a 
term of three years. In 1843, Judge Cook removed to Bath, and engaged in com- 
mercial pursuits with Mr. Magee, but their attention was soon drawn to that great 
work, the construction of the Erie railroad, and in company with others took the 
contract for the building of the road from Binghamton to Corning. Subsecjuently, 
with Hon. John Magee, he projected and built the Buffalo, New York and Corning 
railroad from Corning to Buffalo by w-ay of Batavia and Attica. Still later he pro- 
jected the BIoss Coal Company, located at Arnot, near Blossburgh, Pa. During the 
last twenty years of his life, Judge Cook became widely known for his banking house 
at Bath, which, early in the war, was converted into a national bank, and soon took 
rank with the soundest and most successful institutions of the kind in the State. 
About six years previous to his death, he donated thirty thousand dollars toward the 
erection of a new Episcopal church in the village of Bath, and the result of this gen- 



80 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

ertius gift is now seen in one of the most commodious and beautiful church edifices 
in the diocese of Western New York. The death of Judge Cook occurred on Feb- 
ruary 24, 1874. Of eight children, three only survived him, Henry H. Cook of New 
York city, Mrs. L. D. Hodgman and Edwin C. Cook. Mrs. Cook died September 
10, 1890. 



PART III 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 



Averill, Mrs. Helen. — Oscar J. Avcrill was born at Cameron, Steuben county, 
July 15. 1834. He was the son of Hiram and Hulda Averill and was educated at the 
Klmira Academy, after which he taught school for some years. In 18C1 he married 
Helen C, daughter of Jared H. and Maria Thompson, by whom he had four chil- 
dren, William and Edward T. (both deceased), Mrs. George N. Beekman, and Helen 
Bell. Oscar J. was one of the representative men of his town, elected county clerk 
in 1801, United States internal revenue commissioner, and in 1881 he went to Utah 
and was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court of Utah. In 188i! he returned to Bath 
and died in Washington, December 20, 1892. 

Austin, Erwin H., was born in the town of Greene, Chenango county, in 1837, son 
of John and Abigail (Adams) Austin, natives of Scotland and Chenango county, N.Y. 
John Austin came with his father, Russel, to America about 1820, and settled in 
Chenango county, N.Y.. he then being about five years of age. Russel was a hotel- 
keeper, and died in 1843. The maternal grandfather, Rowland Adams, was a collier 
of Chenango county, and in 1840 came to Jasper, Steuben county, where he remained 
until 1860, and spent his last days in Troupsburg, where he died in 1861, aged eighty- 
seven years. His father, John Adams, from Massachusetts, was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. John Austin was an axe maker by trade, and a soldier in the 
regular army, and died in 1840. Mrs. Austin still lives at Greenwood, and is the 
widow of Joseph Wilber, who died in 1885. Erwin H. was reared by his grand- 
parents, Rowland and Catherine Adams, and when fourteen years old commenced 
work as a farm hand, and has since followed farming. He came to Troupsburg in 
1859. In 185!) he married Amy B., daughter of Joseph and Sarah Brown, of Troups- 
burg. who died in June, 1887. To Mr. and Mrs. Austin have been born twelve chil- 
dren, four of whom died in infancy, and Edith May died in 1883, aged twenty-two 
years, and Perry in February, 1875. aged eleven months. Those living are Ida, 
Grace, Jennie L., Amy A., Erwin H., jr., William J. and Henry G. Mr. Austin en- 
listed August 19, 1862, in Company H, 161.st New York Volunteers, and was honorably 
discharged September 21, 1865, and took part in many hard fought battles. He is a 
Republican, and has been assessor, and is now serving his third term as justice. He 
is a member of Post Bailey No. 351, G.A.R., and McLellen Lodge No. 649, F. &A.M., 
and has held every position in the order. He is also a member of the Troupsburg 
Tent No. 339, K.O.T. M. Mrs. Austin was a member of the Methodist church. 

Arnold, Alex J., was born in Avoca, April 24, 1852. Lyman Arnold, his father. 



4 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was born in Washington county, N.Y., and came to Avoca when quite small where 
he engaged in farming. He married Mary McNeil, by whom he had one son, Ale.^i 
J., who was educated in the schools of Avoca and Bath. He has been a farmer 
from early life, and now owns a farm of 140 acres within the corporation limits. He 
married Louisa, daughter of J. N. Bradish, by whom he had one son, Clarence B. 
Mr. Arnold was supervisor for three terms, and has also been president of the vil- 
lage He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Avoca Lodge No. 673, and is a 
member of the LO.O.F. 

Anmiller, George, was born in Germany, October 28, 1829, and came to the United 
States in 1853 and settled in Hornellsville, where he began clearing land ; he rc- 
mamed there for one year, and then moved to Kanona, where he engaged in the 
railroad business for about three years, after which he went to Corning, and from 
there to Cooper's Plains, where he began work for the Rochester division of the 
N. Y. L. E. &■ W. ; from that place he came to the town of Campbell, where he bought 
a farm of 100 acres, which business he has followed ever since. He married Johanna 
Smith, of Germany, by whom he had these children; Dora, Andrew, Katie 
(deceased), William, Annie. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Allis, Henr)' Elisha, was born in Prattsburg in 18^6, son of Jusiah AUis, who was 
a native of Whately, Mass., born in 1778, and one of eleven children born to Col. 
Josiah Allis, of Whately, Mass., son of Captain Elisha, son of Ichabod, son of Cap- 
tain John, son of Colonel William, the founder of the family in America in 1640. 
Josiah Allis, father of Henry Elisha, first came to Prattsburg in 1801, returned and 
came again with Capt. Joel Pratt, for whom he drove three yoke of oxen. He 
settled on unbroken land south of the village, which he cleared and made for himself 
a home. He was an active pioneer and assisted in blazing and laying out the first 
road from Prattsburg to Bath, and from Prattsburg to Naples. He was actively in- 
terested in educational matters, and one of the original promoters in the building 
of the Franklin Academy at Prattsburg, also of the Pre.sbyterian church of the 
same place. He married Maiy Bull, a native of Connecticut, by whom he had six 
children: Emily, Jerry, Horace, Josiah, Lemira, and Henry E. He died in 1848, 
and his wife in 1829. Henry E. was educated in the common schools and Franklin 
Academy and remained at home until after the death of his father, after which he 
engaged in the carpenter trade and the study of architecture, and later became mas- 
ter builder. In 1854 he went to Chicago, 111., where for six years he was engaged 
in contracting and building, and one year was spent in the car shops of the Alton 
railroad. He then returned to Yates county, N.Y. , where he spent four years on the 
farm and one j^ear in Ontario county, when he returned to Prattsburg, where he has 
since been engaged in farming and the breeding of blooded stock, of which Jersey 
cattle are his specialty. In politics Mr. Allis is a Republican, has served as town 
auditor, inspector of elections, and is now serving his third term as justice of the 
peace. In 1860 he married Charlotte J. Holcomb, who was born in Prattsburg. a 
daughter of Ebenezer Holcomb, by whom he had three children: Addie, wife of 
Charles H. Burns, of Cuba; Louie P., and Frank H., who is married and has one 
child, Henry E. 

Armstrong, James E., the present highway commissioner, was born in Schuyler 



FAMILY SKETCH KS. 5 

county in 1H30, son of Benoni and Hannah Armstrong, who came to Steuben county 
in 1M44 locating where Mr. Armstrong has since lived. The father was a lumberman 
and died in KS8G, aged eighty-live years. Mr. Armstrong is the youngest of a family 
of five children. In 1867 he married Emma Hendry.x of Potter county, Pa., who 
died in 1884. In 1893 he was elected to his present office for one year, and re-elected 
in ISSM for two years. He had also previously served three years. The old saw mill 
on his place which is still in operation was built by his father in 1846. 

Allison, Chas. S., was born in England, September 16, 1843. Wm. S. Allison, his 
father, was engaged in the milling business. Chas. S. was educated in England and 
learned the merchant tailoring business at that place. In 1859 became to the United 
States and settled in Bath, entering into the employ of Hiram Hess, Conklin & Hill. 
In 1861 he went to Fall Brook to manage a merchant tailoring establishment at that 
place, and from there went to IClmira, and in the fall of 1801 enlisted in Co. C, ()4th 
N. Y. Vol. Inft. During the war he took part in the battles of Culpepper, Mine Run, 
the Wilderness, and numerous others, and through bravery on the field and merito- 
rious service was promoted to second lieutenant in September, 1864, and receiving an 
honorable discharge at the close of the war with acting rank of first lieutenant. In 
1868 he married Erva A. Walsh, by whom he had three children: Guy W. , Chas. R. 
and Ethel M. Mrs. Allison died in 1884. In 1869 he came to Bath and entered into 
the employ of Jas. Sutherland, whom he succeeded in 1874. In 1892 he married Mrs, 
Clara Sutherland, daughter of Joseph Shaut. Mr. Allison is one of the leading busi- 
ness men of the town, serving as supervisor in 1882, and has been twice elected 
commander of Custer Post No. 81. 

Ainsworth, Addison, was born in Prattsburg, N. Y., September 13, 1813. Isaac 
Ainsworth, his father, was born in Spencertown, N. Y., in 1787, and came to Pratts- 
burg about 180i) and settled on the farm now owned by William Babcock, and at his 
death owned 800 acres of land. He served as constable and collector nine .successive 
terms, when he resigned and devoted his time exclusively to farming and extensive 
lumbering business. He married Louisa Burton, by whom he had two children, 
Addison being the only one who grew to maturity. Mrs. Ainsworth died in 1815, 
and he married {or his second wife, Sally Townsend, by whom he had six children. 
He died in 1840. Addison remained with his father until he was twenty-two years 
of age, and then engaged in farming, which he has successfully followed for many 
years, and he and his wife now live a retired life in the village of Prattsburg, where 
he looks after his village property. In 1837 he married Julia Ann Johnson, a native 
of Massachusetts, by whom he had two children: Mary Louisa and Sarah S., both 
deceased. '1 he former became Mrs. Wilson and left one child, Edith Minnehaha. 
who now resides with Mr. Ainsworth and his wife in Prattsburg. Mr. and Mrs. 
Ainsworth have been for many years members of the Presbyterian church, of which 
ho has been one of the trustees, elder and treasurer since 1879. 

Alley, Frank Bennett, was born in the village of Hornellsville, April 3, 1860, only 
son of the late Samuel M. Alley. He was educated in the city schools and early 
showed his inheritance of business enteri)risc and indomitable pluck by engaging in 
a retail store at the comer of Main and Canisteo streets. Five years later he estab- 
lished a wholesale department, where for eleven years his trade has had a steady and 



C LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

permanent growth. In 1893 his rapidly increasing trade demanding larger quarters, 
he removed the wholesale department to the old post-office building on Canisteo 
street, where we now find him ; but he still continues to operate as a retail depart- 
ment, the old stand which is now popularly known as "Alley's Corner." In 1894 he 
fitted up with the most artistic taste "Alley's Cafe." He devotes his whole time and 
attention to his business, with no political or social aspirations except for his friends, 
for whom he is a hard worker. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. June 4, 1882, Mr. 
Alley married Isabel, daughter of H. C. Johnson, of Hornellsville. They have one 
child, Laura. The first born, Helen, died November 1, 1892, aged ten years. 

Arthur, Arthur C, was born in England in 1862, and came to America in 1873, re- 
siding at Amesbury, Mass. , at which place he managed the Amesbury Opera House 
successfully. In June, 1891, Mr. Arthur came to Corning to take charge of the Corn- 
ing Opera House, which was opened October 8, 1891, by Rose Coghlan. The Corn- 
ing Opera House is a $50,000 stock company and owned by prominent citizens. 
Corning, by its enterprise in erecting such a beautiful place of amusement, and its 
excellent method of management, has placed that city at the head of the dramatic 
profession in the Southern Tier. 

Ames, Charles, was born in Leyden, Mass., in 1825, where the first sixteen years 
of his life was spent. He was educated in the district schools, and has been a resident 
of Addison just half a century. He was a pioneer of the sash, blind and door indus- 
try, and in 1845 established a factory herewith his brothers, Ambrose and N. H., 
having previously been employed in the factory at Truxton, N. Y. Two years later 
he bought an interest in the business, which he maintained for twenty years, then 
selling out, the next year he engaged in the hardware business under the firm name 
of Graham & Ames, and after fifteen years of close application to this business he 
relinquished it in 1884. The Ames family were originally from Somersetshire, Eng- 
land, Ebenezer, the father of Charles, being a descendant of the famous old family 
of Bridgewater, Ma,ss., who were identified with the early manufactories there, es- 
pecially the manufacture of agricultural implements, which have a world-wide repu- 
tation. In 1848 Charles Ames married Maria K., the elder daughter of the late Henry 
Wornbough, and they were the parents of one daughter, Frances, who married D. 
D. Cooley, and they located at Ashland, Nebraska, where she died. Mr. Ames is a 
Democrat, and has been president and trustee of this village. He is a supporter of 
the Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. 

Appleby, T. H., was born in Rochester, N. Y., where he learned the harness and 
collar maker's trade, and in 1887 embarked in business for himself at Painted Post, 
but soon after moved to Bath where he remained for five years. January 1, 1894, he 
located in Corning and has been conducting a much more extensive business. His 
trade is principally wholesale, and gives employment to thirty workmen, and amounts 
to §50,000 a year in volume. 

Brown, George R., was born in Chemung county, N. Y., in 1840. He taught 
school in his younger days, and in 1804 came to Corning and has been in the employ 
of the Fall Brook system since that date, beginning as an operator, and has been 
promoted from time to time until appointed general superintendent in 1886. He is 
a member and president pro tern, of the Board of Education of the city of Corning. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 7 

Bowcn, Ednuiml I., was born in Williamsport, Pa., March 10, IsUli. Ednuiml S. 
Bowen, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, and is now the general manager of 
the South Carolina and Georgia R. R. Edmund I. is the youngest of a family of two 
sons, was educated in the Troy Polytechnic College, and his first employment was 
with the civil engineering department of the Erie Railroad Comi)any. and served as 
assistant engineer until January, 1892, when he was promoted to the position of road- 
master, which he now holds. In 1895 he married Miss Kate Russell Burnham. 

Beckwith, Philo, born in the town of Campbell, January 25, 1857, is the son of 
Griffin Beckwith, who was born in the town of Hornby, December 25, 1825. and 
grandson of Zenith Beckwith, who was one of the pioneer .settlers of the ti;wn of 
Hornby. Griffin came to the town of Campbell in 18G0, where he purchased the farm 
now owned by Philo. He married Margaret, daughter of Solomon Cu.shing, of the 
town of Dicks, Schuyler county, and they have two children: Philo C, and Martha, 
now Mrs. Joe Robinson, of Wellesboro, Pa. Philo was educated in the district school, 
and he has devoted his time to farming, and has also conducted a dairy for the last 
five years. His father died in 1889, aged sixty-four years; and the mother in De- 
cember, 1894, aged sixty-three. 

Badger, Herbert L., son of Harvey P. and Louisa P. Badger, was born in Painted 
Post, and married Francis Tuell, of Penn Yan, and they have three sims; Arthur, 
Fred and Allan. Mr. Badger has a farm of fifty acres on which he raises fruit, grain, 
and tobacco. He has held the office of insi)ector of election for many years. He 
enlisted in the 20th New York Battery, in 1864, and served until the close of the war. 
He was in the detached service at Elmira under Col. Tracy. He is now commander 
of the G. A. R. Post, No. 611. 

Bundy, George \V., was born in Cameron, October l;i, 1842, a son of George and 
Caroline (Smith) Bundy. George, sr., came from Ot.sego county, town of Pittsfield, 
when fourteen years of age, in 1827, with his father, Nathaniel. His wife, Caroline, 
was a daughter of Rev. David Smith and a native of Bath. Nathaniel Bundy was 
a carpenter by trade and his son George was a farmer. They were both very active 
in the M. E. Church of Cameron. Nathaniel was one of the first of the justices of 
peace and was familiarly known as "Squire Bundy." George Bundy, jr., married 
Mary J., a daughter of Caleb and Harriet (Roosa) Annable, by whom he had three 
children: Nelson O., Caleb C, and Melvin G. Nelson O. married Ilattie Abbott 
and has one child, Cora. Mr. Bundy, jr., has been assessor nine years and highway 
commissioner seven years. He is past master of the Grange and has been State 
delegate. He is engaged in farming and owns a farm of 200 acres. 

Brown, Daniel F., was born in the town of Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., Octo- 
ber 9, 1821. He spent two years at the Troy Ctmference Academy at Poultney,Vt., 
and afterwards spent two years at tlje Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y. 
He came to Corning in 1846 and completed his legal course in the office of Hon. 
Thomas A. Johnson, and was admitted in 1850. He was commissioned first lieuten- 
ant in 1862 by Governor Morgan, and served as quartermaster of the 86th Regt. 
N. Y. Vols, until the close of the war. He was appointed by President John.son, in 
1865, assistant collector of internal revenue for the fourth division of the twenty- 
seventh district of the State of New York, which office he held for nine years. He 



8 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was the first police justice of the village, and the first recorder of the city of Corning. 
With the exception of the period spent in the war, he has practiced his profession 
in Coming since 1850. 

Blakeslee, Prof. D. A., A.M., was born in Savona, Steuben county, in 183T. He 
is the son of Lyman Blakeslee, who was born in the Green Mountains of Vermont, 
moving with his parents to Cortland county in or about the year 1813, thence to 
Steuben county m 183.5, where he engaged in farming, which he followed until ad- 
vancing age compelled him to retire. He now resides with his daughter, Mrs. R. C. 
Morgan, of Hornellsville. The boyhood and youth of Professor Blakeslee were 
spent on his father's farm, attending school in the winter, and, later, teaching. In 
1861 he entered Alfred University, where he appeared in a homespun suit of his 
mother's own work, and he graduated in 1866 with the degree of A.B. Later he was 
for eight years professor of English in the Normal department of his alma mater, 
which indicates the confidence and appreciation in which he was held by the faculty 
and students of that noted school. For thirteen years he was principal of Grammar 
School No. 2, in Elmira, for five years principal at Wellsville, and he has also held 
the principalship of the Union School and Free Academy in Addison, which has 
maintained, under his administration, its high standing among the schools of the 
county and of this part of the State. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In 
1866 he married Miss Lizzie La Force, of Wayne, N. Y. They have one daughter, 
Julia La Force, also a graduate of Alfred University, who is the wife of Dr. William 
E. Barron, a well-known and popular young physician of Addison. Professor 
Blakeslee's work has ahvays been of a high order, being characterized by simplicity 
and thoroughness, and his administration has been firm yet of such a type as to 
secure the hearty assent of the students, and to develop in them those elements of 
self-direction that grow up into the best manhood and womanhood. 

Bingham, William C, was born in Boston, Mass., April 26 1843. Chester, his 
father, was a native of New Hampshire and a merchant and farmer. The grand- 
father, Jeremiah, was a native of Connecticut. He was a farmer and his father 
before him. Chester removed to Boston about 1830, where he engaged in the mer. 
cantile business. He was the father of three children. William C. , the only son, 
was educated in the public schools of Boston, Greene Academy, and under private 
tutors. At the age of eighteen he took up the study of law in the office of the late 
Hon. Horace Bemis, and afterwards with Judge Hamilton Ward, and was admitted 
to the bar at the age of twenty-one years. He began practice at Belmont. Allegany 
county, in 1864, where he remained until 1871. He then came to Hornellsville and 
entered into partnership with Homer Holliday, which partnership existed until 1887, 
when Mr. Holliday retired from active ])ractice. Mr. Bingham was the first recorder 
for the city of Hornellsville, which office he held for four years, declining the 
nomination for a third term. In 1874 Mr Bingham married Cornelia Bush, of 
Belmont. 

Buvinger, H. Edward, was born in Hanover, York county. Pa., August 9, 1835. 
In 1835 his parents removed to Dayton, Ohio; where he remained until the .spring of 
1847, when he left the parental home and came to the State of New York, residing 
at Rochester and New York city. In September, 1850, he came to Hornellsville, and 



FAMILY ^^KETCFIES. 9 

subsequently became superintendent of the Thos. Suell Shoe Mfy;. Co., where he re- 
mained until ISoS; and then entered the employ of the Krie Railway Company in 
the machine shop, where he remained until 1850, when he was appointed ticket a^cnt 
for the same company, which he held until May, 1863, when he was transferred to the 
freight department as chief clerk and cashier, which position he has now held for 
thirty-three years, and a continuous service of forty-two years at this station. Mr. 
Buvintjer was married July 28, 1851, to Susan Kress, of Dundee, Yates county, N.Y., 
by whom he had three sons- Darwin C, of New York city; Ernest, who died March 
24, 1874, aged nineteen years; and Mark H., who is now residing with him. Mr. 
Buvinger has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for forty-nine years. lie was 
initiated in St. John's Lodge No. 13 in Dayton, Ohio, in 1840, and in 1850 affiliated 
with Evening Star Lodge No. 44, of Hornellsville, N. Y. In IS.'ji Kveniug Star 
Lodge surrendered its charter, and in 1853 organized Hornellsville Lodge No. 331, of 
which he was a charter member, and senior warden, and master in 1855 and 1858. 
In 1868 Evening Star Lodge was reorganized, of which he was its master three 
years. He was high priest of Steuben Chapter, R. A. M., No. 101, in 1861, and in 
1856 he joined De Molay Commandery No. 22, of Knights Templar, and was ominent 
commander in 1860 and 1861. 

Balcom, Samuel, was born in the town of Greene, Chenango county, N. Y., De- 
cember 13, 1822. The Balcoms trace their descent from Henry Balcom, of Balcombe, 
England, who came from there and settled in Boston, Mass., about 1640. Lyman 
Balcom, father of Samuel Balcom, was associate judge of the County Court of Steu- 
ben county from 1840 to 1846. and elected to the State Legislature in 1867. He mar- 
ried Clarissa Ilollenbeck of Greene, Chenango county, and died in 1881 in his eighty- 
second year. At thirteen years of age Samuel moved with his father to Campbell, 
Steuben county, where the family were prominent in the lumbering interests. He 
was educated at O.xford Academy, Oxford, Chenango county, where he was married 
in 1866 to a daughter of Henry Balcom of that place — Sarah L. Foote, by whom he 
had two children, Lillian Lynn and Lyman Hunnewell, and an adopted daughter, 
Mary Banks Foote. He died at his home in Bath, Steuben county, N. Y., September 
23. 1890, and was buried at that place. 

Buck, Moses E., was born in Connecticut, June 27, 1833. son of Alva H., who was 
also born in Connecticut. Alva H. came to the town of Bath about 1840, where he 
was engaged in lumbering up to the time of his death. He married Lucretia Ann 
Bailey, Connecticut, by whom he had five children: Moses E. , Lucy, Martha, Susan. 
and John. His second wife was Miss Emeline Carr and his third a Miss Jane Totten. 
Moses E. was educated in the district schools of Bath and at the age of eighteen 
learned the carpenter's trade, which business he continued in for twenty years. He 
built the large barns on the stock farm of Samuel I. Haskins. He has also been en- 
gaged in the manufacture of chairs up to within two years ago, since which time he 
has been interested in a grist mill at Avoca. Mr. Buck married Ellen, daughter of 
Henry Willis, of Bath, by whom he had these children: Harry, deceased; Frances, 
wife of Aaron Shaver; Fred, Adella, and James, who is a graduate of Miller's Busi- 
ness College of Elmira and is now in the Hallock Bank of Bath. Mr. Buck has held 
the office of road commissioner. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Avoca Lodge 
No. 562. He and his family are members of the Baptist church. 



10 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Bassett, Fred L. , was born in the town of Independence, Allegany county, N. Y., 
August 21, 1855. Baylis S. Bassett, his father, was born in Vermont, June 9, 1H21, 
and came to Allegany county with his father, who purchased 100 acres of land. 
Baylis S. Bassett came to Bennett's Creek in the town of Canisteo in 1866, where he 
purchased 430 acres of land, which is still kept in the family. He married Ester 
Crandall, by whom he had seven children. Will C, Frank M., Fred L., Byron S., 
Lottie M., George C, and B. Shefield. Fred L. is a farmer, and married Velma C. 
Krusen, daughter of Daniel Krusen, of Greenwood, by whom he had three children, 
Lottie M., Ray L. and Earl. 

Bassett, Will C, was born in the town of Independence, Allegany county, June 5, 

1851. He is a man of great business ability, and at one time was a merchant in 
Canisteo village ; running a general grocery store for about nine years, but of late 
years has devoted his time to the manufacture of cheese, and has a factory from 
which he can produce about 100,000 lbs. per year. He married Emma E., daughter 
of Henry Buttles, of Pike, Wyoming county, by whom he had two children, Lena E. 
and Floyd S., and is living on a part of the homestead farm. Mr. Ba.ssett was as- 
sessor in the town of Canisteo for three years, and is a member of Morning Star 
Lodge, No. 65. 

Bennett, George, was born in the town of Howard, February 14, 1836, son of Daniel 
N. Bennett, who was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1793, and came to the town 
of Howard in 1808. He was a farmer by occupation. He resided in Howard four 
years, was then drafted in the war of 1812, served about three months, and then re- 
turned to what is now known as Graves Hill, run a distillery about one year, then 
moved to the place where George was born, where he died in 1875, aged eighty-two 
years. By his indu.stry he acquired an amount of property, which, at his death, was 
divided between seven children, each receiving about 100 acres of land. He was 
justice of the peace and supervisor of the town for four terms. Daniel Bennett mar- 
ried Clarissa Dolby, and they were the parents of eleven children, four of whom died 
in infancy: Merrilla, Alkali, Ladoska, Fidelia, Albina, George, as above, and Betsv. 
At the present time Fidelia, Albina, and George are living. George Bennett has de- 
voted all of his time to farming, and now owns a farm of 340 acres, and his village 
property consists of twenty-five acres on which are erected fine buildings. He mar- 
ried Onlla, daughter of Jason Ranger of Fremont, and they have four children; 
Miles, Erva, who died at the age of twenty, Fay, and Bert. Miles and Fay are mar- 
ried. Bert resides at home. Mr. Bennett has been a Mason for a number of years, 
and was supervisor of the town for one year. 

Brickman, Samuel H., was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, November 17, 

1852. Son of the Rev. Arthur O. Brickman, a Swedenborgian minister and editor 
of the " Messenger of the New Church." He was a native of Konigsburg, Germany, 
and came to this country at the age of twenty. He was a captain and chaplain of 
the Third Maryland Cavalry, and died January 5, 1886. Samuel was the second .son 
of a family of eleven children, and was educated in the city schools and Baltimore 
Academy, and at sixteen years of age went as clerk in his uncle's market at Oil City, 
Pa., where he learned the business and remained with him until 1882 when, with a 
^lesire of bettering his position and becoming a proprietor, came to Hornellsville and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 11 

established a market at 23 Loder street. April, 1882, he built his present brick block 
at 13 Loder street, where he is now conducting the finest market in this city. He has 
been a member of the Ma.snnic fraternity for ten years. Evening Star Lodge. No. 44. 
September 3, 188."), he married Matilda Benzinger, of this city, by whom he had two 
children: Helen Magdalen and Howard Keller. 

Billings, Henry S., was born in the town of Waterford, Cumberland county, Manie, 
July 9, 1833. The third son of a farmer, he was reared on a farm with only the ad- 
vantages of a common school education. At twenty years of age he started out 
for himself and was for a while a citizen of Boston. He afterward removed to New 
York and entered the employ of William R. Barr, who was the first to introduce the 
sleeping car on the Erie railroad. In 18G.") Mr. Barr sold his rights to the Pullman 
Co. and after a short time as a conductor for that company, he was sent to Kent, 
Ohio, as superintendent of a division, and after two years located at Hornellsville, 
where for a short time he had an office and was then made superintendent of the 
New York division with an office in the Mills Building, which position he held un- 
til the time of his death, which occurred November 7, 1890. Mr. Billings was for 
twenty years in the service of the Pullman Co. He was for thirty-five years a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity, and a member of the Hornellsville Lodge No. 331. 
In 1877 he he erected a beautiful home on Center street where his family still reside. 
In 1860 he married Roxana Caswell, a native of Harrison, Maine, and at that time a 
resident of Boston. An adopted daughter, Maude S. , who is the wife of Isaac 
Ossoki of Hornellsville. 

Barber, T. W., was born in Wantage, Sussex county. New Jersey, October 24, 
1830. Daniel Barber, his father, was a native of the same county, and was identified 
as a farmer, and the family were of English descent, and among the early settlers in 
the State of Virginia. Daniel Barber married Margaret Montross, and they moved 
into the town of Starkey, Yates county, in 183.'), and to Cameron, Steuben county, 
in 1836, where he died in 1873, in his seventy-first year. T. W. Barber was educated 
in the common school, and in 1850 he learned the carpenter trade, and in 1860 en- 
engaged in the mercantile business in St. Paul, Minnesota; and in 1861 he returned 
to Cameron, and has continued in the same business at Bath, N. Y. , from 1807. In 
1860 he married Filinda A. , daughter of Lewis Cross, by whom he had three children, 
Bert G. , Belle B. and Grace E. 

Bennett, Alonzo, was born in the town of Belfast, Allegany county, October 25, 
1818. Solomon Bennett, his grandfather, was one of the twelve that first purchased 
the township, and was the first man to own and run a grist mill in the town of Can- 
isteo. and which was burned by the Indians. William Bennett, his father, married 
Mary Vanscoote, by whom he had ten children: Sarah, Panielia, Thomas, Martha, 
James, Alorizo, William W. Nelson, Mary J., and Adeline. He was the builder of 
the old brick hotel, known as the Canisteo House. Alonzo remained with his father 
until twenty-one years of age, when he bought the farm where he now resides. He 
married Christianna, daughter of Esq. Elias Stevens, by whom he had ten children : 
Amy, Amelia, Adeline, Annetta, Ann, Augustine, Alonzo, Eva and Mary. Annetta 
is the wife of Dr. Williamson of this village. Mr. Bennett was for many years a rep 
resentative of the leading insurance companies of this and other States, and is a mem- 
ber of Morning .Star Lodge of Masons No. 05. 



1-2 Landmarks op stetjben county. 

Braack, Jacob, was bom in the northern part of tlermany, October 14, 1H.")6, and 
came with his mother to this country in 1883. He was first located in Cadillac, Mich- 
igan, where he was employed for k month in butchering and was then two months in 
a saw mill. He then went to Grand Rapids, following the carpenter trade for three 
months and then entered the employ of the Voigt Milling Company as a miller, a 
tiade he had learned in his native land. He was employed there for three years, 
and then went to Reed City where he became associated with G. W. ilorris. and was 
foreman for him until the destruction of the mill by lire. In 1890 he became propri- 
etor of a mill in Dorr, Allegan county, and continued there for two years. In 1892 
he came to Hornellsville and became a member of the firm of G. W. Morris & Co., 
where we now find him at the head of the milling department. Mr. Braack has been 
a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1892, now with the Evening Star Lodge, 
No. 44. 

Burns, Capt. W. S., was born in Geneva, N. Y., November 24, 1833, son of Andrew 
Burns, who came from the North of Ireland in 1806, and settled in Geneva, and 
married Mrs. Mary Clarke, daughter of Archibald McLachlan, of Fort William, Scot- 
land, and a niece of Hon. Dugald Cameron, who came to Steuben county with Col. 
Williamson. Andrew Burns died in 1844. in his fifty-seventh year. W. S. Burns 
was educated at Hobart College, and then gave his attention to practical engineering 
in the United States and Canada. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the 4th Missouri 
Cavah-v, at St. Louis, with rank of second lieutenant, and took part in the battles of 
Pea Ridge, Fort De Russey, Pleasant Hill, Avoyelle Prairie, Lake Chicot, Tupelo, 
and the entire Red River campaign. During the last fifteen months he served as 
inspector-general on the staff of Gen. A. J. Smith, commanding the right wing of the 
of the 16th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee. In October, 1864, he received an 
honorable discarge with the rank of captain, having served three months over his 
term of enlistment. In 1868 he came to Bath, and entered the land office of Hon. 
John and Ira Davenport. In 1863 Captain Burns married Sophie, daughter of Moses 
B. Savage, and they are the parents of three children: William S., S. Fanny, and 
Kdward B. They buried one son, Charles C. Mr. Burns is one of the trustees of 
the Davenport Library and a member of the Board of Education. He is also a mem- 
ber of G. A. R., Custer Post, the Society of the Army of Tennessee, and the Loyal 
Legion. 

Bradley, Hon. George B., was bom in Chenango county, in 1825 sun of Orlo F. 
Bradley who was a native of Connecticut, and came to Chenango county about 1800. 
George B. Bradley was admitted to the bar at Oswego, in 1848, and began practicing 
in Addison, Steuben county, the same year, and since 1852 has resided at Corning. 
He was a member of the State Constitutional Commission of 1872-73, and elected to 
the State Senate in 1873 and again in 1875. In 1883 he was elected to the Supreme 
Bench from the Seventh District, and in 1889 was appointed one of the judges of the 
second division of the Court of Appeals. 

Burrell, Alphonso H., was born in Salisbury. Herkimer county, January 8, 1826 
.son of Samuel N. , a native of this State. Samuel N. was a wagonmaker. He mar- 
ried Dorothy Miner, of Lansing, Tompkins county, by whom he he had eight chil- 
dren. Alphonso, after coming to Canisteo, in 1837, worked on his uncle's (William 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 13 

S. Thomas) faini until twenty-one years of age. He then learned the wagonmaker's 
trade with his lather, at Covert. Seneea connty. He then began business with Allen 
XI. Hurrell, a brother, in Greenwood in 1H49, where he remained until 180."). Mr. 
Biirrell was elected justice of the peace, which ofiice he held for twelve years. He 
was appointed postmaster in 18(i3, which position he held until 1865. He then went 
to Angelica, where he finished reading law with Angle & Green and was admitted to 
the bar in the fall of ISO."). He then came to Canisteo, forming a partnership with 
William B. Jones, which partnership existed for two years. Wallace Worth then 
became his partner. June 13. 1S4!I, Mr. Hurrell married Sarah C. Allen, by whom 
he had four children: Marshall M., Marcello E., Fred, and Almon \V., who was ad- 
mitted to the bar June 7, 1S94, having read law with his father. Mr. Hurrell is a 
member of Morning Star Lodge of Masons, No. (i.'i. Me was district attorney of 
Steuben county for three years, succeeding Butler in 1874. 

Chumard, George W.. was born in Wayne county, Pa., in 1844, son of William and 
Mary, who came to Steuben county in ISGl. After a few months they moved to 
Chemung county, residing there till 1864, when they located in Caton, where the 
parents died in 1869 and 1894, aged si.\ty-scven and ninety, respectively. Mr. 
Chumard is the only child. In 1875 he married Harriet, daughter of Christopher C. 
Lewis, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the county. Mr. Chumard 
has resided on his present farm of ninety-five acres since 1870. They have one child, 
Ernia L. 

Conley, Edward, was born in Mount Morris, N. Y., July 7, 1H53. James Conley, his 
father, came from Ireland in 1846, and settled in Mount Morris. He was engaged in 
farming and stock raising, and died in '.870 in his seventy-fifth year. Edward Con- 
ley is the youngest of a family of eleven children ; he was educated in the common 
schools of Mount Morris; he started to learn the tinner's trade with Bingham & Coy 
of Mount Morris in 1871, and served two years with them, and April 24, 187:!, came 
to Hath to finish his trade with E. H. Hastings; his capital consisted of the clothes 
he had on and fifteen cents in cash when he arrived in Bath. He worked nine years 
at his trade for Mr. Hastings, and then started in business for himself, buying a set 
of tools and opening a shop on Steuben street in Bath, September 1, 1882. He con- 
tinued working at his trade till 1894, during which time he built up quite a large 
hardware trade. In 1894 he conceived the idea of adding other lines of goods and 
establishing his business upon a cash basis. Knowing ones shook their heads and 
prophesied his failure; but he started in to win, and judging from his present stock 
he has made a success of the cash-before-delivery plan of doing business; he started 
with one man, and in less than two years had nine clerks, and a store stocked with 
all kinds of goods. His store on the ground floor is 25 by 95 feet and on the second 
floor 25 by .52 feet, and his goods are divided into the following departments; First 
floor, jewelry, dry goods, notions, hardware, glassware, crockery, stationery, books 
and tinware; second floor, boots and shoes, clothing, hats and caps, underwear, 
hosiery, carpets and oil cloths. The store is fitted with cash railways and electric 
lights, and is in every way an up-to-date establishment. In 1876 he married Mary 
Courtney, by whom he has had five children : William, Walter, Lester, Lillian and 
James. Mr. Conley is a jnisher and a hustler in the front ranks of the business men 
of Steuben county. He is a staunch Democrat, an advocate of the spot ca.sh system, 



14 LANDMARKS OP STEtJBEN COUNTY. 

and adheres to it, with a cast iron determination to stick to it to the end. He has a 
beautiful home on Ea.st Steuben street which he built in 1890, fitted with all modern 
improvements. He merits the support of all people in his vicinity as having revolu- 
tionized the mercantile trade in and around Bath. Mr. Conley says a strict attention 
to business will always put a man on top, providing he has a moderate stock of com- 
mon sense. — [Com. 

Chamberlain, Jesse Mark, was born on the homestead farm near Kanona, Septem- 
ber 27, 1824. His parents were Joseph Chamberlain, born at Wardsboro, Vt. , July 
28, 1790, and Esther, daughter of Jeremiah and Mary (Josselyn) Wheeler. They 
settled on the farm where the subject of this sketch and his son, W. H. Chamber- 
lain, reside, in 1810. Joseph Chamberlain fell from a high beam in his barn and 
broke his back on April 36, 1833, and died from his injury June 17, 1834. Joseph 
Chamberlain's father was also named Joseph, and was born at Charlestown, Mass., 
December 27, 1762. He married Lucy, daughter of Jesse and Mary (Cheney) 
Whitney, of Milford, Mass.. and removed to a farm in Vermont in 1782 which had 
been given him as bounty for services in the Continental army. His father was 
Wilson Chamberlain, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Joanna (Call) 
Austin, of Charlestown. Wilson was born September 24, 1724, and resided at the 
old home in that town until the spring of 1775. At the time of the burning of 
Charlestown and the battle of Bunker Hill his family fled with other women and 
children before the invadmg enemy. Wilson was also a soldier of the Revolution 
and received partial compensation from the Commonwealth for the loss of his house 
and property destroyed June 17, 1775. He was a son of John and Thankful 
(Wilson) Chamberlain, of Charlestown. The earliest ancestor of the family that 
settled in this country was probably Henry Chamberlain, who came from Hingham, 
county Norfolk, England, in the ship Diligent, and settled at Hull, Mass., in 1638, 
bringing his wife, mother and two sons, Henry and WilHam, and was admitted free- 
man March 13, 1639. October 35, 1860, Jesse M., of Kanona, married Ervilla, 
daughter of Isaac and Mary (Lewis) Ingham, and are the parents of two sons and 
one daughter: Joseph Redington, William Henry, and Lucy C. Baker, of Springfield, 
Mass. Joseph R. married Hope Sommerell and resides at Raleigh, N. C. Their 
children are Mary Mitchell, Jesse Mark and Gratia. 

Cook, Dwight S., was born in Prattsburg, N.Y., March 14, 1831. Deacon Aaron 
Cook, his grandfather, was born in Northampton, Mass., in 1771, and came to Pratts- 
burg in 1808, and took up several hundred acres of land west of the village. He 
later disposed of a considerable portion of this, owning at his death, July 31, 1854, 
340 acres. He married Miriam Munro; eight children were born to them, all of 
whom lived to mature age. Ouartus Cook, father of Dwight S., was born in 
Northampton, Mass., in 1796, and grew to manhood in Prattsburg, where he died in 
January, 1863. He, like his father was an active member of the Congregational 
church. He married Lucy, daughter of John Hopkins, a pioneer of the town, by 
whom he had five children: Dwight S., Aaron H., Harriets., Henry and William N. 
Dwight S. has spent his whole life on the homestead, a portion of which he owns, 
and where he has devoted his life to general farming. In 1853 he was married to 
Mary K., daughter of Samuel and Armenia (Seeley) Frost. Two sons were born to 
them: Floyd H., of Prattsburg, and William E.. of Bath. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 15 

Cotton, Thomas, was born in Dansville April (i, 1831. Silas Cotton, his father, was 
born in Hartford, Washinjjton county, October 9, 1800, and came to Steuben county 
about 1.S27, first settlinjj;; in Dansville, and in 180.5 came to the town of Avoca, where 
he remained up to his death, which occurred in 1871. He was a farmer by occupa- 
tion and married Lydia Boyce. of Granville, Washington county, by whom he had 
two children: Eliza (deceased), and Thomas, who received his education in Rogers- 
ville Seminary, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns a farm of over 
200 acres, located on the Cohocton River Road. He married Ann S., daughter of 
Samuel H. Allen, of Avoca, by whom he had four children: Bayard T., Sarah, Charles 
()., and Eliza. Mr. Cotton is a land surveyor, has been president of the Schad 
Wheel Factory for four years, has been supervisor four years, and is a member of 
Avoca Lodge of Masons, No. 673. 

Cook, James E., was bom in Bath, Augusta, 1803. James E. Cook, his father, 
was bom at Erwin, and came to Bath in early life. He was a farmer, which 
business he followed all his life. . He married Helen M., daughter of John R. 
Roberts, one of the first settlers of the town of Avoca, by whom he had two chil- 
dren: Mary and James E., who was educated in the schools of Wallace, after 
which he engaged in farming on the farm where he was raised, and for eleven j'ears 
has been working on the railroad — as operator at Bath one year, three years at 
Savona, and has been at Wallace four years as station agent on the I). ,L. & W.R.R. 
He married Alma M., daughter of Myron Jcwett, of Bradford, Pa., by whom he had 
two children: Ida B. and Eva M. 

Campbell, Thomas, was born in Ireland in ISl."). His parents, Alexander and 
Matilda Cami)bell, settled near East Cameron and Mr. Campbell was the first post- 
master of tliat town, holding office in 1847, Their children were George, Annie, 
Margaret, Matilda, Isabelle, James, Alice, John, all deceased, and Thomas. Thomas 
married Mary, a daughter of Adam and Rebecca (Moore) Wilson, by whom he had 
these children: Margaret, wife of Royal S. White; Annie, wife of John Smith; 
George; Adam; Matilda, wife of John Hoffman; Catherine, deceased; and Mary 
Cross, deceased. Mr. Campbell has been highway commissioner for eight years and 
is active in educational affairs. 

Chapman, John K., was born in Friendship, Allegany county, October 4, 1830. He 
was educated in the common schools and Friendship Academy, and at eighteen years of 
age entered the employ of the Erie Railroad Co., starting asabrakeman; which 
business he followed only two years and then became a fireman, and at the breaking 
out of the war he enlisted in the Ninth New York Cavalry and saw service with the 
Army of the Potomac for three years. He was in the following battles: the Second 
Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and the Shenandoah Valley campaign. Re- 
turning in 1804, in March, 180.5, he again entered into the employ of the Erie Co. 
and located at llornellsville, where he has since made his home. His first engine, 
number eighty-three, was one of the ten wheelers and a wood burner of the Swine- 
burne pattern. He continued as an engineer until February, 1889, when he was 
promoted to the position of road foreman of engines, a position requiring a general 
supervision of the locomotives, engineers, and firemen of the Western Division. He 
has been very fortunate in his experience of the accidents that befall all railroad en 



16 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ginecrs and has never been injured. He is a member of Doty Post, G. A. R., and a 
trustee. He has been a member of the Order of Locomotive Engineers since 1866, 
and has been the representative to numerous conventions. He has held all of the 
offices of the local branch. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for 
twenty vears, Hornellsville Lodge 33L He is one of the trustees of the Railroad Y. 
M. C. A., and has been identified with the organization since its founding. He is a 
member of the Episcopal church and one of the vestry. January 3, 1859, he married 
Mary E. Williams, of Horseheads, Chemung county. They have one daughter, 
Sadie, now Mrs. William O. Pierce, of Hornellsville. 

Clark, William W.— Noah Clark, great-grandfather of William, came to Oneida 
county from Colchester, Conn., and took up a farm of 150 acres, which is still in the 
possession of the family. Martin Clark, grandfather of William W., was born m 
Rome, Oneida county, where he died in September, 1870, aged eighty-one years. 
De Marcus Clark, father of William, was also born in Rome, Oneida county ; he died 
at Clark's Mills. N. Y., in January, 1871, aged fifty-three years. He, with two 
brothers, built a large cotton factory, where an extensive business was carried on for 
many years, now known as Clark's Mills, employing 700 hands, manufacturing bed 
ticking, silk plush, etc. His wife, Mary Ella Walker, was a daughter of a Baptist 
minister of Utica. They had three children: Anna L. married Robert G. Young, 
now residing in Utica, has three children, Virginia M., Harold, and Lester; Virginia 
W. married Samuel F. Jerritt, has two children, Edward and Clarence, residing in 
Elgin, 111. ; and William W. William W. was born in Elgin, III., February 14, 185H. 
When an infant his parents moved to Clark's Mills, Oneida county, where William 
resided until 1871, when he left to attend school at Whitestown Seminary, where he 
took a preparatory course and entered Hamilton College in 1874, graduating in June, 
1878. He read law in Utica for two years while attending school, and was admitted 
to the bar at Utica, in April, 1879. The same year he came to Wayland, where he 
has an extensive and successful practice. In 1892, Mr. Clark was elected district at- 
torney by 2,000 majority. January 1, 1894, he took into partnership Mr. Henry V. 
Pratt, and the business is conducted under the firm name of Clark & Pratt. Mr. 
Clark is a member of Phoenix Lodge, F. cS; A. M., of Dansville, No. 115, and a char- 
ter member of Wayland Lodge No. 176, I. O. O. F., and Atlanta Encampment No. 
67, I. O. O. F. September 18, 1879, at Forestport, Oneida county, Mr. Clark mar- 
ried Hattie M., oldest daughter of General J. A. (a soldier in the Civil war) and Lucy 
M. (Richards) Hill, of Rockland, Maine, now residing in Powell, Pa. Mrs. Clark 
was born in Stetson, Maine, June 25, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have one child: 
William H., born in Wayland, July 2, 1880. 

Coburn, L. D., was born in 1817, at Truxton, Cortland county, son of Harvey and 
Laura Beecher Coburn, natives of Connecticut. The only local residents of this 
family are Mr. Coburn, who has been here nearly sixty years, and his sister, the 
widow of the late Col. J, W. Dininny. L. D. Coburn's boyhood was spent at Trux- 
ton and Cortland. He was apprenticed to a harnessmaker in Cortland when fif- 
teen years old, and in 1836 came to Addison, where he engaged in the harness busi- 
ness, and erected one of the first business buildings on the south side of the Canisteo. 
From 1866 to 1872 he was engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Coburn was ap- 
pointed by Governor Fenton as New York State agent for the care of invalid soldiers 



FAMILY SKKTCllKS. 17 

located at Aniiapulis, iMd. His connection with the Methodist chuixh has extended 
over a longer period than any other member of the society, he having been one of its 
organizers, and has held the ofHcial positicm as trustee for fifty-two years. Mr. Co- 
burn has married three times. His first wife was Harriet Stebbins, of Nelson, N. Y., 
the .second, H,irrict Klay. of Dansville, N. Y., by whom he had two children, a son 
and a daughter. In 1859 he married his present wife, Marie L. Bates, of Cazenovia. 

Cornue, M. C, was born in McHenry county. 111., November 6, 1848, son of Daniel 
A. Cornue, who was born in Canajoharie, and came to Steuben county when thirteen 
years of age. M. C. Cornue was graduated from the Wolworth Academy, in Wiscon- 
sin, in ]8t)9. He then engaged in business in the village of Wallace, in 1888, open- 
ing a general store. He married Anna Belle, daughter of Charles Able, of Wiscon- 
sin. For his present wife he married Delphina Hopkins, daughter of Duty Hopkins 
of Steuben county, and they have one son, Claud C. Mr. Cornue has been assessor, 
justice of the peace, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Wallace. 

Conderman, Dr. George, was born in Fremont, Steuben county, N. Y., October 
15, 1868, and was the youngest son of John L. and Aseneth Conderman. In 1874 his 
parents moved to Hornellsville, N. Y., where he received a high school education, 
graduating from the Free Academy when fifteen years of age. In 1886 he entered 
the office of Dr. C. S. Parkhill and began the study of medicine. In 1887 he entered 
the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York for a three years' course of 
lectures, and following his second course he took a course of lectures at the Univer- 
sity of Vermont, from which institution he graduated in July, 1889, thus by extra 
work he was enabled to cover the three courses of lectures in two years. He returned 
to New York the fall following his graduation and took a post-graduate course at the 
New York Post-Graduate School and Hospital, upon the completion of which he 
returned to Hornellsville and entered general practice with Dr. C. S. Parkhill, and 
later with Dr. M. D. Ellison. The fall and winter of 1894 he spent in New York 
[ireparing himself for his specialty, diseases of the skin, and upon returning to Hor- 
nellsville, opened an office at No. 4 Hakes avenue. His success has been most grati- 
fying, and to-day he is the recognized head of his specialty in that section of the 
State. Dr. Conderman was for two years Erie surgeon at Hornellsville, and is vice- 
president of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Association, member of the Steuben 
County and New York State Medical Societies and dermatologist to the St. James 
Mercy Hospital and the Steuben Sanitarium. 

Crook, Andrew, was born in Piermont, Grafton county, N. H., March 4, 18i?5. 
John Crook, his father, was a native of the same town and county, and served in the 
war of 1812. Andrew Crook, his grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war. John Crook married Anna, daughter of Joseph Dutton, of Oxford, N. H., and 
was identified through life as a farmer, and died in 1871 in his seventy-eighth year. 
Andrew Crook was educated in the common schools of his native town, and at Kim- 
ball I'nion Academy, Meriden, N. H. At the age of twenty-four he learned the 
marble and granite business at Bradford, Vt. In 1867 he went to Genesee, N. Y., 
and in 1870 he came to Bath and established his present business. In 1870 he mar- 
ried Caroline Doty, of Geneseo, by whom he had two daughters, Helen C, and 
Marianna. Mr. Crook is one of the representative men of his town, and always takes 
an active interest in educational and religious institutions. 



18 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Cook, Edwin Constant, was boni in Liberty Corners, now Cohocton, Steuben 
county, October 12, 1838. Constant Cook, his father, was a native of Warren, Her- 
kimer county, born November 10, 1797, and the family trace their descent from Cap- 
tain Thomas Cook, who came into Plymouth Colony, Mass.. in 1637. Constant Cook 
married Maria, daughter of Nathan and Hannah (Taylor) Whiting, and came to 
Steuben county in the spring of 1820 and settled in Cohocton, and was very promi- 
nent in the affairs of his town; he removed to Bath in March, 1843; he died in 1874 
in his ,sevent3'-seventh year. E. C. Cook was educated at Bath, Utica and Auburn, 
and spent three years at Walnut Hill, Geneva, and then returned to Bath and 
engaged ia farming, and in 1860 entered the Bank of Bath, now First National Bank, 
and with the exception of four years in Rochester, has been identified in the active 
business of the bank up to 1891. In 1863 he married Mary A., daughter of Frederick 
S. Dewitt, of Rochester. Mr. Cook is one of the progressive men of his town, serv- 
ing as president and trustee of his village, and was treasurer for seventeen years of 
the Steuben County Agricultural Society. 

Cameron, Joseph, w-as born in County Wicklow, Ireland, November 7, 1848. John 
Cameron, his father, came to this country with his family, in April, 1852. He first 
located in Wellsville where he remained for three months, and then came to Hor- 
nellsville with Rev. Daniel Moore. He was conductor of the first St. Ann's choir, 
leading it with the clarionet. He was a shoemaker and was with A. L. Smith, and 
later with Thomas Snell. In 1858 he started a custom boot and shoe business, and 
conducted it until 1884 when he retired from business and the affairs of the world, 
and was admitted to the Order of St. Francis at Allegany, N. Y., where he is now 
located. The mother of Joseph died December 30, 1883, the result of an accident in 
falhng down stairs. Joseph was the second son of a family of fifteen children. He 
was educated in the city schools and St. Ann's Parochial School, and after leaving 
school worked with his father in the shoe business until twenty-three years of age, 
when in April, 1872, he started business on his own account on Main street, which he 
conducted until May, 1884, when he gave it up to accept the position of grand secre- 
tary of the Catholic IMutual Benefit Association, to which he was elected at the con- 
vention of that association held at Lockport in May of that year, a position which he 
still holds. He held the office of grand president of the same association from 1882 
to 1884. In 1888 he added fire insurance to his office duties and removed his office to 
the Cameron block, Loder street. He is a member of the A. O. H., and a charter 
member of Maple City Hose Company of Hornellsville, and is now a member of the 
fire board. He has been since 1882, secretary of the Board of Education, and is also 
secretary of the board of managers of St. James Mercy Hospital. He is a Democrat 
in politics, and was town clerk of this town for five terms previous to the erection of 
the city. Was register of vital statistics from 1887 to 1890. In July, 1872, he mar- 
ried Mary A., daughter of the late Michael Curry of this town, by whom he has nine 

children living. 

• 

Clark, William H., wa-s born in Corning in 1840. In 1861 he enlisted in Company 
F, 10th N. Y. Cavalry. Was mustered out of service January 1, 1863, at Camp Bay- 
ard, Va., and re-niusfered as first-class musician in the Brigade Band. Was pro- 
moted April 1, 18G3, to be band master of the First Brigade Band, 2nd Cavalry Di- 
vision, A. O. P., serving with Generals Gregg, Mcintosh and Davies tiU the expira- 



FAMILY SKETCHES.' Id 

tion of his term of service, December i:i, 1864. His band received complimentary 
notice in the History of the 10th N. Y. Cavalry as "the band who played on the line 
at Todd's Tavern in the battle of the Wilderness," and were in nearly all of the en- 
gagements with their brigade, losing in wounded and prisoners fully twenty-five per 
cent of their number, while three died from disease while in the service. He sjjcnt 
one season as teacher in Eastman's Busine.ss College. In May, 18(i5, he returned to 
Corning, and was in the employ of Walker Sc Lathrop until 1801, when he founded 
the Corning Lumber Company, of which he is treasurer. His father, Jesse Clark, 
was one of the early pioneers of Corning. 

Chase, Thomas C, was born in Michigan, January 11, 18;5i), son of Nathaniel B. 
Chase, who was born in the town of Cohocton, Steuben county, in 1814, and in 1836 
married Deborah, daughter of Amos Stiles, of Livingston county, N. \'., and they 
had three children : Thomas C, Mrs. Dr. D. S. Allen, of Seneca, Ontario county, and 
Ida Belle, who died in infancy. Mr. Chase died September 20, 1887, and Mrs. Chase 
on February 7, 1872. Thomas C. acquired his education in Prattsburg and Lima 
schools, and w-as agent for the N. Y., L. E. & 'W. R. R. Company for a period of 
thirty years, and in 1889 was compelled to resign on account of poor health, and at 
present is not actively employed in any business. He married Mary Hees, of Avoca, 
and their children were Mary E., Constant C, and Nathaniel B. His present wife 
is Sabra, daughter of Erastus Baird, and they have one daughter, Clara L. Mr. 
Chase is a member of the I. O. O. F. 

Clark, Charles J., was born in Dansville, Steuben county, March, 27, 186.5, the 
youngest son of Lewis Clark, a farmer of that town, who died in 1888. He was ed- 
ucated in the common schools of this county, Canaseraga and Bath Academy, and 
three years in Cornell University. He remained on the farm one year, and in Jan- 
uary, 188'J, began the study of law with his uncles, J. H. & C. W. Stevens, of Horn- 
ellsville, with whom he remained for two years and then entered the law- ofiicc of 
C. A. Dolson. Admitted to the bar in March, 1892, he began the practice of his pro- 
fession in Hornellsville, where he is still located. He is a Republican in politics and 
one of the workers of the party. The spring of 1894 he was elected supervisor of the 
4th and .'ith wards, and has served his county and constituents for their best inter- 
ests. In 1892 he married Lizzie M., daughter of Wesley Brown, who died February 
28, 1895. 

Campbell, Hon. Frank C. , was born in Bath, March 28, 1858. Hon. Robert Camp- 
bell, his father, was also a native of Bath, and his grandfather, Robert Campbell, sr., 
came trem Glasgow\ Scotland, to Bath in 1795, and was a carpenter and builder. 
He married Martha McCauley, and was one of the efficient aids of Colonel William- 
son. His .son, Robert Campbell, married Frances, daughter of John Fowler. Hon. 
Robert Campbell was a very prominent man in his town, holding the office of surro- 
gate of the county, was one of the Regents of the University, and was elected 
lieutenant-governor in 1858. Mr. Frank Campbell was educated in Bath and at 
Trenton, N. Y. , and married Mary Louise, daughter of Warren Wilson, and in 1891 
was elected comptroller of New York State, also appointed one of the trustees of the 
Soldier's and Sailor's Home at Bath. In 18815, in connection with his brother, Clarence 
Campbell, and others, organized and founded the Farmens' and Mechanics' Bank of 
Bath. 



20 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTV. 

Velie, Franklin, was born in the town of Orange, Schuyler county, September 5, 
1839. Jacob Velie, his father, was born in 1800, in the Mohawk Valley, and came to 
Steuben county about 1812. He was a shoemaker by trade, but cleared land for 
farming purposes, and remained on the farm until his death, which occurred in 1847. 
He married Mary, daughter of Jedediah Miller, by whom he had eleven children : 
John W. , Martha A., Maria, Elvira J., William, Mary T., Franklin, Alma, Abram, 
George and Emma. Franklin Velie was educated in the town of Campbell, after 
which he engaged in farming, with the exception of three years .spent in the late war. 
He enlisted in Co. C, lOTth N. Y. Vols. He was in the battles of Antietam, Kings 
ton, Charlesville, Dallas, Gett3-sburg, and in mai;y others. He is a member of Logan 
Post, G. A. R. He married Emily, daughter of J. B. Hollenbeck, by whom he had 
twelve children, four of whom died in infancy; George, Sherman, Eliza, Anna M., 
Clara, Grace, Emma, and Sadie. Mr. Velie has been assessor for three years, 
and is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Republican. 

Van Order, Lyman H., was born in the town of Howard July 31, 1850, son of Lewis 
Van Order, an old and respected citizen of the town of Howard. Lewis Van Order 
came to Catlin, Chemung Co , Irom Ithaca, and later came to the farm now occu- 
pied by Lyman H., in the town of Howard, consisting of 150 acres. He married 
Eunice Armstrong, by whom he had four children; Walter and James (who died in 
infancy), and Lyman H. and Hattie. Lyman H. is a farmer. He married Franc 
McGonegal, of Avoca. They have two children ; Fred and Jessie, Mr. Van Order 
is a Republican. 

Ranger, Henry R., was born on a farm in the town of Howard, Steuben count)', 
November 20, 1834, son of Jason Ranger, a native of Vermont, born in Rutland 
county, January 21, 1801, and who came to New York State in 1818. He was em- 
ployed on the construction of the Erie Canal, and made his home with a Mr. Can- 
field, who was a resident of what is now Fremont. He afterward took up farming 
in the town of Howard, and after a few years moved on what was BuUard Hill, 
where Henry was born. In 1837 he moved on a farm on Big Creek where he lived 
until the time of his death, which occurred April 2, 1863. The mother of Henry R. , 
Miranda Rice Ranger, was a native of Massachusetts. She died June 11, 1851. They 
were the parents of six daughters and four sons. Henry, the second son, was given 
a common school education and remained with his parents until 1853, and then en- 
gaged with other farmers for five years. In 1859 he bought a farm in the town of 
Howard which he conducted until 1866, then sold it and bought 150 acres on Great 
Lot No. 12 in the town of Hornellsville. In politics Mr. Ranger is a Republican, and 
in 1SS8 was elected assessor, which office he held two years. He was married in 
1859 to Betsey, daughter of Gen. Daniel Bennett of Howard. One son. Curt D., 
was born to them, who conducts the homestead farm. Mrs. Ranger died January 
22, 1882, at forty-two years of age. Curt D. was born June 5, 1864, educated in the 
common schools and Alfred University, and married, March, 1886, M. Antoinette 
Nicholson. They have two children ; Frank E. and Harold. 

Davidson, Adam, came to the United States from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1870, 
and was first located in Rochester, N. Y. He had acquired a proficiency in his busi- 
ness, and in the spring of 1877 he removed to Elmira where he was a member of the 



Family sketches. 21 

firm of Dey Bros. & Davidson for five years. In the spring of 1881 the above firm 
Ijought out the firm of Martin Adsit & Co., in Horncllsville, and after one year Mr. 
Davidson bought out the interests of Dey Bros , and conducted the business alone 
until I8H.5 when he was joined by his brother, Alexander Davidson, and the firm of 
Adam Davidson & Bro. is the leader of the dry goods trade of this city. Alexander 
came to this country in 1873, and was employed ni Rochester in the mercantile line 
until the date of his coming to Hornellsville in 1882. The senior member of the firm 
is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and is one of the directors of the V. 
M. C. A. Adam is the vice-president of the Business Men's Association. Alexander 
IS one of the officers of the Presbyterian Church. 

Beekman, Abram, was born in New York city, December 26, 1829, and in 1852 he 
came to Steuben county and located in Bath and established his present business of 
manufacturing sash, doors and blinds, which ho has continued up to the present 
time. In 1889 he was elected president of the Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank, which 
position he still holds, and he is also president of the Bath Loan Association, and a 
member of the Board of Education since its organization in 1868. In 1861 he mar- 
ried Sarah McKay, daughter of John W. Fowler, by whom he had five children; 
George N., J. Fowler, Edgar, Cornelius, and Lydia Parker. 

Burch, Orrin H., was born in Andes, Delaware county, N. Y., March 24, 1819, the 
fourth son of Jesse Burch who was a native of Vermont and died in Hornellsville, 
Steuben county, and was buried in Hope Cemetery, May 10, 1872, at ninety-three 
years of age. Sally Palmer, the mother of Orrin, was a native of New York State, 
and died in 1854. Mr. Burch was educated in the common school and made his 
home with his parents until twenty-two years of age, when he came to Steuben 
county and was employed for three years with Amos CoKvell of Hornellsville. In 
1847 he bought seventy five acres on lot 10, in the town of Hornellsville, w^hich was 
covered with oak and pine. He has cleared this land and added to it until he has 
now 125 acres of one of the best farms of this section. The principal products are 
grain and hay. He is a member of the M. E. church and has been one of its offi- 
cers. In 184H he married Lucy Dyer of this town, who died in October, 1861, by 
wlumi he had eight children, three of whom are living: Amasa, a manufacturer of 
Columbus, Ohio; Lester, a farmer of Hornellsville; and Rosina wife of Leander 
Nicholson of Canandaigua. Mr. Burch married, second, Susan Swarts Smith, sister 
of Ross H. .Swarts. 

Cleflin, Edwin J., was born in the town of Parishville, St. Lawrence county, 
August 24, 184;i, the oldest of a family of four children of Francis T. Cleflin, a nati\ e 
of Massachusetts, who came to this State when a young man. He was a mechanic, 
and died October 11, 18.5"), in Canton, St. Lawrence county. Edwin was given such 
education as could be obtained winters in the common schools, and worked at farm- 
ing until the breaking out of the war. August 11, 1862, at the age of eighteen he 
enlisted as Joel E. Cleflin, in Co. A of the 142d Regiment N. Y. Vols., and served 
with Col. N. M. Curtis until July 17, 1863, when he was honorably discharged on 
account of disability. While in service and acting as carpenter he was injured by a 
stick of timber, and this was followed by an attack of typhoid fever and chronic 
diarrhiea, which kept him from further service. He returned to St. Lawrence county 



22 tiANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTS. 

and was employed in the door factory at Potsdam until 1870. He spent the winter of 
1870 in Vergennes, Vermont, and in the spring of 1871 came to Almond, where he 
remained until December, 1871. He then located in Hornellsville. He was em- 
ployed with the McConnells about three months, and then entered the employ of 
William Richardson, with whom he was engaged until 1876. In 1876 he was elected 
collector of School District No. 7, and re-elected for six successive terms. In 1879 
he was elected town collector on the RepuVilican titrket. His only other office was 
constable, one of the first city officers appointed in 1888. He ahso served on the 
election board of the Sixth ward for fifteen years. In 1883 he engaged in the gen- 
eral collecting business and added dealing in real estate shortly after. He now de- 
votes his time to court, real estate and fire insurance business. He was married, 
August 31, 186.'), to Miss Eliza J. Tenny. They have two children: Arthur L. . stock- 
keeper in the Pullman service at Hoboken. N. J. ; Elmer E. is a clerk in Davidson 
Brothers' store in Hornellsville. 

Cummings, Robert F., was born in Williamsport, Pa., in 1847. Entered the em- 
ploy of the Fall Brook Coal Company, at Fall Brook, Pa., when sixteen years of age. 
Filled successively the positions of chief clerk in the cashier's office, paymaster, and 
for eight years was superintendent of the lumber department. In 1886 he engaged 
in the lumber business on his own account as a partner in the firm of Drake, Cum- 
mings & Co., with mills at Blossburg, Pa., and office at Corning, N.Y. Removed to 
Coming in 1889 and took the position of lumber agent for the Fall Brook Railway 
Company, still retaining his interest in the firm of Drake, Cummings Sz Co. 

Carpenter, Dr. Edwin J., was born in the town of Thurston in 1864, son of U. A. 
Carpenter, of Bath. He obtained a literary education at Bath, and graduated from 
Buffalo University in 1891, and has been practicing in Corning since. He is a mem- 
ber of the A. O. D. Medical Society of Buffalo, and the Coming Academy of Medi- 
cine. 'Was elected one of the coroners of Steuben county at the fall election of 
1894, for a term of three years. 

Cotton, William H., was born in Hartford, Washington county, July 17, 1833, son 
of Thomas Cotton, who was also born in Hartford in 1793, and was a carpenter and 
joiner by trade. He married Clara, daughter of Daniel Pierce, and they were the 
parents of six children: Zina, Phoebe, Norman, Charlotte, William H., and Willard 
H. Mr. Cotton cnme to the town of Dansville when thirteen years of age, worked 
on a farm for a time, and then went into the lumber business, which he followed for 
twelve years; then came to Avoca in 1872, taking up farming again and dealing in 
produce. He has been postmaster for about a year and a half, and was appointed 
under Cleveland. He married Mariett Lyon, of South Dansville, and his present 
wife is Maggie Rolph, of Kanona. and they have one daughter, Clara Bell. Mr. 
Cotton has filled the office of highway commissioner and assessor for three terms, 
and commissioner of excise for two terms. He is a member of Avoca Lodge No. 
073, F. & A. M., and also of Wallace Lodge, I.O.O.F., No. 519. 

Cadogan, Charles, was born in Canisteo, September 10, 1838. He received a com- 
mercial school education, and entered the store of Ely & Brown, on the southeast 
corner of Main and Broad streets, in Hornellsville, devoted to the sale of groceries 
exclusively. Mr. Cadogan remained with Ely & Brown about five years, then for 



I 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 23 

twelve years he was in tlie employ of the Erie Railroad, most of the time as general 
yaniniaster in the Erie yards at Hornellsville. In the fall of 1868 Mr. Cadogan asso- 
eiatcd himself with J. \V. Nicholson and succeeded to the business established by 
Ely & Brown, and for nineteen years the firm of Cadogan & Nicholson carried on a 
successful mercantile business. In October, 18HT, Mr. Cadogan was elected president 
of the Citizens' National Bank, which position he now holds. 

Davison, William II. and Robert J., are sons of William Davison, a native of 
county Cavan, Ireland, who came to the United States in 1846 and settled in Bath. 
William Davison entered the employ of Ira Davenport, sr., being a carpenter and 
joiner by trade, and for forty years has been one of the best known contractors and 
builders in Steuben county. He married Margaret Dobbin, by whom he had seven 
children: Sarah, Maggie. Moses, Isaac, James, William II. and Robert J. The firm 
of William II. and Robert J. Davison was formed in 1883, taking up and enlarging 
their father's business. They carry a large stock of lumber, shingles, building sup- 
plies, etc., besides being contractors and builders of some of the finest residences 
and public buildings in Bath and vicinity. They have ever been identified in ad- 
vancing the best interests of the town. 

Downs, Simon S. , was born in Canada, May 24, 1847, .son of William Downs, who 
was a native and always a resident of Canada. He was educated in the common 
.schools, and in 1869 he left his native home and came to Rochester, N. Y., where he 
made his home for ten years. In 1872 he located in Warren county. Pa., where he 
lived for ten years, engaged in lumbering for F. G. & D. D. Babcoek. In 1883 he 
came to Hornellsville and was employed with L. D. Rice for one year. In the 
spring of 1883 he bought of Mr. Rice ninety-three acres on lot 12, where he has built 
a beautiful residence and made many valuable improvements. He conducts the 
fami as a dairy with twenty-five head of stock, and finds a market for the product in 
Hornellsville, where he permanently- conducts a milk route. August 4, 187.'< he mar- 
ried Laura E. Rice, of Warren, Pa., and they have two children, Effie M. and Mary 
M., both born in Warren, living at home and students in Hornellsville Free Acad- 
emy. 

Dibble, Mrs. I. F. — Ira F. Dibble was born in Courtwright, Delaware county, N.Y., 
July 3, 1830. Henry Dibble, his father, was one of the old settlers of Courtwright, 
and in November, 1796, he married Betsey Butts, by whom he had thirteen children: 
Mary, Patty, Lyman, Lucy, Betsey, Alvira, Henry G., Moses B., Sallie A., Phebe, 
Harriet, Christopher and William M. For his second wife he married Hannah 
Brown, by whom he had seven children: Amy, Laura Ann, Cynthia, Harmon, Jack- 
son, Ira Ford, Hannah Maria, and Harriett Levantia. Ira F. Dibble was educated 
in the district schools of Sidney and Courtwright, after which he engaged in farming, 
and now owns a farm of 212 acres on the Mead's Creek road. He married Louisa 
W.. daughter of Richard Lee, a farmer of Sidney, by whom he had si.\ children: 
Estella L.. now Mrs. Chas. Smith; Ira Eugene; Mary Ester, now Mrs. Harry Cham- 
berlain; Lesley D., Leon G., and Henry Ford, the last three at home. Mr. Dibble 
died in 1892, aged sixty-two years. In politics he was a Democrat. 

Decker, George M., was born in Bath, December 10, 1852. H. Decker, his father, 
was a native of Orange county, and came to Steuben county and settled in the town 



24 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of Bath in 1842. He married Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Charles A. Smith, by 
whom he had one son, George M., and through life was identified as a farmer, and 
died in 1883, aged sixty-six years. George M. was educated in the common schools, 
and in 1879 married Mary M., daughter of Lyman Sutliff, by whom he had three 
children, Nora, Tillie, and Jane. 

Dunham, Dr. Roy, was born m Howard, July 14, 18G4. The first of this family to 
locate in New York State was David Dunham, his grandfather, who was born in 
New Jersey in 1799, and came to Monroe county in 1812, locating on a farm with his 
father. In 1820 he moved with his brother into the town of Howard where he lived 
until 1884, and then moved to Fremont Corners, which was then in the town of Hor- 
ncllsville, and was then the onlj' house in FrenKmt. He was for several years a local 
jireacher of the M. E. church in Fremont, and died there in 1883. He was the 
father of seven children, of whom Thomas, the father of Roy, was the oldest, and 
was born in Fremont, August 21, 1827. In 1844 he left his father's home and in 184ti 
entered Alfred University, and after his graduation he was for a time engaged in 
lumbering, but the greater part of his life has been spent on a farm. For the last six 
years he has been engaged in mercantile business in the village of Cani.steo. No- 
vember, 1850, he married Delilah J. Dunham of Warren county. Pa., by whom he 
bad four children: Ralph, who is in business in Canisteo; Charles, who died m 
March, 1887, at twenty-seven years of age; Roy, and Harold. The latter died at the 
age of four. Roy was educated in the common schools, Canisteo Academy, and 
Warren High School, Warren, Pa. He followed various employments for a few 
years and in 1887 began the study of medicine with Dr. Ellison in Canisteo, and the 
same year he entered University Medical College of New York city, graduating in 
March, 1890, and while in New York he was for three months under private instruc- 
tion of Dr. Alfred L. Loorais. He was associated with Dr. Ellison for six months 
and then hung out his shingle in the town of Greenwood ; in March, 1893, he located 
in Hornellsville where he has since conducted a very successful practice. He is a 
member of Steuben County Medical Society, and is the secretary of Hornellsville 
Medical and Surgical Association. He is a member of Sheffield Lodge, I. O. O. F., 
of Warren county. Pa., and a member of .Sentinel Lodge No. 151, F. & A. M., of 
Greenwood, N. Y. October 28, 1891, he married Mary, daughter of J. J. Linderman, 
a commercial agent of Canisteo, by whom he had one child, Linderman Harlow 
Dunham, now in his third year. 

Darrin, Delmar M., is a well-known gentleman in Steuben county, and in referring 
to men and institutions in Western New York, much of interest can be said concern- 
ing his connection with the bar, and with the advancement of the thriving village of 
Addison. He was born in Barrington township, Yates county, N. Y., in the year 
1849. His grandfather, Ira, went there from Elmira and afterwards returned to and 
died in that city. Mr. Darrin's father was David Darrin. The son was educated 
at Addison Academy and at Cornell University, graduating in 1872. He spent three 
years reading law in the office of Colonel Dininny, at Addison, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1875. Addison has been his home ever since. He has a general law 
practice and does considerable work in the Surrogate's Court. For several years he 
served as corjioration counsel at Addison, and in legal affairs in general has been for 
vears a recognized leader. For twenty-three years he has been connected with the 



KAMILY SKETCHES. ' 25 

local Board of Education, tiist as (.lerk, then as trustee, and at present president. It 
maybe of interest to state here that Addison now has seven hundred pupils of school 
age, thirteen teachers, and two fine new buildinjjs. Mr. Darrin has done much in 
helpinjr local enterprises, and was a director in and attorney for the Water Works 
Company. He has been president of the Baldwin Hook and Ladder Company, and 
has been connected with other home organizations. Mr. Darrin has been a member 
of the district committee of his Assembly district for about eight years, and in other 
ways has been an active Republican worker. In the Masonic fraternity he belongs 
to the local lodge and chapter, to St. Omer's Commandery at Elmira and to Corning 
Consistory, where he has taken thirty-two degrees. For several years he has been 
vestryman of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer at Addison. He is one of the 
three trustees of the Addison Free Library, and is vice-president of the Y. M. C. A. 
Miss Mary H. Lawson, of Plainlield, N. J., was the lady he married in 1876, and they 
have a son aged eighteen, and two daughters, seventeen and fifteen years old. Mr. 
Darrin loves his home and family and is devoted to his profession. He is one of the 
best lawyers in Steuben county, and possesses legal ability of a high order. He has 
been a good citizen, ever ready to do his part in educational and religious work, and 
is a gentlemen who eommands the respect of the community. 

Drake, D. S., is a native of Genesee county, and came to Steuben county in IHfil 
or 1862, and came to Corning in 1870, where he has since been interested principally 
in the coal mining and lumber trade. In 1872 he married Mary Tillotson of Delaware 
county, by whom he had two children; George Willis, born in 1876, and Frances, 
born in 1883. He is a director in the Corning stove works, was for two years super- 
visor, and is a member of the Board of Education. He is also cashier of the First 
National Bank of Corning. 

Drake, J. A., president of the First National Bank, was born at Le Roy, N. Y., 
October 30, 1854, son of Franklin N. Drake, who was born in Vermont in 1817, and 
in 1854 purchased timber land in Cohocton and carried on an extensive lumbering 
business. He was al.so largely interested in the Blossburg coal lands, was general 
president of the Blossburg Coal Mining & Railroad Company-, and president of the 
Tioga Railroad. He moved to Corning in 1867 and organized the First National 
Bank of Corning in 1882, being its president until his death, when he was succeeded, 
January, 1893, by J. A. Drake. Mr. Drake is interested in the lumbering firms of 
" Drake & Co.," of Corning, N. Y., "Drake, Cummings & Co." and "Drake, Lan- 
dus & Drake," in Pennsylvania, and is a director of the Corning Stove Works. 

Davenport, Hon. Ira, was born in Hornellsville, June 28, 1841, .son of Col. Ira 
Davenport, a native of Spencerport, Columbia county, N. Y., who came to Steuben 
county in 1815, and was identified as a merchant at Hornellsville for thirty -two years. 
In 1847 he moved to Bath, where in 1861 he began the erection of the Davenport 
Home for destitute female orphan children, to which he gave sixty-five acres of 
land and §100,000, with an endowment of .'>;50,000 at the time of his death, which 
occurred May 2, 1868. In 1824 Colonel Davenport married Lydia, eldest daughter of 
of H<m. Dugald Cameron, and they were the parents of two sons: John and Ira. 
The latter has served ten years in public life, four years in the Senate, two years as 
comptroller, and four years in Congress, and was the Republican nominee for gov- 
ii 



2G LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ernor in ISSS. In 1887 Mr. Davenport married Katharine L., daughter of (Jen. 
George H. Sharpe. He is one of the founders and subscribers to the Soldiers" and 
Sailors' Home, also the donor of a public library to the town. 

Davison, Lorenzo, was born in Schuyler county, March 23, 1824, son of Lewis, who 
was born in New Jersey and came to the town of Tyrone, Schuyler county, and en- 
gaged in farming. Lewis Davison also lived in Howard, Steuben county, for a 
number of years. He married Jemima Gannon, by whom he had ten children. Lo- 
renzo was educated in the district school of his native town, one mile and a quarter 
from the school house to his home, on a hill, a cold long road, attending school until 
twenty years of age, mostly through the winter season only. He then learned the 
carpenter and joiner trade. At the age of twenty-six he married, first, Louisa Jack- 
son. He afterward married Martha, daughter of Rev. Chauncey Carter, of Canisteo. 
Mr. Davison has lost considerable property by fires and indorsing to help his neigh- 
bors, but still is considered one of the well to do men of the village. He has been 
president of the village, besides holding various minor town offices. Has resided in 
Canisteo forty-four years. 

Doud, John C, was born in Truxton, Cortland county, in 1805, and came to 
Wheeler in 1830, where he was employed by his brother George in chopping and 
clearing land. Here he met Martha Olcutt, born in Pompey, Onondaga county, 
November 13, 1808, to whom he was married, January 1, 1833. He settled in the 
southwest corner of Wheeler, on a farm of one hundred acres, which was then a 
wilderness; he cleared it up, and resided thereuntil his death in 1848. They had 
six children: Ira G., Johnnie E., Rosel W., Seth L., Martha L. , and Eliza S. Ro.sel 
Doud is the owner of ninety-eight acres of land. He married Abigail Hopkins of 
Avoca, by whom he had one daughter, Annie E., who is the wife of John J. Ilopf. 

Erwin W. Scott, was bom on the farm where he now resides, which consists of 
four hundred and thirty-five acres, son of Arthur H., grandson of Samuel, and great- 
grandson of Arthur Erwin, the first owner of this town. Arthur H. was the father 
of the following children : Mary, Eugene H., Emily, Virginia, Lizzie, Clinton, Anna. 
Arthur H. jr., who is the present owner of the old homestead. 

Everitt, James S., was born in Chenango county, February 25, 1815, son of Jesse 
and Polly (Burdick) Everitt. Jesse Everitt was a native of New Jersey and came to 
Chenango county and thence to Steuben county in 1841, settling in Troupsburg, 
where he and his wife both died. James S. was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools. He came to Woodhull in 1881 and now lives a retired life. Mr. 
Everitt and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. January 31, 1841, he mar- 
ried Jane Ashcraft, by whom he had three children ; Henry, who married Clarissa 
Sanford, of Troupsburg Centre, and is a merchant and proprietor and manager of 
the hotel and mills at that place, also farm of eighty-seven acres at Woodhull vil- 
lage; James S., who was in Co. D, 61st N. Y. Vols, and died at the age of eighteen ; 
and Mary, wife of Henry Brady, of Woodhull. They have two children: Bertha J. 
and James B. 

Ellas, Charles A., was born in Bath, August 28, 1848. George S. Ellas, his father, 
was also born in Bath, and his grandfather, Simpson Ellas, M. D. , came to Bath 



Family sketches. 2< 

from Watertown, Mass , in 1811, and was a practicing physician, having to ride over 
the country on horseback. IJeorge S. Ellas married Amanda D. , daughter of Judge 
Chester Loomis, of Rushville, N. Y., and through life was identified in the mercan- 
tile business, and in advancing the best interests of his town. He died in 1866, in 
his tifty-lirst year. Charles A. Ellas was educated in Bath, Geneseo, and Rochester, 
and in 1870 established his present business of druggist, and is now carrying one of 
the largest and most complete lines of imported and domestic drugs in Steuben 
county. In 1877 he married Jennie, daughter of George G. Aber. Mr. Ellas is one 
of the representative business men of his town, serving as assessor for twelve years. 

Ellis, Hiram, was born in the town of Dansville, Steuben county, August 26, 1857. 
Albert M. Ellis, the father of Hiram, was a nativeof Genesee county. When a young 
man he removed to Livingston county, and was married in Hornellsville and was 
engaged on a farm in Mount Morris, and was then in Burns a short time, and about 
18."w located in Dan.sville, where he has since made his home. Hiram was the sixth 
of a family of ten children. He was educated in the common schools and Rogersville 
Academy, and remained with his father on the farm until reaching his majority. 
He was for twelve years engaged in farming, and March 23, 1891, he bought the 
hardware store of Henry Sharp in the village of Arkport where we now find him en- 
gaged in doing a very successful business. He is not only carrying a fine stock of 
shelf and heavy hardware but is an extensive dealer in farming implements, fertilizers, 
anil wall papers. Mr. Ellis is the manager and owner of the Arkport Opera House, 
owner of a farm of 151 acres on the Burns Road. He was married April Ifi, 1879, to 
Miss E. L. Evans of Dansville. They have five children: Ida Florence, Edith May, 
Maggie Matilda. Oliver Hiram, and Sophronia Elnora. 

Edger, Benjamin F., was born at (ieneva, Ontario county, in 1839. Came to Corn- 
ing with his father's family in 1845, where he has since resided. ■ After spending some 
years upon a farm, he followed the canal, and later, operated and conducted a dry- 
dock and yard for the building and repair of boats. He has held the many import- 
ant public offices of tax collector of the town, collector of tolls, and assistant super- 
intendent of the Chemung Canal, inspector of public work for the State, and post- 
master for many years. Upon the construction of the D. L. & W. R. R. , in 1883, 
he purcha.sed the Gibson Hotel, which he has since conducted. In 1892 he became a 
member of the firm of Elwood & Edger, dealers in Lackawanna coal and has built 
up a prosperous business. His family consists of his wife, three daughters and a sou. 

de Peyster, Augustus, was born in New York city, September 6, 1886, son of Fred- 
eric A. de Peyster, also a native of New York city. The family trace their descent 
from the French Huguenots, who were driven from France at the massacre of St. 
Bartholomew in 1572, escaping at Holland. Johannes de Peyster, the progenitor of 
the family in America, came to New York in 1645, married Cornelia Lubbertse. of 
Holland in 1()51. He was prominent in public atlairs from 1655 to 1675 and was also 
one of the six notable men to draw up the charter of New Amsterdam, now New 
York. Frederic A. de Peyster married Jane, daughter of Garrett Gilbert of New 
York. He was engaged in the mercantile marine business and retired from that in 
1845. Augustus, his son, engaged in the foreign importing business, residing much 
of the time in France. He retired from business in 1871, came to Bath, where he 



28 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

married, in 1878, Martha, daughter of Alexander Hess, of Bath, and they are the 
parents of one son, Frederic A. In 1892 he was elected delegate to the General Con- 
vention of the Episcopal church, held in Baltimore; has been president of the village 
of Bath, and a member of its Board of Trustees. Is a vestryman of St. Thomas' 
church, Bath, one of the managers of the Davenport Free Library, and holds other 
positions of trust and responsibility. 

Smith, Bessie D. — John L. Smith was born in Bath, December 31, 1823. Charles 
A. Smith, his father, was the eldest son of Andrew Smith, who came to America 
from Scotland and settled in Bath with Colonel Williamson, in 1793. He married 
Elizabeth Lewis, and was a prominent farmer. Charles A. Smith married Azilla, 
daughter of William Morgan. John L. Smith was educated in the common school 
after which he taught school. He married Lois M., daughter of Samuel and Betsey 
Le Gro, by whom he had three children, Charles L., Betsey D. , and Azilla M., who 
died in 1890. He was prominently identified in the leading events, serving as super- 
visor for two terms, and other positions of honor and trust. He died July 26, 1894, 
and Mrs. Smith died March 20, 1877. 

Nicholson, J. William, was born in Hornellsville, September 13. 1842. Jonathan, his 
grandfather, was one of the pioneers of the Turnpike district, taking up land in its 
normal condition and with the aid of his thirteen stalwart sons, clearing it and mak- 
ing it into a garden. A part of his farm is still in the possession of the family. He 
was a school teacher in his native State, and taught and preached in Chenango 
county, also preached after coming to Steuben county. Jonathan, father of J. Will- 
iam, was the sixth son. He engaged in farming and at an early date moved to Wis- 
consin, where he kept a hotel in Beaver Dam. He returned to Steuben county in 
1849, where he died in 1854, aged forty years. His wife, Martha, was a daugh- 
ter of William R. Stephens. He died in 1860, aged forty-two years. Of his 
union eight children were born, seven of whom are living. J. William, the oldest 
living son, was educated in the common schools, and after leaving school he engaged 
in farming. At the age of twenty-three he was employed as a clerk in the grocery of 
P. P. Houck. He took a partner in 1868, Charles Cadogan, and in 1870 the firm be- 
came Cadogan & Nicholson, which firm existed until 1887, when the name was 
changed to Nicholson & Williams, which firm existed until 1892. In September of 
that year, Mr. Nicholson entered into partnership with Charles A. Wirt and engaged 
in the shoe business on Seneca street, where the store was located until April, 1894. 
They then removed to Main street, where they have one of the finest stores in the 
city. Mr. Nicholson is president of the Hornellsville Savings & Loan Association, 
and one of the directors of the Hope Cemetery Association. He is now serving his 
second term of five years as member of the Board of Education. In 1883 he was 
elected to the office of supervisor. He served on the Board of Trustees when Hor- 
nellsville was a village. He has been a delegate to State conventions and a member 
of the County Committee. He is a member of the Masonic order and the A. O. 
U. W.. and has been an officer of the Baptist church for about twenty years. In 
1869 Mr. Nicholson married Elizabeth Walbridge, of this town, by whom he had two 
children ; Edith, a teacher in the Columbian School ; and J. Arthur, bookkeeper in the 
Citizens' Bank, of Hornellsville. 



1 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 2d 

House. Henry, was burn in the town of Howard, March 11, 1831, son of Ansel 
House, who was born in Connecticut, and came to the town of Howard in 1828, and 
settled near Howard Flats. His occupation was that of a farmer, and he cleared a 
farm of 137 acres, on which he continued to live until the time of his death, which ' 
occurred in 1873. He married Julia Higgins of Connecticut, and seven children were 
born to them: Josiah, iMiuice, Henry, Hhebe, Martha, Aaron, and Juliette. Five of 
of the above are still alive. Martha and Phebe live in the town of Bath. Henry 
House is a farmer and owns a farm of sixty-four acres. He married Jane, daughter 
of William A. Lowrie, born in Troy, N. Y. The mother of Mrs. House came to the 
town of Howard in 1848. Mr. House is a member of the A. O. U. W. In politics he 
is a Democrat, 

Smith, Eugene, was born at Cooper's Plains, January 8, 18.58. S. S. Smith, his 
father, was a native af Schuyler county, and came to the town of Campbell with his 
father, Barney Smith. He married Eliza Everts of East Campbell, by whom he had 
five children: Eugene, Charley, Carrie, Ed, and Jessie. Eugene Smith has been a 
farmer and at present is devoting his time to the lumber business. He married Jen- 
nie M . daughter of Richard Lee, by whom he had two children: Gertrude and Lee. 
He is postmaster at East Campbell, where he runs a grocery store. He is a mem- 
ber of the Baptist church, and in politics is a Democrat. 

Mallory. H. H., was born in Coventry, Chenango county, N.Y., February 18, 1827, 
.son of .Samuel and Lucretia (Davis) Mallory, both natives of Oxford, Conn. He was 
born August i), 1782, and she September 22, 1790. They came to Chenango county, 
thence to Scio, and Wellsville, and in 1838 located at (ireenwood, where he died 
August 111, 1857, and she November 10, 1867. Politically, he was a Republican, and 
was justice of the peace for a number of years in Scio. Mr. Mallory was a sailor 
from New York to the West Indies for many years while young, but later farming 
was his principal vocation. David Mallory, father of Samuel, and Col. John Davis, 
father of Mrs. Lucretia (Davis) Mallory, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, and 
both lived and died at Oxford, Conn. H. H. Mallory was reared on a farm and 
farming has been his principal occupation. April 10, 1861. he married Betsey, 
daughter of John and Elsie (Young) Wallace, a farmer of West Union, and they 
have been the parents of three children: Emma G. (deceased), Marcus F. (deceased), 
and Libbie L., wife of Rotch Bundy, a farmer on the home farm. Mr. Mallory is a 
Republican, and has been justice of the peace, road c<mimissioner and assessor, 
and was supervisor two terms and afterwards six years in succession. The family 
are Methodists. 

Hamlin, Jason B., son of Amos Hamlin, was born in Cortland county in 1833 and 
came with his parents in 1837, locating on his present place. His parents died here. 
Mr. Hamlin married, in 1850, Melissa Crawford, a native of Tioga county,' N.Y., and 
came to Steuben county with her parents when two years old. Their children are: 
Thurston J,, Jesse L. , Inez, and Cora. 

Farnham, George. — Perhaps no more conspicuous name could be selected from 
among the early annals of Addison, as a type of all that was best and noblest, than 
that of the late Col. George Fiirnham. No one man took a more active part in the 
advancement of all local interests, particularly of educational facilities, than he, and 



30 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNT"?. 

his name will ever suggest public spirit and manliness. He was born of Puritan 
stock in 1812, and perhaps the fact that he was thrown upon his own resources while 
yet a boy was fortunate in fully developing his inherent abilities. It was in 183Gthat 
he came to Addison from his early home in Canterbury, Conn., to make it a perma- 
nent residence until his death in 1888. In his early mercantile life he was asso- 
ciated with his brother Edmund. The title of colonel was acquired during militia 
days, and he was always recognized as a leader of men and a moulder of events. 
The school children of Addi.son may well revere his memory, for to his untiring and 
well-directed personal effort is largely due the superior advantages they enjoy. 
Colonel Farnham was twice a nominee for senator on the Democratic platform, mak- 
ing a strong canvass and sufFermg defeat from ulterior causes with no shadow of a 
stam upon the name and memor}' he bequeathed. He left three children : Mrs. B. G. 
Stout, since deceased; George W., and William H. Their mother was Julia J. 
Wormbough. His surviving widow is Mary, daughter of Nathan Reynolds, of 
Elmira. 

James, John P., was born at Erwin in 18fi0, and is the si.\tb of nine children of 
John James, a native of County Kerry, Ireland, who came to the United States 
when twenty-three years of age and settled at Cooper's Plains, N.Y. His wife was 
Ellen Mulvihill, w^ho survives him and lives with her son, John P. The latter came 
with his parents to Addison when six years old, and after attending the public schools 
for several years obtained employment in the sash and blind factory. Soon after en 
tering their employ he displayed progressiveness and was constantly promoted until 
he is now the superintendent of the blind department. Mr. James has held the office 
of excise commissioner, village trustee, and was president of the village in 1893. de- 
chning to accept the renomination. He is a firm Democrat, deeply interested in the 
growth and prosperity of the village and is held in high regard among his asso- 
ciates. 

Foster, G. Watson, was born in Bordentown, N. J., February 29, 1856. William 
Foster, the father of G. Watson, also a native of New Jersey, is a descendant of 
Capt. John Walker. He is now a resident of Hornellsville and living retired. He is 
now in his seventy-seventh year. The mother of G. Watson, Mary A. Burdick, was 
a native of this county, born near Crosby Creek. Of thirteen children only two are 
living, Mrs. Edward Schofield, of Passaic City, N. J., and G. Watson Foster, Mr. 
Foster was educated in the common schools of New Jersey and at Alfred University. 
He served an apprenticeship at the machinist trade in New Jersey, and then took 
up carpenter and joiner work, which he followed for seven years. In 1887 he came 
to Hornellsville and was six months in the jewelry store of George R. Van Winkle 
and after that for fifteen months conducted a repair shop. In 1889 he became en- 
gineer for the American Illuminating Company and was there three years. In April. 
1893, he took up electrical repair work and lighting, and also does all kinds of repair 
work. He was married in Andover, November 30, 1876, to Miss Eliza E. Kennedy. 
They have three children : William K., a student of the academy: George Leon, of 
Lincoln School, and Miss Jessie Anna, of Lincoln School. Mr. Foster is the inven- 
tor of two very useful articles — an electrical furnace regulator, and an electric cau- 
tery apparatus for controlling the power of contmuous electric currents for surgeons' 
use. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 31 

Fox, Daniel A., was born in Bath (now Avoca), February 24, 1834, George P. 
Fox, his father, was born in Monl^omery county, N. Y., June 10, 1816, and came to 
the village of Avoca iu !S33. He was a wagonmaker by trade, which business he 
followed to within a year of his death, which occurred in 1878. aged sixty-eight 
years. He married Julia Ann Anderson, daughter of Capt. Daniel Anderson of 
Lyme, Conn., by whom ho had four children: George N., Hezekiah, who enlisted 
in Co. E, 141st Regiment N. Y. Volunteers, who died in November, 1862, at Laurel 
Factory, Md. ; Julia A., wife of P. H. Neil. Daniel A. is now engaged in farming 
and owns a farm of 115 acres. He married Dorlisca Shults of Avoca, by whom he 
had five children: Emerson E,, Roger H., Clarence T., Langrave S., and Mau<Ie. 
Peter C. Fox, his grandfather, came to the town of Wheeler from Montgomery 
county, N. Y., in 1833. 

Frost, Capt. Frank Pomeroy, born in Millport, Chemung county. May 5, 1841, and 
educated in the common schools. Enlisting July 24, 1862, in Co. D, 107th N. Y. Vol. 
Infty., attached to the 1st Division, 12th Corps, he took part in the battles of Antie- 
tam, Chanellorsvillo and Gettysburg. His regiment having been transferred to the 
Army of the Cumberland, in the 20th Corps, under fighting Joe Hooker, he was en- 
gaged at Re-saca, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek and the siege of Atlanta, and was with 
Sherman in his celebrated Mai-ch to the Sea and the campaign of the Carolinas, 
which ended with the surrender of Gen. Joe Johnston at Raleigh, N. C. He re- 
ceived an honorable di.scharge at Washington June, 1865, with the rank of brevet 
captain, and returning to Elniira entered the employ of the Erie Railway Co., where 
he remained until 1889, when he was appointed quartermaster in the Soldier.s' Home 
at Kath, which position he still holds. In 1865 he married Rhoda, daughter of Elias 
Hutchings, by whom he has two children: William P., and Mrs. John Underhill. 
Mr. Frost is a member of Chemung Valley Lodge No. 3.50, F. & A. M., Military Or- 
der of the Loyal Legion of the U. S., and Baldwin Post, No. 6, G. A. R., Dept. of 
New York. 

Faulkner, Dorr', was born in the town of Dansville, July 31, 1838. John P. 
Faulkner, his father, was also a native of Dansville and a farmer. He died January 
6, 1S90. Dorr was the oldest son of a family of six and was educated in Rogersville 
I'nion Seminary, and at Dansville Academy, and was engaged on his father's farm 
until the breaking out of the war. September, 1863, he enlisted in the 136th Rcgt. 
N. Y. Vols., and was with them until December, 1864. He was in the battles of 
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, besides many minor engagements. At the battle 
of Gettysburg he was wounded the morning of the 3d of July by a minnie ball in the 
upper arm, by which he lost five inches of the bone. He was removed to the hos- 
pital at Broad and Cherry Hill in Philadelphia, where he remained until November, 
when he was granted a furlough, and shortly after his return was discharged. He 
remained on the farm one year, and in 1866 came to Ilornellsville and engaged with 
R. K. Faulkner in the produce business, and then sold out and engaged in the lum- 
ber business for one year. In 1S(!9 he went to Owosso, Michigan, where he was in a 
sash and blind manufactory. In the fall of 1872 he returned, and in January, 1873, 
went into the railway mail service, filling a government position for ten years. 
March 1, 1S82, he established a furniture wareroom and an undertaking establish- 
ment in the village of Ilornellsville, where we now find him. While his establish- 



32 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

menl foi- the tirst few years was of modest and unassuming proportions, we find him 
to-day the leading furniture dealer of this city, and from his stock can be selected 
furnishing for the kitchen or drawing-room, and values within the reach of the purse 
of all. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, Hornellsville 
Lodge No. 8111, Steuben Chapter, Hornellsville Council, and De Molay Council. In 
1865 he married Letitia Grover, daughter of E. C. Grover, of Hornellsville. 

Fuller Bros., George W. and Dwight L.. proprietors of the Dickinson House, 
which they purchased in 1865, are sons of LJwight A. Fuller, a native of Cazenovia, 
N.Y., who died in 1890. Dwight A. Fuller came from New Woodstock, Madison 
county, m 1847 and was postmaster of Corningin 1860, and was also proprietor of the 
Terrett House, and later of the Arcade. The Dickinson House was built by a com- 
pany and established in 1850 and opened by a man named Dennis; it is located at 
the corner of Pine and Market streets, and for many years has been the leading 
hotel in Corning. 

Ford, Benjamin F., was born in Richmond, Tioga county. Pa., in 1841, and is the 
seventh of fifteen children born to Simeon and Susanna (Rumsey) Ford, the former a 
native of Michigan, born April 29, 1807, and the latter a native of Sullivan, Tioga 
county. Pa., born August 9, 1811. The grandparents, John and Dorcas Ford, were 
farmers, who lived and died in Michigan. The maternal grandparents, Noah and 
Susanna (Cudworth) Rumsey, came from the East and settled in Tioga county, being 
pioneers of Rumsey Hill. Simeon Ford came from Michigan to Tioga county, Pa., 
when a young man, married, and there lived and died. Mrs. Ford was a member 
of the Close Communion Baptist church, which they attended and to which they gave 
their support. Mr. Ford died September 6, 1868, and Mrs. Ford, May 27, 1881. 
Benjamin F. was reared on a farm and for twelve or fifteen years followed farming, 
and has also been in the mill and mercantile business at Troupsburg. In 1862 he 
married Christiana, daughter of Robert A. and Malicia (Williams) (Titchell, a farmer 
of Tioga county. Pa., and granddaughter of Eli and Polly (Reed) Gitchell. Eli was 
a farmer and wheelwright by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have lost one adopted son, 
Jesse, who died at the age of four and a half years. They have one adopted daugh- 
ter, Vinnie, who was born February 25, 1890. Mr. Ford enlisted September 80, 1862, 
in Company E, 14th United States Infantry, and was honorably discharged June 13, 
1865. He took part in twenty-six engagements, among which may be mentioned the 
battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, Gettysburg, Wilderness 
and Spottsylvania, being wounded in the last named battle. In politics he is a 
Democrat, and was appointed postmaster at Troupsburg February 9, 1894. He is a 
member of Post Bailey No. 351, G.A.R., and of Troup.sburg Tent No. 339, K.O.T.M. 
Mr. and Mrs. Ford are members of the Baptist church. 

Farley, Phdip, was born jn Ireland and came to America in 1849. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools of Schuyler county, and was a classmate of Governor 
Hill. In 1862 he enlisted in Company L, 5th N. V. Heavy Artillery, serving until 
1865; was mustered out at Harper's Ferry and discharged at Sackett's Harbor. He 
came to Corning in 1870, and purchased the Pickwick Hotel in 1877, and established 
his wholesale trade in 1878. He was one of the first police commissioners of 
Corning. 



KAMI I, Y SKETCHES. 33 

Ferry. Adclbcrt, was born in Hornellsville, November 16, 18.54. Salis Ferry, his 
fatliur, was a native of Almond, where for many years he kept a general store. In 
\X^3 he removed to Hornellsville and in company with a Mr. Belden established one 
of tlie first drug stores of this city, located in the old American Honse block. He 
was in those early days prominently identified with political life. In the latter years 
of his life he was engaged in the wool business, buying wool and pelts in almost every 
State in the Union, and in farming. He died December 9, 1886, at sixty-six years 
of age. The mother of Adelbert, Cyrena, was a daughter of Col. John R. Stephens. 
She died July .5. 1887. Adelbert, the only child, was educated in the city school 
and select schools of Hornellsville and Dwight's private seminary at Greenville. Pa. 
After leaving school he spent three years as a clerk, and in 1873 took up the study of 
law in the ottice of Hakes & Stevens, where he retnained until 187,'). That year he 
entered the Albany Law School, graduating in 1870, and was admitted to the bar in 
May, 1S76. In 1878 he located at Palton, in the town of Nunda, where he spent 
one year and then returned to Hornell.sville, where he was in active practice until 
1888. That year he withdrew from the law on account of his deafness, and devoted 
his time to real estate and his farm, again opening an office in December, 1894, 
locating at the corner of Main and Canisteo streets. Mr. Ferry was one of the 
counsel of the celebrated Eveland murder case in Western New York, which in- 
duced him to again resume practice. He has held the offce of town clerk. He has 
been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1881, member of Steuben Chapter 
No. 10., and Hornellsville Council No. 35, and Hornellsville Lodge No. 331. He is 
also a member of the I.O.O.F., Steuben County Lodge No. 331, and a member of 
Canacadea Encampment No. 117. 

Fancett, James, was born in Bath, April 10, 1835. John Fancett, his father, came 
to Steuben county and .settled in Bath in 1825, and was identified as a farmer and 
married Nancy Shannon, dying in 1885, in his seventy-fifth year. James Fancett 
was educated in the common schools, and in 1860 he purchased a farm. In 1862 he 
enlisted in Company F, 161st Regt. N. Y. Vols., with rank of second lieutenant, and 
took part in the battles of Port Hudson, Donaldsonville, and many others, receiving 
an honorable discharge in 1864, with rank of first lieutenant. In 1872 he removed to 
Bath and established his present business of dealer in coal, grain, wood and pro- 
duce. In 1873 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Hiram Brundage, by whom he 
had three children: Jolin H., James and William. Mr. Fancett is one of the repre- 
sentative business men of his town, and also one of the prominent farmers of his 
county, owning the farm which his father cleared up, and which has been in the 
family for sixty-five years; he was elected supervisor for two terms and has been 
pre.sident of the village of Bath. 

Ferenbaugh, John H., was born in 1831 on the home place in Hornby where his 
father located about 1829. In 1858 he married Juliet W. Lewis, a native of Ontario 
county, and their children are as follows: Anna L., wife of (ieorge Sly, Augusta P., 
wife of David Rogers, Clarence H., and James L., who died in 1895, aged twenty- 
one years Mr. Ferenl)augh has filled the office of justice of the peace sixteen succes- 
sive years, assessor three years, and supervisor for seven different years, and for 
eighteen years has been postmaster of Ferenbaugh. 



34 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Freeman, Charles H. , was born in Tompkins county, in 1840, and came to Corning 
in 1846. He enlisted as a private in Company V, 141st Regiment, N. Y. Vols., Au- 
gust 14, 1862, and in September following was promoted to sergeant. His strict at- 
tention to duty and his personal courage were rewarded by a lieutenant's commission 
July 29, 1863, and to first lieutenant April 3, 1865. In the May following he was 
commissioned captain, and was assigned to command Company K, from whicli he 
was honorably discharged June 35, 1865. After tlie war he was elected captain in 
the national guard, and was discharged in 1870, having served a long term. The 
141st Regiment served a portion of its term of service in the Department of the South, 
and lost heavily at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ga. On Sherman's march from 
Atlanta to the sea Captain Freeman was in command of a foraging party. At the 
battle of Resaca it fought so bravely as to merit special attention in general orders. 
He joined the Grand Army at an early date, and was from the first prominent in its 
affairs. In 1885 he was elected commander of William W. Hayt Post No. 376, and 
in 1888 was elected senior vice department commander. In 1890 was elected as mem- 
ber of the Department Council of Administration, and 1891 was elected Department 
Commander of the G. A. R:, State of New York. In April, 1891, he turned the first 
sod for the foundation of General U. S. Grant's tomb at Riverside Park, New York 
city. He is a member of the Corning Consistory, and since 1870 has been a leading 
merchant of Corning. 

Ferris, David, was born in Cortland, Cortland county, N. Y. , October 13, 1844, 
is the only survivor of four children born to James and Mary (Slaughter) Ferris, he 
a native of Otsego, and she of Tompkins county, N. Y. The grandparents, Thomas 
and Mary Slaughter, came from Esopus to Tompkins county, where they engaged 
in farming. The grandfather, Zadoc Ferris, came from the East and settled in 
Otsego county where he died. Both grandfathers were in the Revolutionary war. 
James Ferris, when a young man, enlisted in the regular army in 1812. He learned 
the barber trade, which he followed in Cortland, Corning, Elmira, and Geneva. 
David Ferris learned the trade of his father, which he has always followed, working 
in various places, and in 1889 he located in Greenwood. In 1864 he married Ruth, 
daughter of Horace and Pernilia Foster (Central Bridge,) of Schoharie county, N. 
Y., by whom he had two children: Maggie, wifeofVern Johnson, afarmer of Green- 
wood, and Edwin H., who is a barber in Greenwood, also a justice of the peace. 
In January, 1865, Mr. Ferris enlisted in the 50th Engineers, and was in the battles 
of Petersburg, Appomattox, and many others, and was honorably discharged June 
i;i, 1865. He is a member of William C. White Post, No. 561 G. A. R., and is its 
present commander. 

Ferris, James M., was born May 15, 1850. Alfred P. Ferris, his father, was a 
native of Howard, and was a practicing attorney in Bath, a banker, and serving as 
district attorney, loan commissioner, and one of the county committee to raise troops 
in the last war. He married Catherine, daughter of Captain James Read, and died 
in 1886 in his seventieth year. James M. Ferris was educated in Bath, Canandaigua 
Academy and De Veau.\ College, and then traveled for twelve years as a commercial 
traveler. In 1889 he established his present business of insurance, carrying a fuU 
line of general insurjince. He is one of the conservative men of his town, taking au 



FAMILY SKKTCIIES. 



S.^ 



inteliigent interest in ediicational and rclijjious institutions and has ever received the 
respect of his associates. 

Gillet, Charles W., was born in Addison, Steuben county, in 1840. Joel D. Gillct. 
his father, has by his practical benevolence and praiseworthy life, enshrined his 
memory in thehearts of the people of Addison, where he still lives at an advanced age. 
It is to his personal munificence that the Presbyterian church owes its material pros- 
perity, and the edifice and equipment of the local Y. M. C. A. was likewise his well- 
timed and generous gift. The family are descended from the Huguenots of France, 
many of whom came, when expatriated for constancy to their religious convictions, 
to Connecticut, and Aaron Gillet of Colchester may be considered the father of this 
branch of the family. Charles W. was graduated from Union College, and became 
a member of the famous Union College Zouaves, and later an adjutant of the Steuben 
Rangers, with whom he served two years with gallantry and distinction until he was 
discharged for physical disability. He was elected to the 5 'd and 54th Congresses 
from the Twenty-ninth District, a representation conducted with honor and dignity. 
lie married a daughter of the late General Comstock, and a niece of Colonel Iliram 
Bostwick. who is conspicuous among the pioneers of Corning. 

Gillette. William, was born in the town of Corning, about a mile from where he 
now lives, in 1822, son of John, who was born in the town of Corning and in 1823 
moved to the presentlimits of Caton where he spent the remainder of hisdays, being 
prominent in the affairs of this town and county. The grandfather, Joseph Gillette, 
was one of the very earliest settlers of this section of the State, and was prominent 
in the affairs of his town and county. Mr. Gillette has always been a farmer, and 
being a natural mechanic, he has always followed the carpenter and builder's trade, 
more or less. In 1846 he located on his present farm. He married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Dr. Andrews, formerly of Bath. She died in 1870, leaving the following 
children: Harriet Josephine, now Mrs. John Kiner of Michigan; Ada Virginia, the 
wife of John Goodyear, now deceased; Frances I., wife of William F. Edger, of 
Corning; and Charles W., who resides on the home residence. Mr. Gillette has filled 
various town offices. 

GifHn, James H., was born in New York city, October 16, 1844. James Giffiii, 
his father, was a native of New Jersey, and was of English descent. He married 
Mary A., daughter of Edward L. Carman, and was for many years connected with 
New York city post-office. James H. Giffin was educated in New York city, and 
for five years engaged in the insurance business, and in 1867 came to Steuben county 
and engaged in grape culture. He was elected justice of the peace for twelve 
years, three years as supervisor, and in 1892 was elected county clerk of Steuljcn 
county. 

Gillette, Dr. Harry L., was born in the town of Stafford, Genesee county, N. Y., 
May 11, IHOO, the second of five children of Charles Gillette, a farmer of Batavia. 
The cloctor was educated in the common schools and Chamberlain's Institute and 
Batavia High School. He was connectcfl with a large lumbering firm of Buffalo for 
four years and then took up the study of medicine in the Medical Department of 
Niagara University, from which he graduated April 25, 1890. He was engaged in 
the practice of the profession with Dr. Ingraham of Buffalo for one year. He then 



30 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTr. 

opened an office alone and was engaged in that city until the summer of 1892. He 
then located in Arkport, taking up the practice of Dr. J. E. Walker, and also bought 
the drug store at that time. The spring of 1894 Mr. Gillette organized the Acme 
Medicine Co., with six different preparations, which are acquiring a fame that event- 
ually will be world wide. The doctor is a member of the Hornellsville Medical and 
Surgical Association. He was married in 1894 to Marietta Winn, daughter of 
Chester Winn, of Rochester. They have one child, Caroline Winn Gillette. 

Green, Dr. Charles O., was born in Dansville, Steuben county, N. Y., January 28, 
1858. Philip Green, his father, was a native of Germany, and came to this country 
in 1838, when he was twenty-four years of age. He settled fir.st in the town of 
Wayland and made his home there until 1851, engaged in conducting the Patchin- 
ville Mill. That year he moved on a farm in Dansville where he spent the balance 
of his life and died there October 24, 1891. Elizabeth Wolfanger, his mother, was 
also a native of Germany, coming to this country in 1828 when eight years of age, 
and died August 28, 1868. They were parents of ten children. The doctor was the 
seventh son and was educated in Rogersville Union Seminary, and lived with his 
father until twenty-six years of age, when he began the study of medicine with his 
brother, the late Theodore C. Green. In September, 1887, he entered Bellevue 
Hospital Medical College in New York city from which he graduated March 10, 1890. 
He began practice with his brother and continued until the death of the latter, 
which occurred April 21, 1892. He is a member of the Hornellsville Medical and 
Surgical Association, the Erie Railway Surgeons" Association, and is one of the con- 
sulting staff of St. James Mercy Hospital, assistant surgeon for the 47th Sept. Com- 
pany, N. G. S. N. Y. He is also surgeon for the Erie Railway Company. He has 
been a member of the Masonic fraternity since he was twenty-three years of age, and 
a Knight Templar. 

Glazier, Mrs. Flora A. — Col. Samuel M. Alley was born in Almond, Allegany 
county, April 19, 1825. His father died when he was only four years of age, and 
being bound out, as was the custom of those days, his schooling was limited to a 
winter attendance in the district schools. At the age of nineteen he bought his time 
and entered a country store as clerk, where he acquired a good knowledge of busi- 
ness, men, and property. He came to Hornellsville in 1848 and in company with 
others built a foundrj- and machine shop and furnished it with the first steam engine 
and first lathe for turning iron ever brought to Hornellsville. He was also for five 
years engaged in the dry goods trade. In 1853 he transferred his interests into 
lumber and became a large shipper of lumber and grain. In 1857 he was elected 
clerk of the county, and in 1861 represented this district in the State Legislature. 
Col. Alley was made a member of the Central War Committee and commissioned 
colonel by Governor Morgan, and at the second call for troops in 1862 raised the 141st 
Regt. N. Y. Vols, in twenty-one days. Political difficulties prevented him from 
assuming command of the regiment, but he was given charge of the Elmira rendez- 
vous, and was in command there until relieved by his request. In 1864 he trans- 
ferred his lumber interests to Michigan and continued in that business until 1870. 
He was very active in endeavoring to build the Pine Creek Railroad and lost a large 
amount of money in the enterprise. In 1873 he was offered the position of assistant 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 37 

land agent ol' the Erie Railroad, and for eighteen years occupied a position of great 
trust in the land and assessment departments of the company, who appreciated his 
services, as his resignation was repeatedly declined. In 1891 he was forced to give 
up the business, on account of failing health. Colonel Alley was identified with the 
political, business and social life of this community for over forty years, and his 
death, which occurred August i:!, 18!)2, was a severe loss. Successful in business, 
and a leader in politics, in all things he was honest, outspoken, vigorous, and earnest. 
If his frankness sometimes gave offense, his earnest adherence to what he believed 
to be right compelled the respect of all, while his genial nature always won him 
hosts of friends. He is survived by his widow. Sylvia, daughter of Maj. Thomas 
Bennett; Flora, Mrs. E. C. Glazier; and Frank B. 

Goodsell, Isaac P., was born in Susquehanna county, Pa., May 11, 1H18, son of 
Isaac and Anna Goodsell. I.saac was a son of Jacob, who settled in Hornby, then a 
part of Painted Post, about ISKi. Jacob's children were Betsey, Daniel W,, Lucena, 
Isaac, Sally, Samuel P., Patience, Henry L., John G., Truman, Mary and Ira. 
Isaac's children were Lewis H., Huldah Ann, Eunice F., Isaac P., Hannah, Sarah 
and Mary" (twins), and Sherman J., who became a Baptist minister and died in early 
life. Isaac P. married Christiana, daughter of Deacon Jacob Woot ward, by whom 
he had five children: Byron W., Jacob L., Ella E., Dimis H., Normah O. Mr. (Jood- 
sel! has been postmaster for a number of years, justice of the peace, commissioner, 
and held other offices. By trade he is a blacksmith, but followed farming until his 
health failed. He settled in the village of Painted Post where he conducted a busi- 
ness in agricultural machinery, hardware, etc., for a few years, building some 
houses and attending to his farming interests. He was for thirty years an active 
member of the Baptist church, conducting many Sabbath schools and doing much 
other religious work. He has been for twenty-two years an official member of the 
M. E. church. A practical total abstinence man his entire life, and doing work in 
all the various temperance orders; he had been a radical Republican from the 
organization of the party, and before that a Democrat. He has endeavored to pur- 
sue an industrious, temperate and religious life, and has secured a competence for the 
responsibilities of life, and is in the enjoyment of a happy, pleasant village home. 
The Goodsell family is of English descent, having settled in New England. 

Gray, Andrew, was born in Montgomery county in 1827, and settled in Steuben 
county in 18.")4. He is a son of James and Mary A. Gray, natives of Montgomery 
county, N. Y., who settled in Jefferson county, N. Y., in May, ISS.^i. Mr. (Jray died 
in April. 1879, aged seventy-six years; and Mrs. (Jray in 1871, aged sixty-four years. 
Andrew married Benjamina D. Taylor, and they have the following children living: 
Estella May, Mary G., and Douglas W. They have lost one son and two daughters: 
Alida E., who died in August, 1870, in her seventeenth year; Madgie, who died in 
April, 1880, in her eleventh year; and Frank E., who died in July, 18',tl, aged twenty- 
three years. 

Goff, Hiram S., was born in the town of Howard, April 7, 1841, son of Pliney and 
Lana (Voorhees) Goff. He was one of nine children: Finla, Sidney C, Morven, 
Charles A., Mary, William S., Hiram S., Ira L., and Luke R. Pliney was a mason 
by trade, but in early life he taught school. He was a son of Russell and Sallie 



38 Landmarks of steuben couNt^. 

(Calkins) Goff. For his second wife Russell married Annie Pixley, by whom he had 
four children: Henrietta, Nannie, Marietta, and Eliza. Russell moved to Youngs- 
town, O., where he died. He built a grist mill in Howard when he first settled 
there. Hiram S. married Mary S., a daughter of Almond and Lola (Monroe) Woods- 
worth, of Luzerne county. Pa , by whom he had six children: Almon P.. Nancy A., 
George S., Vernon W., Elizabeth P., and Marion L. Hiram S. enlisted in Co. K, 
107th N.Y.V. He participated in the battles of Antietam, and Chancellorsville, 
where he was taken prisoner and held three weeks before being exchanged, and was 
with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. 

Gorton, AVilliam E., was born in Corning October 19, 1854, and was graduated 
from the New York Homfeopathic Medical College in 1877, but never practiced. He 
was in the employ of the Fall Brook Railroad Company as assistant superintendent 
for ten years, and from 1887 followed railroad contracting in the South for four 
years. He was also in the drug business in Corning from 1887 to 1893, and has 
been president of the Corning Iron Works since they were incorporated in 1893, 
which works were founded by him in 1889. He was the first mayor of the city of 
Corning. 

Greenfield, Charles E., was born in Corning in 1S4G, where he was reared and edu- 
cated, and January 1, 1884, accepted his present position as station agent for the 
Fall Brook Railway Company. 

Graves, Edward P., was born in Corning in 1840, son of Rev. Frederick W. 
Graves, a native of Massachusetts. E. P. Graves was educated in Corning and at 
Williston Seminary. He was for a number of years w-ith S. T. Hayt in the lumber 
and flour business. In 1862 he was mustered in the service as lieutenant and quar- 
termaster of the 107th Regt., made captain and A.Q.M.U.S. Vols, in 1864, and brevet 
major U.S. Vols., and was with the Twelfth and Twentieth Corps. At the close of 
the war he was stationed at Mobile and Montgomery, Ala., and came home in April, 
1866. In 1889 he was elected county clerk, serving three years, and since 1893 has 
been president of the Corning Manufacturing Company. 

Hartrum, William L. , was bom in New Jersey, December 19, 1827, is the third of 
six children born to William and Elizabeth (Stryker) Hartrum, of New Jersey, who 
came to Greenwood in 1834, where he jlied November 19, 1874, and she, August 18, 
1855. William L. Hartrum was reared on the farm and educated at Alfred, after 
which he taught school for about fifteen years, and was justice of the peace twelve 
years. In 1864 he purchased the farm of 182 acres which he now owns, and has 
since been engaged in farming, keeping about eighteen cows. In 1850 he married 
Sarah M., daughter of Thomas and Pamelia Bacus, of New York city, by whom he 
had two children: Melvin J., cheesemaker of Andover, who was educated at Alfred, 
after which he taught school ; and Frances E. (also educated at Alfred) wife of W. H. 
Bloss, a farmer on the homestead. 

Howell, Christeon G., was born in New Jersey in 1S22, aad came to Corning in 
1845, where he engaged in the merchant tailor business until 1858. He spent one 
year in California, and then returned and for four years was engaged in the manu- 
facture of flour sacks, after which he was in the grocery business for nearly three 
years, and for twenty-four years was engaged in the oil business, and in 1889 he sold 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 39 

his interest to the StaiularU Oil Company. He owns several of Coming's best busi- 
ness blocks and is considered one of the substantial citizens. He married Miss 
Josephine L. Walworth, of Vermont, by whom he had two children: Frank J., of 
New York city, and Albert C. , of Corning, N.Y. 

Hoffman, A. H., of Corning, was bom in Millport, Chemung county, December 
11, 1854, son of Gottlieb and Eva R. (Groener) Hoffman, natives of Germany, who 
in about 1848 located in Chemung county, where they lived and died, in 1880 and 
1888, aged sixty-six and seventy-three, respectively. Mr. Hoffman was raised in 
Chemung county and followed boating till 1882, when he moved to Hornby. In 187!) 
he married Aurelia Pellca. born on Stony Island, Jefferson county, N. Y., April 3, 
1862. He has 175 acres and follows general farming and affiliates with the UenKJ- 
cratie party. 

Hurlbut, Myron, was born in the old homestead within twenty rods of the present 
residence, Janu.-iry 8, 1825, Christopher Hurlbut, the father of Myron, was horn in 
Hanover, Luzerne county. Pa., December 17, 1794. His father, Christoplicr. sr., 
brought him here when he was about three years old, in 1797. He bought a large 
tract of land, consisting of 1,000 acres. Christopher Hurlbut, sr., died in this place 
in 1831, in the house still standing, built in 180.5-(). Christopher 3d followed in his 
father's footsteps on the old homestead farm. Myron was the oldest of a family of 
six children, three now living. Edmund is at Big Horn, Sheridan county, Wyoming, 
conducting a large farm. Lydia is the wife of William Loveland, of Kingston, 
Luzerne county. Pa. Myron was educated in the common schools and Alfred 
Academy and for five years taught school in winter and worked in summer. He re- 
mained on the old homestead farm until 1870 and has since been engaged on differ- 
ent farms until 1875, when he located on a farm of seventy acres in the village of 
Arkport. He wrote the life of Judge Hurlbut, contained in this history. He was 
married in 1809 to Miss Alice Stewart, daughter of John Stewart, a retired real 
estate speculator of Jamaica, Long Island. Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbut have two daugh- 
ters: Clara Isabella, a graduate in the classical department of the class of 1895 in 
the Buffalo State Normal School, and Sarah Augusta Stewart Hurlbut, a student of 
the common school. 

HoUenbeck, George A., was born in the town of Campbell, this county, March 37, 
1858. Abram HoUenbeck, his father, was a native of Greene, Chenango county. 
He was born January 28, 1839, and came to Campbell with his father, J. B. HoUen- 
beck, who was one of the pioneer settlers, and where he lived for about forty years. 
It was a partial wilderness at that time, and they cleared about 300 acres forfarming. 
Abram HoUenbeck marrieil Mary L., daughter of Jacob and Mary Velie, by whom 
he had five children: Ruby A., now Mrs. Appleby, Lydia M., Esther K., Clarissa 
C, and George A., who was educated in Curtis district school and Bath Academy. 
He is a farmer, and now owns a farm of eighty-nine acres. He married Clara M. 
Ford of the town of German, Chenango county, by whom he had three children: 
Merle, Lillian, and Anna Ruby. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in 
jKjlitics is a Republican. 

Hayes, William, was born in Troupsburg, Steuben county. May 21, 1819. Lewis 
Hayes, his father, was a native of Orange county, N. Y., and came to Steuben county 



40 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

when it was a wilderness, and cleared a few acres. He married a daughter of 'Squire 
Reynolds of Connecticut, by whom he had si.xteen children. William Hayes owns a 
farm of 1"4 acres, one of the best in the town, and mostly all under cultivation. He 
married Jane, daughter of George Shaw of Troupsburg, and his second wife was 
Mrs. Hester A. Talbot, by whom he had three children, L. Perry, Charles B. , and 
William Fletcher. Her children were Jeddiah F. Talbot, Amasa P., and Collins. 
Fletcher Hayes married a Miss Darron, by whom he had one child, Ethel. 

Hallock, William H., was born in Bath, Steuben county, N. Y., Novembers, 1856; 
entered the bank of George W. Hallock, which his father established in 1849, known 
as the Hallock Bank, with George W. Hallock, president, and William S. Hubbell, 
cashier. The death of his grandfather, Mr. Hubbell, in 1873, necessitated a change, 
and William became associated with his father in the business, acting as cashier. 
George W. Hallock was born in Fishkill, Dutchess county, N. V., in 1819, coming to 
Bath in 1834, where his father and brothers were largely engaged in lumber and 
flouring mills, his son being brought up in the same hne of business. They had mills 
at Poughkeepsie, Lockport, as well as Bath, George managing the Belfast Mills, a 
mile west of the village, on the present Soldier's Home grounds; afterwards in the 
days of the issuance of State Bank notes he was messenger for the Steuben County 
Bank, taking and receiving notes for redemption and delivery toGenevaand Elmira, 
traveling by stage lines, a position as responsible as the express messenger of to-day 
and far more hazardous. In 1847 Mr. Hallock married Mary H.. eldest daughter of 
the Hon. William S. Hubbell. William, their only child, attended school at Bath 
and later at Trenton, New Jersey. In 1884 he married Louise M., daughter of George 
H. NoW'len of Avon ; they have one son, William N. Hallock. William, like his father, 
sought no political honors; serving two terms as president of the village, a short time 
treasurer of the Agricultural Society, which his father served in that capacity for many 
years, but business elsewhere required their time and attention and they could not do 
justice to both. 

Houghton, Amory, jr., was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1837, and was educated 
in Cambridge and in 1854 began his business career, being in the paint, oil and var- 
nish business in Boston for three years. He then became connected with the Union 
Glass Works of Somerville, Mass., which his father had built in 1852. From 1864 to 
1868 be was with the Brooklyn Flint Glass Works, which concern moved to Corning 
in 1868, his father, Amory Houghton, being the founder. In 1871 Amory Houghton, 
jr., took the management of the business and purchased it in 1872. In 1875 an or- 
ganization was effected, with A. Houghton, jr., president, Charles F. Houghton, (a 
brother), vice-president, and H. P. Sinclaire, secretary, which remains unchanged to 
the present time. Amory Houghton, the father, was a native of Bolton, Mass., of 
old English stock, and died in 1882. In 1860, A. Houghton, jr., married Ellen Anne 
Bigelow of Cambridge, Mass., by whom he had five children. He was a (Jarfield 
elector at Albany, and has been vestryman in Christ church since 1875. 

Hendee, Clark L., was born August 24, 1854. Charles Fremont was born Feb- 
ruary 22, 1856, sons of James B. Hendee, who was born in Dansville, but has resided 
in Hartsville for nearly fifty years. James B. Hendee has always been engaged in 
farming ; the old homestead, consisting of two hundred and five acres, is now owned 



FAMILY SKKTCHES. 41 

and (iccnpied by Clark L. and Charles F. Iluudee. James B. married Anijeline, 
daughter of James Cnrry of Dansville. by whom he had twelve children, uf uhom 
eight are still living; three are living in Ilartsville. Clark L. and Charles F. received 
their education in the district schools of their native town, but have since followed 
farmnig. Clark married Lell, daughter of Albertus Hall of Hartsville, by whom he 
has one child. Charles F. married Rettie, daughter of George Wells, a farmer of 
Potter, Yates county. Mr. Wells was one of the first settlers of that county. Mr. 
Hcndee is at present one of the assessors of the town. 

Hadley, Henry, was born in Canisteo, April 15, 1828, a descendant of the old stock 
who settled here a great many years ago and tookupand cleared large tracts of land. 
Henry Madley was engaged in farming and carpentry for a number of years. He 
enlisted in 1801 in the 86th N. Y. Vols., with whom he served two years. He then 
enlisted in the 141st N. Y. and was rvith them on the march to the sea under Sher- 
man. He served with this regiment until tlie close of the war, and was discharged at 
Washington in 1865. He now receives a pension. He is a member of Abraham 
Allen Post (i. A. R. . No. 195. He is not at present engaged in any particular'line of 
business. 

Hutchinson, Frank J., was born in the town of Owego, Tioga county, N. Y., 
August 12, 18.52, the second of a family of five sons and three daughters of James 
Hutchinson, who was a merchant tailor and contractor and builder of Owego for a 
great many years, now having retired. Frank was educated in Owego Academy, 
and at the age of seventeen he went as an apprentice in the store of Iloskius & 
Isbell, jewelers. After four years with them he spent from 1875 to 1880 with 
Charles P. Starr, of Owego. May 10, 1880, he came to the city of Homellsville and 
took charge of a jewelry store for William H. Stephens. The following January he 
formed a co-partnership with Henry N. Cobb, which firm existed until June 1, 1885, 
when Mr. Hutchinson sold his interest to George Waldorf, and was out of business 
until September 1, 1885, when he opened a store in the Opera House block and has 
since been alone in the business. April 1, 1890, he removed to 153 Main street, 
where he has a store of twenty feet front and one hundred feet in depth. Mr. Hutch- 
inson is one of the most e.xtensive jewelers of the city, and is the leading dealer m 
diamonds, watches, sterling silverware, bricabrac and cut glass. He is al.so selling 
the Remington, Stearns, and Crescent bicycles, which are considered the best in the 
market. His brother, George W. Hutchinson, is a graduate of the Houseworth 
Optical College anil attends to the eyeglass department. He also does the watch re- 
pairing for the establishment. F. J. Hutchinson is a member of the I.O.O.F., of 
which he is past noble grand and is the present treasurer of Steuben County Lodge. 
In 1876 he married Ida Watkins, of Owego, N. Y., by whom he has four children: 
James Lyman, Edith L., Harry II., and Alice Lillian. Mr. Hutchinson has one of 
the most beautiful homes in the city on Seneca street, which he erected in 1885, and 
can well be proud of it, as it is his own design. 

Hartshorn, Charles H., was born in the city of Homellsville, August 11, 1858. His 

father was a native of Madison county, born in I^ebanon and came to Steuben county 

about is:i8. He engaged in farming and lumbering and was one of the leading men 

of the western part of the town. He was a Republican in politics and occupied the 

t 



42 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

office of trustee of the village, a member of the School Board, and president of the 
Citizens' National Bank for a number of )-ears. He died August 30, 1«S7, at seventy- 
two years of age. Cordelia Hart, his mother, was a native of Saratoga county. She 
is still living, now in her seventieth year. Charles H. was the only child. He was 
educated in the city schools and his first occupation was with his father on the farm, 
and he is now conducting a farm of 400 acres one mile west of the city, where he 
does quite extensive gardening and farming, and for a number of years the principal 
source of supply for the city residents. In the spring of 1893 Mr. Hartshorn bought 
out the firm of W. H. Belknap & Co., dealers in coal and wood, and he has added to 
it the dealing in agricultural implements, lime, cement, hay, etc., the annual output 
being about five or si.\ thousand tons per year, the firm name being Hartshorn H: 
Dudley. The output of coal is about 3,500 tons per year. Mr. Hartshorn is a 
partner in the Ilornellsville Ice Company, and is the i)resident of the Rural Cemetery 
Association, also one of the directors of the Citizens' Bank of Horuellsville. He is 
a member of Arkport Grange No. 179. June 10, 1885, he married Laura Belknap, 
of this city. 

Hinds, O. W., was born at Exeter, N. Y., August 9, 1812. Lemuel Hinds, his 
father, was identified through life in Otsego county as a farmer, and married Olivia 
Henry, by whom he had twelve children, five of whom are now living. O. W., the 
oldest son, married Ruth, daughter of Elijah and Lucy Babcock, and in 1840 came 
to Steuben county and settled in the town of Cameron, where he bought 100 acres 
of land, of which he cleared up seventy acres, and in 18C9 he moved to the village of 
Bath. Mr. and Mrs. Hinds have four children: Almond, Freeman, Mrs. Marietta 
Gardiner, Mrs. Annette Negus. Mr. Hinds is one of the representative men of his 
town, serving as supervisor in 1862-63-64, also highway commissioner for the town 
of Cameron. 

Hoffman, Rev. Edwin S., was born at New Franklin, a village near Chambers- 
burg, Franklin county, Pa. His father died when he was a child between three 
and four years of age and his only sister when he was seven, she being five. His 
childhood and youth were spent in Quincy, another village in the same county. He 
went into one of the village stores, when thirteen, for a few weeks or until the regu- 
lar clerk, who was ill, should return, but where he remained for more than four 
years. His father having been a merchant, his purpose was to follow the same busi- 
ness, and when fifteen his employer made a proposition to him, that, if he would 
remain with him until he was twenty-one, he would make him a partner. But the 
death of his mother in 1876 changed his plans. However, his experience as clerk 
was an excellent business training. He inherited some property from his mother, 
and in 1878 entered the preparatory department of the Carthage College, Carthage, 
111., an English Lutheran institution. He entered the freshman cla.ss of 1879. grad- 
uating Bachelor of Arts in 1883. He entered college to prepare for the study of 
medicine, but during his junior year determined to enter the English Lutheran min- 
istry. He taught as tutor in his college the year after his graduatiim, also doing 
some study preparatory to entering the theological seminary. He entered the 
theological department of Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, in 1884, graduating 
as Bachelor of Divinity in 1885. His first pastorate was in Mount Morris, 111., where 
he remained a year and a half, marrying while there. He then took a country 



1 



Family skktchks. ii 

charjje in Ohio, west of Toledo. He finiud liiniself out of sympathy with the teach- 
ing and church government of the Lutheran denomination, and in 18H7 he l)ecame a 
postulant for holy orders in the Episco]>al church, under Hishop Bedell. In Septem- 
ber, 1W7. he removed his family to Gambler, Ohio, where he was appointed tutor in 
Greek in Kenyon College, and where he pursued theological studies in Bexley Hall 
preparatory to his canonical examinations, which he took in the spring of 18H8. He 
went to Youngstown, Ohio, as assistant minister to the Rev. Frederick B. Avery, 
immediately following the close of college in June, and was ordained deacon by the 
Rt. Rev. Bishop Peterkin, of West Virginia, in August, and three months later, No- 
vember 2."), 1888, two days after his twenty-ninth birthday anniversary, he was 
ordained priest by the Rt. Rev. Cortlandt Whitehead, IJ.I)., bishop of Pittsburg. 
March 1, 1890, he became rector of Christ Episcopal churcli, Honicllsvillc, N.Y., 
where he has remained to the present time. 

Hurlbut, Williams., was born in the village of Arkport, February 4, 1820. -Phe 
ancestry of this family dates back to English origin Thomas Hurlbut was the 
founder of the family in this country. Thomas came to this country fnmi England 
about 1030 and settled in Connecticut. His successor was Samuel, then Stephen and 
John the senior, John, junior, who was the father of Christopher, the first of the 
family to locate in Steuben county. Christopher was bom at Groton, Conn., May 
30, 17.57. Served in the Revolutionary war. After the war he settled in Wyoming 
Valley and remained there until 1797, when he located at Arkport at the old home- 
stead, which is still in the hands of the family. John, the son of Christopher, was- 
born in Wyommg Valley October 21, 1784, therefore was in his thirteenth year when 
they came to this town. He always followed farming and was a man who gave his 
whole attention to his personal interest and was never prominently identified witli 
political and public affairs. He was lieutenant in a military company and .served on 
the Canada line in the war of 1812. He married, Scpteiuber 13, 1814, Priscilla 
Sharp, a daughter of William Shar]), a native of Staten Island, who came here in 
1812. They were the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters. Only 
two sons of the family are livmg. William, the second .son, was educated in the 
common schools of this town and has always followed farming as the leading in- 
dustry of his life. At twenty-one years of age he began teaching and for seven 
years followed it, in the winter season only. His whole life has been spent in this 
town, and he has been identified with its growth and i)rosperity. In the winter of 
1893 he was elected supervisor and re-elected in 1894, and is now serving his third 
year as a member of the Board of .Supervisors. He was married in 1849 to Miss 
Susan Cary, daughter of Johnson Gary, of this village. Of their six children, one 
died in infancy. Cary died at the age of fourteen. Caroline E. died at the age of 
eighteen, and Mrs. Martha H. Sewell, their oldest daughter, died May 1, 1890, at 
thirty-five years of age. Charles H. Hurlbut is a resident of New Whatcom, Wash- 
ington, and is engaged in the practice of law in the law firm of Harris & Hurlbut; 
and Fanny Bell is the wife of A. H. Huntley, a farmer of this town. Mrs. Hurlbut, 
the beloved wife of William, was a woman of great excellence of character; she died 
April 2, 1891, aged sixty-nine years. 

Hurlbut, John, was born in Arkport, October 1, 1821. He was educated in the 
common schools. He remained on the farm with his parents and taught school win- 



44 Landmarks of steuben county. 

ters from eighteen years of age for about five years. About 1885 he added to his 
farm duties the dealing in fanning implements, lumber, coal, lime and salt, which 
business is under the managament of his son, William M. He was married in 1851 
to Miss Mary Major daughter of Col. Thomas Major, one of the early settlers of 
this town. They are the parents of three children: William M. Hurlbut, one of 
Arkporfs most enterprising men; John E., died in 1890 at thirty years of age; and 
Mary, wife of E. D. Snow of Rutland, Vt. Mr. Hurlbut has been a ruling elder in 
the Presbyterian church of Arkport for forty years, and superintendent of its Sun- 
day school continuously for the same period. He was the leading spirit in the 
organization of the " Hornellsville Farmers' Club." Has always been on the Board 
of Directors and served as president tliree years. 

Hamilton, W. L., was born in Campbell, April 14, 18fi0. John D. Hamilton, his 
father, was bnrn in the town of Dix, Schuyler county, and came to the town fif 
Campbell in 18;i(i. He was a shoemaker by trade, and in 185."> established the Curtis 
tanneiy. He sold this business, and built a tannery in Campbell in IS.'iT. At pres- 
ent the Campbell tannery is abandoned, and W. L. Hamilton is manager of the 
Curtis tannery for the United States Leather Company, whose office is in New York 
city. John D. Hamilton married Harriet Lowell, by whom he had two children : 
W. L., and Sarah, wife of Frank Pope, of Pittsbin-g, Pa. W. L. Hamilton was the 
owner of the Curtis & Emporium tannery up to 189:^, also the owner of an acid fac- 
tory and lumber interest located m Pennsylvania. He married Mary E., daughter 
of C. F. Piatt of Painted Post, by whom he had one daughter, Harriet. In politics 
he is a Republican. 

Hubbard, Chauncey G., M.D., was born in Cameron, this county, October Ifi, 
1845, a son of Chauncey P., of Pittsfield, Mass., who was born in 1803, and came to 
Steuben county in 1828. He died April 10, 1804, at Fredonia, N. Y. His wife sur- 
vives, in her eighty-ninth year. Of their nine children seven survive, of whom 
Chauncey G. was educated in All'red University and Corning Academy. In 18(i9 he 
commenced the .study of medicine, and entered the University of Ann Arbor, Mich., 
where he attended lectures one year, and in 1S70 entered the medical department of 
the University of the City of New York, graduating therefrom in 1871. He was 
appointed physician at Blackwell's Island Lunatic Asylum, remaining one year. In 
1873 he located at Hornellsville, where he has ever since enjoyed an extensive prac- 
tice. He was coroner six years, member of the Board of Health seven years, and 
in 189i was appointed surgeon for the Erie Railroad. He is a member of the New 
York Slate Medical Association, of the Steuben County Medical Association, and 
was one of the founders of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical A.ssociation, of 
which he was the first secretary. He has been a manager of the Hornellsville Li- 
brary for twenty years, an elder of the Prsebyterian church, a member of the Y. M. 
C. A., and of various temperance organizations. In 1880 he married Florence N., 
daughter of the late Henry Prentice of Jasper, and they have two sons, Chauncey 
P. and Harold C. Before his death, the father of our subject, with his wife, cele- 
brated the sixty-second anniversary of their marriage. 

Hargrave, Prof. James B., was born in Ontario county, N. Y., March 10, 1845. 
George Hargrave, his father, was a native of England, and came up the Hudson 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 46 

River and settled in Ontario county, and in 1854 came to the town of Cameron, 
Steuben county, and settled on land which was left his wife and enjjajLfcd in farm- 
ing, and died in 18S(), aged eighty-six years. He married Sophia Halcomh, by 
whom he had eleven children — nine of whom are living. Professor Hargrave's pre- 
liminary education was obtained at Woodhull Academy, and in 1868 he was chosen 
from that nistitution to go to Bath, Steuben county, for examination for the State 
scholarship, and in September of that year was appointed, and entered Cornell Uni- 
versity, where he remained until 1872, being the first one from Steuben county. He 
has been a teacher most of his life, and in 18~."i he entered the law department of 
Union University at Albany, and in 1876 graduated and taught one year, and in 

1877 came to Canisteo, were the law (irm of Sole &• Margrave was formed. He 
however was induced to take charge of the school in that village, where he has re- 
mained most of his time since, and at present is principal of the same school. In 

1878 he married a teacher in the same school, Alary A. Forrest of Livingston county, 
who died May 2, 18!)4. They have one adopted son Edward W. Hargrave. Mr. 
Hargrave was candidate for member of assembly in 1892. Mrs. Hargrave received 
the largest number of votes cast for the free ticket, offered by the New York Press, 
to the ^Vorld's Fair. Mr. Hargrave is a prominent member of the L (). O. F., and 
the Encampment. 

Hicks, Alfred E., was born in the town of Litchlicld, Bradford county. Pa., March 
2.1, 1849, the second son of Alfred Hicks, who is a now a resident of Osage, Iowa. 
He remained with his father on the farm until si.xteen years of age, and secured an 
education in the c<mimon schools. From sixteen till twenty years of age he followed 
carpenter work, and in 1869 he went iirosjiecting through Iowa returning in the fall 
of 1S7I). The spring of 1871 he entered the employ of the Erie Railroad Coni]);iny ; 
starting as a brakeman in 1876, he was promoted to the pcjsition of conductor, which 
position he occupied for twelve years, running on the Sus([uehanna Division. Dur- 
ing this time he was visited by the smaller accidents and ups and downs of all railroad 
men. From June, 1871, until August, 1889, he never lost a day's work by suspen- 
sion or discharge. The spring of 1890 he went to work for the Pullman Company 
as conductor, which positi(m he resigned in July of the same year. May, 1890, he 
bought a half interest in the Ford &• Kingkade Coal yard on River .street, and in 
July bought Mr. Kingkade's interest and has since been the proprietor of this busi- 
ness. He' was married in 1871! to Miss Franc Ferry. They have three children, 
Charles, employed at the Fabric Globe AVorks; Harry, employed as cutter in the 
Perry Knitting Mills, Perry, N. Y. : and l'"rcd G. is a .student in Columbia School. 

Harden, T. E. — One of the material landmarks of Addison village is the old Amer- 
ican Hotel, erected by James Van VIeck, almost half a century ago, and to-day the 
leading hotel of the place. Its present proprietor, T. E. Harden, purchased it in 1877. 
It was then somewhat dilapidated, morally and materially, but has been completely 
renovated and rehabilitated by the genial host and hi.s accomplished wife, forming 
a rendezvous for Addison's best i)eople, and for the stranger within their gate.s. Mr. 
Harden's experience as a traveling salesman for ten years, and as clerk of the Glolie 
Hotel at Syracuse, well fitted him for the position he now fills. He was born at* 
Sandy Hill, N. Y., in 1842, the son of Abner Harden, a farmer whose death in 18r)4 
threw him upon his own resources at the age of twelve years, and his success may 



46 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNtV. 

justly be ascribed to inherent ability. In IKfiS he married Minnie M., daughter of 
U. (i. Bennett, the Rushford miller, by whom he had one son, A. G. Harden, liorn in 
1869, and who is now located at Ontonagon, Mich., associated with the Diamond 
Match Comi)any as inspector. Mr. Harden is personally very popular in Addison 
and elsewhere. He is one of the supporters of the Presbyterian church, of which his 
wife and son are members. Among the Masonic fraternity he ranks high, having 
climbed the ladder from Blue Lodge to Consistory, and isa noble of the Mystic Shrine 
of the Damascus Temple of Rochester. 

Hinnian, John, was born in Schuyler county, in IH*!?, son of Guy C. Hinman, who 
was a prominent farmer and politician. In 1831 he married Phebe Sherwood, of 
Fairfield, Conn., and they have been the parents of si.\ children. In politics he was 
a Democrat, and' was one of the three commissioners to form the county, and has 
been county superintendent of the poor. He died. in 1874, aged sixty-eight years. 
John Hinman left home when but nineteen years of age, going to Minnesota, where 
he taught school for about two years. At the outbreak of the late war he was a law 
student at Wellsboro, and promptly enlisted at the first call in the (ith Pennsylvania 
Reserve Corps, where he soon received thccommi.ssion of first lieutenant. His health 
was greatly impaired while m the service. Until 1874 he was associated with the 
Fall Brook Coal Company as bookkeeper and paymaster at their mines, at which date 
he removed to Raleigh, N. C, where he spent six years as a real estate factor. In 
1880 he came to Addison and in 1894 received his appointment as postmaster. In 
1865 he married Ada S. Gibson, of Wellsboro, and six children have been born to 
them, Guy O. Hinman being deputy postmaster. 

Hayt, Hon. Stephen T. , son of Dr. John C. Hayt, was born in Patterson, Putnam 
county, N. Y., June 25, 1823. In 1833 he came with his parents to Corning, and has 
since resided here, being extensively engaged in mercantile and lumbering interests, 
and since 1869 has been in the milling business, being owner of the Southern Tier 
Mills having a capacity of 175 barrels per day. He has filled various town and county 
offices, and in 1863 and 1865 was elected to tlie Senate. From 1866 he .served three 
years as canal commissioner, and was a delegate to the National Republican Conven- 
tions that nominated Lincoln, Grant, Blaine and Harrison. 

Hill, Henry Franklin, was born in Geneseo, Livingston county, N. Y., March 17. 
1846, moved to Corning in 1860, and settled in this town in 1866. He is the sou of 
Henry F. and Clarissa Lindsley Hill, and they were the parents of seven children 
beside him: Henrietta (deceased); Sarah (deceased), Harriet, W. Harlow, Arthur A. 
(deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), and Charles P. Henry F. married Ada, daughter 
of William and Georgianna Burr, residents of this county. They have one daughter, 
Doris, and one adopted daughter, Flla May. Mr. Hill is a successful merchant of 
Lindley. 

Hitchcock, George, was born in Morris, Ot.sego county, in 1822. He was educated 
in the common schools of his native county, and in 1S54 came to Bath where he was 
engaged in the hardware trade. In 18,59 he came to Corning and engaged in the mer- 
cantile business, which he followed for eleven years. He was president of the village 
in 1869, and has held the office of justice of the peace since 1872, and was ]iolice jus- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 47 

tice from 1872 until Uie aili>|)li<>n of the city charter, and lias been connectud with the 
Board of Education as trustee and secretary of the board from 1868 to thci>rcsct time. 

Joy, Lewis H. , was born in BuflFalo, N. V., November 28, 1833. Walter Joy. his 
father, who moved to Buffalo in 1825 and was prominently identified with the );rowtli 
of that city, was a native of Onondaga county, and it was his grandfather. Captain 
Thaddcus Joy, who built and conducted the first canal boat through the Erie canal , 
his son, Walter, succeeding in canal and lake transportation. Lewis B. was educated 
ill Buffalo, and in 18!)8 erected the first oil refinery in that city, being associated with 
William T. Wardwell, now treasurer of the Standard ( )il Company. The firm after- 
ward engaged in the same business in New York, disposing of their plant to the 
Standard Oil Company in 1864, when Mr. Joy returned to Buffalo, engaging in the 
steamboat and railroad transportation business until 1880, when he came to Bath 
and purchased the Steuben mills. In 1874 he married Caroline, daughter of William 
II. Bull, by whom he had one daughter, Mary; Walter, Mrs. Jennie Meeker and 
Kate P., are children by a first marriage. Mr. Joy is one of the representative busi- 
ness men of this county, identified in advancing its best interests and in the leading 
events of the day. 

Jimerson, Hibbert T., is a native of Orange, Schuyler county, formerly Bradford, 
Steuben county, born in 1847, son of Abram and Sally Ann Rolfe Jimerson. The 
parents lived and died in Schuyler county, and Mr. Jimerson was raised on a farm, 
and in 1871 married Bertha Ilendrick and located on his present farm of one hundred 
and eighty acres. He follows general farming, dairying, and sheep husbandry, lie 
was highway commissioner in 1889. 

Jewett, Amos, was born where he resides in Hornby, in 1833, Eon of Thomas and 
Sylvia Haradon Jewett, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts. The father came 
to Steuben county in 1818 locating first within the present limits of the town of 
Campbell, moving two years later to Hornby and on Mr. Jewett's farm about 1820. 
The mother came with her parents about 1823; they died in 1873 and 1877 aged 
seventy-nine and seventy-seven, respectively. Mr. Jewett is one of a family of 
seven children, six of whom were raised to maturity. In 1863 he went to the Pacific 
coast, prospecting and mining there till 1867, when he returned home and spent 
about four years here. lie then spent a couple of years traveling through the South 
and then located permanently. In 1868 he married Sarah L., daughter of Riifus 
Piatt, a native of the town of Campbell. They have three children; Lizzie, Laura 
L., and Thomas P. He has one hundred and fifty acres of land, it being a part of 
the old homestead. He was the candidate of his [)arty for the State Legislature in 
1890; was president of the Steuben County Agricultural Society in 1890 and 1891; 
has represented his county in some half dozen political and agricultural State Con- 
ventions, and has held various other positions of honor and trust. 

Kimball, William A., was born at Methuen, Mass., July 28, 1827. He was edu- 
cated in the common .schools and remained with his father on the farm until eiglit- 
eeu years of age. In 1843 he engaged in railroading for eleven months on the track 
of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and then engaged as fireman, a position which 
he occupied only twenty-two months. In the spring of 1849 he was made engineer 
of the Great Falls and Steamboat train running from Bangor to Boston, and re- 



48 LANDMARKS OF STEUBKN COUNTY. 

mained with tliat company till Jauuary 1, 1S51. January !•) "f the same year he 
came to Ilornellsvillc on a jjrospecting tour of the Erie Railroad. He was i^iven a 
position as engmeer with the company, and returning, sold his Massachusetts prop- 
erty and brought his family to this city. He took the first train out of Hornellsville 
February 6, 1851, on the Western Division, and continued until May 14, and May 
15 he run one of the first trains over the Dunkirk Division, with such passengers as 
President Fillmore, Daniel Webster and Homer Ramsdell, then president of the 
railroad. He continued as engineer with this company until July 1, 1863, when he 
was promoted to passenger conductor, which position he held until January 7, 1888. 
He was engineer of the train that hauled the iron and woodwork for the first bridge 
at Portage. He has been employed under thirteen different superintendents of the 
Western Division. The second day that train No. H was put on the road. May 2.', 
1851, a switchman threw the switch under his train at Allegany station, and Mr. 
Kimball and his fireman received slight injuries. He has a most remarkable record 
of keeping clear of accidents and never had a letter of reprimand, but many congrat- 
ulatory and complimentary letters. He was one of the founders of the old United 
States Insurance of railway conductors in Boston. He has been a member of the 
Masonic fraternity since 1864, and a Knight Templar since 1869. In 1848 he married 
Nancy A. Morrill of Wilmington, Mass., and they have two sons, William Frank, 
now running a locomotive on the Dunkirk, Allegany & Pitt.sburg Railroad, and 
George L., now employed in the Erie Railroad shops in this city. 

Klock, James N., was born in the town of Manheim, Herkimer county, N. Y., 
March 2, 1840. Peter A. Klock, his father, came to Steuben county in 1866, and set- 
tled at Coss' Corners. He married Catharine, daughter of Peter Woolever, and was 
identified through life as a farmer, and died in 1874, aged seventy-one years. James 
N. was educated in the common schools. He has made a study of the weather and 
its changes since 1859, and since 1890 he has been giving special attention to the 
science of Electro-Planetary-Metcorology. The basis of his theory is in the positiim 
of the inferior and superior planets relatively to the earth and its .satellite and the 
sun, of which there are over 260 different positions taken into consideration. At the 
present time he is able to make an accurate forecast of the coming changes of the 
weather. In 1860 he married Irena, daughter of John Strough, by whom he had 
four children: John P., N. Julian, Melvin L., and Mrs. Olive C. Conine. 

Koyle, Frank H., M.D., CM., L. R. C. P. & S., M. C. P. & S., was born in Athens, 
Ontario, Canada, April 6, 1864, a son of Hon. Turner Koyle, inspector of public 
works of Ontario. The grandfather Koyle was a physician and a judge, a soldier 
and an officer of the Continental army in the war of 1812. The maternal ancestry 
is Scotch, the name being Purvis. The great-grandfather was aid-de-camp to Sir 
Isaac Brook, commander of the king's forces in Canada. On his death the grand- 
father of our subject was adopted by Lord Simcoc, governor-general of Canada, and 
lived with him until he was of age, and until Simcoc left for England. At this time 
hs owned abont one-half of what is now the city of Toronto. He died in 1891. The 
father of our subject died January 29, 1895, Frank H. was educated in Athens, 
Cobourg Collegiate Institute, Brockville Collegiate Institute, then spent two years iii 
the art cour.se in Queen's University, Canada, where he took up the study of medi- 
cine in 1884, graduating w-ith honors in 1888. He began practice in Lowell, where 



1 



FAMILY SKCTCHES. 49 

he was engaged in active work fi)f five years, then spent three years in New York 
city, practicing in three of the leading eye and ear hospitals, and taking private in- 
struction with Prof. Herman Knapp, and with Prof. E. B. Dench, also with Profess- 
ors ^tyles and iJelevan, on the nose and throat. January 1, 1895, he located at llor- 
ncllsville. Dr. Koyle is a Mason and a K. of P. 

Kelly, Dr. John G., was born in Bergen, Genesee county. N.Y., February 13, ISoT, 
the third son of a family of seven children of James Kelly, a farmer and slock 
breeder of Genesee county. He was educated in the common school, Bergen High 
School, and Brockport State Normal School, where he taught school two terms in 
the academic department. He took up the study of medicine in the tall of 1881, en- 
tering the medical department of the university from the Normal School, and grad- 
uating from that institution February 27, 1884. He was interne in the Sisters' Hos- 
pital of Buffalo the last two years of his school attendance, and in April, 1884, came 
to Hornellsville, where he has ever since been engaged in regular practice of his pro- 
fession, and has won the highest esteem and respect of his numerous friends and 
acquaintances. In 1888 he became identified with the drug firm of George T. Reed 
& Co., now composed of G. T. Reed, Franklin D. Sherwood, and Dr. J. G. Kelly. 
He is a member of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Association, and the New 
York State Railway Surgeons' Association. He is the chancellor of Branch ;i;i, 
C.M.B.A., and ex-president of the A.O. H., and was a delegate to the State conven- 
tion in 1894. June 1, 1887, he married Theresa Henneberg, of Port Jervis, N. Y.. by 
whom he has five children. In politics the doctor is a Democrat, and represented the 
Third ward in the Board of Aldermen, in 1891-93; was health officer in 1886-87. He 
is chairman of the Democratic City Committee at the present time. He has been 
president of the St. James Mercy Hospital staff of physicians since its organization ; 
also he is one of the trustees of the hosjiital. 

Kennedy, John S., was born at Corning, N.Y., in 1868, son of Thomas Kennedy, 
who has charge of the Fall Brook freight house as foreman. He was educated at 
Corning Free Academy, graduating in 188.1. Mr. Kennedy began work in the Fall 
Brook offices in 1885, and since 1881 has been claim clerk in the auditing department, 
and was city clerk of the city of Corning in 1893-93. In 1894 he was elected super- 
visor as a Republican in a strong Democratic district. He has been city member of 
the Republican County Committee for the past two years, and in 1893 was a candi- 
date for the Assembly nomination in the Second Steuben District. He has for six 
years been the Corning correspondent of the Elmira Daily Advertiser, having charge 
of the Ci^sta! City news department. 

Lewis, Truman W. , was born in LHysses, Tompkins county, N. Y., December 3, 
1819, and is the fifth of thirteen children born to Abram and Hannah (Frink) Lewis, 
both natives of Stonington, Conn., who came to Cortland county, N.Y.. about 1812, 
being pioneers of the town of Salem. In 1833 they came to Troupsburg, where he 
died in 1857, and she in 1881. He was a hatter by trade, but followed farming most 
of his life, and was a soldier in the war of 1813. His grandfather, Nchemiah Lewis, 
was a native of Connecticut, and settled in Petersboro, w^here he died. In old age 
he drew a pension for sen'ices rendered in the war of the Revolution. The Frink 
family were also natives of Connecticut, and settled in Cortland county, where they 

X 



50 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

followed farming. Truman W. Lewis was reared on the farm, and has also followed 
farming* ~Itrf832)ie came to Troupsburg, where he slill resides. In 1890 he sold 
the farm to his son Silas and retired, but still lives on the farm. In 1844 he married 
Sarah, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Pease) Sluyter, early settlers of the neigh- 
borhood called Sluyterville. Mr. Sluyter was one of the leading men of the place, 
and was supervisor and justice of the peace for many years. He built a foundry and 
carding mill and was an active business man. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been 
born these children : Francis, born September 25, 1858, and died June 6, 1859; Mabel, 
born December 26, 1862, and died Februar>- 22, 1875; Helen M., born October 29, 
1846, wife of William Rutherford, a farmer of Potter county. Pa.: Emma, born 
March 1, 1848, wife of Horton Wood, a farmer of Brookfield, Pa. ; John, born March 

10, 1850, a farmer of West Union ; Charles, born March 13, 1853, a farmer of West 
Union ; Silas, bom October 3, 1860, and Alonzo, born December 6, 1862, farmers of 
Troupsburg. Mrs. Lewis died in 1893. Mr. Lewis has been assessor six years, and 
in 1863 he enlisted in Co. A, 184th N. Y. Yols., and was honorably discharged June 
30, 1865. He was at Fisher's Hill, Cross Keys, Cedar Creek, and at the siege in 
front of Petersburg. 

Leavitt, Major S. H., was bom in Jersey Shore, Lycoming county. Pa.. F-ebruary 

11, 1840. Henry C. Leavitt, his father, has been identified with the city of Elmira, 
and married Catharine, daughter of Russell Thompson, one of the leading families, 
when that city was known as Newtown. He died there in 1878 S. H. Leavitt re- 
ceived a common school education at the old academy in Elmira; at the breaking out 
of the rebellion he enlisted as a private, November 23, 1861, in the 86th N. Y. Inf., 
Steuben Rangers, and was at once made quartermaster-sergeant, and after the 
second battle of Bull Run, exchanged positions for that of orderly sergeant of Co. C, 
at the request of Capt. J. H. Lansing, afterwards brigadier-general. At the battle 
of Chancellorsville. Va.. May 1, 2, and 3, 1863, for gallantry, was promoted to second 
lieutenant. He was engaged in the following battles: Fredericksburg, Ya., Decem- 
ber 14, 1862; Chancellorsville, May 1, 2, and 3, 1803; Beverly Ford", June 9, 1863; 
Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863; Wapping Heights, July 23, 1863. In August, 
1863. was put on detached service and sent to Elmira, where he remained for several 
months, taking charge of small detachments of recruits to the different departments 
in the field. He returned to his regiment in February, 1864, and took part in the 
Wilderness campaign, and participated in the following battles; Wilderness, May 5 
and 6, 1864; Po River, May 10, 1864; Spottsylvania, May 12-18, 1864; Anderson 
Farm, May 19, 1864; North Anna River, May 33 and 34, 1864; Tolopotomy Creek, 
June 4 and 5, 1864; Cold Harbor, June 6-12, 1864; Petersburg, Ya., June 16, 1864; 
continually engaged during the siege and charge on works at Petersburg, June 19, 
1864; Jones House, Ya.. June 22, 1864; Deep Bottom, July 27 and August 8, 1864; 
Hatcher's Run, October 27, 1864, and March 25, 1865; Five Forks, April 1, 1865; 
Amelia Springs, April 6, 1865; Near Farinville, April 7, 1865, and at Gen. R. L. Lee's 
surrender at Appomattox, C. H.,Ya., April 9, 1865. Was promoted to first lieutenant 
July 19, 1864; captain, September 27, 1864; major, February 1, 1865. Was A.D.C. 
on the staff of General De Trobriand, and carried the order of General Lee's sur- 
render to regimental commanders in the brigade. In 1868 he married Miss Jennette 
Ramsdell, daughter of George F. Ramsdell, of Livonia, Livingston county, N. Y. 



FAMILY SKETClIlilS. 5l 

He was appointed adjutant of the N. Y. S. S. and S. Home in August, 1887, which 
position he now holds. 

Lyon, Reuben R., was born in Bath. March 2, 1857. James Lyon, his father, was 
also born in Bath. His grandfather. Moses H. Lyon, was a native of Lyons Farms. 
New Jersey, and came to the town of Bath in 1811. He was a manufacturer of har- 
ness, etc.. and engaged in dealing in real estate. The family settled in Prattsburg 
in 1790. and were of English descent. Moses H. married Sarah, daughter of David 
Benton. James Lyon married Harriet, daughter of Reuben Robie, and has been 
identified as a farmer and dealer in real estate. Reuben R. was educated at Haver- 
ling Union School, and graduated from Hamilton College in 1879, and also from the 
Law School in 1880, and then entered the law office of Elihu Root and Willard Bart- 
lett. In 1882 he came to Bath and began his present practice, in 1886 was appointed 
loan commissioner of Steuben county and re-appointed in 1890. In 1885 he married 
Emma L.. daughter of Hon. William Kemp of Troy. N. Y., by whom he had two 
children, William K. and Harriet. 

Loomis, Frederick H.. was born in the town of New Hudson, Allegany county, 
N. Y., February 1, 1843. Reuben H. Loomis, his father, was a native of Tompkins 
county, and moved to the western part of the State over sixty-five years ago. locat- 
ing m New Hudson, where he spent the greater portion of his life. He died Sep- 
tember 16. 1864. at fifty-four years of age. He was town clerk for New Hudson for 
twenty-four years. He was prominently identified with the Presbyterian church. 
His mother. Lydia M. Littlejohn, was a native of Herkimer county; she died Au- 
gust 22. 1880; they had five children, three now living. Fred was educated in the 
common schools and at Rushford Academy, and his first employment was as a clerk 
in a dry goods store in Cuba at the age of eighteen. He, four years later, engaged 
in the hardware store of H. A. Mead, where he spent six years. In 1874 he removed 
to Hornellsville. being offered a position in a grocery house there, but the house not 
being able to pay the wages he could demand, he opened a grocery at the corner of 
Elm and Broad streets. Three years later he removed to No. 20 Canisteo street, 
where he was engaged until October, 1892, when his health failed him and he was 
obliged to retire, and sold his business to O. W. Dunham. Mr. Loomis is a member 
of the Knights of the Maccabees. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a 
trustee (or over four years. He was married February 22, 1867. to Miss Susie A. 
Neff. the daughter of the late Joseph E. Neff, the well known landlord of the St. 
James Hotel of Cuba, who died May 8, 1H92. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis have two 
children. 

Lyon. I. Edward, was born in York, Livmgston county, N. Y.. Decembers. 1859. 
Ira G. Lyon, his father, was also born in Livingston county. He was a farmer, and 
married Henrietta P., daughter of William Powers, by whom he had four children: 
C. P. Lyon, manager of machine works in Rochester; W. P. Lyon, salesman; How- 
erd, who is a professor in the Oneonta State Normal School; and I. Edward Lyon, 
who was a teacher for a number of years, and for four years principal of the public 
school at Canisteo, and for seven years traveled as a salesman, handling a line of 
school text books. He was educated at the Geneseo State Normal School, from 
which he graduated in 1881. He married Lyra Langley. July 15. 1885, who died in 



52 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

April, 1892, and for his second wife he married Annie W. Campbell, of Cohoes, 
N. V. Mr. Lyon is now a dealer in coal, wood, hay, etc. He is also a member of 
the board of village trustees, and also Board of Education. He is a member of 
Morning Star Lodge, No. 65, also of Mountain Lodge of the L O. O. F. No. 503. 

Lane, Dr. George W. . was born in Schuyler county, in 1858, and graduated from 
Buffalo University in 1886, and since 1888 has practiced medicine at Corning. When 
locating here he also established himself in the drug trade, but sold this interest in 
189.5. He is a member of the Steuben county Medical Society and Corning Academy 
of Medicine. He has several times been on the Board of Education, and was elected 
alderman in 1894. 

Mead, Charles H., was born in Cauisteo, December 28, 1867, son of William H., 
who was born in Dutchess county. William H. Mead was a farmer and came to Can- 
isteo and bought what is known as the Allison Flats. He married Dorlesca Whit- 
wood, of Truxton, Cortland county. She now lives with Charles H. Charles H. 
Mead has conducted one of the leading groceries in the village for five years, carry- 
ing a full line of goods. He was educated at the Canisteo Academy and graduated 
from Warner's Business College in 1890. Mr. Mead is a member of Morning Star 
Lodge of Masons, No. 65. 

Mason„ Phineas P., was born on the farm where he now lives, November 5. 1854. 
son of Enoch L. and Mary A. (Richmond) Mason. Enoch was one of four children 
born to Elias and Abigail Mason. Elias Mason was a ju.stice of the peace and the 
first supervisor of the town of Cameron, which office he held for a number of years. 
Squire Mason settled here in the year 1813, and was a very active worker in the M. 
E. Church. Enoch had two children ; Orlim J., deceased, and Phineas P. Orlim J. 
married Margaret McChesney by whom he had three children : Edward P., Mary R. 
wife of Clayton McAdam, and Grace. He was also justice of the peace. He was a 
member of the town and county Grange and was master of the lodge for a number of 
years. Phineas P. married Mary E., a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Johnson) Roosa, 
natives of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Ma.son have one child, Leila B., wife of Thomas 
R. Campbell. Mr. Mason is assessor of the town at the present time. He is a 
member of the town and county Grange and has been its secretary for a number of 
years, and was one of the directors of the Patrons Fire Relief Association of Steuben 
and Livingston counties for three years. 

McCuUough, Ralph, was born in Norwich. Chenango county, N. Y., December 21, 
1824, and is the fifth of ten children born to Alexander and Abigail (Skinner) Mc- 
CuUough, natives of Norwich. James McCuUough was one of the first settlers in 
Norwich, where he took up 200 acres of land and purchased 100 more. He was 
justice of the peace in the town of Preston for many years, and was four years in 
the Revolutionary war, and was the oldest son of James McCuUough. Alexander 
McCuUough came to Addison, Steuben county, about 1830, where he purchased land 
and engaged in lumbering, and in 1832 was drowned in the mill pond while floating 
logs. Mrs. McCuUough died at Preston in 1846. Ralph McCuUough was reared on 
the farm, but when twenty-one years of age he went on the Susquehanna Riveras 
pilot in the lumber business, where he remained fourteen years. In 1859 he came to 
Troupsburg where he and his sisters have since resided. He has made a specialty 



PAMILY SKETCHES. 53 

iif dairy farming, bill now gives his attention to liay. He was formerly a niemher 
of I,<.dge No. 118, R & A. M. at Addison. 

Parkhill, Dr. Clair S., was born in Howard, Steuben county, N. Y., November ir>, 
1S42, t-tie jtjungest son of David Parkhill. His boyhood was spent on the homestead 
farm and in attendance on the district school. At the age of fourteen he entered 
Haverliug Union School at Hath. Kroni there he returned to the farm and remained 
there until eighteen years of age. In the fall of 1862 he entered Michigan Univer- 
sity where he studied for two years, and then returned to his native town anil 
entered Albany Medical College, from which he graduated December 24, 1860. He 
began the practice of the profession with his brother, Reuben F., in the town of 
Howard and continued with him for seven years. September, 18TJi, he came to Hor- 
nellsville and took up the practice of the profession in the city where we now find 
him one of the leading physicians of this county. The doctor is a member of the 
Steuben County Medical Society, the New York State Medical Society, is a member 
and has been president of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical A.ssociation, is a 
member of the New York State Medical Association, the American Medical Associa- 
tion, the Erie System Association of Railway Surgeons, is present vice-president of 
the New York State Railway Surgeons' Association, member of surgical section of 
Meduo-Legal Society of New York city, and is also the company's surgeon at Hor- 
nellsville for the N. Y. L. E. & W. Railway. He is president of the medical and 
surgical staff of the St. James Mercy Hospital, and is advisory member of the board 
of trustees. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Evening Star Lodge, No. 
44, and one of the supporters of the R. R. Y. M. C. A., and a member.of the Presby- 
terian church. In 1884 he served as president of the village, and in 1884 was a mem- 
ber of the Board of Education and served four years, the last its president. March 
20. 1867, he married Marjory P., daughter of William Rice of Howard, who was 
drowned at Smiths Pond in January, 1866, by whom he had four children; Louise, 
the wife of Blake B. Babcock ; Carrie, who died at three years of age; Walter, who 
died at seventeen years of age ; and one who died in infancy. 

McMichael, Ira, was born on a farm in the west part of the town of Hornellsville, 
May 30, 1854. Philip McMichael, the father of Ira, was also born in this town 
April 16, 1826. James McMichael, a native of Pennsylvania, came to this section 
of the country about 1820, thus orignating the name Pennsylvania Hill; and the 
family have ever since been residents of this section. James married Betsey Kline. 
Philip was the second of three sons, and besides were four daughters. Philip mar- 
ried Mary Hyde, a native of this town, daughter of Ira and Sally Cleaveland Hyde. 
J>he died August 16, 18!)2. Ira was the oldest of six children — two sons and four 
daughters, two sons and three daughters of whom are still living. Ira was educated 
in the common schools and Alfred University. He taught school winter terms, 
farming in the summer for five years. November 1, 1881, he bought the Burris 
King-Kriddler farm of sixty-eight acres, which he has increased by purchase of 
twenty acres of the Thomas Bennett farm. He has cleared eight acres of land and 
built new out buildings and made many valuable improvements to the property. 
He was married March 15, 1877, to Miss Marcia Batchelder, daughter of Lowell and 
Julia (Peak1 Batchelder of Jasper. They have been the parents of three children' 



64 Landmarks of steuben county. 

The first one died in infancy; Ethel Belle is now in her seventeenth year; Edwin 
Lee will be ten June 28, 1895. Mr. McMichael is the agent of this section for farm- 
ing implements and wagons. 

Mead, W. F., was born in Greenwood, November 1, 1844, son of Alvin Mead, a 
native of Connecticut, who married Sarah Ann Kruzen of New Jersey, (born January 
1, 1806), by whom he had seven children. Enos Mead (born June 5, 176i. died Sep- 
tember .'), 1818), father of Alvin, came from Connecticut to Newfield, thence to Green- 
wood in 1828, being one of the first settlers. His wife was Prudence Anderson, born 
January 13, 1763, and died June 9, 1847. Richard and Jennie Kruzen also came from 
New Jersey to Newfield, thence to Greenwood in pioneer times. Enos Mead and 
Richard Kruzen were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Alvin Mead (born January 
5, 1803, died December 25, 1881) settled on the farm now owned by W. F. Mead, 
where his wife died on May 16, 1880. He was a Democrat in politics, and was 
postmaster at West Greenwood twelve or sixteen years, and justice of the peace for 
many years. W. F. Mead was reared on the farm and has always followed farming. 
He has a farm of 1.50 acres. In 1875 he married Julia, daughter of Albert and Lufany 
(Richie) Pease, by whom he had three children: Frank G., Bertha L.. and Ray E. 

Miller. Dr. L. D., principal of Haverling Free Academy at Bath for the past twen- 
ty-three years, was bom in Augusta, Oneida county. May 15, 1847. Curtis Miller, 
his father, was also of Oneida county, and their family trace their descent from Ben- 
jamin Miller, who came from England and setted in Middletown, Conn., in 1635. 
On his mother's side Mr. Miller is descended from Samuel Duncan, wounded in the 
battle of Bunker Hill, and Peter Stanhope, both of Massachusetts. He spent his 
boyhood in hard work upcjn the farm, attended the common school, for the most part 
in the winters only, prepared for college in Whitestown Seminary, and was graduated 
from Hamilton College in 1862. He then began his life work of teaching, which ex- 
tends over a period of more than a third of a century. As prmcipal of Medina Acad- 
emy, Little Falls Academy, Delaware Academy, Forestville Free Academy and 
Haverling Free Academy, he has shown himself an earnest, faithful and able worker, 
and he is recognized as one of the most successful teachers in the State. Besides his 
school work, during the years 1878-80, he read law in the oflfice of the late Judg^ 
Rumsey and was admitted to the bar in 1881. He received the degree of Ph. D. from 
Hamilton College in 1886. In 1863 Mr. Miller was married to Elizabeth M. Markham, 
daughter of James Spencer Markham, of Ashtabula, Ohio, and Marietta Yale, of 
Vernon, N. Y. On her mother's side, Mrs. Miller is descended from Elihu Yale, 
governor of Connecticut and the founder of Yale College. Mr. Miller has four chil- 
dren: William W., A. B., principal of the Monticello Union School and Academy; 
Edwin Stanton, farmer, Oneida county, N. Y. ; Friend H., A. B., principal of Horse- 
heads Union School and Academy; and June E.. at home. In addition to his pro- 
fessional work Mr. Miller has a great love of agriculture, and his farm of nearly two 
hundred acres in Kirkland, Oneida county, is the retreat in which he finds health and 
strength to enable him to do his professional work. 

McCormick Bros. — The leading firm of general merchants in Kanona is composed 
•f M. H. and J. D. McCormick, natives of Bradford county. Pa. Their father, James, 
was a native of Ireland and came to the United States in 1834, settling in Tompkins 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 55 

county. He has since lived in Bradford county, Pa., and Steuben county, N. Y., 
where he has been identified as a merchant and farmer. James McCormick married 
Anna, daughter of Matthew Hill, and now resides m Bradford county. Pa. In 1HS2 
M. H. McCormick was appomted to a position in the Hornellsville post-ofUce. In 
1885 he established a drug and grocery business in Kanona, in partnership with Ur. 
F. H. Lawrence, who retired in 1888, when J. 1). McCormick came intothe firm. In 
1887 a general line of dry goods, crockery, boots and shoes, hats, caps, etc., were 
added to the stock. McCormick Brothers are among the enterprising and energetic 
men of the town, taking an active interest in educational affairs. 

Mosher, Fred R., was born in Dansville, Livingston county, N. Y., April 2, 18()(). 
He was educated in the common schools and at si.vteen years of age entered the em- 
ploy of the Erie as telegraph operator, working extra Buftalo Division, and was the 
operator at Castile until 188:i, when he came to Hornellsville and was first in the tel- 
egraph office and then in the train dispatcher's office. April 20, 1887, was made 
assistant train dispatcher, and was regular dispatcher September 19, 1887, holding 
the office until February 12, 1893, when he was promoted to the position of chief dis- 
patcher, holding that position until January 1. 1894, when he was made train master 
at the death of Henry Frank. Mr. Mosher was married, June 28, 1890, to Miss 
Matie Averj-, daughter of Mrs. Julia Avery of Erie Avenue. 

Marsh, S. P., was born in the town of Lee, Oneida county, June 14. 1880. He was 
a son of Joseph Marsh, a blacksmith, who carae to Woodhull from Oneida county in 
1833 when the country was new and wild beasts roamed the forests. These were 
very hard times, and had it not been for the Pultney estate, which furnished flour to 
the settlers, they would have suffered for lack of food. This fiour was distributed 
among the people according to the size of the family, and the Pultney estate waited 
for their pay until crops could be raised. People in those days workedfor fifty cents 
a day. On account of the wolves, pens had to be built near the house to keep the 
sheep in at night so that they might be safe. Joseph Marsh afterwards moved to 
Jasper, where he continued to work at his trade and farming until he died, April 1, 
1872, at the age of sixty-seven years. S. P. Marsh was the eldest of eight children, 
and had always been a farmer up to the time of the late war, when he enlisted, Sep- 
tember 26, 1864, in the 161st N. Y. Vols., and was discharged from the service Sep- 
tember 20, 1865. He is a member of G. A. R., Post No. 194. In 18.59 he married 
Anstis E. Boardman, by whom he has two children : L. Gertrude, stenographer and 
typewriter for Judge Robinson, and Villa F., now in Boston studying music. Mr. 
Marsh has lived in Canisteo for thirty-five years, and has been chief of police in the 
village two years, and deputy sheriff under four administrations. 

Murdock, James B., was born in Delaware county, N. V., January 2, 1814, son of 
Edward and Elizabeth (Palmer) Murdock. After the death of Mrs. Murdock, Edward 
removed from Delaware county to Tioga county. Pa., where he died. Edward Mur- 
dock was a farmer and a Baptist minister. James B. was brought up on a farm, and 
though his schooling was limited he acquired a good education by home reading. 
He was engaged in teaching for nearly ten years and was also interested in a saw 
and grist mill for a time. He came to Troupsburg in 1843, where he purchased 500 
acres of land, and in 1847 engaged in the mercantile business and is still continuing 



56 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN CODNTY. 

in the same. April 23. 1837. Mr. Murdock married Sarah Wambough, by whom he 
had nine children: Jane E., William, Edward, Elizabeth, Henry, Martha, AdeKne, 
Mary and Emma. Mr. Murdock has been supervisor of the town live years, postr 
master almost continually since ISoO, and has held other minor offices in the town. 
He represented his district in the Assembly in 1872. 

McKay, James S., was born in Ireland, in 1817, and came to the L'nited States in 
1836. He settled in Bath and learned the trade of a miller, which business he fol- 
lowed up to 1891, when he was compelled to abandon it on account of failing health. 
He has been superintendent of the poor for fifteen years and held other prominent 
positions. He married Hester Hamblin of Bath, by whom he had four children. In 
politics he is a Democrat. 

Mark, Alfred, was born in the town of Pomfrct, Chautauqua county, September Hi, 
1831. Aaron Mark, the father of Alfred, was a native of Massachusetts, and came 
to this State when a young man. He was a resident of Rochester when it was only 
a small village. He afterward moved to Chautauqua county where he took up farming 
and spent the remainder of his life. Alfred was the second son of a family of seven 
children. He was given a good common school education and remained on the farm 
with his parents until reaching his majority. November 8, 1852, he entered the cm- 
ploy of the Erie R. R., for the first four months as brakeman, and from that time as 
fireman with H. G. Brooks and R. R. Hamlet, occupying that position for two years 
and four months. August, 1854, he was given control of his first engine which was 
No. 77 of the old Swinburne class, hauling the way freight. He run this train until 
the fall of 185t> and then, October 4, he left the Erie R. R. to take an engine on the 
Ohio & Miss. R. R., where he remained until 18()1, when the war broke out, and then 
came back to Dunkirk. He was then given charge of engine 51, the first coal burner 
ever on the Western Division, and the first of that class to enter the city of Hornells- 
ville. He ran that for three years, and then took Xo. 120 on ])assenger service. He 
was also for years the engineer of No. 63, the engine that holds the record of the 
greatest number of miles in the United States. Mr. Mark returned to Hornellsville 
in 1879 and has since madethis his home. November 15, 1860, he was married to Miss 
Carrie Snider of Cincinnati. Ohio. They have two daughters, Emma M. Mark of 
Rochester, and Lutie B. , wife of David E. Fleming. 

McNamara, William F., was born in Corning in 1860, and graduated from the 
Coming Free Academy in 1875, and from the Albany Law School in 1884^ having 
won the first honors of his class in both institutions. He was admitted to the bar in 
the latter year, and has since been engaged in the active practice of his profession as 
an attorney and counselor-at-law. He was clerk of the old village of Corning in 1880. 
and corporation counsel in 188,5-86. He was a candidate for member of assembly on 
the Democratic ticket in 1885, and again in 1887, and spoke throughout the State in 
the presidential campaigns of 1884-88. 

Miller, Martin Rumsey, was born in Bath, April 24, 1848. Rev. L. M. Miller, D.D., 
his father, was a native of Rochester, and was Presbyterian minister for forty years 
in Ogdensburg, and fifty years in the ministry. He married Lydia, daughter of 
David Rumsey. M. R. Miller was educated at Ogdensburg, and graduated from 
Hamilton College in 1868, and from Albany Law School in 1869, when he came to 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 57 

Bath and entered the employ '<( I'. •S: W. Runisey afterwards the firm of Rumsey & 
Miller. In 188G he formed the partnership of Miller i: Xicliols, which still continues. 
He was elected surrojjate in 1888, re-elected in 18',)4. In 1870 he married M. Louise, 
daughter of Henry H. Cook, of New York. They have four children, Henry C, 
Lena L., Louise and Janet. 

Minicr, Thornton F.. was born in Bradford county, Fa., December 6, 1824, son of 
Ge( rjie and Susan Minier. George Minier was in the Wyoming massacre. His 
grandfather, Daniel Minier, was an officer in Sullivan's army, and was in the battle 
of Newtown August, 1779. Thornton F. is a trusted employee of the Erie R. R. 
Co., and has been in continuous service since 1852, and has been agent at Painted 
Post since 1870. In early life he was in the mercantile busine-^s in Elmira, and later 
a clerk in a wholesale house in New York city. He is a cousin of T. L. Minier, who 
was general paymaster of the Erie Co. in 18r)0 and 18.52, and who represented the 
district in the State Senate in 1870 and 1871. Thornton F. married May, daughter 
of Deacon John Watts, by whom he has one child, Mary Ida. Mr. Minier is a trustee 
of the school, and takes great interest in education. He delivered the historical 
oratiim at the dedication of the Indian Memorial Monument at Painted Post, June 
21, 1894. He is a Mason. 

Coss, D. M., was born in New Jersey, and came to Steuben county about 1820 with 
his father, William Coss, and settled at Coss Corners, four miles from Bath. D. M. 
Coss was engaged in lumbering, stock dealing and farming, at one time owning (iOO 
acres of land. He retired from business in 1868 and moved to the village of Bath. 
John W. Moore was born in Yates county, N. Y., March 23, 1835, a son of Samuel 
Moore, a grandson of James Moore, who was one of the pioneers of Bath, where he 
conducted a grist mill as early as 1820. In 1863 J. W. Moore came to Bath and was 
married to Eliza A. Coss, April it. They have three sons: Edward S.. Dan C. and 
Charles H. For the last twenty-five years he has lived on the old homestead, farm- 
ing and dealing in stock. For the past seven years he has been superintendent of 
the Steuben Agricultural Society. 

Moore. Edwin B., was born in Canisteo, April 2!, 1822, and was educated in the 
common schools. He is a farmer and lumberman, and has follf)wed the latter busi- 
ness over forty years. He married Helen L Bunker, daughter of Warren and Sarah 
Bunker, of Rensselaer county, N. Y., born January 7. 18.:i2. They have had three 
children: Joseph A., born April 7, 18.")S; James W. (decea.sed), born June 4, 1861; 
Edward B., jr., born October 3, 18(>.'). who lives at home with his parents. Mrs. 
Moore is member of the Christian church. 

Newman, Smith H., was born in the town of Lima, Livingston county, N.Y., July 
27, 1840. Isaac Riley Newman, the father of Smith was also a native of Livingston, 
and he was a son of Joel Newman, a farmer and one of the pioneers of Livingston 
county. Isaac Riley Newman kept a hotel in East Avon, Livingston county, for 
over thirty years and died in Hornellsville in 1885. Smith was the oldest of a family 
of three children. He was given a common school education, and being reared in a 
hotel, it was natural he should take that as an occupation. His first hotel business 
was the management of the Knickerbocker Hotel at Avon for one summer, and 
during the war conducted a restaurant at Avon Springs, and then became proprietor 
b 



58 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEX COUNTY. 

of the American Hotel in Lima for four years; then was landlord of the Wilson 
House at Batavia, and then spent three years with his father. In 1876 he opened 
the Xewman House m Avon and conducted it for four years, and in 1880 became pro- 
prietor of the Highland House at Dansville, which he conducted for four years, and 
in 1884 came to Homellsville. where he took the proprietorship of the Osborne 
House, and is now serving his eleventh year as landlord. He was married in 1861 
to Miss Frances E. Hall, of Avon, Livingston count)-. They have no children. 

Nixson, Joseph, was born in Chemung county, N.Y., June 17, 1838, son of James 
Nixson, a native of Sussex county, X. J., who married Susan Kimble. He died in 
1846. in his thirty-seventh year. Joseph was educated in Haverling Academy, after 
which he taught school for some time, and then returned to Chemung county He 
was elected super\'isor in February, 1865, and tilled the town quota of eighteen men 
on the last call for recruits, and was re-elected in 1866, serving two years. In 1871 
he came to Bath and purchased part of the D. M. Coss property, to which he after- 
ward added the Jonathan Towle farm. In 1860 Mr. Xixsou married Sarah Gunder- 
man, and they are the parents of two sons: James and William. He is one of the 
successful farmers of the town, and has served as assessor, and a member of the 
Board of Auditors. 

Noble, Martin W., was born in Bath. August 22, 1828. Lay Xoble, his father, was 
a native of Otsego county and came to Steuben county in 1828. and the family trace 
their descent from Thomas Noble, who came from England m 1632. Lay Noble 
married Lucinda Brooks, and his life was identified as a farmer and cabinetmaker, 
and he died in 1879, in his eightieth year. Martin W. Noble was educated in the 
common schools, and his life has been identified as a farmer and stock raiser, mak- 
ing a specialty of fine sheep. In 1854 he married Lucinda J., daughter of Peter 
Hunter, by whom he had three children: Albert. Clarence, and Mary. Mr. Noble is 
<jne of the representative men of his town, holding several positions of honor and 
trust, and taking an intelligent interest in educational and reli,s;ious institutions. 

North, Truman S., was born in Candor, Tioga county, X.V., April 13, 1839, the 
only son of James E. North, a blacksmith and farmer of that town, who is still 
living in his eighty-first year. Truman was educated in the common schools and 
made his home with his parents until he was of age. At the time of the breaking 
out of the war we find him clerking in a dry goods store. In July, 1862, he enlisted 
in the 109th Regiment, X. V. Vols., and was with the Army of the Potomac all 
through the war. Among the great battles, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold 
Harbor, and Petersburg are thoroughly impressed on his mind. He was also in 
many minor battles. At the close of the war he engaged in mercantile business in 
liis native town, and continued in that until 1869. That year he accepted a position 
on the platform of the United States Express Company at Owego, N. Y., where he 
spent three years, and then spent nine months with the Erie Railroad Company. 
Returning, he went with the Express Company at Penn Yan for twelve years, seven 
years as clerk and in 1880 was given the agency. In 1886 he was appointed the city 
agent for the United States Express Company at Homellsville. and has ever since 
occupied the position. Mr. North was married in IS77 to Miss Anna A. Weeks, of 
Owego, Tioga county. Thev have no children. 



li 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 5» 

Xieholsoii. William, was burn in Scotland in 18.")G, and from KJTl to 1873 was clerk 
for the Erie general passenger agent; for the next two years he was clerk in the au- 
ditor's ottice of the New York Central; then one year secretary to assistant general 
freight agent, and from 1876 to 1883 was voucher clerk in auditor's office of the same- 
road; from January. 18S3, to the present time he has been auditor of the Fall Brook 
system. For the jiast nine years he has been secretary of the New York Central 
Board of Auditors, and chairman of the Nickel Plate Line Auditing Committee and 
is also chairman of the .Standing Freight Committee of the Association of American 
Railway Accounting Officers. Was alderman of the city of Corning, 1891 and 1H92. 

Nichols, William H., war> born in Hammoudsport, July (i, 1852. George W. 
Nichols, bis father, was a native of Yates county, where the family were pioneer 
settlers. He married Clarissa, daughter of William Hastings, whose ancestors came 
to the United States from England in Iti'iO George W. Nichols was identified in the 
mercantile business at Hammoudsport, and died in 1884. in his fifty-ninth vear. 
Williatn H. was educated at Lima Seminary, and graduated from Rochester Uni- 
versity in 1874, and then entered the office of William Ramsey and M. R. Miller. In 
1879 he was admitted to the bar. and in 1880 formed the firm of Miller &: Nichols, 
which still continues. In 1885 he married Caroline, daughter of C. D. Champlin. 
and is one of the leading business men of his county, serving as supervisor for seven 
years, and chairman of the board for two years and a member of the Constitutional 
Convention in 1894. 

Northrop, W. H., was born in Oswego county, N. Y. ; came to Corning in 1887. 
and was appointed passenger agent for the Fall Brook Railway Company in 1888. 
He had previously been connected with the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad 
of Florida. In 1888 he married Miss Frances Brown, of Elbridge. ( )nondaga 
county, N.Y. 

Nowlen. George F., was born in Avon. N. Y., June "29, 1864. George H. Nowlen. 
his father, was also a native of Avon, where his grandfather, Capt. Asa Nowlen. 
settled in 1812; he was engaged in the merchant marine trade, and was one of the 
proprietors of the stage line from Albany to Buffalo, before the building of the rail- 
road, (ieorge H. Nowlen married Helen, daughter of J. W. Fowler, and through 
life has been identified as proprietor of the Avon ; ulphur Springs. George F. was 
educated at Avon and Rochester, and in 18S9 came to Bath and formed a partnership 
with T. W. Gould, plumber, steam heating and electrical supplies. Mr. Nowlen is 
one of the representative business men of his town, identified in advancing its best 
interests and in the leading events of the day, and having learned his business of 
Samuel Sloane, of Rochester, has made it his life's study to the exclusion of all other 
interests. 

Olmsted, Samuel, was born in C(jlumbia county, N. Y.. December 15, 1829, the 
youngest of six children born to Samuel and Lydia(Wellman) Olmsted, both natives 
of Sidney, Delaware county, N.Y., born in 1789 and 1796 respectively. The parents 
of Samuel, sr., were Samuel and Lorena (Bunce) Olmsted, he a native of East Had- 
dam. Conn., and she of Columbia county, N.Y. The great-grandfather of Samuel 
(our subject), Samuel Olmsted, came to East Haddam. Conn., in 1767, afterward 
settling in Columbia county. NY., and received a deed of land from King George of 



60 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEX COUNTY. 

England. He was in the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars. The father 
of our subject was reared on a farm at Canaan, where he was engaged in farn:ing 
until 1S5T, when he came to Troupsburg, where he died in July, 1872. Mrs. Olmsted 
died in 1846. Samuel, jr.. was reared on the farm and was for six years engaged in 
railroading, since which time he has followed farming. His farm consists of 200 
acres and he makes a specialty of dairying. In 1859 he married Abigail D., 
daughter of Henrj' and Louisa (Bartow) Bates, both natives of Greene, Chenango 
county, born in ISOli and 1810 respectively. Mr. Bates is one of the pioneer settlers 
of Troupsburg, having settled here in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Olmsted have had five 
children; Lydia L., born October 21, 1859, and died July 3, 1863; Nettie, born Sep- 
tember 10, 1863, wife of G. H. Symonds, a farmer of Troupsburg: Emily, born 
March 27, 1865, wife of Millard M. Paul, a carpenter of Woodhull; iLoreno M., born 
January 22, 1874, and died April 19, 1880; and Phoebe D., born November 20, 1877. 
Mr. Olmsted has been assessor, and postmaster of East Troupsburg for twentv one 
years. 

Powell, Edmund K., was born iu the town of Chemung, Tioga county. Septem- 
ber 9, 1821, son of Frost Powell, who was born in Dutchess county. The parents 
moved from Tioga county to Hartsville in 1723, and settled near where Edniand now 
lives, on what is known as the Daniel Tucker farm, clearing a space of about 100 
acres. Frost Powell married Rebecca Gleason, by whom he had si,\ children; Caro- 
line, Asa, William, Edmund, Charlotte, and Lucy. At the present time only three 
of the above are living. Edmund K. was educated in the schools at Hartsville, is a 
farmer by occupation and is the owner of 100 acres of land. He was married, first, 
to Mary Baird, by whom he had one son, George R. Powell, a druggist by profes- 
sion. The second time he married Francis Baird, and they had one daughter, now 
in Canisteo. His thinl wife was Sarah E M )ore, and two children were born to 
them: James, and Angelinc L. The latter graduated from the Academy at Canis- 
teo, and has been engaged in teaching. Mr. and Mis. Powell are members of the 
M. E. Church. 

Paul. John, was born in Irwin, Steuben county, N. Y., June 8, 1829, and is the 
ninth of ten children born to Ira and Mary (Pierce) Paul, both of Massachu.setts, 
who came to Prattsburg in 1805, thence to Painted Post, and in 1833 settled in Jas- 
per, whence they removed to Erwin iu 1842, where he died in 18H, and she in 1850. 
The maternal grandfather, Abner Pierce, of ilassachusetts, settled at Prattsburg 
where he died. He wa^j a blacksmith by trade. John Paul was reared on the farm 
after which he engaged in the lumber business for seven years, but his main occupa- 
tion has been dairy farming. In 18.50 he married Almeda Johnson of 0.\ford, by 
whom lie had eleven children; Sarah S., born February 20, 1851, wife of James C. 
Ford, a machinist of Knoxville. Pa. ; Matilda, born January 16. 1853, wife of H. J. 
Miller of Troupsburg; Frances R. born February 19, 1854, wife of R. E. Pruksman of 
Woodhull: Millard W., born April 21, 1858, a carpenter and joiner; John P., born 
April 23, 1861; Charles A., born February 16. 1864, a carpenter of Woodhull; Ida 
J., born April 17. 1866. died December 22. 1894. and was the wife of G. W. Tisk ; 
Fred E.. born June 26. 18()9. a teacher and scaler of logs in a saw mill in Potter 
county. Pa. ; George P., born May 5. 1S73. and died aged one year and ten months; 
.Arthur H.. burn Mav IS, 1S75. a teacher who was educated at Woodhull and State 



li 



f FAMILY SKETCHES. 61 

Normal School. Mrs. Paul died August 8, 1894, and he married the second time in 
April. 189."i. Miss Rosine A. Gridley, of Guilford, Chenango county. 

Ordway, Enoch, came here from New Hampshire. His wife was Hannah Whiting, 
by whom he had three children: Luther. Charles and Enoch. He was a farmer in 
the town of Jasper and was a member of the Presbyterian church there, devoting a 
great deal of his time to church work. Enoch, jr., married Hester A., a daughter of 
William and Sallie (Travis) Clark, by whom he had three children: Brunette, wife of 
Leslie U. Whiting; Minerva, wife of Edson H. Prentice, and, second, Byron H. 
Backus; and May, wife of James B. Scutt. Mr. Ordway is engaged in farming. He 
is an attendant of the M. E. Church and is a member of the Grange and an e.\-gate- 
keeper and ex-chaplain. 

Peck. James Milton, was born in the town of Howard, Steuben county, N. V., 
March 14, 183;$, son of William R. Peck, a native of Massachusetts, who came to New 
Vork when he was sixteen years of age. His father, James Peck, took up a farm of 
eightv acres in the town of Howard, where he lived most of his life. He died in 
184.i. William R. bought a farm of lifty acres near the homestead and later fifty 
acres more. He died in the town of Avoca, Match 10, 1895, at eighty-five years of 
age. The mother of James Milton, Joanna Head, was a native of Rhode Island. 
She died August 14, 1885, leaving three children. An interesting story is told of 
Mr. Peck as to how he went to New Berlin, 3(10 miles east, and collected S300 for his 
uncle and got his dog, making a successful journey on foot at an expense of thirty- 
six cents. lames, the eldest son, was educated in the common schools and followed 
farming fur nine years. November 2, 1866, he entered the employ of the Erie Rail- 
road Company as first watchman, then in the shop six years, and four years as fire- 
man. November 4. 1876, he suffered an accident in the yard at Hornellsville, by 
which he lost his left arm, and then was made foreman of the transportation gang, 
remaining in their employ until Christmas, 1891. Since that time he has been on 
the farm of 100 acres, purchased in 1872, on lot 5 in the town of Hornellsville, where 
he now resides. In 1880 Mr. Peck commenced raising Jersey stock and butter 
making, and has made exhibitions at State and county fairs for ten j'ears and always 
was awarded a premium, and has been considered the best butter maker of this 
section. He has been trustee of schools and road overseer. He has been a member 
of the Masonic fraternity for twenty years. In 1855 he married Mary A. McClary, 
daughter of Jame.s McClary, and they have four children: James R., of Rochester; 
Laderna, a boiler maker of Hornellsville; Sarah, wife of R. Hcm])bell, a farmer of 
Hornellsville; and Marcus, a fireman on the Erie 

Phillips. W. H., D.D.S., was born in Union Hall, Franklin county, \'a. 11 R. 
Phillijis. his father, came to Bath in 188(>, and engaged in the profession of dentistry. 
He married F^amelia A. Redncr, and now resides in Penn Yan. W. II. Phillips was 
educated at Howard Academy and Haverling Kree School at Bath, and graduated 
from Baltimore Uental College in 1888, and then established his pre.sent practice in 
Bath. In 1886 he married Lizzie, daughter of Dr. James Black, by whom he had 
three children: William H., Edgar W., and Leon R. William H. is one of the 
leading members of his profe.ssion, serving as trustee of the village, and taking an 
intelligent interest in educational and religious institutions, and identified in ad- 
vancing the best interests of his town and townspeople. 



G2 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Parker. J. Elliott, is descended from an old Massachusetts family and a son of 
John A. Parker, a farmer, who came from Chenango county to Jasper, Steuben 
county, in 18-10, where he remained eight years. He then went to Woodhull, where 
he purchased a country hotel which he conducted for several years, then built a 
saw mill, but later engaged in farming. He died in 1893, six days after his wife 
passed away. She was Betsey M. Gates, of Chenango county, whose father came 
from Vermont. They left three children : Horatio, a farmer, of Rathbone ; Mary, 
wife of John F. Dawson, of Woodhull ; and J. Elliott. The latter was born in 
Woodhull in 1857. He first engaged in farming, teaching school in the winter. 
Since coming to Addison in 1888 he has operated a hay pressing plant on Front 
street, carrying on an extensive business. He uses steam power and employs several 
men. In 1893 he established the East end coal yard, which does a good business. 
Mr. Parker married, in 1888, Lida A., daughter of Robert E. Harder, a farmer, by 
whom he has three children; Eva May, Elmer N., and Reba M. He is a member of 
the Masonic order. 

Patchill, O. C.,was born in Corning, educated there, and since December. 1877, has 
been in the employ of the Fall Brook Railroad Company as chief time-keeper and 
head clerk. O. C. Patchill, his father, was born in Philadelphia in 1831, and came 
to Corning in 1853, where he was master mechanic for the Fall Brook and Blossburg 
& Corning Railways, which position he held until his death, which occurred July 13, 
1885. 

Pierce, William O., was born in Olean, Cattaraugus county X.V., July 31, 18i6, 
the son of William B. Pierce, of Olean, who in early life was a mechanic and later 
engaged in mercantile pursuits. William was educated in the common schools, and 
his first occupation was in connection with his father, who was then conducting a 
bakery. This was about 1878 or 1879. He remained with him until 1884, and the 
firm was composed of his brother and himself until 1886 ; that year they sold and 
William removed to Hornellsville, where he established the business which has 
grown from a very small start to assume a great factor in the business enterprise of 
the city. The Telegram Bread is known in every house in this city and is truly 
celebrated. He also makes a specialty of salt-rising bread. He is a member of the 
First Presbyterian church. He was married, June 22, 1883, to Sadie, daughter of 
John K. Chapman. They have two children, Raymond Chapman, now in his eighth 
year, and Bernice Rose, in her fifth year. 

Preston, Othaniel, was born in the town of Howard, Steuben county, August 6, 
1850. The history of the life of the above can be found in the chapter of manufac- 
turers, with which he has been prominently identified. He was for three years a 
trustee of the village before the city was organized. He is a member of the Episco- 
pal church. Was married to Sarah Elizabeth, oldest daughter of P. C. Hufstader. 
They have four children, one son and three daughters. The son bears the family 
name of Othaniel. 

Phillips, Mrs. Margaret. — Libbius Phillips was born in Addison, March 16, 1829. 
In the early part of his life and at the time of his marriage in 1855 to Margaret 
Young, of Addison, he was engaged in an extensive lumber business at Canisteo, 
where he achieved a great success in this enterprise and acquired a con.siderable for- 



FANflLY SKETCHES. . 63 

tune. A little later he was subjected to financial reverses, but by his integrity and 
faithful devotion to his work he promptly recovered himself. For a number of years 
he was a resident of Pennsylvania, where he was landlord of a hotel at Fall Brook. 
He was associated with the Red Men, and also a member of the Masonic fraternity 
for nearly twenty-five years. The last years of his life he was engaged in farming 
and hotel- keeping. He died in lf-88, aged sixty years. He had one brother, Ran- 
som, and one sister, Mrs. Selh Mullen, both residents of Addison. 

Park, Rufus C. was born in Woodhull, June 12, 1845. He was the second of a 
family of nine children born to Albert and Matilda (Coats) Park. Albert Park was 
born in Binghamton, March 10, :817, and Mrs. Park was born in Manlius, Onondaga 
county, July 28, 1824. Thomas, grandfather of Rufus C, was a native of Armenia, 
Dutchess county, and one of the leading farmers, owning about 300 acres of land. 
He afterwards moved to Big Flats, where he died. Albert E. went from Armenia to 
Connecticut, where he lived for a number of years and then came to Woodhull, 
settling on what is now known as the Holden place. He and his brother Elijah built 
a saw mill here. Albert then went to Canisteo and built a .saw mill, where he was 
engaged in lumbering for twenty years. He afterwards went to Big Flats, where 
he purchased a farm and lived a few years, then moved to Lawrence, Tioga county. 
Pa., where he purchased a farm and remained about five years. From there he went 
to Jasper, where he was engaged in lumbering. He then moved to Whitney's Point, 
where he died in 1890. His wife died August Ki, 1872. Rufus C. w^as reared in the 
lumbering business. He was educated in the ccjiiimon schools and Eastman's Busi- 
ness College, from which he was graduated in 1805. He engaged in lumbering for a 
short lime, but in 1880 established the Steuben Sentinel at Troupsburg. In 1881 he 
moved to Woodhull, and in 1891 changed the name of the paper to the Southern 
Steuben Republican. He owns the building where he now is, on the bank of the 
Tuscarora Creek, lie is now justice of the peace. He is a member of Restoration 
Lodge No. 777, F. & A. M.. 'Woodhull Tent No. 174, K.O.T.M., and E.A.U. No. 26. 
June 19, 1879, Mr. Park married Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Mary A. (Smith) 
Bishop, of 'I roupsburg. They have five children; Lynn, horn November 28, 1883; 
Earl, born August 4, 1885; F"rank, born February 7, 1889; Luella, born December 9, 
1891; and Allen B., born February 6, 1894. In connection with his printing office, 
Mr. Park carries on a book bindery and also has charge of the N. Y. & P. A. Tele- 
phone, and is known as a successful, progressive business man. 

4 

Page, De Merville. was born in Cohocton, October 13, 1853. In 185(i his parents 
removed tothe town of Fremont. Mr. Page took a preparatory course in the Rog- 
ersville Union Seminary, and graduated from Cornell University in 1872. He studied 
law with Hakes and Stevens, and after a course in the Albany Law School, was 
admitted to practice in 1874, and remained with Hakes and Stevens until 1879. In 
1880 the partnershi]) of Hakes and Page was formed, and Milo M. Acker was admit- 
ted about 1885. and the business was afterwards conducted under the firm name of 
Hakes, Page and Acker, this firm continuing until January 1, 1891. Mr. Pageisnow 
practicing with his brother, Murray E. Page. When a resident of the town of Kre- 
mont, Mr. Page represented that town for one year in the Board of Supervisors. In 
1880 he was the Democratic candidate for district attorney, and in the fall of 18!l(» 
was the candidate of his party for member of congress. 



64 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Pease. Frank L., was born in Livingston county in 1848, was raised in Allegany 
county, and in 1868 came to Corning, clerking in a dry goods store for three years, 
and then was on the road as a salesman for seven years. In 1878 he embarked in his 
present business, forming with M. Schenck the present firm of Schenck & Pease. 
He was town auditor two terras, village clerk four years, and the first city clerk, 
resigning after the first year. In 1878 he married Clara, daughter of the late Dr. 
Granger, of Lawrenceville, Pa. 

Ferine, H. W., was born in South Dansville, June 2, 1821. William Ferine, jr., 
was a native of Livingston county, and was the son of William Ferine, sr., who 
came from France about 1750. taking an active part in the war of the Revolution. 
William Ferine, jr., married Abigail, daughter of Colonel Whiting, and was identi- 
fied as a farmer and took an active interest in the Presbyterian church of Dansville, 
and died in his eighty-seventh year. H. W. Ferine was educated in the common 
schools, and in 1840 entered the emploj' of Hon. William Hubbell, of Bath, which 
position he held for five years, and then entered the employ of L. C. Whiting, where 
he remained for four years, and in 1846 formed the partnership of Whiting (ii: Ferine, 
which continued up to 18.50, when Mr. Whiting retired. In 1847 he married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Captain James Read. Mr. Ferine is one of the representative men 
of his town, having erected the larger portion of the business buildings of the town. 

Robbins, Myron W. , was born in Caton in 1845, son of James N. and Lydia 
(Siilson) Robbins, natives of Broome county. James N. Robbins came to Caton 
in 1827, there being then but seven families residing in the town. He was local 
preacher and farmer, and died in 1890, aged seventy-two years. Mrs. Robbins lives 
with her son. Mr. Robbins is the only survivor of the family; a brother, Ephrin L.. 
died in 1889. .He married in 1868, Emma J. Wellman, who is a native of Otsego 
county, and came to Caton when a child. Mr. Robbins enlisted in Co. G, 150th N. 
Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war; he has served as 
assessor one term, and was elected supervisor in 1894. He has three children, Adah 
M. , Bennie E., and Clarlton A. 

Rumsey, Peter B., was born in Delaware countv, X. Y., October 0, 1844, son of 
Simeon K. and Miranda (Bogart) Rumsey, who settled in Thurston in 1856. Peter 
B. is one of eleven children, nine of whom are residents of this county: Emily 
I. Davidson, Charles W., deceased, Ann Eliza Cleveland. Hattie C. Aldrich, Peter 
B., Addison J., George, Edward, and Sarah E. Peter B. Rumsey married Alice J., 
a daughter of Asher and Catherine Northup, of Thurston, by whom he has three 
children: Edith, Claude, and Lawrie P., all natives of Cameron. Mr. Rumsey has 
been a member of the Masonic Lodge since he was twenty-four years of age. He is 
a charter member and first secretary and second treasurer of the North Camei'on 
Grange. He spent his early life in lumbering, but is now engaged m farming, own- 
ing a farm of 145 acres. 

Reznor, Lot, was born in Canandaigua, Ontario county, N, Y., November 2, 1838. 
John Reznor, the father of Lot, was also a native of Ontario county. His boyhood 
was spent in Cauandaigua, and became the agent for the Hornby and Gregg estates 
when only a young man. In 1862 he removed to Hornellsville, where he had the 
care of their interests in this section, and spent the balance of his days in this county. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 65 

Always interested in school work and a trustee of schools. He died January 29, 1870. 
Lot was the oldest son of a family of four children. He was educated as were the 
farmers of tifty years ago, attending the common schools until ten years of age. He 
started on his life of work, at (irst employed in the ofKce of the Ontario County 
Times, occupying the jHjsition as devil for one year, and then spent five years in the 
commission business in Philadelphia. He was employed in a hardware store in Can- 
andaigua until the breaking out of the war. May, 18(il, he enlisted in the ll^th Regi- 
ment N V. Vols., and spent two years with that regiment and two years with the 
loth Cavalry, serving to the close of the war. He left the battlefield to locate in 
Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent three years in oil refining, and in 1868 he located in 
Arkport, where he established a general store and conducted a very successful busi- 
ness for eighteen years. 

Robie, Reuben Edward, was born in Bath, September 24, 1843, son of Hon. Reuben 
Robie, who was a native of the town of Corinth, Orange county, Vt. The family 
trace their descent direct from John Robie, of Castle Donnington. Leicestershire, 
England, who died in 1515, the first member of the family in this country having been 
Henry Robie, who landed at Dorchester, Mass., in 1689. and the same year went to 
Exeter, N. H., and afterwards to Hampden, X. H., where he died. Hon. Reuben 
Robie came to Bath in 1820, and was engaged in the mercantile business for over 
fifty years. He was member of congress in 1851-52, and held numerous other offices 
of public trust. He died January 21, 1872. His wife, Nancy Whiting, whom he 
married April 29, 1824, and who died February 18, 1876, was a descendant of the 
Rev. Samuel Whiting, of Boston, England, who settled at Lynn, Mass., in 1636; her 
father. Col. John Whiting, came to Bath in 1815 from the Slate of Maine. Mr. and 
Mrs. Robie had twelve children, five daughters and seven sons: Nancy Jane, Har- 
riet Alvira, Lydia, Olive, John Whiting, Jonathan, Charles Henry, James Whiting, 
Mary, Reuben Edward. Joel Carter, and James Lyon. Four of the s<.ns and one of 
the daughters are now living. Reuben Edward was graduated from Hobart College in 
1864. then entered the law office of Hon. David Ramsey, was admitted to the bar in 
1866, and afterwards entered into i)artnership with Hon. David Rumsey and George 
S. Jones, and later with Hon. William Rumsey. February 2. 1881. he married Annah 
Watkins, daughter of William Babcock. of Canlim. 111. He still practices his pro- 
fession at Bath. 

Reynolds, H. J., son of C. J. Reynolds, who was a native of Corning, a farmer and 
florist, and who died in IJ^OI. Mr. Reynolds and his mother, Jennie G. Reynolds, 
conduct the greenhouse, which was established by his father in 1872, and have 6, Odd 
feet of glass. 

Rockwell. L. Wilson, was born in Oleau, N. V., November 2, 1855. Lemuel Rock- 
well, father of L. Wilson, was a musician, and for a number of years a teacher of 
the profession in this city. He died in 1873. L. Wilson was educated in the city 
schools of Hornellsville, where the family removed in 1861, and his first occupation 
at thirteen years of age was as a clerk in the store of Adsit & Tuttle. In 1879 the firm 
of M. A. Tuttle & Company was organized, with Mr. R. as the company. In 1S8;1 
he removed to Wellsville, organizing the firm of Rockwell Brothers, which still ex 
ists; 1886 he organized another firm of the same name in Cortland, and in 1880 re- 
I 



66 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEX COUNTY. 

turned to Hornellsville. and in 1890, with M. A. Tuttle, organized the present tirm of 
Tuttle & Rockwell. In 1890 Mr. Rockwell with Mr. Merrill, and his brother, J. L. 
Rockwell, organized the company and founded the Merrill Fabric Glove Company, a 
private company, the firm being Rockwell, Merrill Sz Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell was 
one of the organizers of the Citizens' National Bank of Wellsville, and is at present a 
director and one of its largest stockholders. He was married in 1nS4 to Miss Lizzie 
Smith of Wellsville, who flied January 12, 1892. leaving one child, Robert F. Rock- 
well, n(jw m his ninth year. 

Rogers, William Findlay, was born in Forks Township, near Eas^on, Pa., March 
1. 1820, son of Thomas J. Rogers, who came from Waterford. Ireland, with his father. 
Joseph, who settled in Philadelphia about the year 1786. Thomas learned the art of 
printing and after attaining his majority, settled in Easton, where he established a 
weeklv newspaper, and compiled and published a Biographical Dictionary for the 
use of public schools. He married Mary, daughter of Christian Winters of Easton. 
He participated m the war of 1812 as an officer m the Pennsylvania militia, in which 
he attained the rank of brigadier-general. He represented the Tenth Pennsylvania 
District, known as the Tenth Legion, in Congress for three terms. William F. also 
learned the art of printing and sought employment in Philadelphia. In 1846 he re- 
moved to Buffalo and entered the ofHce of the Buffalo Courier as foreman of the com- 
posing room ; and also took an active part in the militia organizations of the city. 
At the brcakin,g out of the Kebellion he was captain of Co C, T4th Regiment, and 
was among the first to volunteer under the first call of the president His company 
was mustered into the Union .service for two years, and with nine other companies, 
rendezvoused at Elmira; and on the organization of the Twenty-first Regmient he 
was unanimously elected colonel. His re.giment served in the Virginia and Mary- 
land campaigns and was mustered out in May, 1863, when he was appointed com- 
missioner of enrollment and subsequently provost-marshal of the Thirtieth District. 
In 1866 he was elected comptroller of Buffalo; in 1869 mayor, and was one of the 
projectors of the magnificent park system of that city. He appointed the first board 
of park commissioners, and while mayor was president of the board, and at the ex- 
piration of his term, was elected its secretary and treasurer. While in the military 
service of the State, he was by election promoted through all the grades to that of 
■major-general. He was brevetted brigadier-general U. S. V., served as department 
commander in the Grand Army of the Republic; was elected to Congress in 1885, 
■serving one term. In 1887 he came to Bath as superintendent of the New York State 
.Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, having been one of the committee to select its location, 
and connected with it as trustee from its organization in 187i . 

Robinson, O. P., was born in Otsego county in 1847, and came to Corning when 
two years of age. He began clerking when fourteen years of age, and about 1876 
founded his present business as dry goods dealer, Mr. Gamman becoming a member 
of the firm in 1891. Mr. Robinson is one of the trustees of the School Board. He 
married Mary L. Clark of Corning. 

Rishel, Dr. (jeorge P., was born in Millville. Columbia county, Pa.. January 23, 
1849. His ancestors came from Alsace-Lorraine previous to the Declaration of In- 
xlependence. The greatgrandfather was a Revolutionary soldier: the father for 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 67 

more than forty years an eminent practitioner of tlentistry, and a resident of Illinois 
at the lime of his tiealh, which occurred in 1S7."). Dr. George P. received his educa- 
tion in the IIij;h Schools ot Bloomshurji;, Pa., and CambridKe, 111., and beRan the 
practice of dentistry in 18(i8. He is a graduate of the Philadelphia Dental College, 
from which he received the degree of 1). D. S. in 1882; he is a member of the Seventh 
District Dental Society of this State, and has made some able contributions to dental 
literature. Dr. Rishel arrived in Hornellsville January 5, 1872, and three years later 
married Ada W., daughter of Morris Smith of that city. He is the inventor of the 
•Truss and Cable Fence Wire," and of the complicated machinery employed in its 
maiuifacture, and is a member of the Truss and Cable Fence Co. He has been a 
member of the Board of Sewer Commissioners since 1892, and as secretary of that 
body has rendered valuable service in the city. 

Reynolds, Norman, was born in Marcellus, Onondaga county, November 18, 1825, 
is the only survivor of si.\ children born to John and Anna (Graves) Reynolds, he a 
native of Tioga county, and she of Marcellus. John Reynolds learned the wagon- 
maker's trade, but gave it up for the millwright's trade, which he followed in Wayne 
county for manv years, after which he came to Allegany county, where he died May 
17, 1848. ilrs. Reynolds died in Greenwood in 1870. Norman Reynolds learned 
the cabinetmaker's trade, at which he worked for eight years in Greenwood and 
Rough and Ready. He was on a farm five years and m 1884 located in Greenwood, 
where he still resides. October 28, 1849, he married Pheobe A., daughter of Orson 
Abbott of Wellsville, N. Y , by whom he had two children: Marion F., born June 22, 
18.'i;i. died July 26, 1853; Norman A., born February 23, ^8•l^ Mrs. Reynolds died 
August 2(1. 1S.")3. Mr. Reynolds married for his second wife Martha A. Trowbridge 
of (Jrcenwood, by whom he had five children; Helen M., born February 27, 18.")5; 
John W., born July 31, 1857; Flora K.. born July 11, ]8.i9; Rissie Y., born Septem- 
ber 2.i. 1867; and Vera Belle, born March 28, 1877. and died Ai)ril 11, 1880. Sep- 
tember 10. 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 86th N. V. Vols., and was honorably discharged 
July 8, 1865. He was in second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, 
Wapping Heights, and Wilderness, where he was wounded May 10, 1864, and was 
also wounded in front of Petersburg, September 18, 1864. He is a mcniber of Will- 
am C. White Post. G. A. R., of which he is at present chaplain. 

Rose. Walter (J., was born in Coventry, near Hartford, Conn., October 2. 1814. 
Horace Rose, the father of Walter, was a native of Connecticut, born in 1788. He 
was a man of the best education and in his younger days was a teacher. In 1825 he 
moved to New Y'ork State and settled on a farm in the town of Hartwick, Otsego 
county, N. V., where he made his home until the fall of 1844, when he brought his 
family to Steuben county and settled in the village of Hornellsville, and died here 
February 8, 1862. The mother of our subject, Marcia Edgerton, was born in Con- 
necticut in 1789, and died in Hornellsville in 187.") at eightv-six years of age. To 
them si.\ children were born, all of them gone but Walter. He was given a good 
common school education, and his (irst occupation was serving as an apprciitict- 
to the tinsmith trade. Three and a half years later when he was twenty-one he 
started as journeyman and was two and a half years at the bench. In 1838 he formed 
a copartnership with his former employer in Hartwick, and was a member of the firm 
for four years. He then started for himself and conducted a dry goods business un- 



68 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

til the emigration of the family to this county. April 9, 1845, he had his goods all 
here and ready to start in business, where his residence is now located. The busi- 
ness then was the manufacturing of tinware and dealing in stoves, which gradually 
grew into the dealing in all classes of hardware and farming implements. The busi" 
ness increasing, in 1848 Jlr. Rose removed to the north side of Main street where 
their present place of busine.ss is. At that time there were but two stores on the 
north side of Main street, that of Charles Baldwin, a drug store, and one dry goods 
store. Mr. Rose has ever since been engaged m business in this city. He has occu- 
pied many positions of honor and trust in this town. He was a director of the Bank 
of Homellsville and was nine years assessor and was five years supervisor of the 
to\\Ti. About the close of the war Mr. Rose purcha.sed thirteen acres of farm land 
on Canisteo street, which he opened up for village residences and erected twenty to 
twenty-five buildings. The three beautiful residences on Main street and many of 
the stores of the village have been built by him. He was married in 1838 to Jliss 
Glovina Olendorf of Hartwick, Otsego county', who is still spared to his partnership. 
The three children of this union are John R., a partner in the store, and Charles ().. 
a manufacturer. Annie, the only daughter, was drowned in 1869. 

Sluyter, Alonzo F. M., was born in the town of Troupsburg, December OT, 18il, 
the thirteenth of a family of fourteen children born to Joshua and Elizabeth (Pease) 
Sluvter. They came from Delaware to Troupsburg, built a carding mill, and cleared 
a farm near the village of Sluyterville. Mr. and Mrs. Sluyter both died in southeast 
West Union, he June T, 1869, and she June 27, 1881. The grandfather, Allabartus, 
lived and died in Delaware. Alonzo Sluyter was educated in Troupsburg and then 
engaged in farming. In 1861 he married Mary, daughter of Ira Carr, by whom he 
liad seven children; George H., liveryman, Harrison Valley, Pa., born in 1860; 
Emily, wife of Edward Dailey, a farmer of West Union, born August 2, 1868; I. 
Joshua, born November 8, 1870; Charles F., born April 28, 1876; William O,, born 
August 19 1878: Evelyn C, born June 10, 1882, and Mary E., born July 30, 1885. 
Mr. Sluyter came to West Union with his parents in 1861 and carries on a farm of 
327 acres. In February, 1864. he enlisted in Co. H, 86th N. Y. Vols., and was hon- 
orably discharged in October, 1865. He was in the battle of the Wilderness, where 
he was wounded and was then transferred to the 2d Battalion V. R. C. Mr. Sluvter 
and family are members of the Methodist church. 

Seelcy, Norris, was born in Addison, X. Y. , August 14, 1842, the oldest of thrte 
■children born to Stephen and Sabra (Johnson) Seeley. Stephen Seeley was born De- 
cember 22, 1816, in Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y. , and his wife June 2. 1822, in 
Otsego, N. V. She died April 26, 1877 Stephen was the oldest of si.\ children born 
to John and Susan (Wells) Seeley, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respec- 
tively. John Seeley settled at Oxford, where he died in 1839 and Mrs. Seeley in 
1859. Stephen Seeley came to Troupsburg in 1855, where he still resides on the 
farm, having retired from active business in 1879. N'orris'Seeley was reared on the 
farm and helped to clear the farm he now owns, having purchased it in 18 9. He 
has 117 acres and makes a specialty of hay and dairy products. In 1868 he married 
Lodema Griffith, who was born in Otsego county, Augu.st 25, 1847. She is a daugh- 
ter of Lorenzo and Eliza (Moak) tiriflith. natives or Otsego and Schoharie counties. 



li 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 69 

respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Seeley have three children; Stevia L., born October l:{, 
1872; Ida S., born March 15, 1S75; and Cassie V.. born July 2, 1889. 

Stephens, Adsit B., was born in Canisteo on the farm he now owns, Sejiteniber 1, 
1857, son of William B., who was born in this town in 1815. William, the grand- 
father, was born in 1777, and settled on what is known as the Thomas Hallett farm, 
where he kept an inn. William B. Stephens married Lydia M. Abbe, of Canisteo, 
by whom he had three children; Sophia A., Libbie M., and Adsit B. The latter 
spent his early life in teaching school and working at his trade in a printing office. 
For the last twelve years he has devoted his time to farming, making a specialty of 
small fruit growing. In 1880 he married Clara B. . daughter of Jonathan Knapp, i>( 
South Canisteo, by whom he has three children; Ross W. , aged twelve years; Agnes 
May. aged eight years; and Vina Belle, aged three Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are 
members of the M. E. church. 

Shannan, M E.. was born in Bath, iJecembcr ;{|, 18411. Matthew Shannan, his 
father, was one of the early settlers in the town of Bath, being identified as a farmer, 
and married Martha Fancett, daughter of Robert Fancett. He died November 13 
1875, in his seventy-fifth year M. E. Shannan was educated in Bath, after which 
he entered the employ of James Fancett, and in 1885 he established a grain, pro- 
duce, coal and agricultural implement business, in which he continued up to 1893, 
since which time he has dealt in real estate. Mr. Shannan is one of the representa- 
tive business men of his town, serving as trustee and taking an intelligent interest 
in educational and religious institutions, and in advancing the best interests of his 
town and townspeople. 

Stocum, John, was born in Pulteney, Steuben county, April 27, 1825. James Sto- 
cum, his father, was a native of Putnam county, and came to Pulteney about 1815, 
and followed farming. He married Catherine, daughter of Samuel Townsend, who 
lived to be ninety-seven years of age. James ftocum was drow-ned in the Cohocton 
River in 1825. John Stocum was educated in the common schools and came to Bath 
in 1840. a poor, friendless boy, where he learned the furniture and undertaking- 
trade, which he has carried on for fifty years. In 1847 he married Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of John Metcalf, of Bath, who died in 1858. In 18(50 he married Susan B.. daugh- 
ter of Josiah Townsend of Elmira. In 1861 he raised his first company, Battery E. 
1st X. Y. Light Artillery, going out as captain; he was beaten out of this battery 
through trickery. In 1862 he raised Co. F, Gist N. Y. Inf., which at that time pre- 
vented a draft being made in the town of Bath ; he served a j-ear, and being invalided 
by sun stroke and typhoid fever, returned home September 3, 1864; he was with this 
company and regiment at the siege and surrender of Port Hudson. Upon his re- 
turn home in 1864 he raised his third and last company, being Co. A, isiltli Regt. 
During his service in this regiment, on January '1, 18(i5, Capt. Barrage Rice was 
killed by guerrillas ; it was not long before the long roll was beating in the camp of the 
189th ; after a march of eight miles a halt was ordered and Captain Stocum de])Ioved 
Co. A as skirmishers, and advancing through the woods for a mile, found the body, 
and after a spirited fight, with the guerrillas, brought it back to camp; it had been 
stripped naked and shot once through the waist and twice through the head ; on the 
i:Uh it was embalmed at City Point and sent home in charge of Lieutenant Warren. 



70 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

On Sunday, the ever memorable 9th (if April. Captain Stocum. with Companies A 
and F on the skirmi.sh line, drove into Appomattox the last rebel battery and picket 
line General Lee sent out. Of all the men in Steuben county, none did his duty 
more faithfully and bravely than Captain Stocum. He received an honorable dis- 
charge May 80. 186.5, with rank of major, and returned to Bath and resumed his fur- 
niture and undertaking business 

Stephens, Hiram A,, was born in the town of Canisteo, November 'iH. 1839, son 
of J. H. M. Stephens, who was born in the town of Addison, November I'i, 1806, 
and moved with his parents to Canisteo when eight years old. He was a farmer, 
also carpenter by trade. He married Ermina, daughter of Benjamin and Susanna 
Bennett of Howard. They were the parents of nine children: Susanna, Frazier, 
Hiram A., Henry M., Rachel E. (deceased), Ellen, Mandane, Bruce (deceased), and 
C. B. Stephens, M.D. His parents both died at the old homestead, his father on 
April 6, 1883, and his mother May 25, 1883; they were buried in the cemetery near 
by where many by the name of Stephens are interred. A suitable monument has 
been erected to mark their last resting place. Hiram A. was educated in the district 
school in the town of Canisteo, attended school during winter terms, and assisted on 
the farm the remainder of the year, until he reached the age of twenty-one, after 
which he attended school at Rogersville and Pi'attsburg Academies. He taught 
thirteen terms, in which profession he met with good success. He went to Michigan 
in 1866 and spent five years in the lumber business. He married Mrs. Marj' E. 
O'Hara of Wallace, July 17, 1881. He has kept a general store at Wallace for fifteen 
years; in this vocation he has been successful, having built up a large trade. Mr. 
Stephens has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for over thirty years; he was 
made a Mason in Canisteo Morning Star Lodge No. 6.5, and is now a member of 
Avoca Lodge, No. 6'i3. 

Stratton, George W., one of nine children of Thomas and Clari.ssa Stratton, of 
whom seven are now living, was born at Fallsburgh, -Sullivan county, in 1840. Until 
eighteen years of age his boyhood days were spent in assisting his father on the 
farm, and in attending the common school of Fallsburgh, where, as a village stu- 
dent, he acquired his education. He then entered a store in Tioga. Fa., as a clerk, 
and his work there promised the active business life which has followed. At twenty- 
one years of age he enlised in Co. K, 23d Regt. N. Y. Vols., and after serving three 
months w^ith that regiment he was discharged for disability and came home. Hav- 
ing recovered his health a year later, his desire to serve his country led him to enlist 
in Co. A, 143d Regt., with which he remained until the close of the war, when he 
engaged in the tanning business here. He has been a faithful worker, and for fifteen 
years was proprietor of the Goodhull Tannery, and at present is not engaged in any 
mercantile business, but is devoting his attention to his farm interests. Mr. Strat- 
ton is a solid substantial citizen, and a Republican, but not a seeker for political 
preferment. In 1S71 he married Julia, daughter of Frederick Thurber. She is a 
descendant of Dr. Sidney Powers of Lawrenceville, a widely known practitioner. 
She is also a member of the Presbyterian Church. They have two daughters to help 
disburse the hospitalities of the handsome, modern residence, erected in 1801 on 
Front street. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 71 

Smith. Edward H., was born in Warren county, N. V., son of Ezra B. and 
Laura Smith. He married Ellen B. . a daujjhter of Erastus Bronson, and settled at 
Painted Post in 1857. Have had two children, Carrie, wife of Fred Kingsbury of 
Corning, both now deceased, and Carl B. Smith, M.D., of Binghamton, N. V. Ed- 
ward H. was with Fox, Weston & Co., for twenty-five years. He is at present post- 
master at Painted Post. Has been commissioner of highways of the town of Erwin 
eight years; member of the Board of Education twenty-one years; trustee of the 
Presbyterian church twenty years, and is at present an elder of the same. 

Stevens, Ralph, was born in the town of Campbell, October 5, 1838. He is 
the son of Jonas Stevens, who was born in the town of Sangerfield, Oneida 
county, March IS, 1803, and came to the town of Campbell in 1806, where he 
resided up to his death, which occurred September 2.5, 1887. He married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Jedediah Miller of L^lysses, N. V.. by whom he had five children: 
George. Hannah, Harmon, Ralph, and Jane. Ralph .Stevens was educated in 
Campbell, and afterward engaged in farming and lumbering. In 1862 he enlisted 
in the 107th N. Y. Yols., and served about three years. He was wounded in the 
battle of Dallas, where he lost his right leg, and returned home in March, 186.5, and 
since then has devoted his time to farming. lie married Margaret Gilmore of Tioga 
county. Pa., by whom he had six children; Jennie M., William B., Sherman M., 
Benjamin J., Adaline R., and Edward K. For his second wife he married Miss Jane 
Jacobus of Urbana. Mr. Stevens has filled the minor offices of the town, is a mem- 
ber of Knox Post, No. .549, Mason Lodge, No. 7.5.5, and K. of H. No. 372. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican. 

Scribner, L. D., was born in Andover, April 20, 1840, son of Daniel Scribner, a 
native of Connecticut, and one of the leading farmers of Andover. He spent his last 
days in Greenwood, where he died in 1895, aged eighty years. He married Augusta 
Ellis, a native of Massachusetts, by whom he had four children. L. D. Scribner set- 
tled in Greenwood in 1865, where he has since been engaged in farming. In 1864 he 
married Lucretia, daughter of William Young of Greenwood, by whom he had seven 
children: Fred M., who died March 27, 1874, aged eight years; Willis S., furniture 
<lealer of Greewood; Hattie F., wife of A. L. Rogers, farmer; Sidney A., harness 
maker of (jreenwood; Uow L., Clayton and Ray. Mr. and Mrs. Scribner are mem- 
bers of the M. E. church. 

Smith. Andy L., was born in Cazenovia, Madison county, N. Y., July 19, 1818. 
The father of Andy, and also Andy L. Smith, was a native of Yermont, liorn lu 
Montpelier in 1789. He was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, and went to Madison 
county when a young man, working at his trade, and in 1820 came to Hornellsville 
where shortly after he built what is now known as the O'Connor tannery, which he 
conducted for a number of years and then sold. In connection with the tannery he 
established a shoe business which the son (Andy) took up after his death. Andy L. 
Smith died in 18.52. He was the father of four children, of which Andy was the 
fourth child. He was given a good common school education, and his occupation 
was in the shoe factory of his father, to which he added the dealing in dry goods, 
and the first store was on Main street near his jiresent residence, and later in com- 
pany with Edward T. Young, built the store now occupie<l by Stei)hen Hollands. 



72 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTV. 

Later he bought the partner's interest and conducted it until 1883, when he retired 
from business. Mr. Smith is one of the oldest representatives of the mercantile 
trade of this city. He was married in 1839 to Sarah M. Young, daughter of George 
Young, a tailor by trade of the village of Painted Post. She bore him tliree chil- 
dren, only one of whom is now living, Carrie, the wife of Arthur C. Van Scooter, a 
portrait painter. Mrs. Smith died September 23, 18b9, and he took for his second 
wife Mrs. R. M. Traver, sister of his first wife. They have no children. 

Strack, Charles F., was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, February 11, 1847. Jacob 
Strack, the father of the subject, came to this country, bringing his wife and five 
children, in 1853. He located m Buffalo, N.Y., and it was there that Charles F. was 
reared. His mother died in 18.58. He was the youngest of the family and was 
educated in Buffalo. June 28, 1864, he went to Batavia, N.Y., as an apprentice to the 
baker's trade. He spent two years in that town and then returned to Buffalo, where 
he was employed in dift'erent bakeries until 1869. He spent about a year in Penn- 
sylvania, and February 22, 1871, located in Hornellsville, where he bought a small 
place on Loder street, and by close attention laid a good foundation for an extensive 
business. November, 1873, he removed to 60 Canisteo street, where he increased his 
facilities and made many additions to his establishment. He is one of the directors 
of the Citizens' National Bank, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
Hornellsville Lodge No. 331. He is one of the officers of the German Lutheran 
church and was the leading spirit in its foundation. He has been its treasurer and 
a trustee since it was erected in 1886. In politics Mr. Strack has generally supported 
the Republican ticket, but is not a politician or seeker for office. He employs three 
hands and one team on the road. April 12, 1871, he married Katherine Elsheimer. 
of Suspension Bridge, N.Y., by whom he has four children; Lily, who died June 5, 
1877; Carrie, Amelia and Charles F., jr., the last two students of the city schools, 
while Carrie is at home. 

Shepard, William H., was born in Albany, ilaich l(i, 1839. William S. Shcpard, 
his father, was also a native of Albany, and the family were of Welsh descent and 
early settlers in New Hampshire. William S. married Sallie, daughter of Otis 
Everett, was identified in early life with the clothing and hardware business in 
Albany, and died at Bath in 1894, in his seventy-ninth year. William H. was 
educated in preparatory schools, graduating in 1861 from Williams College, also from 
Albany Law School in 1863, and in the same year came to Bath and formed the 
partnership of Rumsey, Jones & Shepard. In 1865 he returned to Albany and en- 
gaged in business. In 1869 he returned to Bath and engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness, and in 1884 established his present business of fire, life and accident insurance. 
In 1865 he married Adelaide, daughter of L. V. Church, by whom he had six chil- 
dren, four of whom are now living: Edith, William S. , Rachel A. and Frederick H. 
Mrs. Shepard died in 18W2. 

Smith, Enos, was born in the town of Greenwood, Steuben county, January 30, 
1845. Jesse B., his father, was born in Tompkins county, N.Y., March 11, 1811, and 
came to the town of Greenwood in iy29, where he with his father, Enos Smith, took 
up sixty acres. He married Polly, daughter of Allen Miner, who was one of the 
oldest settlers in that county, by whom he had nine children : Augustus, Leroy, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 73 

Merntt. Aveiy, Eiios, William J., Anna, Charley and Kloyd. Knos \va« educated in 
the district schools of Canisteo, and now owns a farm of 290 acres, two-thirds of 
which is under cultivation. February 10, 1870, he married Fanny, daughter of 
Richard Coleman, of Knjjland, by whom he had six children; Grace M., I.ucy K., 
Hlanche L., Anna Mabel. Harry C, and Fred T. 

Stephens, Walter A., was born in the town of llorncllsvillc. March (i, lx~>-\. He- 
was educated in the city schools and engaged in farming as an occujiation In iy7K. 
in company with his brother, Christopher B,, he started a market in the city of 
Hornellsville, which is still known as the Stephens market, being ni>w conducted by 
the father, Alanson Stephens, and his brother-in-law, Mr. Bennett, Walter withdraw- 
ing from the firm in (October, 1894, as he had become deeply interested in real estate 
transactions in the south part of the city. In 1891 he bought a part of the old Van 
Scotee farm, which he has laid out in lots and made many valuable improvements 
and erected nine of the most beautiful cottages of the city. On this same property 
there is now being erected the South Side M. K. church at an expense of S1(),()()0. 
Mr. Stephens is a member of this church and chairman of the board of trustees. Ik- 
is a member of Hornellsville Lodge No. UHl, F. and A. M , Steuben Chapter, the 
Council, Conimandery and Consistory. Me was married in 1878 to Miss I loni .M. 
Carroll, of Hornellsville. 

Stanton, Jerome I., was born at (neat Bend, Susquehanna county, Pa., on Xovcni- 
ber 18, 1841. It may truthfully be said of him, " He bore the yoke in his youth." 
Shortly after the removal of his parents to Wyoming county in 1834 he was necessi- 
tated to begin his intimacy with hard work, which brought with it the scanty wages 
of six dollars per month. He continued at work iu country stores until 1862, when 
he enlisted in the 17lh Pa. Vol. Cavalry. He bravely remained at his post througli 
nineteen engagements, and with the added experience of prison life in the winter of 
1864-5. On returning to his regiment he was promoted to the rank of' sergeant- 
major, and onlj- doffed his uniform for a more peaceful vocation when the war had 
closed. After his return home lie engaged as traveling salesman for a large firm, and 
in 1871 succeeded his employers in the business, with headquarters at Painted Post, 
X.V. In 1879 he sold out to Fish S: Holmes, who removed the business to Elmira, 
N.V., after which he purchased the planing mill property at Painted Post and en- 
gaged ill the lumber business, which he has developed to large dimensions, and in 
the same year his conversion took i)lace under the jiastorate of Rev. James Moss. 
In 1888 he was elected as a lay delegate to (leneral Conference, and was one of the 
organizers of the Prohibition party in New York State, and is an earnest worker in 
the cause. A career so heavily handicapped and in its outgrowth rising to such 
achievements, combined as it is with simplicity and ])iety, deserves genuine ad- 
miration. 

Spencer, Hon. tleorge T., was Ijorii in Saybrook, Conn., November 0, 1H14, and 
was educated at Lee's Academy, Madison, Conn., and at Amherst and West- 
field Academies in Massachusetts, and graduated from Yale in 1837. He studied 
law with Governor Ellsworth at Hartford, Conn., and John G Forbes, of Syracuse, 
and admitted to the bar in 1841, and has since been practicing his profession in 
Corning. In 1857 he was a member of the Legislature, and in lS(i7 a member of tin- 
I 



74 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEX COUNTY. 

State Constitutional Convention, and from 1872 to 1878 county judge and surrogate 
of Steuben county. 

Sly, Robert O., was born in the place where he now lives in 1846, son of George 
and Lovina Irvin Sly, natives of Corning and Watkins. The grandparents came from 
Richmond, Ya., and Connecticut, paternal and maternal respectively. Mr. Sly has 
always resided on the old home place consisting of 250 acres of the original 370 acres. 
In 1872 he married Sarah Cutler, a native of Corning, and their children are as fol- 
lows; George Elliot, Mary Lovina, Idalia, Aletha. 

Shaip, John G., was born in Co.xsackie, July HO, 182.5, son of Lawrence 1. Sharp 
of whom an account will be found in this volume. He came to his present residence 
when nine years of age. The homestead consists of 147 acres of land. He was 
educated in the academy in Howard, and has since devoted his time to farming. He 
married Harriet, daughter of Lott Forrister, one of the first settlers of the town, 
formerly of Connecticut. They had two children, Floyd L. and Ettie M. He mar- 
ried the second time, Juliet, daughter of Russell Boughten, and they were also from 
Connecticut. Mr. Sharp held the offices of assessor six years, commissioner of high- 
ways six years, and supervisor two years. He has been salesman for the cheese fac- 
tories twenty-seven years. He is a member of the Masons, Lewis Lodge No. 104. 
In politics he is a Democrat. 

Symonds, J. H., was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N. V., April 19, 1841. and 
is the second of eight children born to George and Sarah (Wilson) Symonds, both 
natives of Chenango county. The grandparents, John and Lucy Ann (Chesbro) 
Symonds, came from Hartford, Conn., to Chenango county when the country was 
new, where they engaged in farming. He died September 30, 1872, and she De- 
cember 17, 1865. George Symonds was a stonecutter and jobber in Chenango 
county, apd died April 22, 1892, and she in January, 1S75. The maternal grand- 
father, Daniel Wilson, came from West Chester to Chenango county, where he died 
in 1864. He was a carpenter by trade, and a soldier in the war of 1812. J. H. 
Svmt>nds began farming when eighteen years of age, which business he has always 
followed. In 1866 he bought a farm in Chenango county, which he sold, and in 1871 
came to Troupsburg, where he now owns 120 acres of land and makes a specialty of 
dairy farming. In 1864 he married Julia A., daughter of John M. and Mary 
(Holmes) Wilcox, of Chenango county, by whom he had these children : Elmer G., 
born in 1864, a farmer of Troupsburg: Martin J., born February 26, 1868, who died 
dn 1878; Lida May, who died in February, 1893, aged seventeen years; John Ray, 
who died September 21, 1880, aged three months; Archie W., born September 15, 
1882; John E., born January 20, 1884; Clifford E., born August 28, 1890. Mr. 
Symonds has been highway commissioner, and in 1892 was appointed postmaster at 
East Troupsburg. 

Stroud. Jacob P., was born in Sussex county, N. J., April 15. 1824, a son of Jacob 
and Mary (Probasco) Stroud, of Stroudsburg, Pa., the former being named after 
Colonel Stroud, a brother of the grandfather of the subject, Samuel Stroud, who came 
from England and finally settled in Woodhull in 1826, where he died. The father of 
the subject died in 1877, and the mother in 1852. Jacob P. was educated in the pub- 
lic schools, and followed lumbering and farming. In 1868 he engaged in the mer- 



FAMILY SKKTCHES. 75 

cantile business, which he continued till 1S71, when he returned to fanning;. A year 
later he rebuilt the store, and engaged again iu business until he was burned out, 
then sold monuments for Field <Sr Alden, of HornellsviUe until they went to Roches- 
ter; he has been for fifteen years agent for the Osborne Company, manufacturers of 
agricultural implements. Mr. Stroud served as justice of the peace for several years. 
In 1848 he married Sarah J., daughter of William and Sarah (Cole) Chase, of Addi- 
son, N. v., and their children are: Willis W., born October .">, 18511; Sarah A., born 
November IT, IM")! ; Martin M., born October IS, ISH:!; J. Frank, bnni Jauiuiry '.'•"i, 
185"); and Emma born March I'J. 185H. 

Spoor, Fred C, was born in Luzerne county, now Scranton, I'a., December 10, 18<i(l. 
and a son of Leman L. and Abigail Robinson Spoor, who came from Pennsylvania 
and settled in the town of Bath in 187.5. He then moved to Campbell and afterward 
to the town of Krwin in 1890. They were the parents of seven children: Henry W.. 
Fred C , Carrie, wife of Frank Thompson, William I,., Lila, wife of Frank Wilder, 
Annie and Maltic. Leman L. is a painter by trade. Fred C. married Ida T., a 
daughter of David and Mary \'an Etten Dykeman, who settled in the town of Corn- 
ing in 1853, and they have three children ; Bernice, Gertrude May and Dorothy. Mr. 
Spoor has been connected with the Erie Railroad for the pa.st fifteen years, twelve 
years in the capacity of conductor. He is a member of Montour Lodge, F. & A. M. 
No. 16S, also I. O O. F., No. (il3, and of the I. O. R. M.. Al-wa-hee Tribe, No. 284. 
He was a charter member of the I. O. K. M. and 1. ( >. O. F. He and his family are 
members of the Methodist church. 

Sherwood, Micajah V., was Ixirn in Cameron, this county, June s, lS4;i, a son of 
James, who came to Cameron from Pulteney when a young man. The latter was a 
member of the Freewill Baptist church, and of his ten children si.\ reached maturity, 
of whom our subject was the youngest son. He was given a good education, and his 
first work was at farming. The death of his father occurred in 18.");!, and he contin- 
ued on the farm till the age of seventeen, when he entered the employ of his brother, 
Franklin D., in the general store, remaining till the outbreak of the war. August 
-1, 18()2, he enlisted in Co. F, 141st N. Y. Vols., and served during the war, serving 
at the siege of Suffolk, Baltimore Cross Roads, Lookout Mountain, Wauhalchic 
Valley, Resaca. and many other important and decisive battles; he was promoted to 
first lieutenant and commanded his company from Atlanta to the end of the war and 
mustered them out. He received an honorable discharge at Elmira, June 8, 1805. 
Returning to HornellsviUe he was for a short time in the store, and was in 18<')!t a]>- 
pointed to the railway mail service, which position he held till December 29, 18»;!, 
when he was injured in an accident at Dunkirk, and has since resided in this city. 
In 1894 he was elected city chamberlain, and he is a Mason of prominence in his 
lodge. His wife was Ada Virginia Kassick, of Michigan, and they have one child. 
Walter V. 

Sims. William H., was born in Tamaqua, Schuvlkill county, I'a., June 25, 185:!, 
the second son of a family of si.\ children of John Sims, a painter, who died Novem 
ber 10, 18H]. William was educated in the common schools, and at fifteen years of 
age he began an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade in the P. iV R. shops, which 
he spent four years at and then si.\ months was in a shop at Williamsport, and from 



76 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

there went to Delano where he was foreman of a department for seven years. In 
May. 1882, he came to Hornellsville and entered the employ of the Erie R. R. Com- 
jjany. at first as regular machinist and now occupies the position of assi-stant foreman. 
Mr. Sims was married in 187.5 to Miss Angelina Jeffery of Delano, Pa. They have 
been the parents of five children, One died in infancy. Harry \V. is an apprentice 
at the Times office. George J. is a clerk in Epstein's clothing store. Charles J. was 
drowned in Canisteo river, March 11, 1887, four years and .seven months old. Alice 
E., the only daughter, was born February 17, 1892. Mr. Sim's mother is still living, 
now in her eighty-first year, and has been blind for forty-five years, and resides with 
William H. 

Smith, Dr. Lyman B., was born in Masonville, Delaware county, N. V., May 24. 
1852, the youngest of a family of five children of Stillman Smith, deceased, a fanner 
of that county ; he was educated in the common schools of his native county and Chic- 
opee Falls High School of Massachusetts. At twenty years of age he took up the 
studv of medicine with Dr. Baker when he was in Delaware county, and entered the 
medical department of the University of New York in September, 1872, and gradu- 
ated in February, 187."). He first took up the practice of the profession until October, 
1875, in his native town. He then located in ^Voodstock, Ulster county, where he 
was engaged for fifteen years. He sold out in the spring of 1890, and in the fall 
entered the Polvclinic Post-Graduate school in New York citj'. where he attended 
lectures until January, 1891. He then located in Hornellsville in partnership with 
Dr. M: J. Baker, which existed until Baker's death in December, 1892, since which 
time he has been alone. In politics the doctor is a Kepublican. and was supervisor 
of Woodstock in 1880. He is the president of Hornellsville Medical and Surgical 
Association. He is one of the house staff of St. Mary's Ho.spital. Heis also a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity and a Knighl Templar. September 1.5, 1875, he mar- 
ried Estella S. Brown of Masonville, Delaware county, by whom he had three chil- 
dren : Milton Baker, a member of the graduating class and president of the class of 
of Hornellsville Academy; Lizzie, and Edith Sarah. 

Sanderson. Rev. Benjamin .Smith, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 2, 1858. 
Sidney Sanderson, his father, was a native of Middlebury, Yt, but in boyhood moved 
to New York city, where for nearly sixty years he wasactively engaged in mercantile 
pursuits, having been one of the original members of the Produce E.Nchange. He 
married Mary Ann, daughter of Capt. Benjamin Smith of the mercantile marine 
service. The subject of this sketch is their youngest son. Receiving his preparatory 
training at the Brooklyn Polytechnic (graduating in 1875), he received the degree of 
B. A. from Amher.st College in 1879. His theological studies were pursued at the 
•General Theological Seminary {Protestant Episcopal), New York city, from which he 
was graduated in 1882, receiving from this institution two years later (1884) the de- 
gree of Bachelor of Sacred Theology for special excellence in his studies. In his 
senior vear he also won the Sevmour Prize for extemporaneous speaking. Ordained 
deacon. June, 1882, and priest May, 188S, he was from 1882 to 1885 assistant minister 
in St. John's, Boston, Mass., rectorof Trinity church, Wethersfield, Conn., 1885-1886; 
rector of St. Stephen's, New Hartford, N. Y., 1886-90, during which time he was 
instrumental in having built in a distant part of his cure, the handsome St. George's 
i"hapel. a memorial of the late Hon. Geo. W. Chadwick. May 1, 1890, he assumed 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 77 

his present charge of St. Thonia.s' church in Bath, a strong and influential parish. 
He is also a member of the standing committee of the diocese. In 1887 he married 
Agnes, eldest daughter of Wilson and Ellen Dibblee of Boston, Mass., by whom he 
has four sons. 

Sutton. Dr. Orlando W., was boru in Waverly, X. Y.. December 2.5, 18.|i(. Ivlwin 
\V. Sutton, his father, was a native of New Jersey, and was of English descent, who 
married Huldah Hopkins, and was engaged in merchant tailoring; he died in 1887 in 
his sixty-fourth year; his wife and four sons survive him, of which Dr. Sutton is the 
eldest. He began the study of medicine in 186.5 after .serving eight years as deputy 
postmaster at Bath and for two years in the railway mail service. He completed his 
studies and graduated at the Eclectic Medical College in the city of New York. He 
is one of the leading Republicans of the county, and is secretary of the Republican 
Cuuntv Committee, one of the trustees of the village of Bath, and a member of the 
State Board of Medical Examiners; also secretary and treasurerof the Southern Tier 
Medical Society. He is serving his third term as coroner of Steuben county; he is 
a member of the Odd Fellows and the Maccabees organization. In 1877 Dr. Sutton 
married Susan, daughter of Daniel W. Coss, by whom he has one child, Frederic 
C. He is one of the enterprising men in his ]irofession. and during his practice has 
been very skillful and successful. 

Stanton, Eunice M. — Amos B. Stanton was born in June, 1827. He was a carpen- 
ter by trade, which business he followed until 1861, when he enlisted in the 86th N. 
Y. Vols. , and June 16, 1864, was killed in the front at Petersburg. He held the office 
of first lieutenant in his company, and was a fearless and true officer and soldier, 
always ready to come to the front in time of battle. He married Eunice M:, daugh- 
ter of John and Cynthia Crosby, by whom he had two children, Mrs. Iza E. Roosa, 
and John Stanton, who is a prosperous farmer in this town. Mrs. Stanton has four 
grandchildren, Lewis O. and Eloise Stanton, and Lottie S. and Stanton Roosa. 

Santee, Jerry E. B., son of the late John Santee, of Hornellsville, was born at 
Cameron, February 28, 1850. He attended the Alfred and Cornell Universities, and 
I'nion College, Schenectady, and in 1875 graduated from the latter institution with 
the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He studied law in the office of Hakes & Stevens, 
and was admitted in September. 1873. He subsequently practiced with Miles W. 
Hawley, under the firm name of Hawley & Santee, and later in the firm of Dennis, 
Santee & Sewell, the latter now judge of Delaware county. Mr. Santee was a mem- 
ber of the State Legislature in 1876 and 1877, has held the office of city recorder, and 
for many years has been a member of the Board of Education, taking an active part 
in educational matters, and rendering valuable services in advancing the interests of 
the public .school system of the city. On account of failing health he was obliged, 
some years since, to give up the general ])ractice of law, and become casliicr of the 
Citizens' Nati<mal Bank of Hornellsville, one of the most successful banking institu- 
tions in Western New York. Mr. 'Santee married Mary E. Hently, of Westerly. 
R. I., a lady descended from one of the oldest Puritan families of New England. 

Shannon. Thomas, was born in Bath, July 11, l.'^liH. .\Iathcw Shannon, his father, 
was a native of Ireland and came to Bath in 1827, and died in 1875, in his seventy- 
sixth year. Thomas Shannon was educated in the Havcrling Union School, and 



78 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

graduated from Cornell University in June, 1888, and in the same year began the 
study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1890, and has been engaged in active 
practice up to the present time. He is one of the active men of his profession, serv- 
ing two terms as village clerk, and in the fall of 1894 was appointed clerk of the 
Board of Supervisors, and purchasing agent of Steuben county. 

Saltsman, Lawrence, was born in the town of Palatine, Montgomery county, March 
22, 1835. Hiram Saltsman, his father, was born in Montgomery county, June 30, 1808, 
and came to the town of Avoca in 1856, where he engaged in farming, which business 
he has followed all his life, although at present only in a light way. He married 
Elizabeth Fox, of Montgomery county, by whom he had one son, Lawrence. Mrs. 
Saltsman died in July, 1842, and he married for his second wife, Mary Nellis. of 
Montgomery county, bv whom he had these children : Alonzo and Eleanor (deceased), 
Eli, Elijah, William, and Irving. Lawrence Saltsman engaged in farming until 
twent)' )'ears ago, since which time he has been in the produce business, also dealing 
in hay, straw, etc., in the village of Avoca. He married Caroline, daughter of Solo- 
mon Edwards, who was one of the pioneer settlers of the town, by whom he had one 
son, Arnold E., who was deputy sheriff under George Holands. Mr. Saltsman has 
held the office of supervisor one term, assessor six years, and ovenseer of the poor 
two terms. He is a member of Avoca Lodge of Masons Xo. 673. 

Sheldon, John R., was born 'n Hornellsville, July 6, 1833. The father of John, 
Orson Sheldon, was a native of Madison county, born in Lebanon, and came to this 
county in 1832, and was engaged as a clerk with his brother-in-law, Philander Harts- 
horn. In 1836 he went to Alfred Centre, where, with Luke Green, he started a gen- 
eral store, conducting it for two years, and then returned to his native county where 
he remained untill 1851, when he retvirned to Hornellsville, where he spent the bal- 
ance of his (lavs. The winter of 18.")8 he bought the hardware store, started in 18.52 
by Nathan Nichols Orson Sheldon died early in 1870. He was a man who devoted 
his life to his business and his family. His only children were the two sons now 
composing the firm of Sheldon Brothers. The store started where Dorr Faulkner is 
now located, and two years later, 1859, removed to 132 Main street, where they have 
ever since been located. John R. was married January 27, 1862, to Miss Lydia P. 
Canfield, of Elmira. They have been the parents of two children: William C. Shel- 
don, who died Mav 18, 1882, at eighteen years, at the time a .student of Alfred Uni- 
versity ; the daughter, Mary J., is the wife of Rev. Thomas Stevenson, formerly of 
Brooklyn, now a resident of Hornellsville. A grandchild is Sheldon Canfield Stev- 
enson. 

Thompson, J. W. — Isaac Thompson was born in Massachusetts, April 7, 1794, and 
died in Caton, June 3, 1851. His first wife, Mary W., was born in Chenango county, 
N. Y., Decemlier 4, 1796, and died in Caton, July 13, 1843. Their children were: 
Sarah Jane Thompson, born in Chenango county, January 5, 1824, died there June, 
1893; Mary Ann Stone Thompson, born in Chenango county, July 26, 1826, died in 
Caton November 2, 1888; Adlard A. Thompson, born in Chenango county. February 
19. 1835, died in Caton, November 25, 1873; Rufus E. Thompson, born in Chenango 
county, June 8, 1828, and still lives there. Isaac Thompson married, second, April 
2 1846, Elizabeth Scanlon, born in England, May 31. 1814, and died in Caton, Janu- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 79 

ary, 1890. His children were: Martha L. and Alice (t\vin-<). boin in Calon, August 
29. 1847; Alice died November 29. 1847. John W. Thompson, the subject, was born 
in Chenango county. July 2. 1882, and was brought to Caton when about four years 
old. when his father settled in the untouched wildcrue.sson eighty-three acres. After 
the death of his parents he bought out the other heirs. In addition to forty-three 
acres which his father bought and added to the original farm, he purchased fifty acres 
more. He married in 18(i4, Susan E. Thurber, and they have three sons: Rufus J., 
born January 6, 1865. a farmer; Monroe A., born August 14, 1867, a plumber by 
trade, now a resident of Iowa; and Frank R., born January 20, 1872, who is living 
at home. His sister, Martha L. Thompson, resides with him. 

Thomas, Daniel C was born at Bennett's creek, Steuben county, March 14, 1858. 
William S. Thomas, his father, was one of the old landmarks in that section, and was 
a man of great business ability, and through h'.s own efforts he acquired wealth and 
property, and at his death was the owner of about 400 acres of fine land. Hedier in 
1867. He married Fannie Rogers, who died in 1830, and for his second wife he mar- 
ried Estie Merion, who died in 1846, and for his third wife he married Mrs. Coleman, 
by whom he had one son, Daniel C, who. although he owns the old homestead of 
400 acres, he does not work it, but lives retired in the village of Canisteo. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth, daughter of William Crawford, by whom he had two children, Mary 
and Clark. 

Tschachtli, Rudolph, son of Dr. Bend, and Maria Tschachtli, was born in Canton 
Fribourg, Switzerland, January 23, 1823, and received a good common school educa- 
tion. In 1841, after the death of his father, he learned the upholstering and furni- 
ture trade. In 1848, working in Paris, when the French Revolution was at the end, 
he immigrated to this country and found employment in New York city. In 1851 he 
married Anna Salmen, daughter of Casper and Maria Salmen also from Switzerland. 
In 1853 he accepted the foremanship of Brewster & Fenn's furniture house, Roches- 
ter, N. Y. In 1866 he was a.ssociated with J. M. Deutsch and located in Hornells- 
ville; there they opened a furniture store in the building now occupied by Dorr 
Faulkner. As the demand for more room increased they bought in 1868 the western 
half of the Canisteo block. In 1871 they bought the sash and door factory at the 
corner of Main and Pardee streets, and converted it into a large furniture factory, 
the fir;t of its kind in Western New York. In 1881, for the convenience of shi])ping 
their furniture, they rented their store on Main street, and established an office in the 
warehouse at the lower end of Pardee street. In 1888, after forty j-ears of hard 
work in business, Mr. Tschachtli, feeling the need of rest, sold one undivided fourth 
of his interest to his nephew, Julius Peytrenet, and in 1889 .sold out the other un- 
divided quarter to J. F. Richardson, which relieved him from business cares, and 
enabled him to spend the balance of his life in retirement and enjoy the fruits of his 
labor. 

Tolbert, George W., was born on the Tolbert homestead, January 28, 1834. John 
Tolbert, his father, came to Bath in 1810, and in 1812 he married Catherine, daugh- 
ter of Henry Trovenger, and settled in the village of Mud Creek, now Savona, in 
1805. They had nine children, seven sons and two daughters, all dead but three. 
He was one of the largest lumber dealers in Steuben county, where he cleared many 



80 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

acres and was prominent in the development of the town. Four of his brothers came 
with him and settled five miles up Mud Creek at what is now called Sonora. He 
died December 23, 1834. His wife, Catherine, died in 1868, having carried on a 
large and profitable farm through life. In 1873 George W. Tolbert married Cath- 
erine, daughter of George W. and Eunice Newman, and reside on the t)ld homestead, 
which has been in the possession of the family since 1812. The original purchase 
was 160 acres, to which the family have added 360 acres. 

True. George I., was born in Owego, N. Y. , in 1847. Jairus True, his father, was 
a farmer and lumberman of Maine, and came to this locality about 1830. and married 
Jane Kimball nf Enfield. Mass.. who is now a resident of Addison, and the wife of P. 
C. Daniels. There were but two children: George and Anna; the latter died un- 
married in 1868. George was educated in the Owego Academy, and in 1868 engaged 
in business here as a retail dealer of boots, shoes, and groceries, under the firm name 
of Paxton i!t True, and continued it for a quarter of a century, when in 18!*3 the 
present firm of Park, Winton & True was formed, succeeding C. D. Hill & Co. in 
manufacturing sash, doors, and blinds in large variety. In 1872 Mr. True married 
Louise M. Turner, of Addison. Mr. True has acceptably filled many positions of 
trust, being a steadfast Republican, and always identified with advancing the local 
interests. He has served as trustee of the village, member of the Board of Educa- 
tion, and IS treasurer of the Board of Trade and Corporation. He was charter mem- 
ber of Baldwin Hook and Ladder Coinpany. and of the Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation : this last he has always taken a special interest in, acting as treasurer, and 
cm finance committee since its organization. 

Townsend, Frederick J., was born in the town of Erwin in 18.")0, and is a son of 
Edward E. and Nancy L. (Jerome) Townsend. Edward E. was a son of Edward 
and Eliza (Erwin) Townsend, born at Athens, Pa. Edward Townsend was born in 
Albany in 1799, son of Henry A. and Elizabeth (Moffet) Townsend. Henry A. 
moved to Bath and was senator and assemblyman from that district, also second and 
fourth county clerk in Steulien county. Eliza Townsend, oldest child of Capt. 
Samuel Erwin, came here with her father in 1803, when two years of age, from 
Easton, Pa., fourteen years after. Col. Arthur Erwin purchased the Erwin township. 
She came to this county on horseback, over 300 miles. Edward E. was station agent 
at Erwin for twelve years and was very active in getting the railroad station located 
at that point. He married Nancy L., daughter of Richard and Mary Jerome, who 
was born at Orient, Long Island, March 12, 1826. Immediately after their marriage 
in 1848 they took up their residence at what is now Erwin Station. In 18S',( they 
moved to Painted Post, where they now reside. Their children were Fannie Jercmie 
(deceased), Frederick Jerome, Mary Mulford (deceased), Arthur Erwin (who was 
killed by an Indian near Piano, Tulare county, Cal.), Eliza Erwin (deceased), Richard 
Jerome (deceased), Edward (deceased), and Annie Lawrence (who married Harry C. 
Herman.s, of Corning). These children were all born on the farm near Erwin Station. 
Frederick J. Townsend and Viola E., a daughter of Samuel and Samantha C. (Jones) 
Rodman, who at that time was a resident of Piano, Cal., were married at Visalia. 
Cal., in 1876. They spent four years on the Pacific coast, then settled on a farm 
near Painted Post, where they now reside with their five children; Fannie Jerome. 
Clarence Elsworth, Mary Lawrence, Frederick Augustus, and Roy Rodman. One 



II 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 81 

son, Arthur E., is deceased. Kannie J. was born at Piano, Cal. 'I'lie others were 
born on the farm near Painted Post. The honor of unveiling the Indian monument 
at Painted Post June 21, 1894, fell to Fannie J. Townsend. Mr. Towesend is at 
present ens>;aged in farming and is also interested in the manufacture and sale of an 
implement fur stretching fence wire. He is a member of Montour Lodge. Xo. IBS. 
• r. &• A. M. 

Tubbs, George L., was burn in the town of Espcrjince, Schoharie county, Novem- 
ber 6, 1836. Jesse A. Tubbs, the father of George, was a native of that county, born 
April 10, 1810, and is still living on the farm just outside of the above town. For 
lifty-five years he has been a prominent man of that county, supervisor during the 
war and holding many minor offices. The mother of (leorge, Mary McDuffy, also a 
native of that county, died in the fall of lH!t;{ at eighty-nine years of age. Thev 
were the jnirents of two sons. J. Nelson Tubbs, a civil engineer of Rochester, re- 
cently appointed inspector of canals, and George L. He was educated in the com- 
mon schools and Fort Plain Academy. He was for six years engaged in the hard- 
ware business in his native town, and in 187H he went to Rochester where he was 
engaged in the building of that city's water works. Since that time he has been en- 
gaged in similar work at Mount Morris, Norwich, Chenango county, Hornellsville. 
and Cuba. .-Mlegany county. Coming to Hornellsville in the spring of IHH'i he has 
since made his home here, and was for five years interested here in this work Feb- 
ruary Ki. ISIIO. he was appointed by President Harrison postmaster of this citv, 
holding the office until October 1, 1894. On his retirement on that day he was ap- 
pointed by the Board of Health in.spector of i)lumbing, which he has since held. Mr. 
Tubbs was married in 18(i0 to Miss Lina Denise. They have one daughter, Cora, 
wife of Fred Lockwood. She is now money order clerk at the post-office. 

Thomas, A. L., was born at Rathboue, June 23, 1835. John Thomas, his father, 
came to that town in 1829, and was for many years a river man, of wide renown for 
herculean strength and energy. He died in 1H42, leaving a family of five children. 
Mrs. Thomas died rocentiv at Prattsburg, N. Y., aged nearly eighty years. Mr. 
Thomas was reared amid lumber and farming interests, dependent upon his own 
energy from an early age, and when about twenty-five he came to Addison, and 
was for si.\ years an employee of McKay &• :Hliss. In \XGti he (.pened a grocery 
store at No. 20 Tuscarora street, and continued that business until 1891), when he re- 
modeled the building and became a wholesale and retail dealer in liquor and cigars. 
October l.">, 1S71, he married Mrs. Emily Harrington, daughter of Djuiiel Barber. 

Taddcr, Charles (deceased), was born in Nuuda, Livingston county, N. V.. .March 
5, 1H34. James Tadder, the father of Charles, was a native of Connecticut, and a 
descendant of Mayflower slock, born in 1789, and served as an officer of the war of 
1H12 and sold his military grant in one of the Western States about IN.")T. He was one 
of the pioneers of Livingston county and made his home there until 1857. That 
year he removed to West I'nion, where he died in October, l.s<)l. The mother of 
Charles, Margaret Weedright, was a native of Strasburg, (iermaiiy, and married 
Mr. Tadder in 1827. They were the parents of seven sons and one daughter. Five 
of the sons did gallant service during the war, and only two of them are living — 
William, of Pittsburg, and George, now a successful inventor of the oil section of 



82 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEX COUNTY. 

Pennsylvania. Charles was educated in tlie common schools, and beinjj a sou of a 
mechanic, he took up mechanic's and iron-worker's trade. On September 10, 1872, 
he moved to Hornellsville, where he for eleven years and four months was superin- 
teudeiit of the moulding department of the Rawson foundry. He then went to 
Corning with Rawson &- Thatcher and spent three years in that city, and it was while 
there he contracted a cold which developed with most serious complications and 
caused his death September 13. .1887. He was married, Augu.st 24, 185G, to Miss 
Kate O'Donnell, of Livingston county, and they were the parents of five children: 
Arthur Charles, proprietor of the Parlor Grocery of Hornellsville; M. Sophronia, 
wife of Andrew Morris, of Hornellsville; George William, a railroad man of Chicago, 
111. ; Ada Winona, wife of Frank Allen Bateman, who died April 11, 1894, in 
Los Angeles, Cal. The fourth child, David Le Mur, died February 10, 1868, at four 
years of age. 

V Tuthill, Henry G., was born in the town of East Otto, Cattaraugus county, NY., in 
1833. Until nineteen years of age he continued to reside in the county and then 
went to Nunda, Livingston county, and learned the trade of a cabinetmaker. In the 
fall of 1856 he removed to Corning, where he became foreman in the extensive fur- 
niture establishment of W. F. Townley & Co. In 1857 he purchased a half interest 
in the business, and in the same year he married C. A. Townley. a sister of the pro- 
prietor. Disposing of his interest m the business, he returned to Nunda, and in 
September, 1861, raised a company of volunteers and was elected captain of Co. A. 
104th Jiegiment N.Y.Vols. This regiment was assigned to duty in General Duryea's 
brigade, and was engaged in most of the battles of the Army of the Potomac. He 
was severely wounded in the battles of Antietam and Gettj'sburg. In September, 
1862, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel for braverj' at the battle of 
Antietam. At the close of the war he was brevetted colonel of the regiment for long 
and meritorious services, he remaining in the service until October, 1866. In 1868 
was elected superintendent of the poor of Steuben county, serving three years. For 
a number of years he was superintendent of Walker & Lathrop's e.Ktensive .sash, door 
and blind factory, resigning his position to engage in a profession for which he had 
been preparing himself for a number of years, that of an architect. He is a very 
competent and thoroughly practical architect, and a member of the Western New 
York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and is achieving very gratify- 
ing success in his chosen profession. Among the notable buildings designed by him 
might be enumerated the Methodist Episcopal church, and magnificent stone resi- 
dence of Joseph A. Drake, of Corning, N. Y. He is the father of five sons, two of 
lliem being graduates of Cornell University, and are filling re.sponsible positions as 
teachers. In 1869 he organized the first G.A.R. Post in Corning and was elected its 
commander. He is a member of various societies, among which is Painted Po.st 
Lodge No. 117, F. & A. M., Red Men, Knights of Honor, A.O.U.W. and Knights and 
Ladies of Honor. His office is in the Ansorge block. Corning, N.Y. 

Van Wie, Mrs. Martha. — Jonas \'an Wie was born in Montgomery county, N. Y. . 
April 15, 1831. John Van Wie, his father, was a native of Montgomery, and was one 
of the early .settlers of that town. Jonas was educated in the common schools and 
began life as a farmer. In 1S.58 he married Martha, daughter of Ansel Ilowse. of 
Howard, and in 1865 he came to Bath and engaged in the grocery business, after- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. »3 

wards mamifacturinir cigars, in which he was engaged at the time of his death, which 
occurred July 21, 1S<S2. 

V'ickers, Jacob, was born in Nova Scotia, May 11. 1S48, where he resided until in 
his seventh year, when his father, who was superintendent of a coal mine on Cape 
Breton Island, moved to the United States and located in Canisteo, N. Y. He re- 
mained there about one year and moved to Hartsville, N.Y. His early life was spent 
on the farm. In April. 1875, he engaged in the mercantile business at that place. 
Was also appointed postmaster the same year, which capacity he served till 1880; 
was supervi.sor of the town two terms. In September, 1888, he engaged in the 
grocery business at Canisteo and moved to that place, where he has since resided. 
La'it January he bought out the insurance business of G. N. Strong, to which he at 
present devotes his entire time, which business includes the following well known 
companies; .^Jtna of Hartford, Phoeni.x of Hartford, Continental of New York, Ger- 
man American of New York, Orient of Hartford ; also the Travelers' Life and Acci- 
dent of Hartford. April 17, 1879, he married Ida E. Whiting, of Hartsville, N.Y., by 
whom he has one daughter, Nellie J. Mr. Vickers is identified with the Republican 
party, and has always taken an active i)art in church and Sunday school work. 

Banter, 1 )ewitt Clinton, .son of Marcus Banter, was born in Wheeler. Steuben 
county, N.Y. , in May, 1850, and at twenty-one years of age he started in business for 
himself, being assisted by his father at that time in the purchase of his present farm 
of 100 acres, to which he has since devoted his attention, has made many essential 
improvements, and accumulated a good property. In addition to his farm work he 
has developed an interest in horses, and speculated in this stock successfully fur a 
number of years. His special crop is potatoes, his farm being e.specially adajjtcd to 
the growing of that vegetable. In 1871 he married Julia, daughter of John Kckler, 
of Wheeler, and she died two years later. In 1875 he married for his second wife 
Manetta, daughter of Martin E. Hamblin. of Fremont. Steuben cr)unty, by whom he- 
had two children; Guy H. and Myrta Bell, 

McMindes, Prescott, was born in Jasper. April 2(1. 1841, son of Hiram and Dlive 
A. (Woodward) McMindes. Prescott McMindes was reared on a farm, after which he 
learned the carpenter trade, which business he followed for .some year.s. He now 
owns a farm of si.\ty acres and follows general farming. He is a Republican in 
politics, and has been constable. He is a member of the Moses Dennis Post of Jas- 
per, G.A.R. In 1H69 he married Fidelia Stephens, a native of Moravia, N.Y., daugh- 
ter of Marcus and Sarah (Stephens) Stephens, who came to Jasper about 1855, where 
they died. Mr. and Mrs. McMindes have three children; Ida, Fred and Fannie. 
Prescott McMindes enlisted, August 14, 18B1. in Co. K. 86th N.Y. Vols., and served 
three years. He was in the battles of Second Hull Run, August 80, 1862; Fredericks- 
burg, December 11 to 13, 1862; Chancellorsville, May, 18Gii; Beverly Ford, June 9, 
1863; Gettysburg, July 2 and '.i, 1863; was wounded on the 2d of July at the latter 
battle and sent to hospital at Baltimore. 

Miller, William J., was born in Oxford, Chenango county, March 29, 1828, a son of 
William B. and Jane (Walker) Miller, he a native of Vermont and she of Oxford. 
The grandfather, Josiah Miller, came to Chenango county from Vermont at a very 
early date, and went from there to Caton, Steuben county, where he died. The 



84 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

maternal grandfather, James Walker, was a son of Samuel Walker, a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. William B. came to Steuben county in 1832 and settled in Addi- 
son, but in 1833 went to Troupsburg, .wheie he remained eight years, then came to 
Woodhull, where he died in 1881, aged eighty-one years. His wife died in 1882, aged 
seventy-five years. William J. was reared on a farm at Troupsburg and educated in 
the common schools. He then engaged in farming and had a saw mill in McKean 
county, Pa. He came to Woodhull with his parents in 1841, and when thirty years 
old went to Troupsburg, where he resided for thirty-six years. In 1894 he returned 
to Woodhull, where he lives a retired life. He owns a farm of 297 acres. In Troup.s- 
burg he was justice of the peace, inspector of election, and overseer of the poor. He 
is a member of the Alliance and of the Grand Army. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. (J, 
188th N.Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war, being in six battles. In 1S47 
he married Cynthia Harder, by whom he had six children : Frank J., of Addison : 
Hiram J., of Troupsburg; Uaniel (deceased); Gaylord, of Ormo, Wis. ; Marv L. 
(deceased), and Niles K., of Troupsburg. Mrs. Miller died in 1871, and Mr. Miller 
married Eunice Moyer, daughter of T. Jefferson and Emily ((Jraves) Thompson, 
natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Miller has been notary public for a number of years. 
He never tofik a chew of tobacco, smoked a cigar, or drank a glass 'of beer. 

Williams, Mercy C. — D. H. Williams was born in Foster, R. I., August 14, IHKi. 
and is the oldest of six children born to George and Amy Bennett Williams, both of 
Rhode I.sland. In 1831 D. B. came to Chenango county, X. Y. , and in 1834 to Steu- 
ben county, his parents coming in 183r), and .settling in East Troupsburg. George 
Williams died in February, 1864, and Mrs. Williams in December, 1876. The father 
of George, the Rev. J. Williams, of Herkimer, N.Y., was one of the first to enlist in 
the Revolution and served all through the war. He preached his last sermon after 
he was 100 years old. The Rev. John Williams was a great-grandson of Roger 
Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. I). B. commenced farming in Troupsburg 
and in 1852 sold out and went West, but returned and bought a farm of 168 acres, 
which is now owned by Mrs. Williams, and where he resided until his death, which 
occurred January 16 1894. He was road commissioner two terms, and collector one 
term. In 1841 he married Mercy C, daughter of Jesse and Eunice Loomis Bartoo, 
-of Oxford, Chenango county. Mrs. Williams was the youngest of twelve children. 
Mr. and Mrs. Williams had eleven children; Alfred, of Canisteo; Jeremiah, of Cali- 
fornia: William H.. of Illinois; Mar)', wife of J. Chamberlain; Elsie A., wife of 
Curtis Hubbard, Potter county. Pa.; Ruth, wife of Nelson Darrin, now deceased; 
Daniel, jr., of Illinois; Moses J., a farmer of Troupsburg; John C, of Denver, Colo. ; 
Belle: and Lottie, wife of Ralph Carpenter, of Tnmpsburg. 

Miller, Charles L., was born at Wellsboro, Pa., in 1860. Delos Miller, his father, 
led a very active business life, being a contractor and bookkeeper, and at last en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. He was a wagon master in the civil war, enlist- 
ing in Co. K, 147th Regt. of Pennsylvania Vols., and being in active service for 
three years. He died in 1868. He had one other son. Archie, who died in childhood. 
Charles Miller was educated at Stony Fork, Pa., but before coming to Addison he 
took a course at Allen's Business College, Mansfield, Pa. He was employed at West- 
field, Pa., in 1882 as tclegr;q)her for the Addison and Pennsylvania Railroad, which 
was built that year, making Mr. Miller the first operator on the road. He was then 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 85 

twenty two years of ajje, but filled the responsible position with rare ability. Two 
years later he came to Addison and has been train dispatcher here ever since. In 
IS88 he married Lottie Bartle. He joined Addison Fire Department soon after com- 
ing to Addison, and has always taken an active part in iire matters. 

Ordway, Franklin D., was born March 23, 1862. He was reared on a farm and ed- 
ucated in the common schools and the Elmira Academy. He now rents a farm of 
140 acres and carries on a general farming. July 2S, 1886, Mr. Ordway married 
Nancy M., daughter of Abram and Maria (Deck) Walworth, natives of Herkimer and 
Steuben counties, respectively. They have two children: Wyan H., born November 
«, 188it. and A. Maria, born September 2(l, 1892. Charles W. Ordway, father of 
Franklin U., was born April 27, 1832, and March 31, 1859, he married Serena Dennis, 
by whom he had two children: Franklin I), and Ella G., whr) was born February 27, 
1866. and died March 2. 1881. 

Leach. Ephraim, was born in the town of Eaton. Madison county, N. Y., Novem- 
ber 13. 1823. and is the seventh of ten children born to Ephraim and Sarah H. (Co- 
nantl Leach, natives of Massachusetts, who came to Eaton, Madison county, being 
pioneers there, and where they died, he in 188."), aged ninety-four years, and she in 
1834. The patern-il grandfather Leach lived and died at Hridgewater, Mass., where 
he was a farmer. The maternal grandfather, Oliver Conant. also lived and died in 
Mas>.achusetts. Ejihraini Leach settled on the farm he now owns in the southwestern 
part of Troupsburg in 1844, and, excepting one year which he spent in Wisconsin, 
has resided there since. He has two farms, one of 112 acres where he resides, and 
another near by of 108 acres. He has filled the office of assessor. He married Rox- 
anna Potter of Troupsburg, who died, and in 1860 he married Margaret, daughter of 
.Mon/.o and Clarinda Hendricks, who came from Greene to Chenango county where 
they engaged in farming. Mrs. Hendricks died in 1881, aged sixty-eight years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Leach have one daughter. Sarah H., and one son. Ephraim. who died in 
1877. aged nine years. 

Baily, Devoe. was horn in Troupsburg, in 1848, and is the son of T. W. and Jane 
fBishop) Baily. The grandparents. Stephen and Hulda (Whitney) Kailv, were natives 
of Orange county. N. Y.. he born January 11, 176."), and she in 1769. T. W. Baily 
was twice married, first to Esther Cole, by whom he had three children. .She died in 
18.3.5. and in 1839 he married Jane, daughter of Charles and Betsey (Harder) Bishop, 
he of Little Falls, and she from near Albany. Stephen A. Baily, brother of Devoe, 
was first lieutenant of Company H. 86th N. Y. Yols.. wounded at Fort Steadman, 
front of IVlersburg, and died in general hospital on David's Island, New York Har- 
bor, April 8, 1865, and buried in Young Hickory cemetery. He was twenty-five 
years of age, and the G. A. R. Post at Troupsburg is named in his honor. T. W. 
Baily came to Barrington. Yates county, and thence to Troupsburg in 1833 where he 
died. He located first at West Troupsburg. where he engaged in farming and mer- 
cantile business, and in 1862 came to Young Hickory where he engaged in farming 
and milling business, and was also postmaster more than twenty years. He died in 
1893. and Mrs. Baily still resides at Young Hickory. Devoe Baily was educated at 
Troupsburg Academy, and has always made farming and milling his principal occu- 
pation. He now works the homestead farm and has the mill built bv his father. In 



86 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1872 he married Aurilla, daughter of Randall and Olive (Card) Cady of Troupsburg, 
by whom he had two children : Lela J., of Knoxville, and Minnie B. , wife of Silas 
Lewis. They also have two adopted sons, Fred and Willie D. Mr. Cady died May 
25, 1888, and his wife in 185-. 

Brundage, H. W , was born at North Urbana, October 'i. 1843. James Hrundage, 
his father, was a native of Painted Post. He married the daughter of Erastus Fol- 
som, and was identified as a farmer. He died in April, 1880, in his eighty-second 
year. H. W. Brundage was engaged in farming until 1881, when he moved to Bath 
and engaged in the mercantile business, groceries, crockery, boots and shoes; in 1876 
he married Flora P. Warner, who for several years was a teacher in Haverling school. 
Mr. Brundage is one of the conservative men of his town, elected county superinten- 
dent of the poor for two terms of three years each, and in 1884 was elected village 
trustee and in 1895, mayor. 

Tanner, John H., was born in Bath, Steuben county, N. Y,, February 6, 1851, and 
is the only living child of Amos and Cornelia Schoonmaker Tanner, natives of Pulte- 
ney and Eastern New York. The paternal grandparents, John and Vmnie Edgett 
Tanner, were pioneer settlers of Pulteney, where he lived and died : \'innie died at 
the home of Amos in Bath. Amos was born in 1804, and married Sallie Gay, of 
Pulteney, and later came to Bath, where Mrs. Tanner died. For his second wife he 
married Cornelia Schoonmaker, by whom he had two children; John H. and Sallie J. 
Mrs. Tanner died in 1863. Mr. Tanner married the third time, Mary Olmstead, and 
she died in June, 1882, and Mr. Tanner, in 1877. Mr. Tanner came to Troupsburg 
in 1861 and settled on a farm, where he remained until his death. He was a strong- 
abolitionist, and assisted in freeing the slaves. He was a deacon of the church at 
Towlesville and at Troupsburg for a long time. In politics he was a Republican, 
and justice of the peace for many years. John H. was educated in Troupsburg and 
Woodhull Academies, and commenced his business career as a farmer on the home- 
stead, has been in the stock business, and traveled two years in the interest of N. H. 
Miller's School of Commerce, in building up the Hornellsville Branch. In 1882 he 
bought a farm in Troupsburg, where he now resides. He rents the farm and travels 
in the interest of Victor Ha.ssher's Marble and Granite Works, at Corning. Mr. 
Tanner married, in 1872, Mary E. Benton, of Troupsburg, and they have four chil- 
dren: Amos B. , Mary, Lelia, and John H. jr. Mrs. Tanner died Decembers. 1885. 
For his second wife he married Florence, daughter of Henry and Emma Klice Ed- 
gett, who was born in Prattsburg, N. Y. , December 14, 18.54, and they have one 
daughter Emma. 

Van Scoy, Mrs. Margaret, is the widow of the late Harrison Van Scoy, who was of 
(ierman descent, and came here at seventeen years of age, following the occupation 
of a lumberman. He was vestryman in the Church of the Redeemer, a zealous and 
faithful worker in all that effected the upbuilding of his church, and much of its 
material prosperity was due to his efforts, which were untiring. In 1851 he married 
Margaret, daughter of the late James Wilson of Binghamton, who was of Scotch de- 
scent and a farmer. She has no children, but cherishes the memory of her beloved 
husband and revered father who died September 17, 1887, being taken ill while on a 
visit here, which was quite an undertaking for one ninety years of age. Mr. Van 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 87 

Scoy died July 4, 1893, having just completed his allotment of three score years and 
ten of a life as unassuming as it was full of integrity and usefulness. 

\'an Sickle, John M., was born in the town of Reddington, Hunterdon county. 
New Jersey, December 13, 1820. Andrew Van Sickle, the father of John, was also 
a native of New Jersey, born in the .same county, March 23, 1797, and took up farm- 
ing as an occupation. In 1822 he emigrated to New York State and located in Lan- 
.sing. 'romi)kins county, where he lived for eight years, and in 1830 moved to Green- 
wood. Steuben county, where he had a large farm of 330 acres, and made his home 
the balance of his life, dying ttiere. November 6, 1848. He was a man who devoted 
his whole life to his home and his family. The mother of John, Ellenor Melick, was 
also a native of New Jersey, born September 12, 1799, died April 6, 1867. They had 
six children of which John M. was the second son, and is the only one living. He 
was educated in the common schools and Alfred Universitv, and soon began to as- 
sist on the homestead farm. At twenty-three years of age he bought a farm of 112 
acres in the town of Alfred, where he made his home for twenty years, increasing 
his possessions by purchase until he owned about 350 acres. In 1864 he sold his farm. 
In 1863 he removed to Hornellsville where he was enabled to have the comforts of a 
village and still attend to his duties. He had farmed long enough, as the sorrows of 
his homestead made him desirous of getting away from the associations that brought 
them to mind. Since coming here he has been interested in the planing mill about 
two years, the grocery trade about one year, and had a small farm near here for three 
years. He has now retired from all active business and is now taking the u ell de- 
served rest his early manhood earned for him. He was married in Allegany county, 
N. Y. , July 4, 1842, to Ethyliuda, daughter of Uriah Nichols of Massachusetts. They 
have been the parents of three children ; Robert L. Van Sickle, born July 20, 1843, 
educated at Alfred University and gave promi.se of being an honor to the name, when 
he was called up higher, November 23, 1863. Charles A., born May 29, 1848, is a 
railroad man of Batavia. Emma, the youngest child, was born January 18, 1858, and 
died August 20. 1863. Another bereavement for Mr. Van Sickle has been added to 
his lot. as his partner of life's joys and sorrows was taken from him August 1, 1892, 
leaving him to plod the balance of life's journey alone. 

Wilcox. Bradford, was born in Campbell, January 1, 1840. Isaac Wilcox, his father, 
was born in Vermont, near the Green Mountains, and came to Chenango countv in 
1815, with his father, Archibald Wilcgjs. He moved from Chenango county with 
Culuey Balcom, when eighteen years of age, and lirst settled in Curtis. He married 
Margaret Tanner of Campbell, by whom he had three children; Bradford, Jane, and 
John T. Mr. Wilcox was educated in the district .schools of Curtis. He is a farmer 
and engineer, and now owns a farm of ninety-three acres. He married Frances 
I'arker, of Bridgeport, Conn., by whom he had one son, Edwin C. Wilcox. 

Windsor, Francis, father of Charles B., was a native of New York citv, and at 
the time ef his death in Augu.st, 1861, he was living on his farm near Railway. N. J. 
Charles, who was the third son of a family of seven children, was educated by private 
tutors and at Canandaigua Academy, and after leaving .school was engaged in the 
insurance business in Geneva, New York city, and later in Pittsburg, going from 
there to Kansas, in 1872 returning, and was for a time a resident of Canaseraga and 



88 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

traveling throughout the State as a special agent of insurance companies. In 18S'> 
he located in Hornellsville and established a general insurance agency, which busi- 
ness he is still following. In 18S9 he married Cirace A. Noble, daughter of William 
E. S. Noble of Prattsburg, this county, by whom he had one child, Burtis Noble 
Windsor, now five years of age. 

Wheeler, Oscar, was born in the town of Troy, Bradford county. Pa., August 10, 
1858. Oscar was the fourth son of a family of eight children of Stephen Wheeler, a 
farmer of that county. He was given a common school education which he has im- 
proved by reading and study. He remained with his parents on the homestead until 
eighteen years of age and was then employed with different farmers until twenty- 
three, when he was married. In 1877 he came to Hornellsville, and after his mar- 
riage he rented the farm of seventy two acres on Lot No. 3, town of Hornellsville. 
He still rents the farm, and January 1, 1894, he bought the Thomas Bennett farm of 
100 acres on Lot No. 'i, twenty acres of which he sold and the balance he is conduct- 
ing for the production of potatoes principally. He is a member of the Methodist 
church of Arkport, also a member of Arkport Grange, No. 179, of which he is an 
officer, and a member of the Equitable Aid Union. He was married March 1. 1883, 
to Delia, youngest daughter of John and Lovina Travess Morgan. They have three 
children; Sybil, Carl, and Merritt. 

Willis, William H. , was born in the town of Bath, May 30, 183a, .son of Harry Willis, 
who was horn in Connecticut, October 12, 1804, and was the son of William Willis, 
who was also born in Connecticut. Their ancestors lived on the old Charter Oak 
farm, where the charter of Connecticut was hid. The family came to Bath in 1820, 
.settling near the town line between Bath and Howard, where they cleared a farm of 
370 acres. The father and grandfather both died on this place. Harry Willis mar- 
ried Eunice Hern, of Howard, and they had eight children: Philander G., Leander 
v., William H., Henry, Ellen, James, Sophia, and George. At the present time 
only four are living. William H. was educated in the public schools and Alfred 
Academy, and is a farmer by occupation. He has a farm of 100 acres of fine im- 
proved land. He married Nancy, daughter of Major John W. Whiting, of Howard. 
Thev had four children ; Clarence, a lawyer of Bath, who read law with C. F. 
Kingsley, of Bath, was admitted to the bar in 1878, and has been practicing ever 
since; Sarah W., who married A. T. Abbey of Watkins. and they had one child; 
John W., who married Emma J. Wyckoff, of Hath, and Angeline, who married A. J. 
McKibbin, of Howard. Mr. Willis has held the office of supervisor for two years. 
He is a member of the M. K. church. Mrs. Willis died September 20, 1894. 

Wakeman, Dr. Bertis Rupert, was born in the city of Hornellsville, July 12, 1867. 
Bennett Wakeman, his father, was a native of Harpersville, Broome county. Dur- 
ing the war, he served in the navy until 18(i5, coming in the following year to Hor- 
nellsville, where he received an appointment as tireman on the Susquehanna Divis- 
ion of the Erie Railway. After serving in that capacity for six years he was given 
charge of an engine and is now one of the leading engineers on the road. In 18.57 
he married Bethiah M. Edson, a native of Otsego county, and of this union the 
doctor is the only living child. Young Wakeman began his education in the Hor- 
nellsville Academy, from which he graduated in 1880, and immediately became u 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 89 

student at Cdi'iiuU University. With a view towards his subsequent niedieal career, 
lie took a seieiitifie course and graduated with honors, obtaining the degree of B. S. 
in 1889. The following year was spent in Minnesota, and was aljout equally divided 
between teaching school in a Scandinavian district near Glencoe. McLeod county, 
and reportorial work on one of the pr< minent Diilulh daily newspajicrs. In the fall 
of l.S9(l. he became a medical student at Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, 
from which he graduated with the degree of M.l). in 1893. Throughout the inter- 
vening three years, he was one of the collaborators on the Foster Encyclopedic 
Medical Dictionary, being in charge of the departments of comparative anatimiy, 
zoology, pharmacy and chemistry. After graduation he was one of the successful 
candidates in the competitive examination for positions on the house staff in the 
h »spital connected with the college, and also received the appointment of ambulance 
surgeon from the Brooklyn Board of Health. In the early part of April, 1894, after 
having spent a year in the above positions, Ur. Wakenian located in Hornellsville, 
where he has built up an extensive and successful practice. In June, 1894, he was 
elected a member of the attending staff of St. James Mercy Hospital, and in the fol- 
lowing September received the appointment as consulting surgeon to the Steuben 
Sanitarium. With the beginning of 189.'», he was appointed surgeon to the Krie 
Railway. He is a corresponding member of the King's County (N. Y.) Medical So- 
ciety, President of the Steuben County Medical Society, Fellow of the As.sociation of 
Erie Railway Surgeons, and a member of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical 
Association. 

Willis, Clarence, was born in Ht)ward, July ijl, 1802. His father, William H., was 
born in the town of Bath, May SO, 1832, and his father, Harry Wyllys, was a native 
of Tolland, Tolland county. Conn., and the family trace their descent from William 
Wyllys, who settled in Connecticut in 165U. William H. Willis married Nancy, 
daughter of Major John Whiting, who was prominent in the affairs of the town, hav- 
ing received his commission as major under Dewitt Clinton in 1827. William H. 
Willis was a farmer by occupation and held the offices of supervisor and asses-or. 
Clarence Willis graduated from Haverling Academy in 1871, then began the study 
of law with Ruggles &: Little and later with Charles F. Kingsley, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1878. In 1881 he was elected justice of the peace, and in 1890 police 
justice, which position he still holds. In 1890 he married Mary A., daughter of Jacob 
Billington. Mr. Willis is prominently identified in the I. O. O. F. and A. P. l). D. 
G. M. of Steuben county. He has been a member of the Board of Education tor 
seven years, and is vestryman in the St. Thomas Episcopal church. He received 
the honorary degree of A. B. from Hobart College in June, 189.'). 

Wolcott, John E. , was born in the old town of Painted Post, in 18:i , son of Samuel 
K. and Hannah (McNulty) Wolcott. -The father was one of the Forty-niners who 
went to California and died there. Mr. Wolcott has resided at his present [jJace for 
thirty years. He has 110 acres, and makes a specialty of breeding and raising 
horses. In IH."),") he married Phiebe E. Berry, who was born on the place where lliey 
now live. She is a daughter of Samuel F. Berry and a sister of Attorney-Cieneral 
Berry of Minnesota Her parents were pioneers in the town of Catoii, and died 
there. They have on', child, Edward E., who is in business at Joilet, Illinois. 



90 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Willets, Edward F., was born in Ledyard, Cayuga county, N. Y., January 16, 
1838, of Quaker parentage, the youngest son of a family of six children of Abram 
Willetts, a native of Queens county, who spent his last days on his farm in Cayuga 
county; he was educated in the common schools and Poplar Ridge Semmary, and 
his first occupation was in mechanical pursuits, which he followed for five years and 
then engaged in the mercantile business at Lake Ridge, Tompkins county, and later 
in Fleming, Cayuga county. From there in 1857 he went to Angelica, Allegany 
county, where he was engaged in the lumbering business, and then in the milling 
business in Belmont, both grain and saw mill, until 1877, when he went to Bradford 
in the oil industry, and in 188o came to Hornellsville, continuing in the oil business. 
His political record includes four years as supervisor of Amity, Allegany county, 
and four years supervisor in the city of Hornellsville. In 1892 he was elected mayor 
of the city of Hornellsvile. the first Republican mayor of that city, and re-elected in 
1894, filling the office with satisfaction to his friends and constituents. He has 
■always been a Republican, and was revenue collector five years while a resident of 
Allegany county. In 1856 he married Amelia Smith, of Ledyard, Cayuga county. 

Waters. Almon, was born in the town of Horicon, Warren county, N. Y. , Febru- 
ary 37, 1837, and settled in Cameron in 1858. He is a son of Howard and Laurie 
(Putnam) Waters. He married Agnes, a daughter of George and Marian (Cuthill) 
Wream, who were natives of Scotland and residents of Schuylkill county. Pa. Mr. 
and Mrs. Waters have four children; Carrie A., Clayton H., Miriam L. , and Robert 
J., all school teachers except Miriam. Carrie A. attended school in Bath and is a 
graduate of Elmira College. Almon Waters is an active worker in the North Cam- 
eron Grange and was one of its early masters, and is at the present time overseer of 
the town and county Grange. He has been assessor of the town for six years and 
was supervisor in 1891. 

Williams, Francis A., was born at Prattsburg, March 25, 1834. He graduated 
from the Univer.sity of Rochester in 1860, then was principal of the academy at 
Wellsville, N. Y. , and afterwards of the academy at Port Byron, N. Y. In 1863 he 
was admitted to the bar at the General Term of the Supreme Court held at Roches- 
ter in December, 1863, and commenced the practice of his profession at Corning in 
January, 1864, and is still in active practice. In 1865 he was elected justice of the 
peace and held that office until January, 1870, afterwards he was assistant district 
attorney of the county, and in 1889 was the Democratic candidate for county judge 
of the county but was defeated by Hon. Harlo Hakes. In 1862 he married L. -Jane, 
the daughter of Solomon Clark of Hammondsport, a graduate of the Mt. Holyoke 
Seminary, by whom he has had five children; Mary, an A. B. , from the University 
of Michigan, and now a teacher in Lake Erie Seminary at Painesville, Ohio; Francis 
C, a lawyer practicing at Corning, and a graduate from the Univer.sity of Rochester 
in 1888 ; Clarke Benedict, a graduate from Princeton in 1890, a student for two years 
at Leipsic, Germany, and now professor of mathematics at Kalamazoo College, 
Michigan; Jane, an A. B., and gi-aduated from Wellesley College'in 1894, and now 
instructor in psychology and English at Lake Erie Seminary; and Elizabeth, now a 
student at Lake Erie Seminary, Painesville, Ohio. 

Wettlin, William A., was born in Rochester, May 14, 1807. Daniel Wcttlin, his 



FAMILY SKKT0IIK3. 91 

father, was a native of Germany, coming to this country with liis parents when a lad 
of fourteen or fifteen. His jjeople located in Rochester and Uaniel learned the 
florist's trade, which he followed until the last two years, and is now living retired 
in Newark, New Jersey. He removed to Uornellsville in 1879, when he bought the 
green-house and flower gardens established here by Lewis T. Charles in 1878. 
William was educated in the city schools of Rochester and Hornellsville and grew up 
with his business. In 1889 his father left Hornellsville and located in Newark and 
William has since conducted the l)usiness alone. The green-house of his occupation 
has 10,00(1 square feet of glass and forcing beds outside. He is the leading florist of 
this city. The last three years Mr. Wettlin has made many very valuable improve- 
ments and rebuilt the whole establishment. His sole interests are with his business. 
He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity l"or three years, and Hornellsville 
Lodge No. 331. 

Waldorf, George A., was born in the town of Riclimond, Schoharie county, N. Y., 
April 13, 1852, the oldest son of George E. Waldorf, at that time a farmer and deputy 
sheriff of Schoharie county. George was educated in the common schools, and his 
first occupation after leaving school was with the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co. 
Railroad, as ,brakeman for two years, then became baggageman, and for fifteen 
years as conductor on a Pullman car. In 1874 he came to Hornellsville to engage 
with the Pullman Company, and on his returning from railroad service he took up 
the business we now find him in. In 1883 he bought out the interests of F. J. Hutch- 
inson of the jewelry firm of Hutchinson & Cobb, jilacing Cobb in charge. The store 
is now located in the old Crane Bank building. He was married at the age of seven- 
teen to Miss Ella J. Slater of Schoharie county. They have two sons: Edwin D. 
Waldorf, who is in the store, and Milo W. Waldorf, machinist and foreman in the 
Merrill Fabric Glove Company. 

Westlake, Harrison, was born at Horselieads, N. V., December 6, 1S22, sou of 
John E. Westlake, the well known lumberman, and nephew of Col. Jacob West- 
lake. John E. came to Addison about 18.")"), engaging in a mercantile business, 
and was the builder of the brick block comprising the Wyckoff Hotel and 
stores. Harrison Westlake has now retired from active life, having been largely en- 
gaged in farming besides keeping a general store at Horseheads and Addison, with 
real estate interests. February 14, 1843, he married Sophia Humphrey, of Hor.se- 
heads, and they have one son, John A., who was formerly a phy.sician at Elmira, 
where he held the position of coroner, but is now managing a sanitarium near Wash- 
ingto;i, D. C. Mr. and Mrs. Westlake are implicit believers in Siiiritualisni, and he 
has quite a local reputation as a healer of disease, 

Waldo, Lucius A., was born in Otsego county, October 24, 1825. Erastus G. 
Waldo, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and came to this State at an early 
day and settled in Otsego county. He died in Steuben county, in Prattsburg, aged 
eighty- one years. He was a merchant, keeping a general store. Lucius A. Waldo 
was also a merchant, starting in business at twenty-four years of age in Allegany 
county, where he remained for two years, and then came to Canisteo, where he car- 
ried on that business for twenty-five years, and in the meantime was conducting a 
lumber and stave business, and at the present time is conducting a farm of 103 acres 



92 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and lumbering. March 5, 1801, he married Emeline M. Southworth, who died April 
21, 1880, and for his second wife he married Jennie Lewis, of Prattsburg, Steuben 
county, by whom he liad one son, Lucius A. Waldo, jr., who was born March 30, 
188:1 Mr. Waldo was supervisor of Canisteo for three terms, and was the first presi- 
dent of the village after it was incorporated, which office he held for three terms. 
He was elected county clerk in 1848 for one term. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. Morning Star Lodge No. 65, of Cani.steo, and was master for nine years; 
also has been a Knight Templar for a number of years. 

Wallace, Joseph W. , was born in the town of Hartsville, February 11', 1847, son of 
Nathaniel Wallace. Joseph was reared on a farm and was educated in the coramcm 
schools. He followed farming for some years; was also engaged in buying and sell- 
ing stock, wagons and wool. He has traveled the Western States quite extensively 
as salesman ; spent about two years in the oil fields of Pennsylvania and New York. 
In 1882 he engaged in the drug business at Jasper, N. Y., with Dr. E. E. Wallace, 
under the firm name of Dr. E. E. Wallace & Bro., which was continued for five 
years, when he purchased the doctor's interest in the business and added a full line 
of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. Mr. Wallace was appointed postmaster 
under Harrison, June 15, 1889, and resigned the office March 6, 1893. The vacancy 
was filled November 9, 1893. Mr. Wallace is a member of the Morning Star Lodge 
No. 65, F. & A. M., Canisteo, N. Y. In December, 1887, he married Edith K. Ellis 
of Arkport, N. Y., by whom he has one son, Sheldon E. Wallace, born June 4, 1891. 

Lamson, Leonard S. , was born in Jasper, May 0, 1844. He was the second of a 
family of eight children born to Sylvester and Sarah (Dennis) Lamson. Sylvester 
was born in Hadley, Mass., November 10, 1819. Mrs Lamson was born in Han- 
cock, N. H., December 4, 1820. Charles, grandfather of Leonard S. , was also a 
native of Hadley, Mass., and came to Jasper at a very early date, where he was engaged 
in farming. The family is of English descent and trace their ancestry back to 
Thomas Dennis, of Ipswich, England, who came to America in 1638. Sylvester 
Lamson was a farmer and came to Jasper when six years old, and lived and died on 
the farm his father settled on. He died September 20, 1873, and Mrs. Lam.son now 
resides on the old homestead with her son, Arthur S. Leonard S. was reared on the 
old homestead and educated at Alfred University. While at school he enlisted in 
the 16th Heavy Artillery in January, 1864, and served until the close of the war. He 
was detailed as clerk at post headquarters under Gen. B. F. Tracy at Elmira, N. Y. 
At the close of the war he engaged in farming and followed it for twenty years. He 
then came to Woodhull and purchased a farm of 180 acres, and soon after purchased 
the saw, planing, and feed mill, and has been in partnership with George W. Bartle. 
Mr. Lamson was assessor of Jasper for three years and supervisor of Woodhull in 
1890-91. He is a member of J. N. Warner Post No. 565 and Woodhull Tent No. 174, 
K. O. T. M. January 33, 1864, Mr. Lamson married Clara A., daughter of Philo and 
Eliza Millard, of Statkey, Yates county. Mr. and Mrs. Millard came to Woodhull in 
1850, where Mrs. Millard died. Mr. and Mrs. Lamson had four children: George 
R. , born June 3, 1869, graduated from Geneseo Normal School in 1894, now teaches 
at Almond, N. Y. ; Fred L. , born December 9, 1870, educated in Rochester Univers- 
ity, married Delia Hathaway, of Woodhull; Anna E., born February 7, 1874, a stu- 
dent at Rochester Free Academy; and Clara L. , born August 13, 1883, now at home. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 93 

Heermans, Harry C. , was born at Fellowsville, Preston county, West Virginia, 
June 3, 1852, son of John Heermans (now deceased) and Nancy Heermans, natives 
of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, and grandneiihew of Joseph Fellows. He moved 
to Corning with his parents in ISO."), in 1870 graduated from the Corning Free Acad- 
emy, and in 1875 from Wesleyan University, classical course. In 1875-7G-77 he read 
law in the office of Brown &• Hadden of Corning but was never admitted to the bar. 
In 1876 he became identified with the affairs of the Fellows estate, acting as confi- 
dential clerk of his father who was then trustee; acting in this capacity for several 
years until the closing up of its affairs. In 1877 witli Thomas Lawrence he secured 
a thirty years lease of the Corning Water Works system, and since that time has 
been a successful manager of these works. In 1882 Mr. Heermans became a mem- 
ber of the wholesale and retail drug firm of Heermans & Co., in Corning. Since 1886 
has been president of the Ontario Land Co., of Minnesota, which has been very suc- 
cessful from its organization, and now controls large properties in various States of 
the Union. In 188fi he was supervisor of the town of Corning on the Republican 
ticket and was re-elected in 1887, acting as chairman of the board for that year. He 
became identified with the Corning Fire Department in 1881, and acted as chief of 
the department for several years. Has been president of the Corning Library As- 
sociation since 1887. He has large landed interests in the State of Washington and 
for several years has spent a portion of his time in that State Since 1893 he has 
been president of the Greigsville Salt and Mining Company of Scranton. Pa. In 
1878 he married Ella, daughter of Abijah Weston of Painted Post, N. Y., who died 
in 1880. In 1885 he married Annie L., daughter of Edward Townsend of Erwin, by 
whom he had four children: Ruth, Joseph, Jerome, and Helen De Kay. In 1870 he 
acted as city engineer of the village of Corning, and in 1881 w-as engaged by the vil- 
lage to preiiare plans for a complete system of sewers. Agitation upon this question 
followed, and in 1880 appropriations were made for the con.struction of a system of 
sewers for the village under these plans In 1880 he made plans for the construc- 
tion of the Wellsboro, Pa., Water Works, and had charge of the construction of 
the same. In 1887, as village engineer, he had charge of the plans and construc- 
tion of the pavements of the village. He acted as village engineer until 18i)0, in 
which year he was absent in the West. He was re-elected city engineer of Corning 
in 1893, and is now (1895) acting in that capacity. In 1893 he and his partner con- 
structed a fine brick block at the corner of Erie avenue and Pine street in Corning, 
where the offices of the Water Company are now located. In 1893 Mr. Heermans 
planned and constructed a system of water works for the village of Westfield, Pa. 
Politically Mr. Heermans has been a life long Repulilican. 

Bruen, Arthur N., was born at Rockaway. Morris county, N. J., Octol)er 29, 1850, 
son of James II. and Emily T. (Kclsey) Bruen, he a native of Madison, N. J., and she 
of Tennessee. The grandfather, Alexander Bruen, lived and died in Madison, N. J. 
James H. Bruen, father of Arthur N., was reared on a farm and in early life learned 
the tinsmith's trade, and was very successful. He retired from the tin and hardware 
business in April. 1878, aad was succeeded by his elder son, James Wright Bruen, in 
company with William E, Bunnell, and the business is now continued under the firm 
name of Bruen &• Bunnell, plumbing, hardware and coal business being included. 
He was twice member of assembly, and the second time was endorsed by both 



94 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

tickets, being one of the leading citizens of the village. He was for many years 
treasurer and trustee of the Presbyterian church and later one of the elders. His 
wife was a daughter of John B. Kelsey, a native of New Jersey, who excepting 
four years in California and a short time in Tennessee, lived in New Jersey, where 
he died at eighty-eight years of age. His wife was Delia Conger, a native of New 
Jersey, where she lived and died. They had fifteen children, of whom thirteen lived 
to have families of their own. James H. Bruen, father of Arthur, died in May, 1885, 
and his wife lives in Rockaway. Arthur N. was reared in Rockaway, and at four- 
teen years of age went to the academy at Morristown, was graduated from this place 
in 1867, after which he worked one year at home. In September, 1868, he entered 
Princeton College, from which he was graduated in 1872, after which he entered 
Princeton Theological Seminary, where he remained until the winter of 1873, when 
he went to New York city and engaged in work for the American Tract Society until 
July, 1873. In September of the same year he re-entered Princeton Seminary, com- 
pleted that year and spent the vacation in missionary work in Ontario, Canada, hav- 
ing charge of two churches, and then went to New York city and entered the Union 
Theological Seminary. In Febi-uarj', 1875, he went to California with his parents 
and returned in August of the same year and was graduated from the Union Theo- 
logical Seminary in 1876. He was invited to come to Jasper as a candidate for min- 
ister in the Presbyterian church, and May 21, 1876, he settled in Jasper and took 
charge of the church, also of the HedgesviUe church at at Talbot Creek (North Jas- 
per). He remained in Jasper three years and then located in HedgesviUe, and had 
charge there and at Elk Creek in Woodhull. also had services in Woodhull village. 
In 1881 he left HedgesviUe and retvirned to Ja.sper (but continued .services at Elk 
Creek, and during that time a church, valued at §2,000, was built), where he has since 
lived. In 1882 he retired from the ministry and had a store in Jasper for about five 
years. He has dealt largely in real estate and at present owns considerable in the 
town. He has been superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school for six years. 
He was a member of the A.O.U.W., al.so of the I.O.G.T. April 7, 1880, he married 
Carrie E. Metcalf, a native of Jasper, and a daughter of Uri Metcalf, and Mattie R. 
Drake, he a native of Ulster county, N. Y., and she of Jasper. N.Y. He was born 
October 21, 1822, died July 31, 1865, and his widow married Andrew Murphy, a mer- 
chant of Jasper. Mr. and Mrs. Bruen have si.\ children; Mattie E., born June 8, 
1881; Harvey M. : bom April 26, 1884; Myra K., born October 18, 1885; Charles A., 
born August 18, 1887; Hugh W., born December 6, 1889; and Irene M., born July 
1, 1893. 

Truesdell, Joseph R. (deceased), was born in the town of Guilford, Chenango 
county, N.Y., January 24, 1825. George A. Truesdell, his father, was in early life a 
teacher and later settled down as a farmer. Joseph, the eldest of a family of si.\ 
children, spent his boyhood on the old homestead farm, and was educated in the 
common schools and Gilbertsville Academy, and was yet a young man in his teens 
when he entered the medical department of the New York College. Graduated at 
twenty-one years of age, he began the practice of his chosen profession in Pharsalia, 
Chenango county, where he remained until 1848. That year he removed to South 
New Berlin and was engaged in the practice of his profession there until 1852. In 
October of that year he located in Hornellsville where he established a practice that 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 95 

was destined to make him one of the leading practitioners of this count)'. In 185i) 
he retired from active service and became a partner with Ezra Bowen in a drug store 
where the store of Carney &• Sharp is now located, and about lSO;i Mr. Truesdell 
bought the Alley store, known as the Blue Front store. The firm of Bowen He Trues- 
dell continued until I8S1, when Mr. Bowen sold his interest, Mr. Truesdell continu- 
ing alone until 1X84. when he sold to Kennedy &: Son. On his retiring from the drug 
store he gave up all active business and lived a retired Hfe until his death, which oc- 
curred July 2H, 1S!)3. Mr. Truesdell was a member of the Presbyterian church and a 
maa who always commanded the utmost respect of the whole community. In 1848 
he married Rebecca Mathewson, of South New Berlin, who died April 17, 1879, 
leaving two daughters. Ella M. and Josephine M., who still occupy the old family 
residence on Broad street. 

Ringrose, Thomas, was born in Prattsburg, December 31, 1887. John Ringrose, 
his father, was born in England m 1796, one of three children. At fourteen years of 
age he was apprenticed to learn a trade, but at seventeen years he came to the 
United States, coming direct to Geneva, N.Y., where he worked on a farm for three 
years for ten dollars per month. He then went to Canandaigua, where he lived until 
1834, when he removed to the town of Prattsburg and purchased a farm of 170 
acres, which he cleared and where he lived until 1870, when he removed to the vil- 
lage of Prattsburg and purchased a small farm f)f forty-five acres and here spent his 
remaining days. He married Esther, daughter of Dennis Herrick, of New England, 
by whom he had four children: Thomas, John, Lucy and Victoria (deceased). 
Thomas Ringrose has spent his life chiefly in the farming business; from 1858 to 1867 
he spent his winters in the lumber woods of Michigan, on contract work, working a 
large crew of men, and his summers were spent on his father's farm in Prattsburg, 
which he rented. At his father's death he came into possession of both of the home- 
steads, to which he has added, and now owns si.x farms of over 500 acres. In 1894 he 
erected and conducted a jjlaning mill, and in 1895 he added a saw mill. He was one 
of the original stockholders of the Kanona & Prattsburg Railroad, to which he con- 
tributed several hundred dollars. In December, 1867, he married Mary, daughter of 
John and Lucy Ann (Allerton) Koon, by whom he had five children: Charles L., 
John F. , Ester A., Thomas E. and Mary B. 

Miller, J. B., was born in Addison, N.V., April 11, 1849, son of Andrew and Orinda 
(Eldredge) Miller, she of Nelson, Pa., and he of O.xford, Chenango county. They 
came to Addison about 1848, and in a few years went to WoodhuU, where Mr. Miller 
died in 1871, and his wife in May, 1893. J. B. Miller was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools. He is a farmer and owns thirty-five acres of land, 
which he bought in 1878. In 1885 he built a fine residence, and a barn in 1889. He 
is a member of North Jasper Grange No. 539. April 8, 1886, he married Catherine 
Walrath. a native of Jasper and daughter of Abram Walrath, of Jasper, N.V. By a 
previous marriage to Melissa Doty he has two children, Delbert and Elva. 

Waldo, James A., was born in Prattsburg in 1830, son of Otis Waldo, who was 
born in Bridgewater, Conn., in 1795. Otis Waldo was the third son and fourth child 
of nine children bom to Deacon Jesse Waldo, of Massashusetts, who settled in 
Prattsburg in 1805, and here raised his family. The seven oldest sons were farmers 



96 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

by occupaliou, with farms adjoining, and the youngest was a minister. Otis Waldo 
was a farmer and hnnberman, and married Fannie, daughter of Deacon and Miriam 
Cook, of Prattsburg, by whom he had fo>!ir children: Otis H., deceased, who was 
attorney and president of the Milwaukee & Northern Railroad; Martha M., who died 
in infancy; Abigail F., deceased; and James A., who has spent all his life in Pratts- 
burg as a farmer, excepting four years spent in Wisconsin in the mercantile and grain 
buying business, and for sorrie years he was interested in the improvement of farm 
stock, particularly horses and cattle, and now possesses very fine specimens of each 
as the re.sult of his labors; and Mrs. Waldo is much interested in the production of 
high grade butter. In politics Mr. Waldo is a Republican of pronounced opinions. 
In February, 1855, he married Margaret A., daughter of John M. and Susan (Bellows), 
Wheaton, of Washington county. Their children are Fannie C, an artist of con- 
siderable ability; Mrs. Anna M. Millspaugh, of Prattsburg; Elizabeth, deceased; and 
Otis. Mr. Waldo ranks as one of the leading successful farmers of the tow-n, owning 
the homestead farm of 300 acres, and another one of 100. 

Clark, Almon P., was born in Troupsburg, N. Y., September 1, 1846, and is the 
youngest of four children born to John and Harriet Perry Clark. Mr. Clark is a 
native of Madison county. N.Y., born May 12, 1803; and Mrs. Clark of Troupsburg, 
born September 1, 1809 The paternal grandparents, Joseph and Abigail Booth 
Clark, were pioneers of Troupsburg. He was born June 10, 1773, and came from 
Madison county to Bath in 1813, and to Troupsburg in 1823, where he died Septem- 
ber 8, 1861. She was born August 18, 1777, and died January 19, 1854. The mater- 
nal grandparents were Alanson and Rachael Mallery Perry, who were born in 
Middletown, Rutland county, Vt., he born in 1782, and she in 1785. They came to 
the town of Troupsburg in 1809 and settled at Highup, where they lived and died, 
his death occurring March 14, 1849, and hers October 6, 1842. The father of Alan- 
son, Eliakim Perry, was born in Connecticut and went to Vermont, where he mar- 
ried a Miss Downes. John Clark war reared on a farm, and owned one in the town 
of Bath, which he traded for one in the town of Troupsburg, where he came in 1876. 
He was postmaster at West Troupsburg about twenty years. Mr. Clark died April 
35, 1884, and Mrs. Clark August 17, 1883. Almon P. was educated at Troupsburg 
and Alfred Academies. In September, 1874, he married Susan, daughter of Ira and 
Louisa Erway, of Bath, and widow of E. B. Miller, by whom she has one son, Ira 
Miller, a traveling salesman of Elmira. The grandparents of Mrs. Clark, Peter and 
Susan Brown Monell, came from Schuyler county, and settled in Bath, where they 
both died. Mr. Clark has always followed farming, has 135 acres of land, and 
makes a specialty of dairying. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Baptist 
church at Troupsburg. 

Bower, Charles E., son of John G. and Catherine (Seibold) Bower, is the first in 
order of four children, namely: Carrie M. (Mrs. J. P. Storch), John L., and Nellie L. 
(Mrs. Charles Smith). His parents came to this country from Germany in 1851 and 
settled in Southport, Chemung county, where he was born, January 4, 1856. In 1879 
he bought a farm of 150 acres, where he now resides. He was united in marriage to 
Elzina, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chapman, of Bath, in 1881. This union 
was blessed with two children: Walter (deceased), born February 28, 1882, and 
Charles S., born May 30, 1890. lu 1889 he erected a creamery, which business he is 



FAMILY SKKTCHES. 07 

successrully carrying on. manufacturing about IMI.UUO pnundK of butter annually. IIih 
wife died in 18ti:t. ami in IN95 he mnrrieil Carrie Morse, dmiRhter of Mr. and Mrs. 
K0IK.TI Ma.s»n, of I^ Roy. I'a. He is n nii-nilKT nf tin- I'atrims nf Iiidnstr\', and of 
the M. E. church. 

Tcrr\'. George I)., was born in the t<.\vii m Wheeler, l)ecenilK."r 11, leCiO. (leorije 
\V. Terr)-, his father, was also a native of this county, bom in I'ultency, Septemlier 
i4. 1824. His father was Kenncs Terry, a native of Uutehess county: the latter s*-!- 
tlcfl in the town of Pulteney in 1H16. The maternal grandfather of (Jeorgc W., 
James SherwiKMl, was a soldier of the war of the Revolution ami also in the war of 
1H12. (icorge W. Terry was a butcher and dealer in stocks and u succcssfiil business 
man. In 1H23 he moved to Homcllsville, and was one of the greatest benefactors of 
this city. He hod been here only a few years when he bought four acres of lon<i 
where Ook and John streets are now. The tract was ot that time covered with pine 
stumps, which he cleared out. and it was thniugh his effort the land east of the 
river was opened up. He built the first bridge across the river on River street, and 
and at this time being one of the two meat dealers of the town, conducting a very 
successful business, his real estate speculations requiring the whole of his atten- 
tion, he gave up that business and devoted his whole time to it. He bought four- 
teen acres of William Bennett, lying east of the river, which he opened up and laid 
out in building lots, where now is the resident section of River street. East Kim and 
Terry streets. In 18(1" he bought with Alphonsc Hubbard 300 acres of lond, a por- 
tion of which now lies within the city limits, ond the Santee Pass saw mill licing on 
this proiH-'rty, they continued the manufacture of lumlier until the eighties, and 
o|H;ned up about sixty acres of the land for residence pur|>oses. Mr. Terry owned 
at the time of his death nearly l.tM'O acres of land In lH7:t Mr. Terry bought a half 
interest in the Alley llouring and grist mills on East Main street, and in 1878 pur- 
chased the other half interest of S. I'. Arnol, and owned it at the time of his death. 
Mr. Terry was one of the early Mas'>ns of this town. He was for three years an 
o-sses-sor of this town and was for seven years an alderman of this city, elected for 
four terms, and held tlie office at the time of his death, which occurred in September, 
1884. The mother of George I)., Henrietta Trcnchard. was a native of the town of 
Wheeler, she died in 1870. George was the oldest of four children and the only son 
to reach adult age. He was educatetl in the coiiimog sch<Mil. (leorgc D. made his 
home with his parents until his marriage, which was February 7, 1871. and was for 
two years engaged in farming, and in 18711 iK-canie a partner with his father in the 
flouring mills: at his death he became sole owner and continued the manufacture 
until 1802, turning out from sixty to seventy barrels per day. He has Iwcn un ex- 
tensive dealer in flour, feed, and cereals since closing the mill, and is to-day the 
' ' 'of the wholcsjile market of this city. He is also extensively interested in real 
and conducts the form principally for dairy, furnishing milk for the city. He 
. ■■:•-■ of the three owners of the I'nderwenr Maniif:icturing Co., and one of the nian- 
a).;fr-. of the business, am! has also been one of the directors of the Citiiens' Notional 
Hank f>>r <U-v<ii years. He has been dele>;.-ite to town and county conventions, and 
served a- aMirinnn for three years. He has been a memlier of the Masonic frater- 
nity for thirteen years. Evening Star Lodge No. 44, .Steulien Chapter 101, and l)e 
Molay Commundery No. 22 lb- ""•- niorncd in 1871 lo Mi&s Rebecca Volnctt Ar- 



98 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

wine, of this town; they have four children; Eugene, associated with his father in 
business; Samuel Arnot, now a student; Mabel and Myrtle. Mrs. Terry died July 
20, 1893. Mr. Terry was married to his present wife, Miss Carrie E. Myers, of Hor- 
nellsville, N. Y., July 3, 1895. 

Dennis, Seymour W., was born in Jasper, on the farm he now owns, September 
30, 1855, son of John and Ruth (Wasner) Dennis, natives of Pennsylvania, and came 
to Jasper in 1852, and .settled on the farm now owned by his son, where he died No- 
vember 8, 1865, and his wife in 1891. .Seymour W. was reared on a farm, educated 
in the common schools, and after the death of his father, had the care of the family 
consisting of mother and six children. He has remained on the old homestead and 
now owns 187 acre.s. In 1878 he married Effie, daughter of Serl and Eliza (Sharp) 
*raft, by whom he had three children: Loretta Maud, Leon S., and Carrie E. 

Whiteman, J. C, was born in Jasper, October 24, 1849, son of Henry and Martha 
(Sanford) Whiteman, natives of Jasper and Dryden, Tompkins county, N. Y., re- 
spectively. The grandfather, Henry Whiteman, was one of the first settlers of Jas- 
per, where he died in 1866. Henry Whiteman, father of J. C, went to Brooklin, 
Jefferson county, Pa., where he died in June, 1891. J. C. Whiteman was reared on 
a farm and educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming and 
now owns a farm of 240 acres, a part of which was left to Mrs. Whiteman by her 
father. November 4, 1877, he married Marion, daughter of A. B. and Jane (Langley) 
Phillips, natives of Otsego county, who came to Jasper in 1843 and .settled on the 
farm now occupied by Mr. Whiteman, where he died in 1883, and his wife in 1880. 
Mr. Phillips cleared his farm and was a prosperous farmer. He was assessor several 
terms. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteman have two children: Charles A., and Florence J. 

Baldwin, Horace Dyer, was born at Sherburne, Chenango county, N. Y. , June 24, 
1838. Horace Baldwin, his father, was a native of Goshen, Conn., and was a suc- 
cessful teacher during early manhood, and taught at Canandaigua, N. Y., in 1822. 
Later he engaged in the mercantile business at Norwich, N. Y., and in November, 
1840, settled in WoodhuU (early called Newville), Steuben county, and was one of 
the first merchants in the village, where he died in 1854. During his residence in 
Norwich he married Penelope Allen of North Kingston, Rhode Island, by whom he 
had two children, Horace Dyer, and Clarendon, who is now in Woodhull and en- 
gaged in farming. Mrs. Baldwin died in 1879, aged eighty-three years, and was 
highly respected, being a woman of great nobility of character. Horace Dyer Bald- 
win graduated from Alfred University in 1863, and began the study of law with 
Hon. F. C. & Colonel J. W. Dininny of Addison, N. Y., and prior to entering college 
had taught school for several years, farming on the homestead in the intervals and 
working out by the day during the season of haying and harvesting, for the neces- 
sary means to aid in paying his board and tuition while attending school. He en- 
listed at Addison, N. Y., April 27, 1861, in Capt. Henry Baldwin's Company E, 34th 
Regiment New York State Infantry Volunteers, and was discharged at Seneca Mills 
on account of disability incurred in the service. 

Blair, William, was born in Greenwood, N. Y., February 5, 1829, son of William 
M. and Celinda (Wheeler) Blair, natives of New England. The maternal grand- 
father was at the battle of Bunker Hill. William M. Blair was a farmer and came 



FAMILV SKEK^HES. 99 

from Tompkins county to Greenwood in the early days. He went to Michigan where 
he died in 1847. Mrs. Blair lives at Litchfield, Mich., aged ninety-six years. Will- 
iam Blair was reared on the farm and educated at Knoxville, and in 1849 he located 
on the farm of 147 acres which he now owns, where he has made a specialty of dairy 
farming. He is a Republican in politics, and was assessor for three years. In 1857 
he married Eliza, daughter of Hiram and Mary (Terpentine) Burger, of Greenwood, 
bv whom he had three children; Elvie, who died at the age of nine years; Carrie E. , 
wife of Monroe Tyler, a farmer of Greenwood; they have one child, Rubic; T. N. 
Blair, who is a farmer on the homestead. 

Stickney, Julius, was born m Shoreham, Vt., in 1838, the eldest of a family of 
eleven children. Mis father, Tyler Stickney, was one of the pioneer Spanish Merino 
.sheep breeders of the State, and originated that famous strain of blood known in 
years after throughout the country as the Rich, Robinson and Stickney blood. In 
185.J he attended the first sheep .show ever held in the United States at Bath, and 
was awarded the first premium of $4t) on a two year old ram, and at the end of the 
fair sold the ram for §3.50 to parties in Livingston county. He subsequently spent 
some time in introducing the Vermont Merinos throughout the Western States. In 
1857 he married Eliza M., daughter of Eph. and Catharine (Myrtle) AuUs, by whom 
he had these children: Eph. I., Timothy, and E. E., all farmers in Wheeler; Cora 
Stickney Lewis, of Prattsbufg; Julius J., Thomas D., Kate M., Emma A., Sarah 
and Carrie of Bath. His wife died in 1857,. and he married for his second wife Miss 
Minerva E. Brown, a native of Vermont, by whom they have one son, Howard B, 
He settled on the farm where he now resides in 18)57, and has succeeded by unlim- 
ited push and perseverance in bringing a wild and unimproved farm of about 450 
acres to a high state of cultivation. He has served the town as supervisor three 
terms, and has held most of the other town offices. Mr. Stickney was the original 
director and stockholder of Wheeler of the K. and P. Railroad, and served as such 
until the road went into the hands of a receiver, 

Robertson, S. C, was born in Unadilla, Otsego county, N. V., October 18, 1815. 
His father, Niel Robertson, was a native of Hebron, Conn., coming from that place 
to Unadilla in 1814. Mr. Robertson spent most of his early life in Unadilla, coming 
to Corning in 1851, where he conducted a meat market for several years, was also a 
general merchant a few years, then purchased his farm in what is now called the 
Fifth ward. After a time he laid out the greater portion of his land in building lots, 
putting up houses for .«ale and rent, and contributing much to the improvement of 
the place. Mr. Robertson has been trustee of the schools in Corning for several 
years, always being interested in the educational and religious welfare of the city, 
and every enterprise tending to improve and build up society, and is possessed of 
strict integrity in all his business relations. For several years he has been chosen 
supervisor, and has filled various town offices. He has been a member and liberal 
suppofter of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years, and always sustained 
an official relation to it. 

Bellinger, George N., was born in Herkimer county in 1824. Andrew Bellinger, 
his grandfather, was a native of Montgomery county, and when only six or eight 
years old, during the Revolutionary war, he and his younger brother were captured 



loo LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

by the Indians, and the latter was killed by them on account of his crying. He was 
held a captive for six years, during which time he became a favorite of the chief of 
the tribe, who gave him a rifle, canoe, and provisions, and with directions what 
course to pursue, and where to avoid other tribes, bade him good-bye and released 
him, and he made his way home to his parents, who had mourned him as dead. He 
became a prosperous farmer, was married three times, and reared five sons and four 
daughters, and died at the age of eighty years. Andrew, his father, was born in the 
town of Danube, Herkimer county, and was a farmer by occupation, having pur- 
chased part of his father's farm, which he lost soon after. He then engaged in 
teaming, and later spent about three years doing contract work in the construction 
of the Erie canal, and then returned to farming and removed to Oswego county, 
where he purchased a farm and resided two years, and not being successful he re- 
moved to Oneida county, and there rented land for a time, when he migrated to Illi- 
nois, where he died ten months later. His wife was Catherine House, of Montgomery 
county, and their children were John, George, Nancy, Catherine, Jeremiah, Mary, 
Jacob, Amanda, Libby, Philip and Caroline (twins, deceased). His wife remamed in 
Illinois, where she died in 1885. George N. assisted his father until he was twenty- 
one years of age, when he began working in Herkimer county, in a linseed oil mill 
for one year, when he rented a dairy farm and manufactured cheese and butter, and 
after four years he returned to the oil mill. In 1852 he removed to the town of 
Wheeler, and bought a partially cleared farm, and eight years later sold and removed 
to the town of Addison and bought seventy acres of timber land with a saw mill and 
engaged in the manufacture of lumber. In December, 18G3, he enlisted in Company 
A, 8th New York Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war, participating 
in the battles of Spottsylvania, Wilderness, and Cold Harbor, where he received a 
wound in the foot, and was sent to the Columbia Hospital, at Washington, and was 
later transferred to the Elmira Hospital, where he received his discharge. In 1866 
he removed to the town of Wheeler and purcha.sed his present farm, and has since 
been successfully engaged in farming. In 1845 he married Margaret, daughter of 
Christjohn and Catherine Bonsted, and native of Herkimer county, and they have 
two children: Mrs. Martha Merrills, of Monterey, and George. Mr. Bellinger is a 
member of the Avoca Grange, the P. of H Lodge, in which he has held several of- 
fices, and the Marcy G. A. R. Post. He is a member of the Lutheran church, of 
which he was trustee nine years. 

McConnell, Asa, son of Charles McConnell, was born in Orange county, N. Y., 
in 1801. When he was seven years of age his father " moved west " and settled at 
Howard Flats, Steuben county, on a farm of 160 acres, then an unbroken forest and 
the haunts of various wild beasts. He served as soldier in the war of '812, and was 
the father of a large family, Asa being the oldest, and final possessor of the farm, 
now a beautiful stretch of meadow and grain land; the highway which passes through 
it being bounded by rows of grand old maple trees, marking the spot where this large 
family was reared, but who wandered away from farm life to the manufacturing in- 
dustries now so closely associated with their name. Asa McConnell. besides being 
a farmer, was a politician and a staunch Democrat. He was an old time lawyer, and 
filled the office of justice of the peace, of supervisor, and in 1844 represented his dis- 
trict in the State Legislature. He was always interested in public affairs, genial. 



1 



FAMILY SKETCHES. In] 

kind-hearted, earnest, industrious, and numbered eighty-seven years. In 18(i7 Mr. 
McConnell moved to Hornellsville and, forming a partnership with his sons, bought 
in isys of Morris Smith a small though well e.stablished planing mill, sash and blind 
factorv, the beginning of the present mammoth plant of the McConnell Co. In 1879 
Philo F. withdrew from the lirm and opened .salesrooms in London, England, where 
he continues a prosperous business. The remaining members of the firm, Benton 
and Floyd T. , continued the business under this name until 1891, when a stock com- 
pany was formed, and a large number of the employees were given an interest in the 
now "McConnell Manufacturing Co." They carry from seven to ten millions feet of 
lumber, employing some two hundred and fifty men, and their trade extends over the 
United States, England, South America, South Africa and Australia. Equipped, as 
their factories are, with every conceivable convenience and with machinery of the 
latest improved patterns, this industry is one in which the community justly lakes 
great pride as one of the largest and most complete of the kind in the world. 

Lewis, Christopher E., was born at Newport, R. I., in 18;i8, son of Christopher D. 
and Julia A. (Murphey) Lewis, natives of Connecticut and Rhode Island, who, in 
1842, came to the present farm. C. D. Lewis, the father of C. E., is now ninety-one 
years of age. He came here with Father Beriah Lewis in 1825. but did not locate 
here till 1842. The mother of C. E. Lewis died in 188."). Mr. Lewis married Jane 
Thurston, daughter of Alfred Thurston, in January, 18(i2. Mr. Lewis is one of a 
family of four children, the others being Julius M., a resident of Iowa ; Julia E. , wife 
of the late \Vm. M. Wolcott ; and Harriet L. , wife of George Chumard. C. E. Lewis, 
who occupied the old homestead, makes a specialty of raising sheep. He has shorn 
and put on the market over 1.000 pounds of wool annually for thirty-five years. He 
is a well known, ijiHuential citizen in the town and county where he lives, has held 
many important offices, and is well up in Masonry, being a 32d degree member. 

Nelson, Edward H., was born in Owego, Tioga county, N. Y., July 31, 1869, son 
of Charles Nelson, also a native of Tioga county, who acquired a world-wide reputa- 
tion as a bridge builder. He was the foreman of the work of building the Portage 
Bridge and the Passaic Draw Bridge, and was also the foreman in charge of the erec- 
tion of the great iron frames on the Centennial grounds at Philabelphia, in 1870. In 
1877 he located in Hornellsville, and dealt in fruit and vegetables, and in 1881 took 
charge of the Eagle Hotel, which he conducted until the time of his death, which 
occurred September 20, 1889. His wife, Johanna Whitmire, was a native of Germany, 
and died March 21, 1890. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters. 
Edward H. was educated in the city schools, and his first occupation was in the store 
with his father, and was then with J. J. Simmons for one year, and afterward em- 
ployed in different stores until 1886, when he went into the Erie machine shop, four 
years of which time he was traveling advertising agent for the Hornellsville Expo- 
sition. In the fall of 1890 he established a fruit, confectionery, tobacco, and cigar 
store at the corner of Franklin and Canisteo streets, which he has since successfully 
conducted. In the spring of 1893 he e.stablished a bottling works on Franklin street, 
where he manufactures a full line of soft drinks and conducts the bottling of ale and 
lager, with a yearly output of from six to eight thousand dollars' worth, and is also 
the agent for the Lang Brewery of Buifalo. In ])olitics he is a Republican, and in 
the spring of 189.5 was elected in the Fourth ward, where the Democratic majority 



102 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

IS normally about sixty, by a majority of eighty-four. He is also one of the council 
committee, and is chairman of the police and sewerage committees. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. In 1892 he married Maud, daughter of J. R. Lamphear. 

Covenhoven, Daniel R., son of Peter Covenhoven, was born in Hornby, Steuben 
county, N. Y., March 28, 1830. His father was born in Root, Montgomery county, 
N. Y., April 22, 1803; in October, 1823, he settled in Hornby; he married Sarah M. 
Rooks March 28, 1828; she was born at Northumberland, Saratoga county, N. Y. , in 
1800. Of this union six children were born, two of whom are now living; Thomas 
N., and Daniel R., who are farmers in Hornby. Daniel R. Covenhoven married 
Nancy M. Shults, March 30, 1859; she was born at Palatine, Montgomery county. 
January 1, 1847. Of this union four children were born, two of whom are now living, 
Grace and Genoa. In 1884 Daniel R. Covenhoven located on one of his farms, joining 
the city of Corning on the north. His mother, Sarah M., died May 19, 18G3, aged 
sixty-three; his father, Peter died February 12, 1895, aged ninety-one; his wife, 
Nancy, died September 16, 1893, aged fifty-two years. 

Brown, Charles A., was born in the town of Howard, December 5, 1829, son of 
Thomas and Lucinda (daughter of Aaron Borden) Brown. Charles A. was one of 
twelve children: Israel, Levi, Charles A., Aaron, Jane Chisholm. Elizabeth Hunt, 
McCord, Ezekiel, Phebe Merrill, Electa Ann Conners, Mahala Miller, and Lucinda 
White. Thomas Brown was a lumberman and farmer and in early life was a school 
teacher. Charles A. married Matilda, a daughter of Abel White, by whom he has 
four children: Eva Talbott, Ella Dickenson, Chauncey E., and Sarah Jackson. Mr. 
Brown is engaged in farming. He is a member of the M. E. church of Talbott 
Creek. He has held several school offices. 

McChesney, Moses, was born in Bath, July 4, 1847. Hugh McChesney, his father, 
was a native of Ireland and came to the L^nited States in 1841 and settled in Bath, 
where he has been identified as a farmer for fifty-five years. He married Mary A., 
daughter of Thomas Davison. Moses McChesney was educated in the common 
schools, and in 1864 enlisted in Co. A, 189th Regt. N. Y. Vols., and took part in the 
battles of Hatcher's Run, South Side Railroad, Stony Creek, Weldon Railroad, and 
was one of the skirmish line to receive the flag of truce at the surrender of General 
Lee at Appomattox Court House, Va., and he received an honorable discharge in 
1865, when he returned to Bath and resumed his business as contractor and builder, 
the firm of Clough & McChesney having erected several buildings at the Soldier's 
and Sailor's Home, some of the finest private residences in Bath, and the New York 
State Fish Hatchery at Cold Spring, N. Y. In 1875 he married Maggie, daughter of 
James and Mary Kellogg of Howard, b)' whom he had one daughter. May. Mr. Mc- 
Chesney is one of the leading men of his town, serving as excise commissioner two 
terms, trustee two terms, and commander of Custer Post No. 81. 

Parkhurst, Hon. John F., was born in Wellsboro, Pa., February 17, 1843, son of 
Dr. Curtis Parkhurst, who was a native of New Hampshire, and one of the pioneer 
settlers of Lawrenceville, Pa., a member of the Legislature, and serving as sheriff 
of his county. He married Jane A., daughter of Ambrose Kasson, of Utica, N. Y. 
He died in 1872, in his seventy-eighth year. John F. was educated by private tutors, 
and in 1863 began the study of law at Bath with Guy H. McMaster, was admitted in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 103 

1865, and in 1872 formed the partnership of McMaster & Parkhurst, wliich continued 
up to the time of Judge McMasters death in 1887. since which time he has carried on 
the practice of the firm, and since the death of Harvey Hull in 1890 has found time 
to edit the Steuben Courier. He is the vice-president and part owner of the Farmers' 
and Meclianics' Bank of Hath, and for the past six years has been chairman of the Repub- 
hcan county committee, and for four years a member of the State executiveconimittee. 
In 1888 he was a delegate to the Re])ublican National Convention held at Chicago, and 
in 1892 he was chosen by the Republican State Convention alternate delegate-at-large 
to the Republican National Convention held at Minneapolis, Minn. In 1893 he was 
elected State delegate-at-large to the Constitittional Convention for 1894, and served 
as a member of Judiciary and Suffrage committees, and was chairman of the com- 
mittee on county, town, and village officers. In 188() he married Alice, daughter of 
Judge Guy McMaster, and they are the parents of one son, Guy McM. Parkhurst. 

Borden, Aaron Porter, was born in Prattsburg, N. Y. , in 183(5. Porter A. Borden, 
his father, was born in Cayuga county, in 1802, one of ten children, and came to 
Prattsburg in 1830 and settled on a farm. He was a member of the State militia, 
and married Maria Benenway, a native of Dutchess county, by whom he had twelve 
children. He died in 1887, aged eighty-seven years, and his wife in 1861, aged sixty 
years. Aaron P. Borden remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of 
age. when he engaged in teaching .school, which he continued for a number of years 
during the winter, and attending the Franklin Academy during the summer. In 
1867 he bought his present farm, which he has since superintended, and in connec- 
tion with the farm he carries on an extensive fire insurance business. He has been 
postmaster of Lynn post-office, in the town of Prattsburg since 1882. In 186.') he 
married Cynthia R. McConncll, who was born in Italy, Yates county, a daughter of 
Alexander and Rosina (Gillett) McConnell. Mr. Borden is a member of Odd Fellows 
Lodge No. 538 of Avoca. Mrs. Borden is a member of the M. E. church, Epworth 
League, and a strong advocate of the temperance cause. Jabez Gillett, Mrs. Bor- 
den's grandfather, was a pioneer in the town of Prattsburg, coming here in 1817, 
and was one of the founders of the Franklin Academy in Prattsburg. 

Kendall, Dr. A. A., was born at Corning, Steuben county, N. Y., was educated in 
Corning Academy. In 1879 he graduated from the University of Buffalo, and .spent 
one year in hospital practice in New York city, since which time he has been practic- 
ing in his profession m Corning. He is a member of the Steuben County Medical 
Society, and the Corning Academy of Medicine. 

Baker. Dr. Milton J., was born in Sidney, Delaware county, N. Y., March 30, 1842. 
He was the third son of Milton Baker, a farmer and a native of Connecticut. He 
was educated at Unadilla Academy and at the University of New York, graduating 
with the degree of C. B. in 1860. He began the study of medicine when nineteen 
years of age with Dr. Sweet of Unadilla and also with Dr. Beckwith in Connecticut. 
He entered the medical department of the L'niversity of New York in 1861, and 
while a student he, in 1864, enlisted in the army and was immediately made hospital 
steward at Hilton Head, South Carolina. At the close of the war he returned to 
college and finished his studies the following year. He spent three years in the hos- 
pital service, and began the practice of his profession in Ma.sonville, Delaware 



104 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

county, where he was engaged until 1874, when he joined Dr. J. H. Ripley in New 
York city. After spending two years in the city, in 1876 he located in Hornellsville, 
when he became one of the most prominent members of the profession. He never 
married. Dr. Baker died December 21, 1892. 

Luther, Byron J., was born in the town of Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., June 
9, 1838. Joseph B. Luther, the father of Byron, was a native of Connecticut, who 
came to Otsego county at a very early age. As a young man he was a blacksmith, 
but on coming to ( tsego county he took up farming, which he ever after followed 
and accumulated an extensive property, owning at the time of his death seven farms. 
Of his family of ten children, B. J. was the seventh son. Joseph B. Luther died in 
1855. The mother of Byron, Betsey Mathewson, was a native of Rhode Island. 
She died in 1865. B. J. was educated in the common schools and made his home on 
the farm until eighteen years of age. In 1856 he went into a dry goods and grocery 
store as clerk, which position he occupied until 1865 He was then in business for 
five years with Boyce W. Hawver in the same line, and the spring of 1874 he came 
to Hornellsville and bought out the interest of D. C. Casterline in the drug firm of 
Casterline & Robertson, and has ever since been engaged in business in this city. 
The spring of 1876 they located at No. 9 Opera House Block on Broad street, and for 
nearly twenty years they have been located in this one place. He was married in 
1871 to Maria S. Baker of Unadilla, N. Y. They have no children. 

Marlatt, Charles, was born in Troupsburg, N. Y., March 3, 1861, and is the oldest 
of two children born to Henry O. and Eunice Kettle Marlatt. The grandparents 
were Gideon and Nancy Stephens Marlatt. Gideon came from New Jersey at an 
early day and settled in Jasper, being one of the pioneers of the town, and from 
there he removed to Troupsburg, where he spent his last days. He was a carpenter 
and joiner by trade. The great-grandfather, Gideon, sr., also came from New Jer- 
sey and settled in Jasper, where he lived and died. He was a shoemaker by trade. 
Henry O. was reared on a farm, and farming has been his occupation. Charles was 
educated in the academies of Troupsburg and Woodhull, and commenced his business 
career as a teacher, and was in the mercantile business for three years. In 1883 he 
married Jennie L., daughter of F. D. and Hannah Olmsted Wilcox, of Troupsburg, 
and they have two children; Harry and Cassie. Mr. Marlatt has been town clerk 
for three years, and supervisor for two years, and in January, 1894, was elected 
school commissioner of the Third District, Steuben county, which office he now holds. 
He is a member of the Troupsburg Tent, No. 339, K. O. T. M.. and the McClellan 
Lodge, No. 649, F. & A. M., at Troupsburg. 

Allen, James, was born in the town of Wheeler, in 1836, and has devoted his life 
to farming, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, when 
he started for himself, his first purchase being forty acres of land, to which he later 
added sixty acres from time to time. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, 141st N. Y. 
Vols. , and served until the close of the war, and was engaged in the battles of Resaca, 
Dalton, Cassville, Ga. , Wahatchie Valley, Tenn., and was with Sherman on his 
famous march in the Twentieth Corps. He was sick in a hospital at Nashville six 
months, and upon his return from the war he engaged in clearing his land of the 
timber and stumps, and otherwise improving his farm, and took his parents to his 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 105 

home and cared for them during the last years of their lives. Stephen Allen, his 
grandfather, was a native of Rhode I.sland. and lived and died in Montgomery county, 
where he engaged in farming, and his younger days were spent as a sailor on a 
coasting vessel. He .served a short time in the Revolutionary war in the place of a 
neighbor who had a leave of absence, he being but a mere boy at the time. He 
reared eight children. Caleb Allen, father of James, was born in Montgomery county 
in 1801, and came to Wheeler in 1826, where he settled in the western part of the 
town, and cleared his farm from the forest. In 1838 he returned to Montgomery 
county, where he spent five years, after which he returned to Wheeler and spent his 
remaining days in this town and Avoca. He served as justice of the peace in Wheeler 
eight years, and four years as justice in Avoca. He married Catherine, daughter of 
John F. Putman, a pioneer of Steuben county, by whom he had three children: 
Catherine, James, and William, who died in the army hospital. He had three chil- 
dren by a former wife: John B., deceased, Jane, and Maria. He died in 1888, and 
his wife in 1886. James Allen has served his town as assessor three years, commis- 
sioner of highways one term, and is an active member of the Avoca Grange Lodge, 
P. of H., of which he has been secretary four years, also master, lecturer, gate- 
keeper, etc., and is a member of the Marcy G. A. R. Post of Avoca. In 1867 he 
married Belinda M. Wheeler, a teacher in the town of Wheeler, and daughter of Seth 
Wheeler, by whom he had children: Huron, Homer G., and Glena. His wife died 
in January, isya. She was an active and able worker in the Grange Lodge in 
Avoca, and filled all the offices attainable by women in that lodge frnni time to 
time. 

Silsbee, George C, was born in the town of Avoca, (lctol)er 30, 1857. His grand- 
father, James Silsbee, was the first station agent in the village for N. Y., L. E. & W. 
R. R., also established the fir.st grist mill in the town, and the family date back to the 
fir.st settlers. Horace Silsbee, father of George C, was born in Avoca, and married 
Ruth, daughter of J. D. Griswold, by whom he had one son, George C, who was 
educated in the schools of Avoca, after which he was clerk in the store of Oscar 
Smith, and later became postmaster of the village, which office he held for six years. 
In 188n he bought the plant of the Avoca Advance, a weekly paper of prominence in 
the village, and he is also engaged in the real estate business. August 4, 1881, he 
married Jennie, daughter of Henry Burns, of North Cohocton, by whom he had one 
daughter. Mr. Silsbee is at present justice of the peace, serving his third term, is a 
member of the Avoca Lodge of Masons, No. ol9, and of Avoca Lodge I. O. O. F. 

Rhodes, Halsey A., was born in Chemung county in 1830, the following year 
came to Caton with his parents, Silas B. and Mary L (Babcock) Rhodes, locating on 
the present home place of Mr. Rhodes about 183!), where his father died in 1862 aged 
sixty-three years, and his mother died aged seventy-nine years. In 1862 Mr. Rhodes 
enlisted in the 5()th New York Engineers, serving till the close of the war. After the 
war he married Mary A. Fuller, who died in 1801, aged forty-eight years, leaving 
three children. Nelson F., Frank H., and Clara E. He afterwards married Sarah 
Bowman, born Grist, his present wife. 

Brown, Merwin E., was born at Painted Post, Steuben county, December 7, 1851. 
Gardner Brown his father, was born in Waterbury, Conn., and came to Steuben 



106 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

county about 1835, and settled in Painted Post, where he was a carpenter and lum- 
berman, which business he followed up to 1864. From Painted Post he came to 
Prattsburg, where in engaged in farming, after which he went to Bloods, and from 
there to Cohocton ; from there he came to Wallace, where he died in 1884 aged sixty- 
nine years. He married Dorothea A. Marks, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had ten 
children: Sanford, Augustus, Elvira, Louisa, Dora. Mary, Henry, Hattie, Merwin, 
and Estella. Merwin E. engaged in farming up to 1877, and since that time has been 
buying and selling grain, potatoes, etc. He married May E., daughter of Joseph 
Wilson, of Ontario, Canada, bj' whom he had one daughter, Florence. Mr. Brown 
has filled the numerous offices of the town and is at present assessor, and is a member 
of the I. O. O. F., Wallace Lodge No. 519. 

Sharp, Andrew, was born in Columbia county, N. Y. , November 2.5, 1829, son of 
Garrett Sharp, who was bora in Columbia county, a descendant of the old Dutch 
pioneers who settled along the Hudson River. He came to the town of Howard in 
1841, where he purchased a farm, which now belongs to Andrew. At that time it 
was partly cleared and consisted of 149 acres, then known as the John Hamilton farm. 
He married Dorcas, daughter of Andrew Whitbeck, of Columbia county, and they 
were the parents of six children: Andrew, Caroline, Isaac, Sarah, Mary E., and 
Albert. Isaac and Albert are deceased. The latter enlisted in the 189th X. Y. Vols., 
was taken sick and died near Petersbui;g. Andrew Sharp was educated in the town 
of Howard, and has devoted most of his time to farming. He owns a farm of 2(i9 
acres, and for the last few years made a specialty of hay and dairj- products. He 
married Elinor P., daughter of Joel BuUard of Howard, and they have four children : 
Edward H., who married Kate McDaniels; Emma, wife of Henry McAdam; Albert 
B., and George I., who remain at home. George is a graduate of Haverling Union 
School. Albert is a graduate of the School of Commerce at Elmira. Mr. Sharp was 
supervisor of the town for two years. In politics he is a Republican. He has been 
elder in the Presbyterian church for thirty years, 

Scott, Adelbert A. , was born in Columbia county. May 26, 1842. Abraham H. Scott, 
his father, was a native of Schoharie county, and came to the town of Orange, now 
Schuyler county, after which he came to Steuben county in July, 1842, and in 1864 he 
came to the town of Campbell. He married Samantha M. Pitts, of the same county, 
by whom he had nine children. Adelbert A. Scott is a farmer, and is the owner of 
the homestead farm of si.Kty acres. He married Calista A., daughter of Ellis Dunk- 
lee, a farmer, and one of the pioneers of the town, by whom he had two children : 
James W., and Ben B., both farmers. Mr. Scott has been poormaster, and has held 
other minor offices. He is a member of the Baptist church, and also of the K. of H. 

Zeilley, Alex L., was born in the town of Avoca, April 18, 1854, son of Oliver 
Zeilley, who was born in Palatine, Montgomery county, in 1827, and came to the 
town of Avoca in 1846, and settled at what is known as the Pond settlement on a 
farm of 200 acres, and retired from active business in 1876. He married Amelia 
Shults, of Avoca, and one son was born to them, Alex, v.'ho was educated in the dis- 
trict schools and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. In 1891 he entered the milling 
business at Cohocton, and remained there until 1893 when he came to Avoca, and 
became one of the founders of the Avoca Milling Company, now located in the village 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 107 

of Avoca, which makes flour under the roller process with a capacity of 200 barrels 
per dav. Mr. Zeilley is president and secretary of the company. He married Libbie, 
daughter of William Vrooman, and they have two children; Willie D., and Olhe. 
Mr. Zeilley held the office of commissioner of highways in 1878, since then having 
held the office of trustee of the village, and in 1893 was elected supervisor, and 
re-elected in 1894 on the Republican ticket. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
No. 538. 

Bozard, Earle W., was born in Cattaraugus county, N.Y., January 24, 1862. Henry 
M. Bozard, his father, was born in Tioga county, N. Y., and moved to Cattaraugus 
county when a boy, where he resided until recently, when he removed to the city of 
Rochester, N.Y. He married Mary Barker, of Cattaraugus county, by whom he had 
four children: F. Adell, Earle W. , Mary M. and Ray R. Earle W. was educated in 
the Union Free School at Olean, N.Y., was two years with Miss Mary L. Pettit in a 
private school, finishing at Franklin ville Academy, after which he began reading law 
in December, 1882, with Hon. Edwin Hicks at Canandaigua. N.Y., and was admitted 
in January, 188(i. He moved to Avoca in December, 1888, where he has since been 
in the practice of law. He married Nellie W., daughter of John F. Clark, by whom 
he has had two children, Anna Mae and John Earle. 

AVakeman, Rev. Joel, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1809, educated at 
Franklin Academy and the Auburn Theological Seminary, and served as pastor at 
Almond for twenty-three years. He recruited 20(1 men for the army, and served as 
captain of Co. H, 130th Regiment, until discharged on account of disability. He was 
appointed chaplain of the chapel at City Point for invalid soldiers during the winter 
of 1805. Dr. Wakeman married Abigail Judson, in 1838, who died in April, 1890. 
May 20, 1891, he married Irene Coleman. Dr. Wakeman is the author of a number 
books. He was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Almond twenty-three years, is 
now eighty-five years old and able to preach. 

Dunkee. Ellis, was born in Vermont, June 1, 1S15. Eli Dunkee, his father, was 
also a native of Vermont, where he died in 1847. Ellis Dunkee came to the town of 
Campbell when twelve years of age and learned the carpenter trade, which business 
he has followed for some years, and now owns a farm of 100 acres. He married 
Lucina Bixby, of Camjjbell, by whom he had eight children: Eli. Melvina, Emma, 
James, Lansing, Parden, Clare, and Calista. For his second wife he married Mrs. 
Margaret Havens, daughter of William McCan, of Chemung county. He is a mem- 
ber of the Baptist church, and in politics is a Republican. 

Robinson, John, was born in Minden, Montgomery county, November 30, 1820, 
son of Joseph and Nancy (Walwrath) Robinson. Mr. Robin.son died in Cameron, 
Steuben county, April 4, IHOfj, aged seventy-two years, and his wife died at the same 
plate, October 30, lS(i2. John Robinson was reared on a farm and educated in the 
common schools, after which he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed until 
the war broke out. In 1843 he came to Jasper and worked at his trade until 1861, 
when he moved on to the farm of 142 acres, which he now owns and which he cleared. 
He has been commissioner of highways and poormaster. July 4, 1.H43, he married 
Margaret House, a native of Herkimer county, who came to Cameron with her 
parents, George J. and Elizabeth (Ule) House, when a child, by whom he had eight 



108 Landmarks of steube.nt county. 

children: John, jr., who was in the late war. where he lost his sight; A. Elizabeth, 
Matilda. Norman H., Frances A., Olive, Jessie, and George. 

Higby, John C, was born in Prattsburg, N. Y., in February, 1839. His great- 
grandfather, John Higby, came from Lee, Mass., and settled in Ballston. Saratoga 
county, prior to the Revolutionary war. He married Mindwell Lewis, by whom he 
had thirteen children; and he died in Ballston, aged ninety years. Their son Lewis 
was a sailor in the Revolutionary war, was captured by the Indians and tories, 
and carried a prisoner to Canada, where he remained for nearly two years. The 
mother and smaller children were also captured by Indians and rescued His 
grandfather, Jeduthun Higbj-, was born in October, 1775, at Ballston, N.Y., and in 
January, 1801, he married Salvia Strong, by whom he had five children: Livy S , 
John L., Myron T., Marcus T. C, and Charles G., also one adopted daughter, 
Sophronia Kelley. He was a soldier in the war of 1813, ranking as lieutenant, and 
after the burning of Buffalo held a captain's commission. In 1818 he moved to 
Prattsburg, and settled on a farm two miles west of the village. He was one of 
the vestrymen upon the organization of the First Episcopal church at Auburn, N.Y. 
He was killed in the town of Pulteney in 1820 by a tree falling across his wagon. 
His wife died in 1863. Charles G. Higby, father of John C, was born in Brutus, 
Cayuga county, in September, 1812, and was educated in the common schools and 
Franklin Academj', Beginning at the age of sixteen, he taught school for six con- 
secutive winters, and in the summer worked on the farm he had purchased. At 
twenty-four years of age he married Phoebe Jane, daughter of John and Rhoda C. 
Bramble, of Prattsburg, b}- whom he had three children: Jeduthun, who died in in- 
fancy, John C, and Lydia L. He at once settled on his farm, to which he added 
150 acres of timber land, and in 1841 he engaged in the milling and lumbering busi- 
ness in connection with his farming. He was school superintendent of the town 
under the old law for many years, and in 1851 was assemblyman from his district in 
the State Legislature, and advocated the passage of the free school law. He was 
also trustee of the Franklin Academy for many years. Mr. Higby and wife were 
members of the Presbyterian church of Prattsburg. For many years, until the time 
of his death, he was a trustee and elder of the church. He died in 1885. John C. 
Higby was graduated from Hamilton College in the class of '61, and then spent two 
years as teacher in Bath, after which he returned to his farm, where he remained 
most of his time until 1890, when he moved to his father's homestead, where he now 
resides. After the war he served one term as justice, and from 1871 to 1873 inclusive 
served as school commissioner, being the first Democrat elected to that office in his 
district. In 1869 he married Lucy, daughter of Rev. B. C. and Susan J. (Ammer- 
man) Smith, by whom he had three children: Charles G., Celia Jane, and Coleman 
Smith. Charles G. Spent one year in HamilUm College, later assi.sted on the farm, 
and is now the able manager and secretary of the Prattsburg Creamery Company, of 
which he is the largest stockholder. Celia J. was teacher in Franklin Academy, and 
in June, 1895, he was graduated from Olivet College Mich. Coleman is now taking 
a classical course at the same college. The entire family are now Presbyterians. 

Jones, J. B. , was born in Addison in 1851, son of L. A. Jones, also a native of this 
place, where he lived for nearly eight years, being engaged in farming and hnuber- 
ing. He was also a pilot on the river in early days, also a carpenter and joiner 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 109 

by trade, and held many prominent town oftices, deputy sheriff being one of them. 
J. B. Jones's boyhood was spent here, and he first eni^aged in the marlset Ijusiness, 
but for the past fourteen years has dealt in ice, and is also chief engineer at the 
Krie pumping station, which position he has held since 1H87. He married Mary A., 
daughter of George W. Young. Mr. Jones is a member of the Maccabees, and also 
has a membership in other fraternities and benevolent organizations. 

Horn, Edwin J., was born at Scranton, Pa., in December, 1811, of German 
parents, and had only the advantages of a limited common school education, which, 
however, were supplemented by a vigorous intellect and persistent research in the 
several fields of art, literature and mechanics. lie removed to Addison, N.Y., about 
the year 1840 and became associated with Capt. Stephen Lewis, in the manufacture 
of steam engines and general foundry and machine work, being very successful in 
that enterprise, and in later years owning and conducting the whole business, which 
had grown into proportions creditable to himself, and of great interest to the village. 
Mr. Horn also took an active part in public affairs and held many important offices, 
as village trustee, member of the Board of Education, and for several years repre- 
sented his town in the county legislature. At the commencement of the war of the 
Rebellion he was known as a War Democrat and gave his whole influence for the 
success of the Union cause and later allied himself with the Republicans and re- 
mained a zealous worker in that party till the day of his death, January 19, 1884. In 
18()0 he married for his second wife, Eveline, daughter of the late Simon Brown, of 
Addison, who still survives him. 

Wheeler. Orlando D., was born in Wheeler in March, 1853. Silas Wheeler, his 
father, was also born in Wheeler in 1811, and died in 1855. He was an e.xtensive 
lumberman and farmer, and at the time of his death owned 1,600 acres of land. He 
was a man of strong literary and .scientific tastes, and possessed a fine library. He 
married Fidelia Frisbie, who was born in Middleburg, N. Y., in 1831, and died in 
Wheeler in 1883. Their children were: Don D., Myanda, William L., Grattan H., 
and Orlando D. Grattan H.. grandfather of Orlando D., was actively identified 
with the early history of this town where he was an extensive lumberman and 
farmer, owning at one time a tract of 8,000 acres of land, a large portion of which he 
cleared of the timber which he manufactured into lumber. His father, Capt. Silas 
Wheeler, was the first settler, and for him the town was named. He was born in 
Concord, Mass., in March 1752. He was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and at 
one time was taken prisoner by the English and transferred to Kinsale, Ireland. He 
was aided in his escape by Lord Henry Grattan, who, when parting with Wheeler, 
asked him to name his first son after him. Orlando D. Wheeler was educated at 
Hammondsport Academy, Franklin Academy, Piatt.sburg, and Lima Seminary. At 
an early age he displayed unusual business ability. When but si.\teen years of age 
he began business for himself, and has since been engaged in the various pursuits of 
railroad, merchant, and farm life. He has been in business in the West at two dif- 
ferent times, once in Illinois and later in Kansas. From Kansas he returned to 
Wheeler and purchased part of the original Wheeler family estate, where he now 
resides. Mr. Wheeler is a man of sterling character and a disposition that endears 
him to all who know him well. His habits of life are above reproach. In politics he 
is a staunch Republican and has always voted according to his Republican principles. 



110 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

In 1ST2 he married Minnie E., daughter of Richard Lewis, a well known resident of 
Prattsburg. They have one child, a daughter, Delia S. , who graduated at sixteen 
years of age from Franklin Academy. Prattsburg, N.Y. In June, 189.5, she graduated 
from Elmira College, receiving the degree of A. B. In accordance with the prom- 
inent traits of her family, she is a young lady of scholarly attainments and great 
strength of character. 

Wilcox, Aurin, was born in Corning, in 1842, son of Abel Wilcox, a native of Otsego 
county, one of the pioneers, and a wagon-maker by trade, who lived and died in 
Caton. Aurin Wilcox is a farmer and also learned his father's trade. In 1874 he 
married Hattie Breese, a native of Caton, and daughter of A. B. Breese, a native of 
Chemung county, who came to Steuben county at an early day and to Caton in 1834; 
he built the first grist mill in Caton and died in 1880; aged seventy-two years; the 
first saw mill was built by his father-in-law, S. F. Berry. A. B. Breese was twice 
married, his second wife being Nancy H. Huchins of Hartwick, Otsego county, N. 
Y. NilesD., a soldier brother of Mrs. Wilcox, died in Salisbury prison, N. C, an- 
other brother, N. Le Grand, died when twenty-four years of age. E. K. Breese is a 
resident of Michigan. Leland S. of Chicago, Henrietta M., w'ife of B. Frank Rhodes 
of Syracuse, and Stella C. Hill of Corning. 

Pritchard Hiram, was born in Tioga county. Pa., in 1818, son of Calvin and Anna 
Kennedy Pritchard and of Welch descent. He attended the district and Lawrence- 
ville schools till 18133, spent one year at Factoryville, Pa., learning the miller's trade, 
continuing in that business until 1H36, when he came to Corning being employed by 
Robert Land in the old mills, which after a couple of years he rented. In 1843 he 
gave up milling and opened a feed store, and a year later a general store, under the 
firm name of Clark & Pritchard, doing a large business for two and a half years. 
He then entered Payne & Olcott's foundry, and in 1850 went toSinnemahoning, Pa., 
having charge of a saw mill and lumbering business there until 1853. Following 
this he was engaged in very successful lumbering interests at Middlebury, a couple 
of years, and in 1856 began the lumber trade in Corning. In 1863 he purchased an 
interest in the above named foundry, which he retained about five years. He has 
since this time retired from active business pursuits. In 183G he married Lucinda 
Searles. He was president of Corning in 18fil and ]80'.3 and again in 1886. During 
his first term of service he succeeded in having the Erie Railroad Company build the 
Pritchard canal, which been a great protection to the business part of the city from 
the overflow of Monkey Run Creek. His wife died in 1888, aged seventy-one, leav- 
ing three children: Truman S. Pritchard, Mary M. Sayles and Albert Pritchard. 

Alden, Mrs. M. J. — Dewitt C. Alden was born in Howard in 1829. and was edu- 
cated in the same town ; and when a young man came to Bath, where through life he 
was identified in the mercantile business. In 1859 he married M. Josephine, daugh- 
ter of Lawrence V. Church, who was among the pioneers of the village of Bath. 
Mr. Alden was a man of high moral purpose, taking an intelligent intere.st in educa- 
tional and religious institutions, and ever gave his influence towards advancing the 
best interests of his town and townspeople. In 18S2 President Arthur appointed Mr. 
Alden postmaster at Bath, which oftice he held four years, and filled most accommo- 
datingly and to the entire .satisfaction of its patrons. He died August 11, 1891. 



i 



FAMILY SKETCHES. Ill 

Gillette, Herbert S., was born in Jasper. February 9, 1863, son of Ralph Cillette, 
who came from Bradford county. Pa., to Jasper, a dentist by profession. The family 
are of French ancestry. Herbert S. was educated at Nelson and ^'"aduated from 
from Mansfield in 1882, was valedictorian of his class, then studied medicine at Ann 
Arbor, was graduated from the Long Island College Hospital in 1887, and began 
active practice at Greenwood. N. Y. In 1890 he came to Savona.^and in 1894 took a 
post-graduate course at Post-Graduate Medical School of New York city. In 1884 he 
married Adeline, daughter of William Reynolds, and they are the the parents of two 
sons and three daughters: Robert, Ernest, Ethel, (Jertrude, and Florence. Ur. 
Gillette was elected president of Steuben Medical Society in 1894. 

Keyser, James F., was born in the town of Avoca, July i), 1849. Frederick Keyser, 
his father, was a native of Montgomery county, and came to Steuben county in 1840, 
settling in Kanona, and afterwards moved to Avoca. He married Eveline, daughter 
of Benjamin Dilenbach, by whom he had three children, James F. , Mrs. Eliza Wag- 
ner, and Mrs. Maggie Clark. He was (me of the best known contractors and builders 
m Steuben county, and died in 1888 in his seventy-fourth year. James F. married 
Nora, daughter of William Waggoner, by whom he had one child, (iertrude. Mrs. 
Keyser died May 16, 1892, 

Jones, Horatio E. and Horace D., are the sons of Edmund Jones, who was a na- 
tive of tJreene county, and came to Steuben county in 1847, settling in the town of 
Thurston. In 18.il he married Mary E., daughter of Aaron C. Voss. Mr. Jones de- 
voted his time to farming and lumbering. Horatio F. and Horace D. were educated 
in Thurston, and in 1882 came to Bath, and in 188.'5 purchased the Jerome Smalledge 
property, and since that time have been actively engaged in lumbering and farming. 
In 1878 Horatio E. married Hattie M., daughter of Job G. Campbell, and they are 
the parents of one son, Raymond C, and one daughter, Fannie D. In 1881 Horace 
D. married Emma, daughter of James Jack, and they are the parents of three chil- 
dren: Ward E. , Martina M., and M. Frances. 

Brown, Mrs. H. S. — Alva E. Brown was born in Bath, April 16, 182.i. John Brown, 
his father, was among the early settlers in Bath. Alva E. married Sarah, daughter 
of Major W'illiam Hamilton, by whom he had three children, Mrs. Helene Halsey, 
Mary Lizzie and Margaret. Mr. Brown was one of the repre.sentative men of his 
town, identified in its progress and welfare, and serving as supervisor for three terms. 
He was prominently identified in St. Thomas church and in educational and tem- 
perance interests. He died in 1868, in his forty third year, the result of a railroad 
accident. 

Dudley, Henry C, was born in Bath, December 22, 1837. Moses Dudley, his father, 
was a native of Bangor, Maine, and came to Bath in 1814, and settled on the farm 
which is now occupied by his descendants, and the family trace their descent from 
Squire Jeremiah Dudley, who came to Bath with a family of seventeen children, 
s<ms-in-law and grandchildren, and who settled in the woods, taking up a tract of 
1000 acres of land. He died in 1838. Moses Dudley married Mary, daughter of Will- 
iam Atwood, and through life was identified as a farmer, dying in 1871, in hisseventy- 
fourth year. Henry C. Dudley married Rhuetta, daughter of Elijah Havens, by 
whom he had eight children, Plummer A., Egbert H., George, Frank, Clay, Floyd, 
Mrs. Carrie Harder, and Susan Dudley. 



112 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

Uickey, Mathew, his wife, Ruth, and family, came to Cameron in 1830, settling on 
the Swale road. Their children were Erastus, Samuel, William. Amasa, George, 
Myra, Sallie, Ruth, Harriet, and Mary Ann. Erastus married Elvira, daughter of 
Joel and Sarah Clark, by whom he had six children: John, Mathew, deceased, Mel- 
vina, deceased, William, Charles, and Mathew, natives of the town of Cameron. 
Mathew married Hannah, a daughter of John and Minerva (Briggs) Reese, of Cam- 
eron. He is engaged in farming and has cleared most of the farm where he now 
lives. He is active in town affairs and is now serving his second term as assessor. 

Rising, Isaac A , was born in the town of Thurston, December 24, 1846. William 
Rising, his father, was a native of Herkimer county, N. Y. Henry Rising, his grand- 
father, was one of the first settlers of this county. William Rising came to the town 
of Thurston about 1830, where he resided until 1862, when he was killed by the fall- 
ing of a tree. He married Sarah, daughter of Isaac Adams, who was one of the first 
settlers of that town, by whom he had four children : Isaac A. , Mary, Lora and Jessie. 
Isaac A. Rising is a farmer and owns a farm of 100 acres of land. He married 
Amanda, daughter of Jessie Everett, by whom he had two children; Edith, wife of 
Miles Woodward, and Everett. 

Clawson, Jacob, was born m Southport, Chemung county, January 16, 1827, son of 
Ebenezer Clawson, who was born in the State of New Jersey, and came to the town 
of Campbell in 1841, where he took up land. He was a wagonmaker by trade. He 
married Rohamy, daughter of John McHenry, of Chemung county, and they were 
the parents of three children: Jacob, Betsey, and John M. For his second wife he 
married Loretta Reed, of Potter county. Pa., and two children were born to them: 
Martha, now Mrs. Thompson, and Julia, now Mrs. Williams. Jacob Clawson de- 
voted his time to lumbering until 1850, since which time he has been in the mercan- 
tile business most of the time. He married Jane, daughter of Cornelius Hamilton, 
of Campbell, who was one of the early settlers of Campbell. They have five children : 
Sara G., Charles H., Frank E., J. Louisa, and John L. Mr. Clawson is a Republi- 
can, and has filled many of the minor offices of the town. He is a member of the K. 
of H. In 1850 he was employed in the first general store that was opened in the 
town. 

Lathrop, Gen. Au.stin, superintendent of State prisons, was born in Tioga county, 
Pa., in 1839. received a common school education at Lawrenceville, Pa., and in 1859 
came to Corning. In 1862 the firm of Walker & Lathrop was formed, and an exten- 
sive hardware and lumber business was carried on for twenty-five years. For nine 
years he was a member of the Board of Supervisors of Steuben county; in 1882 he 
was appointed to Governor Cleveland's staff as commissary-general of subsistence; 
was quartermaster-general under Hill m 1885; and in 1887 appointed superintendent 
of State prisons by Governor Hill, which position he has since held, being reappointed 
in 1893 by Governor Flower. 

Smith, Justin M., was born in Delaware county, in 1817, and at seventeen years of 
age he came to Painted Post, and from there to Corning in 1850. From 1840 to 1846 
he was engaged in dry goods business at Painted Post, also went to California in 
1849. From 18.50 to 1852 he was bookkeeper for a foundry firm in Corning, and 
after that in the employ of the Fall Brook &• Blossburg Railroad for one year. In 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 113 

February, l><o4. he went into tlie dry goods business in connection with the late 
Wilham W. Hayt. Since 18G2 the firm was Smith iS: Waite, the oldest firm in con- 
tinual business in Corning. On account of impaired health he sold his interest in the 
business to N. E. Waite, his partner, and T. \V. Kuger, who will continue the busi- 
ness under the name of Waite & Kuger. He was for thirty years trustee of the 
Presbyterian church. 

Robinson, Hon. Frank N., who succeeded Hon. Harlo Hakes as county judge, 
January 1, l.S'.U, was born in Cuba, Allegany county, May 28, 1S55. Hi.s ability as 
an attorney has made him popular with the people throughout the county. He 
served as district attorney for two terms previous to his election as county judge. 
He read law with Champlaiu, Armstrong & Russell, of Cuba, finishing with Sickles 
& Miller, of Albany. He graduated from the law department of Union University 
in l.'^ifi, and was soon after admitted to the bar. settling in Canisteo in 1879. As a 
lawyer Judge Robinson ranks among the leading members of the bar. 

Allen, Edward, was born in the town of Howard, Steuben county, April 3. 1847. 
J. W. Allen, his father, was born in the same town in 1823. His grandfather, Will- 
iam Allen, was a native of Rhode Island, and when he first settled in Howard the 
land was covered with large timber. He was considered one of the rich men in those 
days, as there were few who were able to even buy a barrel of salt, and he used to 
sell it to the neighbors by the pound. He cleared 1G.5 acres of land for farming, and 
later built a hotel which he run for a number of years. J. W. Allen spent two years 
in Illinois, farming, and in 18(),5 he returned to Canisteo, where he spent his last 
years and died at the age of seventy-one. He married Jane, daughter of Christo- 
pher Meeks of Howard, by whom he had seven children : Polly, Edward, Monroe, 
Ira, Adelbert, Martha, and Eliza. Edward Allen is a farmer, owning a fine farm of 
100 acres, and makes a specialty of hay raising. He married Anna, daughter of 
Benjamin Mericle, by whom he had six children: Charley, May, Ida, Fred, Morti- 
mer, and William W. 

Mead, Sanford, was born in Greenwood. July 25, 1835, the youngest son of San- 
ford and Annie Everett Mead, and grandson of Enos Mead (see W. F. Mead else- 
where). Mr. Mead was a farmer by occupation, and went west and settled in Michi- 
gan, where he died. Sanford is also a farmer, and owns a farm of about 203 acres. 
He is president of the Farmers' Alliance Co-Operative Insurance Company, of Steu- 
ben county, and is a member of Andovcr Tent No. 57, K. O. T. M. In 18.56 Mr. 
Mead married Elvira, daughter of Solomon I'ingery, of Andover, and they have two 
children : Ward B. , who was a student at Alfred University and a graduate of Eastman 
Business College, was a teacher for a number of years, and is now a postal clerk on 
theN.Y., L. E. & Western railroad at Hornellsville; and M ibel, wife of Perry Stephens, 
a farmer of Greenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Mead are members of the Methodist church. 

Atkins, jr , Jesse T., was born in Greenwood in 1800, son of Jesse T. Atkins, a 
native of Enfield, Tompkins county, born January 29, 1820, who married Harriet 
Scott, who was born in Genoa, Cayuga county, December 21, 183(), by whom he had 
three children. The paternal grandparents, William and Rosina{Townsend) Atkins, 
were pioneers of Greenwood, where they died. The maternal grandparents, John 
and Roby (Baker) Scott, were natives of (lenoa and Connecticut, respectively. He 



lU LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

died in Genoa in 1839, and Mrs. Scott came to Greenwood, wiiere she died February 
21, 1876. Jesse T. Atkins was one of the most successful farmers and business men 
of the town of Greenwood, and died April 13. 186S. Mrs. Atkins still resides on the 
homestead. Jesse T. Atkins, jr., was reared on the farm in Greenwood, and has 
always followed farming and speculating. He has about GoO acres of land, and re- 
sides on the homestead which contains about 195 acres. In politics he is a Republi- 
can, and is a member of Sentinel Lodge, No. 1.50, F. & A. M. 

Burton, Lynn G., was born in the town of Greenwood, N. Y., July 6, 1857, is the 
second of seven children born to William and Lydia (Stewart) Burton, he a native of 
Dryden, Tompkins county, and she of Penn Yan, N. Y. The grandparents, William 
and Elizabeth (Yankirk) Burton, came from Eastern New York to Dryden, thence to 
Greenwood in 1838, where they died. He was a farmer and hotel-keeper in the vil- 
lage of Greenwood. William Burton, jr., learned the blacksmith trade which he 
followed in Greenwood for over forty years, and was also deputy sheriff for many 
years. He was a member of Sentinel Lodge, No. 151, F. & A. M., at Greenwood, 
and was master several years. He died November 24, 1892. and Mrs. Burton Slarch 
5, 1883. Lynn G. Burton was reared and educated in the village of Greenwood, and 
learned the trade of his father, in which he has succeeded him. In 1885 he married 
Hattie, daughter of Jackson and Erella King of Greenwood, by whom he had two 
children: Maud and Stewart. Mr. Burton was for seven years justice of the peace 
at Greenwood, and at the caucus of 1893 he resigned for the nomination for super- 
visor, which office he still holds. In the fall of 1894 he has made chairman of the 
board. He is a member of Sentinel Lodge, No. 161, F. & A. M., of which he has 
been master for one year. 

Rodgers, Thomas D., was born in Tompkins county, N.Y., June 12, 1840, is the 
eighth of ten children born to Levi F. and Eliuore (Davis) Rodgers, he a native of 
Orange county, N. Y., and she of Wales, who came to America with her parents, 
David and Elizabeth Davis, and settled in Sullivan county, where the father and 
mother died. The paternal grandfather, Benjamm Rodgers, was a native of Orange 
county, where be died. Levi Rodgers was a cooper and farmer, and came to 
Greenwood in 1840, but removed to Andover, where he died in May, 1890. Mrs. 
Rodgers died in Greenwood in 1859. Thomas D. Rodgers was reared on a farm, 
and in 1861 he married Clarissa, daughter of Ames and Louisa (Jones) Spicer of 
Allegany county, by whom he had four children: Ames L., born August 22, 1860, 
and educated at Alfred Business College, and is a farmer in Andover; Yanie, born 
November 3, 1866, educated at Alfred, and is the wife of Oliver Whitcomb, farmer 
and well-driller of Scio, Allegany county; E. Park, born October 6, 1876; and T. 
Clark, born August 25, 1878. >Ir. Rodgers has been justice of sessions two years 
and justice of the peace twenty years. He is director of Farmers Alliance Co-Oper- 
ative Insurance Companv, Steuben county, and is also a member of Lodge 558, F. & 
A. M., at Andover, and the K. O. T. M. of Andover. 

Lane, A. Eugene, was born in Hornby in 1856, and is a son of David H. and 
Mianda C. Weed Lane, who came from Erie county. Pa., about 1860. The father 
died in 1857, aged forty, the mother resides with A. Eugene. In 1880 he married 
Lottie Thomas of Schuyler county, and in 1883 located where he now lives on the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 115 

farm of 130 acres. In connection with farming he follows bridge building for the 
Vulcan Road Works. His children are: Norma S., Ray T. , and Ralph D. 

Smith, D. D., born m the town of Lodi, Seneca county, N. Y., August 33, 1843, is 
the oldest of eleven children born to Elijah and Elsie Ann Dilts Smith both of 
Seneca county, N. Y. Mr. Smith died June 28, 1S87. Mrs. Smith is still living in 
the town of Sweden, Pa. The grandparents, Elijah and Abigail Wilson Smith, 
came from the town of Greenwood to West Union about 1840. He was a sculptor 
and mason by trade, and a soldier in the War of 1812 He died in Bradford and 
she in Fremont. Both were members of the M. E. church. David D. was reared 
on a farm and settled in the town of West Union in 1H()8 where he has since resided. 
In 1868 he married Amelia N., daughter of J. W. and Sallie Young Barber, farmers 
of West Union. He died May 2, 1894, aged seventy nine. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith 
were born five children: Ada, born November 20, 18()8, wife of George Sluyter, a 
Iivcr\'man of Harrison Valley; Jay Hile, born March 7, 1871, a farmer; Bertha, born 
September 10, 1872, wife of Grant Brownell, of Troupsburg; Mable, born April 21, 
1878; and Sarah Edith, born August 21, 1889, and died April 24, 1890. D. D. Smith 
enlisted in Company C, 67th New York Volunteers, April, 1861, and was honorably 
discharged October, 1862. He was at Little Bethel, Williamsburg, and wounded by 
gun shot at Fair Oaks, May 30, 1862. Mr. Smith is now e.xcise commissioner. He 
is a member of William H. White Post, No. 561, G. A. R., at Greenwood. His farm 
consists of 14.") acres, and he makes a specialty of dairy farming. Jay Hile Smith 
married Miss Eva Myrtle Sherman of Troupsburg, March 7, 1894. 

Dutcher, James R.. was born at Penn Van, May 23, 18.')1. Henry Dutcher, his 
father, was born in Schoharie county, N. Y. , May 9, 1827. He was a machinist by 
trade and later became the owner of a farm in Yates county. He married Sophia, 
daughter of Adonijah Kirkham of Schoharie county, by whom he had these chil- 
dren: George of Corning, William also of Corning, Mrs. Kenfield of Avoca, Delia of 
Dundee, and Charles, present residence unknown. James R. was educated in Penn 
Van. Dundee and Haramondsport, graduating from the High School of Penn Yan. 
He was engaged in the railwav mail service for twenty-one years, apprenticed in 
1874, and still continues in the service, and prior to that time was in the post-office 
in Avoca. He married Ida A., daughter of Clark Charlesworth of Avoca, by whom 
he had these children: Charles A., Oliver C, and Clarence C, deceased. Mr. 
Dutcher is a member of Avoca Lodge of Masons, No. 673. 

Pierce, Byron, was born in the home he now owns, which was built by his father, 
April 15. 1839. Alson Pierce, his father, came to the town May 23, 1815, and settled 
on the place which is now occupied by his son. He cleared sixty acres where at one 
time the old Williams Hotel stood. The family dates back to Capt. Michael Pierce, 
of England. ALson Pierce married Silvia Corbin of Vermont, by whom he had four 
children; Benjamin C, born in 1820, died 1844; Mary A., born May 21, 1823; Mar- 
tha A., born October 25. 1825. Byron was educated in the district school, and at 
eighteen years of age commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Kloyd Morse of 
Painted Post, and graduated from the Buffalo Medical College in 1860. In June, 
1862, he entered the service as assistant surgeon, where he remained for six months, 
when his business called him home, and he resumed his practice, farming and manu- 



lie LANDMARKS OF STEtJBEN COUNTY. 

facture of lumber, and at present is out of practice. In 1870 he married Sophia E. 
Stilson of Delaware county, N. Y. , by whom he had six children: Lucia S., born 
born October 11, 1871; Helena E., born March 29, 1873; Benjamin S., born May 14, 
1874; Frank F., born March 11, 1876; Alfred C, born March 22, 1878; Clarence J., 
born December 31, 1888. He is a member of the Baptist church, and in politics is a 
Republican. 

Ackerson, David H. , was born on Wheeler Hill, in Februarj', 1838, son of Henry 
Ackerson, a native of New Jersey, born in 1792, who, when a young man, came to 
the town of Pulteney, bought a tract of land in the woods, and cleared him a farm. 
He later removed to the town of Wheeler, and some years later removed to the town 
of Prattsburg, where he remained five years, continuing his farming, then retired to 
the village of Bath where he spent his remaining days. He served for a short time 
in the 1812 war. He married Lydia Uptigrove, a native of New Jersey, by whom he 
had these children; Mary A., Catherine, Eliza, Martha, Charles, and David H. The 
latter was educated in the common school : his mother died when he was fourteen 
years of age, and he then began life for himself at farm work, and from that time 
has led an active, energetic life. When twenty-four years of age he purchased a 
farm in Pulteney, thence he removed to Starkey, Yates county, where he conducted 
a large stock farm for Clark Bell for two years, when he moved to Wheeler and some 
years later to the village of Bath, to educate his children in the school at that place. 
He again returned to Starkey and bought a fine farm, but sold it and returned to 
Bath, and in the fall of 18>i6 returned to Wheeler and purchased a farm of 300 acres 
near the village, where he has since resided. For a number of years he was an e.x- 
tensive sheep grower, and also interested in raising fine horses. Mr. Ackerson is a 
member of the Steuben County Agricultural Association, in which he has held offi- 
cial positions. In 1860 he married Sarah D., daughter of Ephraim Aulls, who occu- 
pied and spent his life on the homestead now owned by David H., and Mr. Aulls 
was for forty years poormaster in the town of Wheeler. Thomas Aulls, his father, 
came to the town of Urbana w'ith his father, William Aulls, in 1793, and in 1800 came 
to Wheeler and settled m the forest. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerson have two children: 
Herbert, who is head accountant in the oflfice of Bacheller, Johnson & Bacheller, in 
New York city; and Mrs. Kate M. Allen of New York city. Mr. Ackerson also owns 
a farm of eighty acres in the town of Bath. 

Shader, William Henry, was born in the town of Wheeler on the farm he now 
owns, January 13, 1862. John Shader, his grandfather, was a native of Massachu- 
setts, born in 1803, in early life was a shoemaker, and came to Steuben county about 
1840, and to the town of Wheeler in 1845, where he spent his remaining days as a 
farmer. He married Mary Drum, who was born in Columbia county, N. Y., in 1802, 
daughter of Nicholas and Margaret (Houk) Drum, by whom he had these children: 
Adam, James, Clara, Caroline, David, and William. He died in May, 1885; his wife 
died October, 1877. Adam Shader, father of William Henry, was born in Columbia 
county in 1829. He was a farmer, and about 1853, in partnership with a brother, 
James, purchased a farm of 110 acres in Wheeler, and later added thirty-five acres, 
which they paid for after years of energetic toil. He married Elsie M. Smith, July 
4, 1858, who was born in Ohio, daughter of George W. Smith, by whom he had one 
child, William Hcnrv, and Mrs. Shader died November 4, 1862, when he was nine 



u 



Family sketches. 117 

months old. Mr. Shader died April 9, 1876, and from that time William Henry was 
obliged to care for himself. When twenty-one years of age he purchased his step- 
mother's portion of the farm, where he has since resided. In April, 1884, he married 
Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Otis Smith of -Savona, now of Hornellsville, by whom 
he had one child, Floyd, born October 31, 1887. 

Fox, Oliver R. , was born in that portion of the town which was later called Avoca, 
in 1835. Joseph Fox, his grandfather, was born of German parents. He was a 
farmer and a prominent man in his town, much interested in public affairs, and 
filled many town offices. He was a .soldier in the War of 1812, and spent most of his 
life in Montgomery county, where he reared seven children. Peter Fox, father of 
Oliver R., was born in Montgomery county in 1808. He is a carpenter by trade, and 
came to the town^f Wheeler in 1834, and purcha.sed a tract of wild timber land 
where he plied his trade at one dollar per day, hired men to chop and clear his land 
for fifty cents per day, and thus cleared his first farm of ninety acres, which he later 
sold, and in 1856 purchased his present farm of 150 acres where he has since resided. 
He served as poormaster many years, and is a member of the Grange Lodge at 
Avoca. He married Lany Shaut, who was born in Herkimer county, a daughter of 
Jabob Shaut, by whom he had six children: Almira, Chauncy, Oliver R., Mary J.. 
Harvey, and John, all dead except Oliver and Harvey. His wife died in 1803, aged 
eighty-three years. Oliver R. has spent his whole life with his father, assisting 
him in clearing and paying for the farm : he now assumes full charge and operates 
the farm and cares for his aged father. For many years he raised sheep and cattle, 
later years his chief crop has been potatoes. He has served as justice of the peace 
continuously for twenty years, and is a member of the Grange Lodge in Avoca, in 
which he has served in several official capacities. In 1864 he married Eliza Graves, 
w-ho was born in Prattsburg, a daughter of the pioneer, Almeron Graves, by whom 
he had one son, John. She is also a member of the Avoca Grange Lodge. . 

Olmstead, James E., was born in the town of Wheeler, on the farm he now owns, 
in 1845. Erastus Olmstead his grandfather, was born in Connecticut, and later 
moved to Montgomery county where he devoted his life to farming. He was a 
prominent Mason, and held many offices in his lodge. He married Jane Coven- 
hoven, by whom he had ten children, all of whom lived, except one, aged sixty- 
six, to be over seventy years of age. He died about 1852, aged eighty-.six years, 
and his wife about 1865, aged eighty-nine. James F., father of James E., was born 
in Montgomery county in 171)8, and "m the fall of 1820 he moved to Wheeler where 
he took up land which was then a forest. The following year he and his brother 
John took up 100 acres and worked together several years, and later James added 
.sixty-three acres. Their first autumn in the town they cut two acres of timber and 
boarded four miles from their work. He assisted in the building of the Lutheran 
church of Avoca, in which tie was later made deacon; he al.so filled other othces in 
the church. He married Harriet, daughter of Emanuel Gunsolous, by whom he had 
these children: Jane, Elizabeth, Hannah, IJimis, Sarah, who died at eighteen years 
of age, and James. He died in August, 1883, and his wife in February, 1884. James 
E. has spent his life on the homestead, which he now owns, and cared for his par- 
ents. During the year 1875, in connection with his farming, he run a grocery wagon 
through the country, and for some time later engaged in buying and butchering 



118 LANDMARKS OF STEDBEX COUNTY. 

cattle and supplying Hornellsville market from one to two tons of meat a week. He 
has been elected overseer of the poor for three terms. He is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. Avoca Lodge, No. 673, and was the organizer of the Avoca Grange 
Lodge, P. of H. in 1876, of which he was the first master, to which office he was 
elected several years. In 1868 he married Dema, daughter of Benjamin and Jane 
(Fero) Voorhees, pioneers in Steuben county, by whom he had these children: Elmer 
H., Hattie J,, who died at nineteen years of age, James B., and lona. The Olm- 
stead family is traced back in America to 1632, when James and Richard Olmstead 
came from England on the ship Lion. 

Hall, Royal A., was born in Corning, N. V., September 1, 1841, and is a son of 
George H. and Mary J. (Spaulding) Hall. George H. was born in 1811 and died in 
Troupsburg in February, 1887. Royal A. was educated at thg Troupsburg and 
Alfred Academies, and was then engaged in teaching for a while. He has since 
followed farming. In 1866 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. J. B. Murdock 
(mentioned elsewhere), by whom he has three children : Emma E., wife of Ira Miller, 
of Elmira; W. B., of Syracuse, who married Anna, daughter of Rev. A. J. Hurd; 
and Mazie, who is at home. Mr. Hall settled on the farm he now owns in 1867. It 
consists of 175 acres, and he carries on general farming, January 1, 1864, he enlisted 
in Co. H, 96th N. Y. Vols., and was discharged February 6, 1866. He was clerk in 
the post-office department for three months. He went to Yorktown and joined the 
Butler expedition up the James River to City Point, and was wounded at Drury's 
Bluff, May 16, 1864, and was in the hospital until February. 186.5. Mr. Hall is a 
member of Post Bailey No. 361, G. A. R., and McClellan Lodge No. 649, F. & A. M. 

Cooley, Charles, was born in Hartford, Conn., July 31. 1820. He was the second 
son of Hanan Cooley, a furnace man and moulder of the New England States, who 
moved from there to Rochester, vi^here he built the first foundry of that city. Charles 
learned the moulders' trade and followed it all his life. He was engaged in many 
different cities until 1870, when he came to Hornellsville and took charge of the iron 
moulding in the Erie shops. He died September 29, 1887. He was married January 
18, 1840, to Miss Lucy Louisa Martell, of Canada, and they have been the parents of 
nine children, seven of whom are living; Mrs. J. ^V. Corbin, of Friendship, N. Y. ; 
Mrs. L. D. Hazard, of Hornellsville, N. Y. ; Mrs. Isaac Carley, of Galeton, Potter 
county, Pa. ; Mrs. Frank McPhee; Edmund C. Cooley, a machinist of Dunkirk, N. 
Y. ; Charles H. Cooley, a machinist of Brockville, Pa. ; and Walter M. Cooley, an 
engineer of Alaska, now engaged in the gold mines of that country. Edmund C. 
Cooley bought the Wright farm of forty acres in the spring of 1886, now occupied by 
Mrs. Cooley. Frank C. McPhee was born in Tioga county, Pa., January 17, 1854. 
Daniel McPhee, the father of Frank, was a farmer. He was for a few years a resi- 
dent of South Addison, Steuben county, N. Y. Frank was the fifth of a family of 
eleven children. He was educated in the common schools, and has been for twenty- 
one years a sash cutter of McConell Mills in Hornellsville. He was married March 
14, 1881, to Miss Mary C. Cooley, daughter of the late Charles and Lucy Loui.sa 
(Martell) Cooley. Mr. and Mrs. McPhee have one son, Nelson Lawrence, now in his 
fourteenth year, a student of Hornellsville Academy. 

Bentley, John L., was born in Elmira, September 24, 1829, a .son of Darius, a native 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 119 

of Rensselaer county, who came to Chemung in 1814, and owned a large tract in wliat 
was then a part of Elmira. He was prominent in town and county affairs, and was 
known as Judge Hentley. He died at the age of ninety-four. Of his si.x surviving 
children John L., the third son, was educated in the public schools and by private 
teachers, and his first occuption was on a farm. His father was a surveyor, and John 
did considerable work in that line of business. He was one of the civil engineers of 
the Cananda'.gua and Niagara Railroad at the age of twenty-five. He then engaged 
in railroading, and for seventeen years was conductor on the western division of the 
N. Y., L. E. & \V. R. R. In 1873 he formed a partnership with George Griswold, 
which lasted a year, and in 18T4 the store was burned, and afterwards our subject 
continued the business alone. Mr. Griswold rebuilt, and Mr. Bentley moved into 
his store, which he conducted until 1875, then sold out to Mr. Griswold, and bought 
the store of Seymour & Davis, and in 1888 removed to his present location, 91 Main 
street, conducting a grocery and crockery store. He served as alderman for five 
years, and als) as assessor, and was city engineer for two years. For thirty years he 
has been a ijromintnt Mason, and has passed the chairs of the Blue Lodge, Council 
and Commandery. In 18.55 he married Jane Shute, of Horseheads, and their children 
are Edward S., a clerk, and Harry S., a partner in the business. 

Bowlby, George K. , was born in the town of Bath, June 15, 1855, son of James 
N. W. Bowlby and Emily King Bowlby. James N. W. Bowlby, a native of Drydcn, 
Tompkins county, N. Y.. who came to Steuben county in 1837 with his parents, 
James and Catherine Bowlby. George K. was educated at Haverling Academy. In 
1878 he married Sarah, daughter of Edward S. Hardenbrook, of Bath; they are the 
parents of three sons, James Edward, George Albert, and Charles Ernest. Mr. 
Bowlby was elected assessor in 1895. 

Burt, John M., was born in Warren county in 1831, son of Amasa Burt, who came 
from Warren county to Chemung county in 1845, and to Steuben county m 1854, 
where he died in 1875, aged seventy-five years. He married Sarah Ward, who died 
in 1878, aged seventy-one years. In 1851 John M. Burt went to Minnesota, where he 
engaged in the mercantile business until 1858, and has since resided on the farm. 
While in Minnesota he was clerk of the House of Representatives. He has 105 
acres in his home place and also owns a farm of 140 acres in Chemung county, and 
has real estate interests in Minnesota. He has never married. His sister. Miss 
Cordelia, lives with him, while another sister, Mrs. Lucius Tuttle, lives on an ad- 
joining farm. 

Stuart, Morey, was born in Cameron and married Jane, a daughter of George and 
Martha Punches. Their children are daughter Frances and son Winfred. Mr. 
Stuart is a school teacher, having taught for thirteen years. He is also engaged in 
farming. He is excise commissioner of the town, justice of the peace, etc., having 
been in office most of the time since he was twenty-one years of age. His father, 
Girdon Stuart, married for his first wife Katie I^each, by whom he had two children: 
Malissa and Amos. October 9, 1841, he married Sarah Winship, by whom he had 
eleven children: John, George, Henry, Norman, James, Kate, Amelia, Samuel, 
Dewitt, Morey, and Lula. Girdon was a member of the Baptist church. He was a 
carpenter and builder in early life, but was engaged in farming the latter part of his 
life. 



120 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Angel, Prentis, settled in Urbana with his wife (Dollie Mitchell) and family of nine 
children; Sylvester, Silas, Lucy, Thomas, Betsie, Hannah, Calvin, Prentis and 
Abner. 'I homas married Axie Pope, by whom he has seven children: Almira, 
Alonzo, Edwin, Julia, t-arah. James, and Prentis. Thomas married Elma Stratton 
(deceased), by whom he had five children: Helen, Abner, Mary, Isabelle, and Fanny. 
Prentis married Lois, a daughter of Silas and Lucetta Babcock, by whom he had five 
children: Ray, Fred, Bert, Floyd, and Walter. Mr. Angel followed railroading in 
early life, but is now engaged in farmmg on a farm of 104 acres. 

Heseltine, Eugene A., was born in the town of Independence, Allegany county, 
N.Y., October 18, 1843. Ezekiel Heseltine, his father, was a native of New Hamp- 
shire, born September 30, 1799, in the town of Dairyfield, now the city of Manches- 
ter. He came to New York State in the fall of 1816 and settled on a farm in Middle- 
sex, Yates county; then went to Independence in 1831, and to Hornellsville in 1860. 
His death occurred December 21, 1886. Harriet E. Allen, mother of Eugene A., was 
a native of Barnstable, Mass. She died October 20, 1848. They also had one other 
son, Leonidas B., who was shot at the battle of the Wilderness, May 10, 1863, and 
died June 9. He was a member of Co. D, 86th N.Y.Vols. Eugene was educatedin 
the common schools of his native county, and at the breaking out of the war was one 
of the early volunteers for his country's service August 29. 1861, he enlisted in 
Co. D, under Captain Ellsworth, in the 86th N.Y S.Vols , and was with this regiment 
three years. He was at Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and 
in all the engagements under General Grant from May to September, 1864, and 
Colonel Lansing has written on his discharge, which is dated September 4, 1864, 
that he was a good soldier, always willing and faithful in the discharge of his duties. 
Returning home, he was made adjutant of the COth Regt., N.Y. S. M., and was also 
given a commission by Governor Fenton as brevet second lieutenant, N. Y. Vols. 
After the war he came to Hornellsville and was engaged in the mercantile business 
about seven years, after which he became interested in farming. In 1876 he bought 
a farm in the town of Hornellsville. to which he has added until now he has 1.57 acres 
handsomely located on the line of the Hornellsville and Canisteo Electric Railway. 
July 16, 1873, he married Olive P., daughter of Rev. E. P. Huntington, then of 
Phelps, N.Y. Mr. Heseltine was the founder of the New York State Breeders' Asso- 
ciation, organized in February, 1891, of which he is vice-president. He was also 
the first owner in this county of the imported Percheron horse, and of Red Polled 
cattle. 

Barrett, William W., was born in New Jersey, January 13, 1838, son of John and 
Mary (Westervelt) Barrett, who settled in Bath in 1842 and had four children: Julia, 
John W., Mary, all deceased, and William W. William W. married Lovina J. Niles 
and has two children: Moses J., who married Eva Jackson; and Jerome W., who 
married Fannie Parker and has two children: Clarence and Blanche. Moses J. 
Barrett has three children Pearl, Lawrence, and Ethel. William W. is an active 
temperance advocate and is a member of the Good Templars, also the Town 
Grange. 

Brewster, C. A. — Gilbert Brewster, his father, was born at Red Creek, N.Y. sixty- 
six years ago, of old English ancestry, and came to Addison soon after attaining his 



FAMILY SKETCHES. I'Jl 

majority. He was by trade a machinist and farmer, and married Martlia, daughter 
i>f the late Wilham Wombough, by whom he had four children, of whom Charles and 
Gilbert are the only survivors. She died in 1886. William Wombough occupied a 
central position in the early annals of Middletown, now Addison, having been not 
only one of the first comers here, but a man of wonderful energy and character, and 
at one time owned nearly 2 000 acres of land in and about Addison. He built grist, 
ci-.rding and saw mills in the vicinity, and it is related that in order to equip his fir.st 
mill with machinery, he made a trip to Philadelphia with a team, and he thought 
little of an overland trip to Syracuse for a load of salt. C. A. Brewster, a grandson 
of William Wombough, was educated in the common schools and Cornell University, 
after which he occupied a clerical position in the lialdwin Bank, until the formation 
of the firm of Brewster Brothers, dealers in hardware, etc. In 1890 the firm dis- 
solved, and Mr. Brewster thenceforward devoted his time and attention to his whole- 
sale lumber business at Corning and Painted Post. He has served his town as village 
trustee, and in other positions, which he filled with great credit. 

Zeliff. Samuel J., was born in the town of Burns, Allegany county, N.Y., June 10. 
1832, and is the son of Joseph ZelifT, who was born in France, and came to the 
United States in 1812, when a young man. Settled in Pennsylvania, then near Ark- 
port, Steuben county, they took up land for a farm consisting of 108 acres, where 
they remained until a few years ago. The homestead is known as the Albert Kllis 
farm. The antecedents of Samuel J. have always followed farming. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools of South Dansville, but has greatly improved his educa- 
tion by his judicious reading. Mr. Zeliff for a time was engaged in dealing in 
agricultural implements, but now devotes his entire time to farming, owning a farm 
of ITio acres mostly of improved land. Mr. Zeliff married, first, Theoda, daughter of 
Sidney Frisbey, of Hartsville, who was one of the first settlers of that town. They 
had one daughter, Emma IJ., who married Milton Grey, of Hammondsport, N. Y. 
Mr. Zeliff married, second, Ann K., widow of George O. Henry, of Hartsville, by 
whom he had two children : Clayton and Merton, both living at home. Mr. Zeliff 
has served as highway commissioner, excise commissioner, and assessor. The heads 
of the family are members of the M. E. church. 

Morgan, S. Maurice, was born in the town of Lindley, November 6, 1839, son of 
Albert C. and Catherine Barnard Morgan, who settled in Lindley in 1828 and 1830. 
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were the parents of five children: Harriet A., Sarah E., 
Nellie A., Catherine A., and S. Maurice. The latter was married to Helen B. 
Williams, and they have one child, Rose W. S. Maurice enlisted in Co. F, 86th N.Y. 
Vols., September, 1861, and was commissioned first lieutenant, Co. F, 86th N.Y. Vols. ; 
May, 18G2, was appointed aide-de camp to John C. Robinson in Kearney's Division, 
Army of the Potomac, afterwards served in First Division, Third Army Corps, also 
Second Division of First Army Corps, and February, 1864, was appointed assistant 
adjutant-general, U.S. Vols. , and was assigned to the Second Division of Fifth 
Army Corps, was appointed adjutant-general in First Army Corps in May, 1864. He 
was captured May 30, 1864, at Cold Harbor, and confined in Libby Prison, Rich- 
mond, Va., Macon, Ga., Charleston, S. C, and Columbia, S. C, and was paroled for 
exchange from Columbia, Escaped from Columbia prison and was free fourteen 
days. He holds a commission as brevet lieutenant-colonel, given by President 
P 



122 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Lincolu for meritorious services in the field. He is now commander of the G. A. R. 
Post at Lawrenceville, Pa. 

Putnam, Aaron H., was born in Steuben county, N. Y., July 2, 1838. He is the 
son of Aaron V. and Mary Putnam, and grandson of David Putnam, of Holland 
descent, who came from that country with his family and settled in Montgomery 
county, N.Y. He was a Revolutionary soldier and noted Indian fighter under Gen- 
eral Van Rensselaer. After his return from the war he was captured by Indians, 
killed and scalped. Aaron V. was born in Montgomery county in 1790. He was a 
soldier in the war of 1813, and married Mary Rose in 1820. To them was bom 
twelve children. He was a blacksmith by trade, and in 1832 came to Prattsburg and 
settled on a farm where he plied his trade in connection with his farming, they re- 
maining on the farm they settled in Prattsburg until their death, both living to the 
advanced age of eighty-four years. Aaron H. Putnam was the eighth of this family 
of children and remains on the homestead farm of 130 acres, to which he has added 
175 acres. Politically Mr. Putnam is a Democrat and has ahvaj'S adhered to the 
principles of that party. He has held the office of commissioner of highways, and 
assessor at different times. In 1806 he married Ada, daughter of Dwiglit Graves, of 
Prattsburg, by whom he had eight children: Cora, Ella, Mae, Arthur, Lillie, Aaron, 
Clara, and Dwight, all living except Clara, the youngest daughter, who died at the 
age of four years. The girls are school teachers, and the boys remain at home on 
the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam are both members of the Ingleside Grange, in 
which they have both held offices. 

Stewart, George Edmund, was born in the town of Howard in the place known as 
Dubhn, February 20, 1854, son of George W. Stewart, who was born in Ireland, and 
came to the United States when about seventeen years of age, and became a farmer. 
He married Sarah A., daughter of the Rev. Adonijah Ford of the town of Howard, 
and they were the parents of five children; George E., A. P., Abby L., Sarah M., 
and Eugene, all of whom live in the town of Howard except A. F. , who lives in Hor- 
nellsville. George Edmund was first a teacher, and afterwards worked for the N.Y., 
L. E. & W. R. R. Company as car repairer, but for many years has devoted his time 
to farming. He acquired his education in the district schools and was also in the 
Haverling Academy for three years. He married Lydia Jane, daughter of Orren 
W. Emerson, a farmer of Bath. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have one daughter, Nora 
Irene, aged fifteen years. She is now attending the district schools. Mrs. Stewart 
died November 6, 1893, aged forty-one years. 

Olmsted. Milton, was born in Avoca March 18, 1843. John Olmsted, his father, 
was bom in Connecticut, February 23, 1800. In childhood he came with his parents 
to Montgomery county, N. Y., and when twenty-one years of age came with his 
brother James to Avoca, Steuben county, and settled on the farm now owned by his 
son, which was then a wilderness. He bought land and cleared the farm on which 
he spent the remainder of his life, and on what has since been known far and wide 
as Olmsted Hill. He afterwards purchased two different farms in the .same locality 
which has since been owned by his sons. He married Amanda Edwards, formerly 
of Montgomery county, but who came to Avoca with her people some years later 
than the Olmsteds. She died in 1863, after which he married Lucinda Van Wie, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 123 

widow of the late John Van Wie of Howard. She died in 1881. He lived to the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-eight year.s, and died July 6, 1888. The result of the former 
marriage was ten children, of which Milton, the subject of this sketch, was the 
eighth. Three died in childhood; the remainder grew to manhood and womanhood, 
and six are still living. Milton Olmsted received the education and common school 
training common to farmers' sons of that time, after which he engaged in farming 
which business he has followed all his life. In 18(W he was married and went to 
Schuyler county, where he resided until 1886 when he returned to Avoca and came 
into possession of the homestead farm and cared for his invalid father until the latter 
died two years later. He married Esther S., daughter of Isaac W. Fero of Beaver 
Dams, Schuyler county, and grandfather of the late Chester Knowlton of Hornby. 
(Both pioneers of Hornby, Steuben county, the former assisting his parents to locate 
and clear land in what was at that time Hornby, but now Orange Schuyler county). 
The fruits of this marriage were two daughters: Alida T. and Iva Viola. The old- 
est (Alida) is now a nurse in the hospital at the Soldiers' Home at Bath. The young- 
est is with her parents at their home on Olmsted Hill. Mr. Olmsted is a member of 
the Grange and a Knight of the Maccabees and politically is a Prohibitionist. 

Bennett, Oscar F., was born in the town of Howard, September 3, 1832, on the 
farm he now owns and occupies. He is a son of Benjamin B. Bennett, who was a 
descendant of Jacob Bennett, who settled in this town in 1808, in what is known 
as the Howard Flats, and was the seventh settler of the township, which at that time 
comprised a great part of Fremont, and a portion of Homellsville and Avoca. This 
family are extensive land owners. Benjamin Bennett married Mariette Mapes, and 
no children were bom to them. He married the second time, Mary A. Armstrong, 
and seven children were born to them: David, Adelia, Amanda, Oscar F., as above, 
Asenith, Omer, and Mary. The occupation of Oscar F. has been farming with the 
exception of two years when he was proprietor of the Lyman Jones hotel in Howard 
Flats. He married Maria Huganer of Fremont, and they had one son, William, who 
married Maud Burle.son, and they have one daughter, Neola. Mr. Bennett was 
supervisor of the town in 1883-4, being elected over a Republican majority of nearly 
100. He is a member of the Masons, Lewis Lodge, No. 104. 

Wagner, Hiram R., was born in the town of Wheeler February 22, 1847. Ingle- 
hardt Wagner was a native of Jlontgomery county, and came to Wheeler in 1818 
when he was eighteen years of age. He took 100 acres of land in the normal condi- 
tion, which he cleared of wood and made a farm, and made his home there the bal- 
ance of his days. He died in April 1865. His mother was Chri.stina Collier; she 
died when Hiram was only old five yearsof age. Hiram was the next youngest son of 
a family of ten children that reached adult age. He was educated in the common 
schools, and his first occupation was a clerk in the law office of C. F. Kingsley at 
Bath, where he was employed eighteen month.s. In 1870 he came to Homellsville 
and was employed with his brother in the hotel business. In 1873 he engaged in the 
insurance business, which he followed for two years, and was two years with Miles 
W. Hawley, and was then for thirteen years bookkeeper and superintendent of 
Terry's flouring mill. In 1892, in partnership with Edgar Boynton, he bought out 
the Loucks bakery and grocery .store, at the corner of East Washington and North 
Church streets, where the firm of Wagner & Co. is still engaged. Mr. Wagner in 



1^4 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

early life was a Democrat, but now a strong Prohibitionist. In the city election of 
1895 he was elected to the office of excise commissioner, the first member of temper- 
ance principles ever elected in this city. He also filled the office of collector in 1883 
and 1887 and was two years a member of the Board of Health. He has passed all of 
the chairs of the A. O. U. W., and been three times elected delegate to the Grand 
Lodge. He was married in 1872 to Celestia Snell of Avoca. They have one child, 
Floyd, a student of Hornellsville Graded Department. Mr. Wagner has been a 
member of East Avenue church for seven years and five of that time a trustee, and 
is the present superintendent of the Sabbath school. 

Young, Benjamin F., was born in Boston, Mass., September 27, 1822. His father, 
William, was a native of London, England, who moved to Halifax, Novia Scotia, 
then came to the United States, settling at Geneva. Here he entered the employ of 
Sir William Pulteney's estate in the Geneva Land Office. From Geneva he came to 
Bath in 185(5, at which time the two land offices were consolidated. In 1863 he 
was succeeded by his son, Benjamin F. Young, who still remains in charge. 
William Young married Jane T. Brabiner of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Entering the 
land office as a clerk he was subsequently made agent with full power of attorney of 
the Pulteney estate with Joseph Fellows. He died at his son's home, Ontario, N. Y. , 
aged seventy-one years. In 1845 Benjamin F. Young married Helen A., daughter 
of Elisha Johnson, of Rochester, N.Y. They had three sons and five daughters: 
William H., Frank J., Joseph F., Mrs. Emily H. Thorp, Mrs. M. Lillian Chitry, 
Helen B., Ada L., and Elizabeth J. Mrs. Helen Young died in November, 1873. 
In 1882 Mr. Young married Lucy L. , daughter of the late Daniel Knight, of Bath, 
by whom he has one son, Daniel K, Mr. Young is one of the leading business men 
in Bath and has been an ofhcer in the Episcopal church for nearly fifty year.s. 

Young, Peter, was born at Rathbone, in 1833, son of Martin B. Young. He first 
engaged in lumbering and farming He married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph 
Ostrander, of Penn Yan, Yates county. Martin B., who was born in a log house in 
Addison, in 1804, and died at the home of his son Peter in 1885, was of German descent, 
his father coming here at an early age. Mr. Young devoted his time to lumbering 
and speculating and was financially successful. In 1827 he married Martha Craw- 
ford, of Rathboneville, and they were the parents of five children: Sarah, widow of 
the late Harvey Burgett, and resides in Sayre, Pa. ; William, a farmer of Rathbone ; 
Margaret, widow of the late Libbius Phillips, of this place; Mary, widow of the late 
John Kinneley, and resides at Elmira; and Peter. 

Foster, Mrs. E. L. — Eddy L. Foster was born in the town of Barringtou, Yates 
county, m 1848. William Foster, his grandfather, a native of England, came to 
America in 1770, and was a soldier in the Revolution. During his younger days he 
was a blacksmith by trade, but devoted the latter part of his life to farming in Yates 
county and Wheeler, to which place he removed in 1805. Lindley, the father, was a 
carpenter and farmer, and spent his life in Yates county. When eighteen years of 
age he purchased a farm, which he owned at the time of his death, which occurred 
in 1888. He married Betsey Mapes, of Dutchess county, and their children were 
Jeremiah, Marilla, William, and John. For his second wife he married Abigai I 
Campbell, by whom two children were born: Mary J. and Lindley. The third time 



FAMILY SKETCETES. 125 

he married Margaret Eddy, and to this union were born five ehildren: lUilda, Kddy 
L., Frank, Charles M., and Minor. His wife survives him and resides on the home- 
stead in Yates county. Eddy L. remained with his father until twenty-five years of 
age when he engaged in the vineyard and farming bu.siness, and in 1876 came to the 
town of Campbell, where he purchased a farm, and thirteen years later removed to 
the town of Wheeler. In lSi)l he purchased his present farm of 260 acres, it being 
the original Grattan-Wheeler homestead. For a number of years he followed the 
lumbering business in connection with farming, and for the past twelve years was 
successfully engaged in buying and shipping cattle and sheep. Mr. Foster was a 
Republican, and held the ofiice of assessor, and for some time was a member of the 
Grange. In 1873 he married Lola Straight, who was born in Bradford, Steuben 
county, a daughter of Samuel and Sally Straight. Mr. and Mrs. Foster had these 
children : Minor, Burr, Belle, Edna, Charles, Flossie, and Eddy W. On May 30, 
189.5, Mr. Foster was accidentally drowned while in bathing in a creek that (lowed 
through his farm. 

Soule, Eli, was born in Euclid, Tompkins county, N. Y., January 20. 1829. His 
father's family resided in the city of New York before the war of the Revolution. 
His father, Lambert Soule, removed from Orange county to Tompkins about June, 
1820. and married his mother, Cathernie Rickey, in 1827, and settled on a farm in the 
town of Euclid the next year, where he resided till his death in 1880. Eli Soule spent 
his minority on his father's farm, was a student of law in the ofiice of Boardman & 
Finch at Ithaca, N.Y., was admitted to the bar in 1860, commenced practicing at 
Canisteo in 1S63, where he yet remains. He was married to Miss Jane Ferris of 
Galesburg, 111., in 1871. 

Smith. Mrs. Zidana. — The subject of this sketch was born September 18, 1,827, on 
the homestead farm, which was settled by his grandfather, Andrew Smith, who had 
come to this country from Scotland in 1791, and who was associated with Captain 
Williamson in the clearing of land for cultivation, and the construction of roads. 
Jackson Smith was the son of Charles, thesecond son of theearly pioneer. His early 
life was passed at home on his father's farm, during which time he spent several 
months at Lima Academy (Livingston county), where he learned the science of land 
surveying. This art he i)ut into practice a great deal, and a very large number of 
the roads and boundary lines of the surrounding country were laid out by him. In 
1858 he married Zidana, the daughter of Samuel Le Gro. Mr. Le Gro was a shi]) 
carpenter in Maine in his younger days, but had come to Bath in 1814, where he 
helped erect some of the first houses in the village. He married Bet.sey, daughter of 
Jeremiah Dudley for his first wife, by which union seven children were born, Mrs. 
Smith being the third eldest. For his second wife Mr. Le Gro married Almira Tiff- 
any. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born nine children, seven of wnom are living: 
Mrs. Jeannie A. Downing, William C, Sherman T., Hoxie W, , Fred D., Nellie L. , 
J. Lee. In 1863 Mr. Smith purchased the Alexander Freeman property, a few miles 
below Bath and adjoining the old homestead farm, where he passed the remainder 
of his life, engaged in the occujiation of farming. Besides adding many acres to his 
original purchase he expended a large |)ortion of his income and wealth in the edu- 
cation of his children, five of whom have graduated from Cornell University. He 
was a man of a very quiet and reserved disposition, caring nothing for public office 



126 LANDMARKS OF STEtJBEN COUNTY. 

or public mention. He believed in training his sons and daughters by his own ex- 
ample of hard labor, strict honesty in all dealings and charity to the poor, and realized 
that he could leave them no more valuable legacy than these traits and a thorough 
education. Though directly connected with no religious circle, he always had a strong 
leaning towards the Universalis! faith, trusting fully in the kindness and mercy of 
his Maker and believing that " by your works, ye shall be judged." In his home and 
family circle, only, was he satisfied to be, and although he took no part in public 
affairs, yet he was well read and conversant with the topics of the day, being always 
found on the side of Americanism and temperance. In politics, he was a Republican, 
having always voted with the party of his first belief. He died of strangulated her- 
nia, November 26, 1889, in his sixty-third year. 

Davis, Edwin F. , a native of Caton, who is the state electrician, is the son of Dan- 
iel and Bates Davis, natives of Massachusetts, who were married there and settled 
in the town of Caton in 1844, where they are stil residing. Mr Davis at the age of 
twenty-one went to Massachusetts a short time, and was then in the milling business 
in Pennsylvania one or two years, also following the carpenter's trade about ten years 
in the Fall Brook shops. He then followed photographing about three years in 
Corning and had the telephone exchange in his gallery, by which he became interested 
in electricity. He was afterward with the Edison Electric Company during the New 
Orleans Exposition and continued with them several years, after which he went with 
the Westinghouse Company about three years, contracting and establishing plants 
all over the counti-y. He put in the electrical plant for three State prisons. Sing Sing, 
Auburn, and the Clinton Prison, and has since had charge of them. 

Bailey, John S. , was born in Urbana, N. Y. , June 8, 1826. His grandfather Bailey 
wasa native of England, and came to Philadelphia about 1774, and during the Rev- 
olutionary war he aided very materially the American cause by furnishing the sol- 
diers with provisions. His son Barila was an officer, connected with William Henry 
Harrison on the frontier. Nicholas Bailey, father of John S., was born in Philadel- 
phia in 1778, one of nine children, and at fourteen years of age he was apprenticed 
to learn the wheelwright trade, and served until he was twenty-one years of age. 
He was a soldier in the war of 1812, ranked as corporal, often detailed to hunt desert- 
ers, and after the war he plied his trade. In 1821 he moved to Urbana, Steuben 
county, and from then until his death he followed the carpenter's trade and saw mill 
building. He sold his soldier's land for thirty dollars and took his pay in soleleather 
and built the first store in Hammondsport. He married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Thomas Perry of New Jersey, by whom he had these children : Lewis, Sarah, Nelson, 
John, Artemas, Edwin, Bradley and Margaret. Mrs. Bailey died in September, 
188."), aged eighty-five years. John S. Bailey remained with his father until twenty- 
one years of age, when he engaged work on the canal, and a year later purchased a 
small tract of land, farming summers and lumbering winters. In 1862 he enlisted in 
Company A, 161st Regt., but was discharged soon after on account of sickness. In 
July, 186ii, he was drafted, paid his draft, and in 1864 he again enlisted in Company 
C, 188th Regt., and served until the close of the war. He was at the battles of First 
and Second Hatcher's Run, Wcldon Raid, and received a tlesh wound in the leg at 
Hatcher's Run. In the spring of 1863 he was detailed to drive and care for the tent 
and provision wagons of General Gregory, and in 1867 he purchased his present farm. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 127 

He married Eveline, (laughter of John Clark, a pioneer ofPulteney, by whom he had 
these children: Arvesta, Franklin, Hettie who was drowned when nineteen years 
of age, Bandis. Eva, Chauncy, and Georganna. 

Campbell, William M., was born in Bath. May 19, 1822; he was the youngest child 
of Robert Campbell, who was a native of Scotland and came to Bath in 1795. Will- 
iam M. was married in 184(i to Francis Miller, daughter of Samuel Millerof Williams- 
ville, Erie county, N. Y. , by whom he has four children, two sonsand two daughters. 
He has always followed the occupation of farming, and still lives on the home he 
made fifty years ago. 

Minard, J. H., was born in the town of Locke, Cayuga county, November 4, 1842, 
and is the fourth of six children born to Henry T., and Annie (Hill) Minard, both of 
Cayuga county, and who came to Troupsburg in 1846 and settled on the State road, 
where they died, he April 22, 1807, and she July :!, 1848. The grandfather, Henry 
Minard, died in Locke. The paternal grandfather, Thomas, was a soldier in the Rev- 
olutionary war. J. H. Minard has always followed farming, and now owns a farm 
which he bought in 1881. In 186() he married Cornelia, daughter of Lewis and Julia 
(Martin) Olmstead, by whom he had three children: Lewis H., who bought the Clark 
farm, which joins the homestead, which he works in connection with the home farm ; 
Gertie, wife of George Fox, who died July 25, 1886; and Lizzie E., wife of Bradshaw 
White. Mr. Minard enlisted September 17, 1861, in Company E, 7.5th N. Y. Vols., 
and was honorably discharged November 25, 1864. He was Port Hudson, all through 
the Red River cam])aign, and was wounded at Winchester by a minnieball, Septem- 
ber 19, 1804, and prior to this was on duty every day. He is a member of Post 
Baily No. 351, G. A. R. 

Emery, Frank H., was born on the farm where he now lives in the town of Horn- 
ellsville, January 19, 18.59. James P. Emeiy, the father of Frank H., was also born 
in this town. The grandfather of Frank, Wm. Emery, was a native of Pennsylvania, 
and came to this countrj- about 1824. James P. Emery was a farmer and March 17, 
1852, bought a farm of 103 acres on lot 28, where he spent the balance of his days and 
died November 12, 1870. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth who bore him two 
children, neither of whom is now living. His second wife and mother of Frank H. 
Emery', Mary C. Labour, was the mother of three sons. Eugene and Albert both died 
in infancy. Frank H. was educated in the common schools, attending in summer tilj 
fifteen, and the winter time until nineteen. He has always been a farmer, and was 
the manager for his mother until twenty-one years of age; he then bought the in- 
terest of his half sister's children in the farm, and is now the proprietor of seventy 
acres in his own name and his mother's one-third interest. His principal product is 
potatoes; he also conducts a dairy of seven cows. He has always taken an active 
interest in the success of the Democrat party and its principles. He has made many 
valuable improvements to the property since coming into possession, and has one 
of the finest properties of the town. February 29, 1894, he wasmarried to Miss Clara 
Oliver, daughter of the late Horatio Oliverof Almond. 

Richardson, C. W., was born in Bath, May 7. 1848. John Richardson, his father, 
was also born in Bath. John Richardson, sr., his grandfather, came from Maryland 
to Bath in 1808, and was head miller for Mayor William Helm and was afterwards 



128 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

identified as a farmer. John Richardson, jr., married Sarah, daughter of Samuel 
Oxx, and followed in his father's footsteps, making farming his life work. He died 
in 1893, in his sixty-sixth year. C. W. Richardson was educated at Haverling Acad- 
emy, and for eleven years gave his attention to the manufacturing business, and in 
1887 invented the celebrated loose bottom tins, now so widely known as the " Per- 
fection CakeTins,"and at once began their manufacture, which he is now carrying on, 
together with a large line of housefurnishing specialties, under the firm name of 
Richardson Manufacturing Co. In 1875 he married Delia, daughter of R. W. Davis, 
by whom he had two children. 

Ross, Emmett B., was born in Springfield, Bradford county, Pa., January 20, 1853. 
Andrew J. Ross, his father, was born in Burlington, Bradford county. Pa., in 1826, 
and came to Steuben county in the spring of 1868, and settled in the town of Camp- 
bell, on the Mead's Creek road. In 1850 he was married to Mara Grace, of Sprmg- 
field, Bradford county. Pa., by whom he had six children: John \V., Emmet B., 
Dallas F., Bruce E. , Olin and Andrew. The two last named died in infancy. Em- 
met B. remained at home, attending the public schools at Burlington, Pa., Cooper's 
Plains and Painted Post, N. Y., and the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute at Towanda, 
Pa., until he was seventeen years of age, when he began teaching, which vocation 
he followed for three years. In the spring of 1873, when he w-as twenty years of age, 
he commenced reading law with Messrs. Bradley and Kendall, in Corning, N. Y., 
remaining with them until the spring of 1876, when he was admitted to the bar, after 
successfully passing the required examinations before the General Term of the Su- 
preme Court then sitting at Rochester, N. Y. After his admission to the bar he 
practiced law at Corning, N. Y., until 1882, when he located at Campbell village, 
where he has since remained in the active practice of his profession. In the fall of 
1876, he was married to Miss Alice Palmer, daughter of Joseph G. Palmer of Cooper's 
Plains, N. Y., by whom he has three children: Raymond C, Vance O., and Glenn 
P. In politics Mr. Ross is a Democrat. He has tw-ice been honored by the voters of 
Campbell with an election to the supervisorship of the town by handsome majorities, 
although the town has a large Republican majority. In 1887 he was the candidate 
of his party for member of assembly in the First district of Steuben county. For 
several years he has been a member of the Board of Education at Campbell, and is 
now the postmaster there. 

Beckerman, Herman D., was born Ankura, Hanover, Germany, in 1834. Herman 
H., his father, was an only son, a farmer by occupation, who married Marie Kock, 
by whom he had these children : Herman, Dietrich, Margaret, Anna, Arnold, Eliza- 
beth, and Minnie, all of whom, including the father, came to America, but the 
father returned to Germany after two years' residence here. Herman D. landed in 
New York in 1854, when twenty years of age, and was married three days after his 
arrival to Mary Krumpleman, who came over on the same ship from Germany. He 
engaged employment in a sugar refinery, where he remained for three years, when 
he went to Illinois and engaged in farming, having purchased, through his brother, 
160 acres of his land, and two years later, having found the title to the land worth- 
less, he returned to New York where he again engaged in the sugar refinery at an 
advanced salary and with a better position, where he remained four years longer. 
The next seven years he spent as cartman, when he purchased a team and engaged 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 129 

in the business for himself, and being successful in this, he purchased more teams 
and went in more extensively for seven years, and while thus engaged he purchased 
a tract of 113 acres of heavily timbered land in Wheeler, where he now resides, and 
in 1875 removed to this place and began clearing and farming. He has added to his 
original purchase from time to time, and now owns SOS acres of fine farm land, 
one farm of 154 acres lies in the town of Avoca, and on his home farm he has 
made many imi)rovements, and erected buildings essential to a well equipped farm. 
He has received several injuries from vicious horses, at one time having an arm 
broken, and at another seven ribs and both collar bones, yet he recovered and 
attends actively to his business. His wife died in April, 1869, before he left New 
York. Their children are Elizabeth, wife of T. P. Sharer of New York, Peter, 
Jacob, and Anna, who died when twenty-two years of age. Peter resides on the 
Avoca farm, is married and has five children. Jacob resides on the home farm, is 
married and has one son. 

Everett, Charles H., was born in 1859. in Wheeler, on the farm which was known 
in the early days of this country as the Wheeler deer lick, where the old hunters 
used to go to hunt deer. His grandfather, Jesse Everett, was born in Massachu- 
setts, in April, 1784, a cousin of Edward Everett, and came to Wheeler about 1815, 
and settled in the forest. He was a great hunter, and as the country became more 
settled, he moved farther into the wilds and settled on the farm on West Creek which 
is now owned by Charles H. He cleared a great deal of land in this town, and 
reared six sons. Levi Everett, father of Charles H., was born in Wheeler in 1817, 
where he spent his life as an active and successful farmer. He married Miss Caro- 
line Sampson, daughter of Christian and Catherine Bonstead of Herkimer county, 
by whom he had these children: Mrs. Alida Billings of Wheeler, and Charles H. 
Mrs. Everett had one daughter by her first husband, Ellen Sampson, now Mrs. 
Castor of Avoca. Charles H. Everett has spent his life thus far on the farm of 160 
acres, which he came into possession of after the death of his father, and which he 
ably and successfully operates. He takes much interest in the breeding of fine 
grade Jersey cattle, and chickens; the latter he raises in large numbers. In 1884 he 
married Carrie A. Smith, a music teacher of Campbell, and daughter of Silas S. and 
Eliza (Everett) Smith, by whom he had one child, Nellie. Her grandfather, Barna- 
bas Smith, was a pioneer settler in the town of Campbell, and the Everett family is 
noted for their interest in the temperance cause. 

Thacher, T. J. O. — Nathaniel Thacher, the grandfather of the pre.sent generation, 
was a native of Rhode Island and came with his family to Troupsburg about 1807. 
He was a shoemaker by trade. Judge Otis Thacher, the father of the present gen- 
eration, was born in Gloucester, R. I., August 6. 1801). Otis Thacher suffered all the 
hardships of the early pioneers. He took up farming, and his father first owned the 
Hart farm, coming here in 1810. Nathaniel Thacher conceived the idea of moving 
to the West, and going through the south, died at Florence, Alabama, August 24, 
1824. Judge Otis Thacher was a self-educated man. He was only twenty-five years 
of age when he bought a farm of one hundred acres, where the first ward of the city 
of Hornellsville is now. He was appointed as associate judge of the county in 1840, 
and was one of the founders of the Presbyterian society of this county, and the 
prime mover of the Presbyterian church. He was one of the leaders of the Masonic 



130 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

fraternity of the county until the Morgan excitement, when he withdrew from the 
organization, He was always foremost in educational institutions and was one of 
the trustees and the procurer of the charter of Alfred University. He was an old- 
time Whig, and was the census taker of eight towns in 1851. He continued in farm- 
ing the whole of his life, but in 1860 built what is now the Valley Roller Mills. He 
died March 14, 1868. He was a wise counselor and an impartial judge. He mar- 
ried Hannah K. Graves at the age of twenty-six, when she was twenty-three. She 
was a daughter of Deacon Amos Graves, the owner of the large farm in what is now 
the second ward. They were the parents of five sons and two daughters, onlj' three 
now living: Judge Solon C. Thacher, of Lawrence, Kansas, who represented this 
district in the Legislature for one term in 1857, and moved to the West the year fol- 
lowing and has since been candidate for L^nited States senator two term.s, governor 
one term, and has filled the position of State senator, and is now district judge. T. 
Scott Thacher, the next youngest living, was born July 29, 1833, and has always 
made his home here; educated in the common schools and Alfred University, and 
following farming until 1856 when he took charge of the mill, conducting it until 
1872, since which time he has been engaged in the manufacture of mowers and 
reapers now located in Corning. He has always been prominently identified with 
church work and has been a deacon for thirty years He was unfortunate in being 
injured in the mill at the age of twenty-eight, but it has not deterred him from 
being one of the most active business men of this county. He has always been char- 
itable to a fault and has an unlimited number of friends. Mr. Thacher tells of buy- 
ing two hundred bushels of wheat in 1866, for which he paid §3.60 per bushel. No- 
vember 16, 1873, he married Sarah M., daughter of Charles N. Hart, by whom he 
had four children. Theodore J. O. Thacher, the youngest .son of Judge Otis, was 
born November 15, 1844. Ed\icated at Alfred University and Union College, and 
has been engaged in mercantile pursuits most of his life. From 1869 to 1876 he was 
on a ranch in Kansas. The latter year he returned and engaged in the manufacture 
of brick. In 1882 he bought back the old Thacher mill, conducting it until 1891, 
when he exchanged with George W. Jlorris for farm land in Michigan. After 
spending one year in that State he returned to his native town, and in November, 
1894, opened a real estate office in Hornellsville. Mr. Thacher was alderman for 
the First ward for five years. He was one of the organizers of the Hartshorn Pres- 
byterian church, and Sabbath school superintendent for fifteen years. While a 
member of the City Council he was the first to agitate the question of pavements. 
In 1873 he married Agnes M. Goodwin of Michigan, who died December 1, 1883, 
leaving one son, W. F. Goodwin Thacher, now in his sixteenth year and a student 
of Alfred LTniversity. 

Acker.son, Charles N., was born in Pulteney, February 25, 1826. Henry Ackerson, 
his father was a native of New Jersey and came to Steuben and settled in the town 
of Pulteney in 1813, and his life was spent as a farmer; he was a man who took an 
active interest in school and church matters and in the development of his county. 
He married Lydia L'pdegrafl; of Orange county, and died in 1866. in his seventieth 
year. Charles N. was educated in the common schools, and in 1854 he married 
Ruth, daughter of Sherman H. Rose, by whom he had three children; Frank H., 
Burton S., and Mrs. Helen Beekman. Charles N. is one of the representative busi- 



FAMILY SKKTCriES. 131 

ness men of Steuben county, taking an intelligent interest in educational an<l relig- 
ious institutions, serving as general superintendent of Steuben County Agricultural 
Society for eighteen years, and vice-president for one year, and has ever been ready 
to advance the best interests of his town. 

Kilbury, Eli C, was born in the town of Fremont. June 29, 1823. His grand- 
father. Robert Kilbury, a farmer in Vermont, removed to the town of Fremont, Steu- 
ben county, about 1823, and thence to Indiana in 1838, where he spent his remaining 
days. In politics he was a Whig. Robert 2d, Eli's father, was born in Vermont, in 
May, 1796, and in 1820 came to the town of Fremont. He was a millwright by 
trade, and also conducted a farm, being ably assisted by his wife, who took charge 
of the farm during his absence while plying his trade, and for many years he also 
owned and operated a distillery and potash factory on his farm. His wife was 
Eunice Carrington, whom he married in March, 1821. She was born in Washington 
county, in January, 1804, and was one of thirteen children born to Capt. Eli Car- 
rington, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. He settled in the town of Dansville, 
and died in Cohocton, at the residence of one of his children, aged 100 years. To 
Robert and his wife were born eight children; Mrs. Sarah Faulkner, Eli C, Edwin, 
Mrs. Phcebe Gates, of Iowa, Smith, Joel, Mary, and Andrew, all of whom are liv- 
ing. Eli C. worked in a saw mill for a short time, and later followed the canal, and 
in 1845 went to the town of Howard, where he purchased a farm. Two years later 
he removed to Bath, where he engaged in farming for twelve years, and then re- 
moved to the town of Wheeler and purchased his present farm of two hundred 
acres. He has raised man)' fine Durham cattle, and also Jersey. In 1894 he 
erected a saw mill and bo.x factory, which he operates. In 1848 he married Mary, 
daughter of Alexander Gilchrist, of Howard, and they have had one child. La Fay- 
ette, who grew to manhood, and was killed on the railroad. Mrs. Kilbury died in 
1849. For his second wife he married Isabel Gilchrist, a sister of his first wife, and 
they were the parents of one son, who grew to maturity, and was also killed on the 
raailroad. His wife died in 1804. For his present wife he married Jane Blakcly, 
who was born in Gorham, Ontario county, in July, 1830, daughter of William and 
Maria De GotT Blakely, and they have had the following children: Robert, Eli, de- 
ceased, Mrs. Mary McGlynn of Avoca, Frank, Mrs. Eunice Mattice of Bath, Joel, 
deceased, and Smith. The latter married Clara, daughter of Daniel Morgan, and 
they had one daughter, Lena. His wife died in 1892. In politics he is a Republi- 
can, and served two terms as constable, and is a member of the Odd Fellows. Mr. 
and Mrs. Kilbury are members of the Baptist church. The grandchildren are as fol- 
lows: Fred Kilbury; William, Lafayette and Eli, sons of Mr. and Mrs. McGlynn; 
Bertha, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kilbury; Jennie and Lottie, daughters of 
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Mattice. 

Gardner, William, was born in Wheeler, Steuben county, N.Y., May 25, 1834, and 
has spent his whole life thus far on the farm on which he was born, and of which he 
became the possessor after the death of his father. To the original farm of 170 
acres he has added twenty-seven acres, and also owns another farm of eighty acres, 
and in connection with his farming for some years he did an extensive lumbering 
business. He has filled nearly all the town ofiices, and in 1874-7.") served on the 
Board of Supervisors, and at different times was sent as county committeeman. He 



132 LANDMARKS Of STEUBEN COCNTV. 

stood the draft during the war, and contributed liberally to the support^of soldiers and 
their families in his town, and for which, to them, his memory will ever be dear. In 
1803 he married Emma, daughter of William and Polly (beager) Rice, by whom he 
had three children: Delia, wife of M. C. Myrtle, of Wheeler; Mittie. wife of Frank 
Hathaway, of Wheeler; and Sarah Edith. Firman Gardner, father of William, was 
born in Albany county, X.Y., in 1793. He was an only .son, left an orphan, and was 
brought to the town of Wheeler when seven years of age by Capt. Silas Wheeler 
(this town was named in honor of him), with whom he lived until he reached his ma- 
jority, when he married Elizabeth, daughter of Philip Myrtle, of Wheeler, by whom 
he had eight children. He settled on the farm now owned by his son, which was 
then covered with forest, which he cleared and made a farm of 170 acres, where he 
died June 6, 1856, and his wife in 1885, aged eighty-five years. He was a soldier 
during the war of 1812. 

Tuthill, David, was born in Romulus, Seneca county county, N. Y., October 11, 
1819. His great-grandfather, John Tuthill, was a great-grandson of John Tuthill, 
only son of John Tuthill, the Pilgrim, who was one of the colony of twelve families 
that came from England to America on account of religious persecution, and settled 
on the east part of Long Island, X.Y. , in 1()40, and founded the town of Southold. 
He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and at one time was detailed with four 
other resolute, adventurous soldiers to skirmish among the islands of Long Island 
Sound. They, "with each a good rifle, ran a boat to Long Island and other islands, 
wherever they could get the advantage of the British, and annoyed them so much 
that they offered thirty guineas a head for them, dead or alive ; but they got none of 
them." After the war he moved to Westminster, Windham county, Vt., where he 
spent the remainder of his days. David's grandfather, John Tuthill, was bom on 
Plumb Island, June 30, 17G(3. He went to Otsego county when it was a wilderness 
and took up land in the town of Maryland, where he spent his days clearing up and 
tilling his farm. He was a man of influence, and served his town many years as 
justice of the peace. He married Lucy Fuller of Westminster, Yt. , and his oldest 
son, John, was a soldier in the war of 1812; was taken prisoner during the battle of 
Lundy's Lane, and it is not known what became of him. David's father, Tyrus 
Tuthill, was born in the town of Maryland, Otsego county, March 30, 1794. When 
twenty-two years of age he went to the town of Romulus, Seneca county, N.Y., and 
engaged m teaching school, which he followed there for three or four years. In the 
mean time he and Elizabeth Brown were married, and in the spring of 1820 they 
moved on to the wilderness farm in the town of Pulteney, where they continued to 
live the remainder of their lives. For a few years his only business was clearing up 
his farm, though his service as school teacher was freqviently applied for, and after 
a number of years he engaged in the business and taught several winter terms in 
different districts in the town of Pulteney. He was a man of strong religious and 
political convictions, and one who had the courage to announce them ; and was ever 
ready to render a reason for the faith that was in him, whether religious or political. 
He was much opposed to slavery, a staunch advocate of the right as he saw it, and 
an occasional newspaper correspondent. Their family of children were Mandeville, 
David, Phoebe, Harriet M., Lucy, Cynthia and Charles, of whom only David is now 
living. He died in 1892, nearly ninety-eight years old, having lived under the ad- 



Family sketches. 133 

ministration of every president of the United States. His wife died in 1884, aged 
over ninety-one years. David Tuthill received his education in the common school 
in the school district in which his father lived and at the Franklin Academy. In 
1844 he married Annis H., daughter of Richard and Mary Stewart Francis. The 
names of their children are John M., deceased; Mary E., deceased; Mandeville E., 
Spencer F., and Harriet M., wife of Alfred Brown. From 1840 to 1852 he lived in 
the town of South Bristol, Ontario county; from 1852 to 18CG in the town of Bath, 
Steuben county, since which time he has resided in Praltsburg. In politics Mr. 
Tuthill was first a Whig, and a Republican since the organization of the Republican 
party. His occupation through life has been farmmg, in connection with which, in 
his younger days, he taught school thirteen winter terms in school districts adjacent 
to the different localities in which he lived. By giving his undivided attention to 
business he has been fairly successful. His brother Charles enlisted in the fall of 
186:1, was in Wilson's raid in Virginia, taken prisoner by the rebels and sent to 
Andersonville prison, where he died from exposure, inhuman treatment and starva- 
tion. 

Dygert, Peter, was born in Montgomery county, December 20, 1824 George 
Dygert, his father, was a native of the county, where the family came at a very 
early date and formed a settlement known as the Dygert settlement, before the 
Revolutionary war. Peter Dygert came to Steuben county in 1859 and settled in the 
town of Wheeler, and in 18GT came to Bath and bought the Jason Stone farm, where 
he now resides. In 1845 he married Rosa Van Evera, who died in 184() and by 
whom he had one child, George; and in 1S5S he married Susan Wagner, by whom he 
had one child, James. 

Tolbert, John F., was born in Savona, July ;i, 182:!, son of John Tolbert, who came 
to Steuben county in 1809 and devoted his time to lumbering and farming. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Troveuger. John F. Tolbert was educated in the 
common schools. In 1860 he married Mary R. French, who died in 1871. For his 
second wife he married Sarah A. Tillott, and they have one son, James. Mr. Tol- 
bert is one of the conservative men of the town, identified as a contractor, builder, 
and farmer, and taking an active interest in school and church work. 

Quigley, James, was born •n of Magherafelt, County of Londonderry, Ireland, 
February 7, 1853. His grandfather. William Quigley, was a man of wealth and in- 
fluence, a :i3d degree Mason, a sturdy Presbyterian, and took an active part as a 
volunteer and yeoman with the English government in assisting the Protestants in 
the North of Ireland in their terrible struggle for religious peace and liberty from 
1790 to 180:i, during which period occurred the Rebellion to overthrow the act of union 
between Great Britain and Ireland, the outcome of which was its firm establishment. 
He also took part in the establishment of the public school system of that country. 
His wife was Jane Campbell, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and they were the 
parents of si.x sons and three daughters. He died at the age of sixty-five years, and 
his wife lived to be one hui.dred and one years old. John yuigley, father of James, 
was the youngest of the family, and also did much toward establishing free public 
schools in Ireland, and was a high Mason. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Ben- 
jamine and Martha Ellison Booth. Mr. Booth was of Engli.sh parentage, a high 



134 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Mason, and was a member of the Established church, and lived to be one hundred 
and three j'ears old. James, who was the oldest of the familj', which consisted of 
five sons and one daughter, remained with his parents until May 13, 1873, when he 
emigrated to America, coming direct to Geneva, N.Y., where he soon found employ- 
ment in the nursery business with T. C. Maxwell & Bros., where he remained seven 
years, when he resigned and removed to Prattsburg where he spent five years in 
farming, after which he became engaged in the general freighting business between 
Kanona and Prattsburg, prior to the construction of the Kanona and Prattsburg rail- 
road. In 1890 he engaged in carrying the U. S. mail between Prattsburg and Pulte- 
ney, which was a new route recently established. Politically he is a staunch Repub- 
lican, and in 1890 was nominated and elected constable of his town, being the only 
Republican candidate elected in the town, and since then has been elected to that 
office for four consecutive years. In January, 1892, he was appointed deputy sheriff 
under Holland, and again in 1895 under L. D. Whiting, the present sheriff, and in 
the past two years has succeeded in bringing to justice several criminals, five of 
whom were sent to State's prison, and to him is credited the arrest and conviction of 
the notorious forgers, William J. Daniels and Edward R. Folsom of Hammondsport, 
N.Y. , for which they were sentenced fourteen years, and ten years, respectively. 
He was united in marriage, September 5, 1873, by the Rev. William Hogarth, of 
Geneva, N.Y., with Esther Love, daughter of Thomas and Jane Love, who were old 
neighbors of Mr. Quigley's in County Londonderry, they having crossed the Atlantic 
together. Their children are William H., who is an employee of the K. & P. R. R., 
Samuel J., John C. , Thomas L., Benjamine H., Anna and Florence Mr. and Mrs. 
Quigley are members of the Presbyterian church. 

Peck, George L., was born in the town of Canisteo, January 27, 1804. Samuel B. 
Peck, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and came to the town of Cameron in 
1831. He was a farmer, and by trade a mason, which business he followed in con- 
nection with his farm work. He married Jane E. Merrell of Cameron, by whom he 
had nine children: Joseph, Mattie, Emma, George L , Julius, Julia, Lottie, Albert, 
and Minnie. Joseph and Emma are dead. George L. has for many years been one 
of the leading men in his trade as a carpenter, and is now devoting his time and at- 
tention to a farm of ninety acres, which he owns. He married Alice, daughter of 
Mark Jones of Canisteo. 

Carpenter, William, was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N.Y., July 26, 1827, 
second of a family of ten children born to James and Elizabeth (Dodge) Carpenter. 
James was born in Otsego county in 18(10, and Mrs. Carpenter was born in Preston, 
Chenango county, in 1802. The grandfather, Joseph, spent his life in Otsego county, 
where he died in 1808. The maternal grandfather, Peter Dodge, was born in Che- 
nango county, and died in East Troupsburg. James Carpenter was a farmer and 
came to East Troupsburg in 1831, where he died at the age of eighty-two years. His 
wife died at the age of thirty-nine years. William was reared on the farm and was 
educated in the district schools He remained at home until he reached his majority, 
when he, with his brother Willis, took up a farm of 100 acres in Troupsburg, which 
he soon sold and purchased another farm of 10(1 acres, where he lived for twelve 
years. He then bought and sold various farms until coming to Woodhull, where he 
owns a fine farm of 300 acres. The year 187G was spent in Tioga county. Pa. Mr. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 135 

Carpenter lived on his farm at Woodhull until 1885, when he came to the village and 
now lives a retired life. In 1853 he was poormaster in Troupsburg, 1858-59, high- 
way commissioner, and in 1862, supervisor. He was supervisor of Woodhull in 1873, 
'74, '75, road commissioner in 1809, and justice of the peace for eight consecutive 
years. He has been trustee of the academy for nine years. November 19, 1850, he 
married Miriam Pease, by whom he had six daughters and one son : Susan, wife of 
J. Edwards; ftuldah, wife of R. L. Symonds; Delphian, wife of E. Bats; Jennie, 
wife of William Cook; Lydia, wife of J. C. Rusted; Jessie, and W. Ci. Carpenter. 
On the 4th day of July, 1894, William Carpenter was chosen president of the day, 
and here is his opening speech: " Friends, we have met here to-day to celebrate the 
day that was created 117 years ago to-day. On the 4th day of July, in the year 
1776, my friends, we ever must revere. Our fathers took their muskets then to fight 
for freedom dear. We had Green, Gates and Putnam to manage in the field, a gal- 
lant train of heroes, who rather die than yield. Then you remember the battles 
which were fought; The battle of Bunker Hill, the battle of Lexington, the battle of 
Trenton, and finally the battle of Yorktown, where the American Independence was 
gained. 'Twas then and there the brave old soldiers said ' King George, we do not 
fear the rattling of your thunder nor lightning of your spear." In a few months 
after that peace was declared, and we became a great nation. Friends, what do we 
see? Then we see the emigrants coming to our shores; they come from every nation ; 
they come from every way ; they come, they come to the ' Land of the free and the 
home of the brave.' Then the.se emigrants; some go to the northward, some go to 
the southward, but the great majority go westward, westward the star of the Empire, 
the star of Liberty, until we have sixty-five millions of free and happy people. 
Friends, lest I weary you, in conclusion would say, I am proud of our country; I am 
proud of these old soldiers sitting here ; I am proud of these gentlemen sitting at my 
right ; and above all I am proud of that old flag ; long may it wave. ' Long may it 
wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.' We are a great nation, 
indeed who has a better right to celebrate?" — Com. 

Starr, Clarence L., M.D., was born in Georgetown, County Halton, Ontario, Can., 
July 1, 1867. Milton H., his father, is a physician in Whitby, Canada, a graduate of 
Bellevue, New York city, class of '66. He was the father of two sons; Frank H., in 
[practice with his father ; and Clarence L. The latter was educated in the Whitby 
Collegiate Institute and in 1885 entered the L'niversity of Toronto, taking the art 
course the first year, and then in 1886 entering the medical department, from which 
he graduated with the degree of M.D., June 10, 1890. The following fall he went to 
New York and after one session at Bellevue, from which he graduated in March, 1891, 
he entered the New York Hospital for the Relief of the Ruptured and Crippled, 
where he spent one year and four months. He was then for six months with Ur. 
Powers as assistant for the out-door charitable practice. The doctor also holds a 
certificate from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. In March, 1893, 
he was offered the position of surgeon to the Hornellsvdle Sanitarium, which posi- 
tion he accepted, and has since been a resident of Steuben county. He is a member 
of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Association. In November, 1892, he mar- 
ried Annie L. iJryden, of Whitby, Canada. They have one child, Marion (iertrude. 
Mrs. Starr is daughter of Hon. John Dryden, minister of agriculture of the Provin- 
cial Legislature of Ontario. 



136 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

McGuire, Charles F~., was born in Hornellsville, June 22, 1853. Michael McGuire 
his father, was a native of Fermanaugh county, Ireland, and came to this country in 
184T, and was in various places in New York and Pennsylvania until the spring of 
1850. His location here was an accident. He had been in Saratoga and in the spring 
of 1850 he heard they were going to build a railroad in this section, and arriving here 
in April of that year, he worked for Judge Thatcher for the first month and then fol- 
lowed it up by helping him repair his residence, The winter of 1850 and '51 he was 
employed as a carpenter at bridge building on the Erie Railroad, and the next spring 
took up general jobbing in carpenter work, and then became a contractor; one resi- 
dence on Elm street, John Carry's residence on Jane street were his labor, and he 
al.so built Hilton's house on the corner of Oak and Elm streets, and did much work 
on the Prindle tannery. He is an enthusiastic Republican and was for three years 
assessor of the town and three years an auditor. He was one of the founders of the 
Catholic church and has always been one of its warmest supporters. He is a man 
who came to the town with very small possessions and who by industry and perse- 
verance has become one of the representative men of the town. He is now in his 
sixty-ninth year. In 1851 he married Catherme Pardon of Andover, who died in 
1878, leaving seven children, five now living. The block now occupied by the subject 
of this sketch as a hardware store and plumber shop is the McGuire block erected in 
1874. Charles served an apprenticespip at the tmner trade, and in in 1870 went with 
■Vanetten & Smith to learn the tinner' strade. When he had served his time he went 
in business for himself, and by close attention he became a professional mechanic 
and a practical plumber, and has established a reputation for first class work. He 
located in his present quarters in 1875 and employ's from two to five men as the times 
demand. He is a Republican in politics and a thorough protectionist, and held the 
office of city treasurer in 1878. He also served three terms as the representative of 
the Third ward in the Common Council. He is one of the Board of Examiners of 
plumbers, and supervisor of plumbing for the city, appointed by the mayor in 1893 
as " master plumber." In 1878 he married Catherine Biggins, a native of Ireland, 
of this city, by whom he had six children, four living now. 

Wakeley, Dr. Benjamin C. , was born in New Hudson, Allegany county, March 7, 
1854. Hiram Wakeley, his father, was a farmer, who is well known as one of the 
leading Republicans of that county, having served in the Lower House of the State 
Legislature foi; two terms, also as supervisor of his town for a number of years. He 
is still livmg and is about seventy years old. Benjamin C. , the only son of a family 
of three children, was educated in the common schools, Belfast Academy, and Ten 
Broeck Free Academy at Franklin ville, N.Y. At the age of eighteen he entered a 
drug store at Cuba, N. Y., where he spent two years. Later he was under the in- 
struction of William M. Smith, health officer of the port of New York, with whom he 
remained four years at Angelica until 1873. He graduated from the medical depart- 
ment of the Buffalo University in 1876. Dr. Smith was appointed health officer in 
1880 and Dr. Wakeley took up the practice left open by him. In 1891 he removed to 
Hornellsville, where he has established a successful and extensive practice. Shortly 
after coming here he entered into partnershij) with Dr. Joseph S. Dolson, which 
partnership existed until the failing health of the latter compelled him to retire 
from the profession. The doctor is a member of the Hornellsville Medical Associa- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 137 

tion and ol' the Xew York State Medical Association. In 1893 Dr. Wakeley was 
elected coroner for a term of three years, and in 1892 was appointed city physician 
and has been reappointed each successive year. He is a member of the Masonic 
order and is the surgeon of the Central Xew York & Western Railroad. In 1878 he 
married Miss Mary Schofield of Angelica, by whom he has two children; Josejihine 
and Martha. 

Ayers, Nelson, was born in the town of Hector, January 24. 1824, son of Daniel P.. 
Ayers, who lived and died in the town of Ulysses. Nelson was given a common 
school education, which he improved by good reading and careful study. He re- 
mained with his father until twenty-three years of age. and then bought a farm in 
the town of Enlield. where he spent seven years, and then returned to Ulysses. 
making his home there till the spring of 1868, when he came to Steuben county and 
bought the Dyke farm of 160 acres, where he has made many valuable improve- 
ments. He is a Democrat and is now serving his fourth year as one of the assess- 
ors. In 1845 he married Maria S. Van Kirk of Ulysses, and three children were 
born to them, none of whom is living. Mrs. Ayers died in 1864. The present Mrs. 
Ayers was Sarah. E. Curry, sister of Dr Silas T. Curry, and widow of Chester E. 
Francis. An adopte 1 daughter, Margaret Francis, is the wife of Charles Edgar 
Beach, and forms part of Mr. Ayers's family. She has two children : Maria Louise, 
now in her sixth year, and Sophia Cora in her fourth \ ear. 

Palmer. Dr. ^Villiam Everett, was born in Truxton, Cortland county, N. Y. , June 
30, 1838, the seccmd son of Norman Palmer, a farmer of that town. He was edu- 
cated in Milton College, Wisconsin, and after twelve years spent in teaching he took 
up the study of medicine. He was for four years principal of public schools in 
Salem, N. J. His first study of medicine was with Dr. John D. Kenyon of Westerly, 
R. I., and he then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, 
graduating May 2, 1882. He began practice with Dr. Daniel Lewis in New York 
city, and the fall of 1882 located in Hornellsville, where we now find him with one of 
the most extensive circle of friends of any member of the profession. He is a mem- 
ber of the Steuben County Medical Society, and Hornellsville Medical and Surgical 
Association. He is a member of the I. (). O. F., and a supporter of the Seventh Day 
Baptist church. He has also been prominently identified with many of the insurance 
and benefit organizations. In 1864 he married Maggie C. Noble of Shiloh, N. J., by 
whom he had three children: Ivie J., a graduate of Alfred and one of the musical 
experts of Hornellsville; Jessie M., a student of the academy, and Everett C, also 
a student. 

Spink, William H., was born in Geneva, Ontario county, June 10, 18o2. John 
Spink, the father of William, was a native of Eiighind, came to this country in 1844 
and I'lcated in (leneva, where he followed his trade of tailor. He removed to Hor- 
nellsville in 1854, and it was here William was reared and educated in the common 
schools. His first occupation was in the mercantile line, and at about eighteen years 
of age he began an apprenticeship as carpenter and builder, where there were fifteen 
men; in less than seven years they were working for him. In 1876 he began taking 
contracts for the erection of buildings. His first contract was the residence of Dave 
Carl, although he was foreman builder of the Dr. Robinson block at the corner of 



138 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Main street and Haker avenue. Since that time he has erected some of the finest 
places of this city, viz., Columbia School building, rebuilt the Lincoln School, Pres- 
ton's and Hutchinson's residences, the McUougal and Smith buildings on Broad 
street, Nellie McDonald's building, O. AV. Pratt's residence, and Schaul Bro'^.. Frank 
Bennett's house, and many other of the fine residences of the city; also a large block 
of seven houses; he built fourteen houses in one season. He was married. May 7, 
1874, to Miss May Whiting, daughter of Oliver Whiting, a farmer of Hartsville, who 
died January 17, 1894. They have five children: Belle, Mark W. of the academy, 
Frank G., Bertha M., and Florence E. 

Huntley, Seth M., was born in the town of Avon. Livingston county, N. Y., Sep- 
tember 30. 1840. Albert G. Huntley, the father of our subject, was a native of Mich- 
igan and became a resident of Steuben county about 1830, locating at Corning. He 
was in early life a farmer, afterward a lumberman and mill owner, and the later 
twenty-five years of his life he conducted hotels in Corning and Pennsylvania. He 
died in 1863. Of his seven children, Seth was the third. He had the advantage of 
a common school education, and was only in his eleventh year when he left the 
paternal roof and began his life work on a farm. He was employed with his uncle 
in the town of Burns, Allegany county until twenty-two years of age. In ISIJ'2 he 
leased a farm in the town of Burns and in 18G8 in partnership with his father-in-law, 
he bought the Tom Bennett farm of seventy-five acres, three miles north of the city 
of Hornellsville, where he has ever since been located. Mr. Huntley has made the 
farm a garden, and is considered one of the most prosperous farmers of this section. 
He was married, October 13, 1862, to Miss Cornelia L Downs, daughter of Alanson 
W. Downs, a prominent farmer of Hornellsville. They have been the parents of two 
children: Alanson Hart Huntley, who is with his father on the farm, and Arthur 
Albert, student of Baltimore Medical College of the class of 1896. Mrs. Huntley died 
October 29. 1886; a true Christian and a devoted wife and loving nK>ther, her family 
will never cease to mourn her loss. 

Powers, Edward, was born in Newark, N. J., November 8, 1857. John Powers, 
the father of Edward, is a native of Ireland, and came to this country in 1847. He 
learned the trade of tailor in his native land, and was located in Newark until 1868. 
That year he removed to Dunkirk, where he entered the employ of Mead McCamp- 
bell & Co., and continued in such for about one year, when the firm went out of ex- 
istence. He then moved to Corning, Steuben county, where he entered the employ 
of Sam Wellington. Young Edward about this time started to learn the business of 
his father, under who.se careful training he became an expert tailor, and in 1873 he 
came to Hornellsville where he entered the employ of Lehman & Ryan, and after- 
wards with Adsit & Son. He spent one year in Ithaca, and returning to Hornells- 
ville in 1881, he became a member of the firm of Ryan & Powers, which existed 
about two years. After this venture Mr. Powers kept a small concern on Main street 
until his present venture, which he started in 1887. Mr. Powers is the leading tailor 
of the city and commands a large portion of the trade of the surrounding country; 
he employs from fourteen to eighteen hands in his shop, which is over his .spacious 
store on Broad and Canisteo streets. Mr. Powers has always taken an active inter- 
est in politics, and although being a strong Republican he has been twice elected to 
represent his w-ard— the third — which is Democratic, as alderman. He was married 



FAMILY SKETCFIES. 139 

in 1879 to Miss Rose O'Connor of Hornellsville, by whom he had five children, three 
of whom are living: Anna, a student at St. Ann's Academic School; Mary and 
Frances; John, who died in 1887 at the age of six; and Edward Early, who died in 
1891. being only one year old. 

Smith, Thomas N., was born in the town of Pulteney, August 6, 1844. His father, 
Philip T. Smith, was a native of Putnam county, son of Thomas Smith, and grand- 
son of Philip Smith, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Philip T. came to 
Steuben in 1840, settling in Pulteney, and married Aner, a daughter of Niles Dean, 
whose ancestors came from England in the " Mayflower. " Mr. and Mrs. Smith had 
but one child, a son, Thomas N. In 18.")8 they moved to Bath, and in 185 J to the 
farm near Kanona. Before coming to Steuben county, Mr. Smith was engaged in 
contracting and building; but after coming here he engaged in farming. He died 
in 188G, aged eightj-four years. Mrs. Smith died in 1895, aged seventy-five years. 
Thomas X. was educated at Bath, Painted Post and Prattsburg, and has made an 
intelligent and scientific study of farming, breeding short-horn cattle and Chester 
White swine. For the past three years Mr. Smith has served as treasurer of the 
Steuben County Agricultural Society, and in the fall of 1894 was the Democratic can- 
didate for county treasurer, but was defeated by his Republican rival. 

Prentice, Jonathan R., was born in Hancock, New Hampshire, in 1795, and came 
to Steuben county in 1823 with his father, Henry Prentice, and bought land m the 
town of Jasper. They returned to New Hampshire, and the following spring he, 
with his brother, William, returned on foot. They cleared ten acres of land and 
sowed wheat. They owned together 160 acres, but Mr. Prentice sold his interest 
and moved on to another section in the valley, where he spent the balance of his life. 
He was one of the organizers of the township, and was for a number of years the 
supervisor. He was one of the founders of the First Presbyterian church of the town, 
and was clerk of the school district for a great many years. He reared a family of 
three children: Henry C, who went to Kansas, where he died in 1887, at the age of 
fifty-eight; Mrs. George D. Woodward, of Greenwood, N. Y., and William R. The 
latter was educated at Alfred Universilj' and remained on the farm until twentv-one. 
He was three years in the army as a member of the 161st Regt. N. Y. Vols., enlist- 
mg as a private and rising to first lieutenant, and then captain of Co. H. After ihe 
war closed he was engaged in mercantile business for eight years, then took up 
teaching, first at Alfred, and then three years as principal of a grammar school at 
Elmira, N. V. In 1887 he was engaged to fill the position of superintendent of 
schools and principal of the academy of Hornellsville, which position he has since 
occupied. 

White, William W., was born in the town of Ossian, Livingston county. May 27, 
1842. James G. White, his father, was a farmer, and of his family of ten children, 
William W. was the si.xth. He was given an education in the common schools and 
at fourteen years of age entered Rogersville Seminary, where he took up the study 
of medicine with some of the most noted physicians of Steuben and Livingston coun- 
ties. He taught school for nine years in different towns in Livingston and Steuben 
counties, and was also one j'ear a teacher in Michigan. He also spent some time 
lumbering on the Allegany River and then started a market in Dansville. Livingston 



146 LAiSTDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

county, which he conducted a year, and then went to Canaseraga where he engaged 
in the same business. Tne reason we do not find Mr. White in the medical profes- 
sion was that at the time of the first diphtheria epidemic he was one of the afHicted 
ones, and by that prevented from entering Ann Arbor University. About this same 
time he was married, and the cares of having a family were all he could carry. 
November, 1870, he moved to Hornellsville and established a sewing machine and 
organ agency, in which he was engaged for about three years. His first experience 
in real estate business was in Canaseraga about two years, and he continued it after 
locating in Hornellsville. About 1878 he was elected constable on the Democratic 
ticket, and held the office about twelve years. He has been twelve years conducting 
a real estate business in this city, and in 1887 added insurance and an employment 
agency to his already extensive business He has always been a general dealer in 
all kinds of real estate, especially Southern; has been notary public for about eight 
years. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and retired member of other organiza- 
tions. March 6, 1861, he married Harriet Scherer of Dansville, by whom he had one 
child, William W. White, jr., now in his twentj' first year, a student of Hornellsville 
Business University. An adopted son, John Acker, in his thirtieth year, an em- 
employee of the Richardson Shoe factory, was for many years a member of his 
family. He is also an artist of more than usual ability. 

Pierson, Horace G., was born in Canoga. Seneca county, N.Y., September 24, 1858. 
Jesse B. Pierson, his father, was in early life interested with his father in wagon and 
carriage manufacturing, and was afterward interested in the Cayuga Lake Bending 
Works, of which he was superintendent. He has now retired from active busi- 
ness. Simeon, the grandfather of Horace, was a native of Morristown, N. J. The 
family originally were of English stock. In the middle of the seventeenth century a 
certain Abraham Pierson, a preacher of the gospel, joined a party of Hollanders then 
about to embark for America. In 1650 the little band landed in New Jersey and 
called their new home Newark, in remembrance of the old home of their pastor. Rev. 
Pierson. Thomas Pierson, son of Abraham, was born October 10, 1667, and received 
his early education from his father afterwards going to Europe to complete his 
studies. When he returned to America he became the first president of Yale College. 
His statue maj' now be seen on the college campus. It is through his son Timothy 
that the subject of this sketch is descended. The ancestors of this family are fitly 
represented in the present day by Horace G. Pierson. When a man of such ex- 
emplary habits, business ability, and a mind for the good things of this life is found 
in these days, it is pleasant to trace those points of character most to be admired in 
the training and natural tendencies of the early man, to the line, who have long 
passed away, but who have left behind them that which is more lasting than earthly 
wealth. The maternal ancestors of Horace G. , by name Mandeville, have long been 
residents of Seneca county, and the mother is still living. Horace is the oldest of a 
family of three sons. He was educated in the Union Springs High School, and 
afterwards attended the William Business College at Rochester, from which he grad- 
uated in 1877. He was for a short time with his father, and then went as clerk in 
the drug store of E. M. Hart, at Union Springs, remaining there for two years, he 
then went with Heermans & Co., at Corning, and was in their employ over five 
years. In November, 1883, he was married to Julia Alexander, niece of Mrs. Alonzo 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 141 

Gorton of Corning. In January, 1886. he came to Hornellsville and bought the 
Truesdell drug store on Main street, where he has since been engaged. He has 
made many improvements in the store; with a discarding of all the old stock and 
thoroughly filling the store with late pharmaceutical products, Pierson's Pharmacy 
is to-day the headquarters of everything generally carried in a first-class drug store. 
December 1, 1893. he bought the drug store at 144 Canisteo street, which he has fitted 
up, and made the pride of the people of the south -iide. Mr. Pierson has been one of 
the benefactors of Hornellsville by investing in building and improvements in the 
residence portion of the city. His social interests are with the First Presbyterian 
church. 

Higgins, Justin V. R. , was born on a farm in the town of Hornellsville, December 
29, 1854. Russell Higgins, the father of our subject, was a native of Otsego county. 
When he came to Steuben county he located in the town of Howard and made his 
home there until about 1850. He then located on a farm en Penn Hill, where he 
spent the balance of his days, and died there in 1855. Justin was the youngest of a 
family of seven children, all living to-day. He was given a common school educa- 
tion, and remained with his mother on the old homestead farm until 1860. Mr. 
Higgins then bought the Ward farm of twenty acres, and later bought additional 
land and has increased the farm to 115 acres, on which he raises principally potatoes 
and grains. Mrs. Higgins died the spring of 1891. Justin was married in 1879 to 
Miss Mary Ellis, daughter of Albert Ellis of South Dansville. They have one child, 
Florence E. , now in her fifteenth year. A son of his brother, John Ellis, Roy, forms 
a part of Mr. Higgins's family. 

Woodruff, John B., was born in the town of Allegany, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., 
October 10, 1858. CharlesC. W., thefather of John, was a native of Orange county, 
born near Graycourt. May 24, 1802. and learned the shoemaker's trade ; after he was 
of age he came to East Bloomfield, where he married Caroline Reynolds of Spring- 
water. They went from there to Cleveland, O. , and from there came to Cattaraugus 
county, where he died, August 16, 1879. Mrs. Woodruff died November 6, 1879. 
They were the parents of six children. The three living are Clinton D., a farmer 
and mechanic of Cattaraugus county: Mrs. Mary Pierce of Cattaraugus county, and 
John B. , our subject. He was educated in the common schools and his first occupa- 
tion was lumbering and farming, which he followed until the breaking out of the 
war. August 21, 18()1, he enlisted in the .ith N.Y. Cavalry and served until Decem- 
ber 16, 1863, then re-enlisted in the same regiment, serving until July 19, 1865. This 
regiment was in 171 engagements, and was with the Army of the Potomac. At the 
close of the war he returned to the home of his parents, and November 12, 1865, he 
removed to the town of Hornellsville and was employed in working a farm on shares 
until April 25, 1872, when he bought the William McMichael farm of fifty acres, to 
which he has added twenty acres, now having a fine farm of seventy acres. He was 
married March 27 1864, to Miss Louisa A. Weatherby, daughter of Richard 
Weatherby, a farmer and pump manufacturer of Wirt. Mrs. Woodruff died Sep- 
tember 23, 1894, at fifty -two years of age, leaving four children: Miles S. Woodruff, 
a farmer; Miss Minerva E., Laura C, and Charles F., who assist in the conducting 
of the homestead farm. 



142 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Parker, Prof. Z. L., was born February 10, IHli), in Charlemont. Franklin county, 
Mass. Capt. James Parker, his father, was a farmer. He married Lucretia Fales, 
daughter of Jeremiah Fales, and died at eighty-seven. Zenas L. was the youngest 
of a family of si.x boys and four girls. He was educated in the common schools and 
academy of Massachusetts, and after teaching in his native State for eleven years, he 
came to Ithaca, N. Y., and taught five years in the public school. In 1856 he 
came to Corning, where he remained as principal of the public schools until 
1865, when he came to Bath and had charge of the public school for four years. The 
Corning and Bath schools became union schools during his administration. He then 
engaged in fire and life insurance and built up a good business. He was school com- 
missioner of the First District of Steuben county from 1870 to 1873. In 1888 he was 
elected to the responsible office of treasurer of Steuben county for three years, and 
re-elected to the same office, and upon his retirement in 1894, complimentary reso- 
lutions were passed by the Board of Supervisors in recognition of his long, honest 
and efficient service to the county. In 1852 he was married to Nancy J. Warfield, 
daughter of Job Warfield, by whom he had two sons, George H. and Eugene F. 
Mr. Parker has attained prominence as a poet. In 1892 he was the unanimous choice 
of the literary committee to deliver the poem at the Centennial Celebration of the 
foundation of the village of Bath, and for many years he has written a poetical 
resume of the events of the ending year, which have always been received with 
favor. Many are the events and occasions, the history of which he has reduced to 
verse, long to be remembered by the present generation and which will make his 
name lasting to the generations to come. In early life Mr. Parker became active in 
church work, and from 1857 to the present time has been an elder in the Presbyterian 
church, first in Corning and for the last twenty-five years in Bath, where his religious 
character and his able advocacy of temperance, morality and religion, have given 
him a wide and lasting influence. 

Jack, Allan T., was born March 15, 1831, and is a sim of William and Hannah 
(Giffe) Jack, who came to Thurston from Maryland in 1820. They were the parents 
of nine children: James, William, John, Harvey, Allan T., Christie, Mary Barrett, 
Rachel Rumsey, and Harriet Martin. William Jack in early life \va.s a cooper, but 
he afterwards became a farmer. Allan T. married Loranah, a daughter of George 
W. Lane, by whom he has four children: Harvey, who graduated from Baltimore 
Medical College and practices in Canisteo; George N., a graduate of the Buffalo 
Medical College, practicing in Depew, N. Y. ; Griffe W. , a fanner; and Lucile, de- 
ceased. Allan T. is engaged in farming and owns about 100 acres of land. In early 
life he followed lumbering and railroading. 

Schutz, William, was born January 1, 1842. Daniel Schutz, father of William, was 
born in Germany in 1802. In Germany, March 1, 1838, he married Catherine 
Leibenguth, who was born in Germany, in 1807, and they emigrated to America in 
the same year and settled in Wayland on the place where his son now resides. He 
was a glazier by trade but followed farming in Wayland. They had four children: 
Daniel, who was born January 3, 1839; Margaret, who was born July 25, 1840, wife 
of Frederick Wagner, and resides in Ossian. They have eight children: Peter, 
Catherine (deceased), William, John, Fred, Daniel, Margaret, and Emma; William, 
as above; and Jacob, who was born April 15, 1844, and resides in Naples. William 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 143 

Schutz received a common school education and has been a great reader of current 
literature. He engaged in farming until 1863, when he enlisted in Co. B (Captain 
Parsons), 97th Regt. N. V. Vols. (Col. Charles C. Whelock, of Oneida county). He 
took part in the following battles; Wilderness and all the battles of Army of 
Potomac to Lee's surrender, siege of Petersburg, and Appomattox, where Lee sur- 
rendered. Mr. Schutz has held several town offices, and has held the office of justice 
of the peace fourteen years, elected the fourth term. He is a member of Wayland 
Lodge No. 17(), I.O.O.F., also a member of Theodore Schlick Post, G.A.R., No. :il4. 
February 6, 1868, at Wayland, N.Y., he married Louisa Folts, who was born in Way- 
land, May 10, 1847, by whom he had eight children: Katie, born Decembers, 1868, 
and married William J. Brown, jr., they have one child. Pearl; William, born May 
22, 1870; Lizzie, born January 1, 1872; John, born September 28, 1873; Louisa, born 
March 26, 1875; Daniel, born June 14, 1878; Herman, born April 4, 1881; and 
Amelia, born April 23, 1885. 

Bardeen, Jennie, was born September 17, 1846. Her father, Simeon Clark, was 
born in Genoa, Cayuga county, in 1820. He moved to Ohio, then returned east and 
settled in Howard, where he died June 21, 1873. He married Adaline Davy, who 
was born September 3, 1825. Jennie Bardeen was educated in Hornellsville, 
and July 30, 1865, she married George Bardeen, who was born at Prattsburg, 
August II, 18:i4, and died February 1, 1892. He was a carpenter by trade, but fol- 
lowed farming as a business, and had a farm of 100 acres, located on Big Creek. His 
father, Lybbyna Bardeen, was born in Otsego county, and came to Prattsburg, 
thence to Kanona, and from there he located on a farm at Big Creek. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bardeen had eight children: Minnie B., born November 26, 1866; Addie, born May 
12, 1868; Myrtle born July 17, 1869, and died Januaay 8, 1870; Lybbyna, born 
August 26, 1873; Earl, born April 14, 1875, and died June 12, 1876; Deatton, born 
July 13, 1879; Leon, born September 25, 1881; and Glenn, born April 21, 188.5. Mr, 
Bardeen's first wife was Eliza Leonard, by whom he had one child, William, who 
was born in Howard. 

Nold, George, was born in the province of Fulda, Germany, January 19, 1850, 
where he attended the schcols for seven years. At eighteen years of age he emi- 
grated to this country and settled in Perkinsville, town of Wayland, where he worked 
at shoemaking for John Ritz for four years, having previously worked at the trade 
for four years in the old country. In 1872 he rented the Zimmerman store on Najjles 
street, employed two men, and carried on business there for two years. In 1874 he 
bought the store on East Naples street, which he now occupies, of Ira Bush, for 
*!1,00(', and employed from two to four men for nine years, when the building burned, 
and he erected the first brick building in Wayland, and carried on the boot and shoe 
business. In 1884-85 he held the office of town clerk, was again elected in 1893, and 
again in 1894 for a term of two years. He has been one of the trustees of the Way- 
land Union School for three years, is a member of the C. M. B. A., Branch No. 101, 
and has been president of the Wayland Dime Saving & Loan Association, which 
was incorporated March, 1888, with assets of S80,(j00, for seven years. At Perkins- 
ville, June 4, 1871, he married Mary Ritz, who was born June 4, 1853, in Perkinsville, 
y W'honi he had these children: Anna, who was born May 1, 1873; Maggie, who 
was born November 20, 1874; Joseph, who was born January 16, 1876; Katie, who 



144 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was born July SJ, 1878; Ida, who was born April 3, 1881; Lena, who was born May 
21, 1883; and Edward who was born September 1, 1885. Joseph works at the trade 
with his father Mrs. Nold died July 10, 1893, and he married second Frances E. 
Bick, born September 6, 1852, daughter of Valentine and Mary Bick. Her parents 
kept the Bick House and for some time the Exchange Hotel. At the time of her 
marriage Mrs. Nold was employed at the Jacksor^ Sanitarium, DansviUe. 

Northrup, Alfred, was born in Newton, Sussex count}', N. J., January 2, 1826. He 
was a son of Joseph Northrup, born near Newton in 1801, and grandson of Moses 
Northrup, who was born in Connecticut and came to New Jersey where he died. 
Joseph Northrup married Alice Van Sands, of Connecticut, coming to Rathbone in 
1826. The journey was made in a heavy two horse wagon, taking fifteen days; when 
they reached the Canisteo river, at a place called Sanders, there they took off half 
the load and with a man at each wheel with a hand-spike to hold the wheels so the 
horses could rest every few minutes, and the mother walking and carrjdng the child 
Alfred, they started up the hill. After going about six miles over terrible rough and 
muddy roads, they arrived at the door of the only house on the hill, where lived a 
Mr. Finch. The house was of logs, the floor was of split logs, but there was a glow- 
ing fire on the hearth, and warm hearts and loving hands to minister to the needs of 
the now fainting mother. Here they remained until they could put up a house for 
themselves. The next year Thomas Allen, wife and four children, Elexander Camp- 
bell, wife and four children, John Hull, wife and two children, also, two hired men, 
came from New Jersey, and in Mr. Northrup's house of two rooms they all lived for 
more than three weeks, while they built for themselves homes in the wilderness. It 
was twenty miles to the nearest flouring mills, and the forests abounded in deer, bear, 
wolves, wild-cats and rattle-snakes. The children of to-day can scarcely realize what 
privations and hardships their ancestors had to endure in order to leave them homes 
of comfort and even luxury. Joseph Northrup remained for ten years, then returned 
to New Jersey, where he died thirty-two years later, after accumulating a handsome 
property. He sold his farm in Rathbone to his brother, Benjamin, of New Jersey. 
Alfred was ten years old when he returned to New Jersey with his father, but when 
twenty-six years old returned to Rathbone and settled on the farm now owned by his 
widow, consisting of 212 acres. Here Mr. Northrup died September 28, 1891. De- 
cember 12, 1852, he married Lucy J., daughter of Zachariah and Anna (Wadsvvorth) 
Cutting, natives of Onondaga county. N. Y. Mr. Cutting came to Cameron in 1846, 
where he died. His wife died in Rathbone in 1877. Nine children were born to Mr. 
and Mrs. Northrup; Joseph, of Cameron; Clara D., wife of Willard Talbot, <if Rath- 
bone; Alice v., wife of Willie A. Allen, of Cameron; Annie W., at home; Benjamin 
A., at home; Lucy J., at home; and three who died in mfancy. 

Dean, William G., was born in Pulteney in 1868. Dr. William N. Dean, his grand- 
father, was a native of Dutchess county, and came to Pulteney when a yonng man, 
where he practiced medicine until his death. He married Polly Terry, by whom he 
had five children. George R. Dean, father of William G., was born in Pulteney in 
1832, and in 1853 journeyed to California, via the Isthmus of Panama, and .spent 
thirteen years in the gold regions of the western coast, and after his return he en- 
gaged in farming until 1887, when he moved to the village of Praltsburg, where he 
served in many official capacities. He married Jennie Godfrey, by whom he had 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 145 

five children. William G. was educated in Franklin Academy, from which institution 
he graduated in .887. At fourteen year.s of age he left home to live with his grand- 
father, Harry Godfrey, whom he assisted in his bookkeeping and the management of 
his business, and in a few years became general manager. Sine the death of his 
grandfather in 1887 he has had the entire charge of his large estate. He has served 
several years as police justice in Prattsburg, being twice elected. He is a member 
of the Odd Fellows of Prattsburg, of which he is a past-master. In Augu.st, lSi)4, 
he married Grace Conine of Bath. 

Flaherty, James, was born in the town of Prattsburg, June 10, 1868. His father, 
John O., was a farmer and twenty years of his early life were spent on the farm and 
attending school alternately. In 1888 he graduated from Franklin Academy, Pratts- 
burg, X. v., and then took up the study of law. In ;871 he received the degree of 
Bachelor of Laws at Cornell University, and in January, 1892, was admitted to the 
bar. In the Cleveland and Harrison campaign he was in the employ of the Demo- 
cratic campaign committee, and made an extensive stumping tour through the 
State, demonstrating himself a strong and effective-speaker. In 1893 he opened an 
office at Prattsburg where he has since practiced his profession. In August, 189;5, 
he was appointed postmaster at Prattsburg and is the present incumbent of the office. 

Graves, Hart D., was born in Prattsburg, N. Y., January 22, 1843. Israel Graves, 
his grandfather, was born in Massachusetts, January 17, 1785, and came to Pratts- 
burg about 1810, where he settled in the forest, cleared him a farm, and engaged in 
farming and lumbering. He married Zama Niiiis, who was born in Massachusetts, 
in March, 1788, by whom he had eight children. Israel Dwight Graves, father of 
Hart l>., was born in Massachusetts, September 21, 1807, and grew to manhood in 
Pratt.sburg, where he spent his life farming and lumbering. He married Samantha 
Curtis of Massachusetts, by whom he had two children, Charles D. and Joel C. His 
first wife died, and in March, 18;-9, he married for his second wife, Clarissa Weld, 
a native of Delaware county, by whom he had nine children: Ada, Hart D., Adelia, 
Weld and Willard (twins), Hannah, Bradley, Isadore, and Ithel. He died in 1867, 
and his wife May 10, ]H9.5. Hart D. Graves began life as a farmer, and at twenty- 
one years of age started for himself, and in connection with his farming has for many 
years dealt extensively in stock, and since 1S7.") has added to his other interests the 
breeding from Lexington stock thoroughbred race horses. He and his wife now 
own three large farms, and in 1880 he moved with his family to the village of Pratts- 
burg, where he purchased a residence and retired from his more active life, attend- 
ing to his business interests in the village. In 1865 he married Mary, daughter of 
Josiah and Mary E. (Williams) Putnam, by whom he had five children: Carrie L., 
wife of Geo. W. Howe of Prattsburg, Lina C, Mrs. O.lella Cook, of Prattsburg, 
Dwight W., and H. Dana. 

Clark, John J., was bom in Wheel-^r, in July, 1887. John Clark, his grandfather, 
was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Wheeler in 1806 and settled on a tract of 
200 acres of land, for which he paid in part by cutting a road six miles through the 
forest, and later he cleared this land. He reared a family of six children, and died 
at seventy-five years of age. John Clark, his father, was born in Wheeler, on the 
homestead, in 1809, where he devoted his whole life to farming, and accumulated 



146 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

some property. He was eccentric, but kind and generous to the poor and needy. 
He was a member of the State militia, and was openly oppcsed to secret societies. 
He married Phoebe Upthegoes, by whom he had two children : Anna, deceased, and 
John J. He died in 1884, and his wife in 1847. John J. began life as a farmer on 
the farm on which both he and his father were born, which he conducted for twenty 
years, and also had charge of farms in Wheeler and Prattsburg, and in 1886 he moved 
to his Prattsburg farm. He has for many years been interested in the breeding of 
horses, and still owns the homestead farm. He is a member of the Masonic fratern- 
ity, Prattsburg Lodge, No. 583. In 18r)8 he married Persis, daughter of Darwin and 
Mary (Archibald) Cheeney, by whom he had one child, Anna. Mrs. Clark was a 
member of the Star Masons, in which she took an active interest. She died in 1891. 

Hopkins, Mark H., was born in Prattsburg, Steuben county, N. Y., in March, 1855. 
His great-grandfather, Capt. Consider Hopkins, was born in Hartford, Conn., in 
1723. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and died m 1795. He was a descendant of 
one of two brothers by name of Hopkins, who came from England. His grandfather, 
Mark Hopkins, was also bom in Hartford, and removed to Oneida county, thence to 
Prattsburg in 1806, and settled on the farm which is scill owned by the family, where 
he built a log house, and in 1814 erected the frame house which is now occupied by 
Mark H. and his mother. He was one of the founders of the Franklin Academy and 
one of the trustees for many years. He married Lydia Merrill, by whom he had two 
children; Elisha and Lydia. Mrs. Hopkins died in 1794, and in February, 1802, he 
married for his second wife, Sarah Kellogg, by whom he had seven children: Ralph, 
Erastus, Eliza C, Emily M., Ralph W., Joseph Mark, and Hiram. He died in 1843, 
and his wife in 1852. Joseph Mark Hopkins, father to Mark H., was also born on 
this farm in Prattsburg, April 19, 1815. He received a fair education in the common 
schools and at Franklin Academj- where he taught one term, and for many years 
after reaching his majority, on account of ill health, he spent but little time on the farm. 
He was early identified with the society of Odd Fellows, and was district deputy 
grand master in 1853-54, and visited officially the various lodges of the county, and 
prior to that time had represented the society in the Grand Lodge of Northern New 
York several times. March 30, 18 "4, he married Laura A., daughter of Henry G. 
and Laura (Hopkins) Linsley of Prattsburg, who was born October 26, 1831, and by 
whom he had three children; Mark H., Charles E., of Syracuse, and Harriet E. In 
July, 1860. he became a member of the Masonic fraternity in Prattsburg, and for 
ten years following the death of his father he was trustee of Franklin Academy, and 
took much interest in educational matters. He was prominently identified with the 
Prattsburg Grange Lodge from time to time since its organization in 1874, was for 
several years elected master, and was worthy master of Steuben County Council. 
In January, 1879, also in 1880 he was elected president of the Steuben County Agri- 
cultural Society, and a few years later he was elected an honorable. He died Feb- 
ruary 10, 1893. Mark H. Hopkins continued to conduct the large farm of over 200 
acres, where he has spent his life, with the exception of some little time spent in 
traveling in the Southern and Western States. He is one of the charter members of 
the Prattsburg Grange, of which he was for ten years secretary, and is past-master, 
and in 1888 was vice-president of the Steuben County Agricultural Society. 

Drake, ^L L., was born in Jasper December 23, 1852, son of Allen and Lucinda 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 147 

(Andrew) Drake, he a native of New Jersey, born March 3, 1810, and she of Steuben 
county. The grandfather. Peter Drake, came to Jasper in 1829, where he died in 
1862, aged sixty-five years. Allen Drake, father of M. L. , was a farmer and owned 
700 acres of land, and was an exter.sive wool dealer. He died February 27, 188), and 
his wife survives and resides with her son. M. L. Drake was reared on a farm, ed- 
ucated in the common schools and WoodhuU Academy, after which he engaged in 
farming. He now owns 200 acres of land, a part of the old homestead, and follows 
general farming. He is a member of Jasper Tent No. 100, K. O. T. M. December 
31. 1873, he married Emma WycofF of Jasper, by whom he had three children: Eddie 
A., Blanche, and Farley W. 

Dennis. Andrew F., was born in Jasper, N. Y., March 21, 1847, son of Franklin 
and Martha (Lamson) Dennis. Andrew F. was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools and Hammondsport Academy. He followed farming and lum- 
bering, but is now engaged in farming, and owns 500 acres of land. He makes a 
specialty of stock raising and hay and has about 120 sheep. He is a member of the 
Banner Lodge of North Jasper, No. 589. In 1870 he married Clara Crossman of 
Cameron, N. Y , by whom he had three children: Clarabell, born October 28, 1871 ; 
Anna Dell, born November 28, 1872; and Oscar Ray, born May 15. 1883. 

Dearlove, Charles Wilber, was born in Italy. Yates county, N. Y., in 1845, son of 
William Dearlove, a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 1789, who came to the 
United States in 1816 and settled in Geneva. In 1847 he located in Steuben county, 
where he spent his last days. He was a Republican and Abolitionist and interested 
in the underground railway. His wife was Sarah, daughter of William Swales, of 
England who came to the United States and settled on w-hat is now the " Experi- 
mental " farm at Geneva, N. Y. Their children were William, George, Mary, John, 
Charles, and Annie. He died in 1888, aged 90, and his wife in 1891, aged 80. Will- 
iam and Charles are the only surviving members of this family. Mr. Dearlove's first 
occui ation was as a fireman in a saw mill, and tw'O years later he engaged in farm- 
ing, to which he has since devoted his time. He now owns his father's homestead and 
the farm on which he resides, and he makes a specialty of a large variety of pota- 
toes, on which he has established a State reputation, taking the first premiums at 
many of the fairs on both quality and variety. He is a Prohibitionist, and in 1893 
was appointed county statistician, which office he now hold-s. In 1866 he married 
Erva, daughter of George Barnes, and their children are: John, Leona, Erva, 
George, and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Dearlove are members of the Prattsburg P. of 
H., No. 112, of which he has been master for several years. He is also a member of 
the I. O. G. T. Their son John has taught school during the winter terms for the 
past eight years, is an active worker in the temperance cause, and is county chief of 
the I. O. G. T. 

Orcutt, James D., senior partner of the drug firm of Orcutt & Loomis, was born in 
the town of Erwin, July 24, 1853. His father, Daniel Orcutt, established the drug 
business in Painted Post in the year 1856, and was doing a thriving business at the 
time of his death, under the name of D. Orcutt & Son. James D. continued the 
business after the death of his father, and in 1883 admitted Mr. Fred H. Loomis in 
partnership, since which time the firm has been known under the name Orcutt & 



148 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTI?'. 

Loomis. Since early manhood Mr. Orcutt has been identified with all the mo\-e- 

ments for the advance of the affairs of the town and village, holding from time to 
time various offices of honor and responsibility. 

Harris, Joseph, of the firm of J. Harris & Sons, composed of Joseph, Marcus, and 
H. T. Harris. J. Harris came to Hornellsville in 1869. He is a native of Krakau, 
Austria, and came to this country in 1852 when thirty-one years of age. He was first 
located in New Orleans, from there going to Corning, X. Y.. where he, together with 
B. Erlich, established a dry goods store under the firm name of Harris & Erlich, and 
in 1868 they removed to Elmira in the same business. In 1869 the partnership was 
dissolved, Mr. Harris coming to Hornellsville and establishing a store at the location 
now occupied by F. B. Alley for cafe. The business was continued at this location 
until February, 1890, when it was moved to the brick and brown-stone block on the 
south side of Main street, which was built specially for the firm's occupancy, and 
which is at present the largest and finest store building in the city. In 1858 Joseph 
Harris was married to Eliza Erlich, by whom he had nine children. On the other 
two members of the firm the management of the business now largely devolves. 
Both are members of Fraternal Societies; Mr. H. T. Harris being present master of 
Evening Star Lodge Xo. 44 F. & A. M., one of the oldest in the State. 

Brown, William H. — John H. Brown was born in the town of Wheatland, Monroe 
county, March 8, 1823. James W. Brown, his father, was a native of Tyrone, Ire- 
land, and came to the United States in the memorable year of 1812, and was an eye- 
witness of the battle between the Constitution and Guerriere. He first settled in 
Monroe county, where he worked at his trade as a miller, which business he followed 
all his life, and where he died in 1834 at the age of fifty-five years. He married Jane 
Hughey of Cavan county, Ireland, by whom he had seven children: Susan, Will- 
iam, John, Mary, James. Robert, and Joseph. John H. Brown is a farmer and lum- 
berman, and married Anna E., si.ster of Dr. Jamison of Hornellsville, by whom he 
had SIX children, Marianna, John D., Minnie, William H., Jennie, and Laura. Will- 
iam H. is the owner of the homestead, and married Annetta Farnham, by whom he 
had six children: Goldy, Rebecca. Ira, Anna, Ruth, and Harry. John H. Brown 
has filled the office of supervisor for two terms, and served several terms as highway 
commissioner and justice of the peace. 

Olmsted. Hiram, was born in Masonville. Delaware county, X. Y., March 29, 1827, 
and is the seventh of twelve children born to William R. and Elizabeth (Holmes) 
Olmsted; he a native of Sidney, Delaware county, N. Y., and she of Chenango 
county. William R. was a farmer and lumberman and settled in Addison in 1831, 
and in Troupsburg in 18 S8, where he died in March, 1867, and his wife in March, 
1873. Hiram Olmsted was reared on the farm and assisted his father in the lumber 
business while young, but has always made farming his principal occupation, hav- 
ing made a specialty of sheep raising and dairy farming. In 1862 he married Laura, 
daughter of William and Olive M. (Bartoo) Tenbroeck, both of Chenango county, 
who came to Troupsburg in 1840 where they engaged in farming. Later they re- 
moved to Moreland, Schuyler county, where Mrs. Tenbroeck died in 1881. Mr. Ten- 
broeck now resides in Corning, X*. Y. By patient industry and prudent living Mr. 
and Mrs. Olmsted have made a success of their chosen occupation, and are now well- 



Family sketceies. us 

to-do and very highly respected by all who know them. Mr. Olmsted's great-great- 
grandfather fought in the war of the Revolution, and was made a commissioned 
officer because of the valiant service he rendered his country. Mr. Olmsted comes 
naturally by a strong national spirit, having inherited it from his ancestors who par- 
ticipated in the struggle for national freedom. He has always been a strong 
believer in the principles of the Republican party, and was supervisor of his town in 
1889-90, filling this as well as other positions of trust with entire credit to himself. 
Mr. aud Mrs. Olmsted have two children: Albert H., who is in business in Rochester, 
N. Y.. and Mary, who is a successful teacher. Albert H. was married in 1894 to 
Sarah Grace, daughter of Marcus Marcellus and Sarah Adelia (Hurd) Cass of Wat- 
kins, Schuyler county, N. Y. 

Gorton, William, son of Silas, was born in the town of Corning, in 1822. The 
grandfather, Peleg Gorton, was one of the original six purchasers of the town ; he 
resided in Rensselaer county and was killed by a runaway team before he could 
move here. William has always been a farmer, and since 1881 has owned and re- 
sides on what is known as the old Gibson farm. In 1863 he married Helen Thomp- 
son, also a native of Steuben county, and they have had five children: William H. 
Clay, who died in 1880, aged sixteen years; Robert L. ; Silas; Wesley; and Agnes. 

Walker, J. E., M.D., onlj' surviving son of H. L. Walker, formerly farmer and 
brick-maker of Nunda, N. Y- Received k common school education, subsequently 
attended State Normal School at Geneseo. Commenced teaching at sixteen, en- 
tered the office of Dr. A V Walkins as medical student at eighteen years of age. 
Graduated from Cincinnati Medical College in 187(). Commenced practice in Ark- 
port immediately after. Spent the winter of 1883 and 1884 in New York in post- 
graduate work. Did an extensive general practice until 1892, when he sold out his 
drug store and bu.siness and went to Buffalo. Was physician at the Sterlingworth 
Sanitarium for a j'ear. Went abroad for special work in 1893. Took courses in 
bacteriolo£fy and microscopy in King's College, London, also worked in the Bromp- 
ton Hospital, for diseases of the chest, for .some time. Visited the hospitals of Paris 
and Cologne. Spent a short time in Berlin, going from there to Vienna, where he 
remained some months doing special work. Was made a member of the Interna- 
tional Medical Congress at Rome in 1894. Returning home he made a tour of the 
United States, going through nearly every State in the Union and visiting all the 
health resorts from the Atlantic to the Pacific, studying the climatology of each. He 
is now superintendent of the Steuben Sanitarium of Hornellsville He is a member 
of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Association, Steuben County Medical 
Society, New York State Medical A.ssociation, also the American Medical Associa- 
tion, a member of Hornellsville Lodge F. and A. M., Steuben Chapter, Demolay 
Commandery, and a noble of Ismalia Temple, Buffalo. 

Hill, n. B. , was born in the town of Fleming, April 20, 18;i7, and is the third of 
seven children born to Cyrus B. and Candace (Bierce) Hill; she of Delaware and he 
of Cayuga county, N. Y. The grandparents, James and Phoebe (Spencer) Hill, came 
from Cayuga county to Troupsburg when the county was new. He spent his last 
days in Canisteo where he died in 1871 ; shs died in Troupsburg in 1859. He was a 
soldier in 1812. The great-grandfather, Eleazer Hill, came from the east and was a 



150 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

pioneer of Cayuga county. Cyrus B. Hill, father of H. B., came to Troupsburg in 
1843, and settled on a farm. He .spent his last days with his son, where he died in 
September, 1889. Mrs. Hill died in 1875. H. B. Hill has always followed farming, 
and now owns a farm of fifty-one and one-half acres. In 1846 he married Mary, 
daughter of Ambrose and Caroline E. {Bonney)Conkey, by whom he had one daugh- 
ter, Armie M. The grandfather, Luke Bonney, was one of the first settlers of Bon- 
ney Hill which was named for him. Ambrose Conkey was a phj'sician and notion 
peddler. Mr. Hill enlisted April 29, 1861, in Company I, 19th N. Y- Vols., which 
regiment was transferred to the 3d N. Y. Artillery, June 2. 1863. He was at Wash- 
ington, Williamsport, Harper's Ferry, and Fredericksburg, taking part in the en- 
gagements at Fort Macon, Goldsboro, Whitehall, and many other skirmishes. He is 
a member of Post Bailey, No. 351, G. A. R. 

Dillenbeck, Stephen, was born in the town of Stark, Herkimer county. March 2, 
1830. Jonas M., his grandfather, a farmer, whose parents were from Holland, 
reared six sons and four daughters: Isaac, Jacob, Abraham, Jonas, Moses and Solo- 
mon, Betsey, Mary, Susan, and Laura. Isaac, his father, was born in Herkimer 
county, and came to the town of Wheeler in 1841, where he purchased a partly 
cleared farm, on which he lived the remainder of his life. He was a member of the 
Lutheran church. He married Anna, daughter of Peter House, who was a soldier 
m the Revolution, and their children were, Alexander. Mary, Aaron, Peter, Stephen, 
Catherine, Lana Ann, Cornelius and Isaac. He died in 1880, aged eighty-two, and 
his wife, in 1866, aged sixty-six years. Stephen engaged in farm work when eight- 
een years old, which he followed for several years, and in 1860 he purchased his 
present farm of eighty acres, which at that time was thickly covered with heavy 
timber, but which he has since cleared and cultivated. In August, 1862, he enlisted 
in Co. I, 161st New York Vols., and served until the close of the war, having partici- 
pated in the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Cane River, and several minor 
engagements, and during the siege of Port Hudson he was doing detail duty at Ba- 
ton Rouge. He lay sick with the typhoid fever in the LTnited States hospital at 
New York for three months, and suffered with other ailments while in the South. 
After his return from the war he devoted his attention to farming, and since 1886 
has raised many fine grade Jersey cattle. He is a member of Marcy G. A. R. Post, 
at Avoca, of which he has been chaplain six years. He is now a member of the 
Avoca Methodist church, but for thirty years or more has been an official member of 
Wheeler church. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry J. Eckles, a native of 
Herkimer county, January 22, 1856, and their children are George F., who was a 
teacher in the country and village school but is now a farmer; Rose Ellen; Henry 
I., a widower, having one son and two daughters; Bertha J. ; Charles G. ; and John 
C. Mrs. Dillenbeck is also an active member of the Methodist church. 

Cole, Hiram L., was born in Greenwood, in July, 1856, son of David D. Cole of 
Howard, who came to Greenwood in 1853, where he resided until 1894. He mar- 
ried Harriet Bunker of Tompkins county, in 1853, who died in 1892, by whom he had 
four children. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Earbar, widow of John Barbar 
of Fremont, and now resides at Fremont on a farm of 100 acres. He also owns 188 
acres in Greenwood. Hiram L. Cole has always been engaged in farming and deal- 
ing in fast horses, and has owned Lemington, Lady Proctor, Nina, and many others. 



FAMtLY SKETCHES. lol 

In 1880 he married Cora Case, who died in 1887, by whom he had one daughter, 
Hattie. He married for his second wife Octavia Cole of Wellsville by whom he had 
one son, Lloyd, born June 4, 1889. Mr. Cole is a Democrat. 

Cameron, Rev. Duncan Cameron, the present pastor of the Presbyterian church of 
Canisteo, was born Pictou county. Nova Scotia, November 80, 185.5. He was edu- 
cated at Pictou Academy, N. S., Wabash College, Indiana, Dalhousie College, 
Halifax, N. S., and Auburn Theological Seminary, Auburn, N. Y., where he grad- 
uated in 18.S4. After his graduation he spent three years in missionary service in 
South America. On his return in 1878 he settled in Canisteo. In February, 1888, he 
was married to Frances A., daughter of the well-known Prof. Mortimer L. Brown 
of Auburn, who founded and conducted the Young Ladies' Institute of that city for 
over thirty years. 

Webster, George M., was lx>rn in Owego, Tioga county, X. Y., October :!, 1855, 
and is the youngest of five children born to M. L. and Elizabeth A (Johnson) 
Webster: Charles L. who was a member of Co. K, 52d Mass. Vol. Militia, F. ,S. 
Greenleaf, commanding officer, and died at Baton Rouge July 10, 18C3; Mary K., 
Sarah M., Odell G., and George M. M. L. Webster was a contractor and builder in 
Owego, N.Y; was born in Yermont, February 28. 1802; died March 26, 1881. Eliza- 
beth A. was born in the city of New York, August 31, 1816. George M. was reared 
in Owego, N. Y., obtained his education in the Owego Academy, and here com- 
menced his business career as assistant bookkeeper in the hardware store of Houk, 
Dougherty & Truesdell, after which he was bookkeej^er for Keeler & Houk, contrac- 
tors and builders. He was then in the Tioga county clerk's office for six years, then 
for ei.ghteen months in the china store of Sweet & Wilson, representing Mr. Wilson 
in settling up the business. He was next bookkeeper for the wholesale house of 
Thompson & Parkhurst of Flmira, N. Y., for which firm he traveled for two years. 
In May, 1886, he bought out G. D. Woodward of Greenwood and has since been en- 
engaged in general mercantile business. Is also interested in farming. Mr. W. is a 
member of Sentinel Lodge, F. & A. M. No. 151, also of Tent No. 110, K. O. T. M. 
On January 7, 1886, he married Mary A., oldest daughter of John and Laura A. 
(Osborn) Davis. John Davis was born in Dryden, N.Y., October 10, 18.4. Laura A. 
was born in Owego, N.Y., NovemberlS, 1830, died July 26, 1889. He came to Green- 
wood with his father, Levi, in 1825, when he grew up and became the foremost man 
of the town. He was a Democrat and though in a Republican town, he was super- 
visor for eleven years and in 1870 was elected member of assembly. He died 
October 25, 1S83. Mr. and Mrs. Webster have two children: George D., born March 
28, 1H89, and Clarence L., born June 19. 1890. 

Huber, Rev. Aloysius L., born in Zeilarn. Bavaria. Germany, May 9, l,s: 2. He 
studied a cla.ssical course at Passau for seven years, in a Koenigl. Studienanstalt, a 
royal institution of the city of Passau, where he remained until 1883. At twenty-one 
years of a.ge he emigrated to America and finished his theological studies in St. \'in- 
cent's Seminary, Westmoreland county, Pa. In 1889, when he was ordained priest, 
he acted as assistant priest for one year and three months in St. Boniface church, 
Buffalo. N. Y., and was rector of three different missions: Strykersville one year, 
Bennmgtou Center and East Bennington for one year. January 14, 1893, he was 



152 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

appointed by the bi«;hop as rector of the Sacred Heart church of Perkinsville, N. Y. 
This village is named after Mr. Perkins, the first settler of the place, which is hoped 
to be progressing on account of the new Portland Cement Works. 

Park, John M., was born in Broome county, February T, 1826, son of Henry and 
Ann (Holden) Park, he a native of Dutchess county, and she of England. Mr. and 
Mrs. Park both died in Broome county, aged sixty-one and fifty-five respectively. 
The grandfather, Rufus Park, was a native of Dutchess county, but died in Broome 
county. Henry Park was a farmer bj' occupation. John M. was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools. He was engaged in lumbering for ten years, 
but for the last ten years has lived in WoodhuU. He lived in Addison and Rathbone 
before coming to Woodhull. In 1855 Mr. Park married Sarah A., daughter of Jacob 
and Arvilia (Nichols) Cole, he a native of Washington county, and she of Oneida. 
They came to Addison at an early date and died in 1873 and 1867 respectively, Mr. 
and Mrs. Park have two children : Emma, a stenographer of Harrisburg, Pa.; and 
Henry, who married Mary Youngs, of Rathbone, by whom he has one son, Harry. 

Brasted, Orlando W., was born in the town of Howard on the farm he now owns 
and occupies, January 30, 1853, son of Levi W. Brasted, who was born in the town 
Howard on the farm owned by his father, John C. Brasted, one of the pioneer settlers 
of the town. John C. Bra<ted, born in 1801, came from the State of New Jersey to 
Tompkins county when ten years of age, where he resided until he was twenty-one. 
He married Julia, daughter of James M. Armstrong of that county. They came to the 
town of Howard with the parents of John C. Brasted in 1822, where they lived on 
adjoining farms. They were the parents of ten children: Cordelia, Lewis, a Baptist 
minister, deceased; Nicholas, a farmer; Levi W., a farmer; John, a farmer, de- 
ceased; Bethuel, a Baptist minister in Minneapolis, and a college graduate ; Madison, 
a farmer; William, also a farmer, who occupied the homestead for years with his 
father, who lived to be eighty-eight years of age; Juliaette, wife of Alex Pruttsman 
of Troupsburg ; and Maryette, wife of George Shell of Howard. Levi W. married 
Lucinda Kimball of Chemung county, and they were the parents of four children : 
P. O. Brasted, Orlando W. , Nancy, and IL K. Brasted, a physician in Colorado. 
Mr. Brasted married the second time, Lydia A. Kimball, a cousin of his first wife, 
from Chemung county, and their children are: Ulysses G., Mina and Clio May. 
Orlando W. was a harnessmaker for ten years, and was in the grocery business for 
several years, but for the past eight years has devoted his time to farming. He owns 
a farm of about 160 acres. He married Edith E., daughter of Daniel Hamilton, who 
died in the late war. His mother was the daughter of Daniel Bennett, better known 
as General Daniel Bennett of Howard. They have one son, Daniel I- , who is on 
the farm with his father. Orlando W. Brasted and family are members of the Bap- 
tist church, and Orlando \V. of the Grange. 

Pepper, George, was born in Germany and came to New York city with his father, 
Jacob Pepper (spelled Feffer in German), a sister, Margaret, and two brothers, John 
and Valentine, when about five years of age. He left his father in New York and 
came to Lindley when about eleven years of age. George Pepper lived with Joseph 
Rorabaugh until twenty-one years of age, when he married Mary E., daughter of 
Jared and Hannah (Marks) Upham of this county. They had four children : John J., 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 153 

Gertrude Manley, William H., and Genrjje M. Mr. Pepper was engaged in lumber- 
ing with Fox. Weston & Co. for thirty-five years He is now engaged in farming and 
owns 335 acres of land, seventy-five of which is improved. 

Scott, John, was born in the town of Sempronius, N.Y., March 20, 1832, and is the 
sixth of thirteen children born to Samuel and Parmelia (Clark) Scott, he a native of 
Pompey Hill, N. Y., born June 3, 1791, and she a native of Sempronius, born March 
10, 1800. The grandfather, Joseph Scott, came from Ireland and settled in Pompey, 
being a pioneer of the town, where he engaged in farming and where he died. The 
maternal grandfather, Cyrus Clark, settled in Sempronius and from there went to 
Indiana, where he died. He was also a farmer. Samuel Scott, father of John, and 
his brothers, John and Jonathan, settled in what has been since called Scott, Cort- 
land county, where they were the first settlers and built the first machine in the town. 
Samuel was a lumberman and farmer, and died February 6, 1878 and his wife March 
31, 1871. John Scott was reared on the farm and helped his father in the saw mill, 
but farming has always been his occupation. JIarch 13, 1859, he married Martha 
McCray, who was bom April 16, 1834, daughter of George and Sarah ^McCray, 
natives of Oil Creek, Pa., by whom he had four children: William A., a farmer of 
Troupsburg: Dorr, also a farmer of Troupsburg; Minnie, wife of John Paul, jr., of 
Troupsburg; and Ella M., teacher, who was educated at Cani.steo, N. Y. Mr. 
McCrary was a farmer and died in 1862, aged fifty-tight years, and his wife Febru- 
ary 6, 1885, aged seventy-five years. Mr. Scott enlisted in Co. H, Ifith N. Y. Heavy 
Artillery, in December, 18G3, was in service until the close of the war, and was in 
active service all the time. He has been poormaster of the town for .seven years, and 
is a member of McClellan Lodge No. 649, F. & A. M., also Post Bailey No. 351, 
G. A. R., of Troupsburg. 

Brozitsky, E., was born in Poland, along the German line, August 15, 1857, and 
came to the United States in 1872, and first .settled in Prattsburg, where he remained 
one year, and since 1874 has been in the town of Avoca. At present he is a farmer 
and stock dealer, and owns a farm of eighty-eight acres. He married Christianna, 
daughter of James Holland, by whom he had two children: Anna, and lola. Mr. 
Brozitsky is a member of Avoca Lodge No. 073, also of the Royal Arcanum. 

Hutchinson, C. G., was born in Francistown, Hillsboro county, N. II., June 24, 
1834, son of Osgood and Abigail S. Pratt Hutchinson, natives of New Hampshire, 
who came to Greenwood in 1,846, and soon after to Jasper, and several years after 
went to Ohio, and died there. His first wife died in New Hamp.shire, and he mar- 
ried for his second wife Harriet M. Knapp. He was a carpenter. His grandfather, 
Osgood Hutchinson, lived in New Hampshire until 1S57, when he came to Jasper and 
afterwards went to Kansas and died there, aged ninety seven years. C. G. Hutchin- 
son was reared in Peterboro, and Nashua City, N. H., until thirteen years of age, 
when he came to Steuben county, where he has practically resided ever since. In 
1856 he married Lucy Olin of Woodhull, by whom he had one child, who died in 
infancy. His wife died in 1858, and he married for his second wife Helen C. Van 
Orsdale of Jasper, by whom he had three children, namely: Luclla IL, AbelW., who 
married Bertha Drake and had two children, Eva and Flossie. He is a blacksmith 
by trade, and has been constable; Harlow W., who married Nellie f)sterhoudt and 
i 



154 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

had one child, Blanche. He is a blacksmith by trade, and is a motorman on the 
electric street railway at Olean. Mr. Hutchinson learned the blacksmith trade in 
Corning. Since living in Jasper he has been constable seven years in succession, 
collector at the close of the war, and overseer of the poor for several years. In 1886 
he was elected superintendent of the poor of Steuben county, and again in 1887 was 
re-elected and held the office six years. He has been a member of the I.O O. F. and 
Sons of Temperance, and for several years has been trustee and treasurer of the 
Jasper Cemetery Association. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church 
for several years and treasurer of the society and one of the ruling elders since 
1882. He received his education in the common schools and is at present one of the 
assessors of his town. Mrs. Hutchinson died April 9, 1891. 

Feenaughty, William O., was born in Howard, May 5, 1864, son of James Fee- 
naughty, who was born in Ireland, May 24, 1833. He came to this country in 1847, 
and at fourteen years of age was employed as principal of a Boston city school, a 
position for which he was fully competent This seems strange, but for the knowl- 
edge of the fact that he was educated for the priesthood and that only boys of rare 
intellect and ability are given that opportunity. Later he became a lumber dealer 
in the towns of Canisteo and Howard, where he married Mary J. Alger in 1852. He 
died July 22, 1874. at the premature age of forty-one years, leaving five sons and 
one daughter, the latter now deceased. William O. was the second )-ounger of the 
sons, and was educated at Canisteo Academy, where he graduated as president and 
valedictorian of the class of 1884. He engaged in farming, teaching school the winter 
terms. He was married September 15, 1887, to Mary, daughter of William Jamison 
of Canisteo. He came to Addison in May, 1889, and purchased his present grocery 
business, making specialties of potatoes and eggs. Mrs. Feenaughty is past grand 
of the Odd Fellows, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a supporter of the 
Baptist church. 

Stewart, George W.^ — John Stewart, his wife Cynthia and family, came to the 
town of Cameron from Yates county about 1835. Their children were Lydia Jack- 
son, Rev. Jacob Stewart, Nancy, Girden Mary Dyke, Zeri, John Stout, Rebecca 
Andrus, and Abraham, all deceased with the exception of Abraham. Girden first 
married Catherine, daughter of Elisha Leach, by whom he had two children: 
Jlelissa Thomas and Amos. He afterwards married Sarah, a daughter of Nehemiah 
Win.ship, by whom he had these children: John (deceased), George W., Henry 
(deceased). Norman, James Catherine Walton, Amelia (deceased), Samuel, Dewitt, 
Mory, and Lucilla Wambald. Amos, George, and Henry enlisted in Co. G, 141st 
Regt. N. Y. Vols. George was transferred to Hancock's Veteran Reserve Corps, 
145th Independent Co. Amos died at Bridgeport, Ala., and Henry at Yorktown, of 
camp fever. Norman enlisted in Co. A, 189th Regt. N. Y. Vols. George W. mar- 
ried Jane S., a daughter of Richard Wood, by whom he had four children: Annie 
Day, Jennie Jackson. Clarence, and George H. (deceased). Mr. Stewart afterward 
married Hannah, a daughter of James and Mary Tailor, by whom he had four chil- 
ren: Sarah J., George T., Lizzie C, and James G. George W. is a farmer and owns 
about eighty acres of land. In early life he worked at carpentry. He has been a 
member of the M. E. church for twenty-five years and is past junior vice in the 
Cameron Post. Girden Stewart was very active in church work and was a local 
preacher. 



I 



FAMILY SKETCUES. 155 

Roberts, Amos, was born at Glens Kails, Warren county, N. Y., in 1843, and re- 
ceived a common school education, after which he commenced to learn the mysteries 
of printing with Hiram M. Harris of the Glens Falls Republican, a rank Democratic 
paper, and finished his trade in the job and composing rooms of the Atlas and 
Argus, now Albany Argus, at Albany, N. Y. , and after spending a number of years 
at work at his trade in nearly all the large cities in the United States, soon after the 
civil war, he purchased of E. N. Johnson a half interest in the Addison Advertiser, 
and run a Republican paper and did a successful business up to the Greeley cam- 
paign, when he went for Greeley and "got left." Soon after he sold the establish- 
ment to G H. Hollis. who immediately turned it into a rank Democratic sheet, and 
after drifting around for a short time he purchased a half interest in the Cortland 
County Democrat, published at Cortland, N.Y. , and there in partnership with Daniel 
S. Lamont, now secretary of war in President Cleveland's cabinet, he did a success- 
ful business for a short time, until Lamont was appointed private secretary to Gov- 
ernor Tilden, when they sold out, and Mr. Roberts purchased a half interest in the 
Waverly Enterprise, located at Waverly, N. Y., which was soon after consumed by 
fire He then, in company with his old partner, E. M. Johnson, who was then chief 
clerk in the New York State Assembly, established the Cobleskill Herald, a nine- 
column Republican paper, at Cobleskill, Schoharie county, N. Y., where the Demo- 
crats had more majority than the Republicans had votes, and did a fair business for 
three years, when they sold out, and Mr. Roberts purchased the Addison Advertiser, 
and again enlarged it to a nine-column paper, and associated the principles of the 
G. O. P., where it still exists. 

Baker. John K., was born in Southport, Chemung county, N. Y., May 14, 1824, 
son of Isaac Baker, and grandson of Isaac, who was one of the prominent millers 
of Philadelphia in 1812, and moved to Southport, N.Y., now a portion of the city of 
Elmira, where he took charge of a mill for John Knapp. Isaac Baker, jr., married 
Mary A., daughter of Samuel Giles. He engaged in lumbering and milling at 
Southport, and then in Covington, Bradford county. Pa., and in 185.5 came to Steu- 
ben county, still engaged in the same business. He returned to Elmira, where he 
died in 186C. John K. , also a miller, was engaged in milling in Elmira and Athens, 
Pa., for several years afterwards, went to Hornellsville and started the Alley & 
Bennett mills. In 1857 he came to Bath and run the Belfast mills, located at that 
time on the present Soldiers' Home property; spent one year and a half at the 
Howard mills, and April 1, 1805, bought the Kanona mills which he runs at the 
present time. In 1856 he married Lucretia, daughter of Hon. Joseph Powell, sr. , 
and sister of Hon. Joseph Powell, who is a member of the 44th Congress. Mrs. 
Baker died in 1881, leaving two sons, Edward P. and Charles D. In 1885 he mar- 
ried Janet, daughter of A. Larue, of Wheeler, N.Y. 

Beckwith. Mrs. C. K. — Chester K. Beckwith was born in Steuben county. May 23, 
1835, son of Zenas Beckwith. who was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. 
Chester K. Beckwith was educated in the district schools of Hornby, after which 
he was employed as fireman on the N. Y., L. E. and W. Railroad until 1863, when he 
enlisted in the 97th N. Y. Yols. and served two years; after which he was employed 
as engineer by the N. Y. , L. E. and W., and the Buflfalo, N. Y. and Phila. Railroads 
until 1880, when he was engaged by the pipe line of the Standard Oil Co. for two 



156 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTV. 

years. He then commenced farming, which he followed up to the time of his death, 
which occurred January 4, 1891, aged fifty-five years. He married Martha L. Doud, 
by whom he had three children; Herbert C, Addie E., the wife of George W. 
Thompson, and Martha A. Mr. Beckwith was a member of the Ma.sonic fraternity, 
also of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In politics he was a Republican. 

Kingsley, Charles P., was born in the town of Urbana, September 29, 1835. His 
father, Flavius J. Kingsley, was born in Nelson, Madison county, N. V. , December 
10, 180.5, and moved to the town of Urbana in this county in 1811, and married 
Minerva, daughter of Albertus Larrowe of Wheeler, N. V., on the 2Tth day of Feb- 
ruary, 1828, and through life was identified as a farmer, and died July 2.5, 185)3, a man 
who.se judgment was sought aud respected by all who knew him. His mother was 
born on August 28, 1806, at Reading, N. Y., and died August 31, 1866. Stephen 
Kingsley, his grandfather, was born at Wyndhara, Conn., June 3, 1768, and died in 
Urbana, February 28, 1844. Charles F. was educated in the district school of Urbana 
and at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima in 1852 to 1855. In 1855 he began the 
study of law with Clark Bell at Hammoudsport, N. Y., and was admitted to practice 
in all courts of this State December 8, 1857, and was admitted to practice in the dis- 
trict court of the United States in May, 1867. In November, 18G0, he came to Bath 
and commenced to practice law, and has devoted himself exclusively to his profession 
ever since, and has never held any civil ofiice. On the 2d day of June, 1864, at Bath, 
N. Y., he married Mary, daughter of Reuben Robie, by whom he had three children, 
James Robie, Charles La Rue, and Carter Robie Kingsley. Mr. Kingsley has always 
held a prominent position in his profession and has been selected to act as referee in 
a great many important cases, and is regarded as a safe and reliable counselor and 
an able lawyer. He has been the secretary of Board of Education of Bath for twenty- 
three years, and for about the same length of time a vestryman of St. Thomas' 
church. 

Ferenbaugh, Willis S., was born in Hornby in 1849, son of Benedict and Eliza 
Ferenbaugh. The father was a native of Germany, and located in Corning with his 
parents about 1827, and came to Mr. Ferenbaugh's present place. The father died 
in 1892, aged eighty-five. Mr. Ferenbaugh has two sisters who reside w'ith him on 
the home place, their names being Sarah A. and Delle. They have 205 acres, 
including the old homestead. Mr. 1- erenbf.ugh follows general farming, stock rais- 
ing and bee-keeping. 

Ball, Edward J., was born in Pulteney in 1849, and educated in the common schools. 
His early life was spent at the carpenter's trade. Later he engaged in farming and 
grape growing, w-hich business he still follows. In 1877 he married Clara, daughter 
of William H. Clark, of Pulteney, by whom he had two children: William, and Julian 
(deceased). Mr. Ball afterwards married Anna, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Sul- 
livan) Gibson, of Pulteney. Their children are Cliflford, Helen, Marjory, and Julia. 
Mr. Ball is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Prattsburg. Nathaniel Ball, his 
grandfather, was born in Herkimer county m 1788, and in 1815 came to Pulteney, 
where he resided for many years. He was a blacksmith by trade. He died in 
Auburn, N. Y., in April. 1871. His wife, Lucinda Pelton, was born in Connecticut 
in 1790, and died in Auburn in 1S74. Their children were Emma, Lucy A., Sher- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 157 

wood, and Nelson. Nelson, the father of Edward J., was born in Pulteney in 181."). 
He was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. His first wife was Julia Pinkerton, 
by whom he had two children, Helen and Esther. His .second wife was Experience 
Benton, by whom he had six children : George, killed at the battle of City Point, aged 
nineteen years; Edward, Julia, Sherwood (deceased), Elliott, and Harrison. 

Shults, Arnold, was born at Palatine Bridge. January 24, 1841. Conradt Shults, 
his father, was a native of the same town, and the family were among the early set- 
tlers in Montgomery county. Conrad married Catharine, daughter of Peter W. 
Saltsnian, and came to Steuben county in 1842 and settled near Avoea, and in 1844 
came to Bath where the family now reside. He died February G, 1860, aged forty- 
six years. Arnold was educated in the common schools and in 186!) married Ella 
Gray, by whom he had five children: Clara G., Fanny E., Frank A., William S., and 
Lydia E. She died in 1878, and for his second wife he married Anna Buck, who 
died in 1882, and for his third wife he married Rachel Adams, by whom he had 
three children: Daniel C, Edward P., and Grattan B. Mr. Shults is one of the 
largest farmers in the town of Bath, and was elected highway commissioner in 1884. 

Cone, Eleazer T., was born in the town of New Lisbon. Otsego county, N. Y., 
June 24, 1835, son of Naaman Cone, also a native of Otsego and a farmer. He came 
to hteuben county in 1853 and located in Hornellsville, conducting a saw mill and 
brick yard, and continuing in that business until the time of his death, which 
occurred October 29, 1855, at the age of fifty-four. He was poormaster at that time. 
Mr. Cone's mother, Joanna Warner, was a native of Otsego county, and she died in 
1858. Mr. and Mrs. Cone were the parents of si.': children, five of whom are still 
living. Eleazer was given a good education, and was in business with his father 
at the time he came to Hornellsville. In 18G1 he entered the employ of the Erie 
Railroad Company, and for two years was foreman of fence building on the Buffalo 
Division. The fall of 1862 he went into the shops and was engineer of the station- 
ary engine. In 1873 he bought a farm of 125 acres on lot 11, which he uses for dairy 
purposes, grain and vegetables. He has erected many buildings and made improve- 
ments on the farm, which is now known as " Pleasant Valley" dairy farm. He is a 
Republican and has been trustee of District No. 5. In 1862 he married Mary E., 
daughter of Job and Rosilla Hanks GofT. Mr. Goff was also a native of Otsego 
county, coming to Goff's Mills in the town of Howard in 1812, and to Hornellsville 
in 18.54. He died in 1886, eighty-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Cone have five 
children: Nellie A., wife of Fred W. Mcintosh of this town; Burton E., who is an 
employee of McConnell's Mill in Hornellsville; N. Warner, who is on a farm in the 
town of Almond; Willard R. at home; and Fannie F., a teacher. 

Kellison, Robert N., was born on a farm in the town of Hornellsville, April 2;i, 
1844, son of James Kellison, a native of Lycoming county. Pa., born August 5, 1815, 
and brought here by his parents in 1823. His father, Robert Kellison, took up a 
tract of 100 acres on lot No. 11, and always made his home there, engaged in lum- 
bering most of the time. He died in 1842, leaving two sons and two daughters. His 
sons are John D., and James. John D. is still living, now in his sixty-eighth year; 
James followed various employments and has ahvays lived in this neighborhood 
with the exception of a few years spent in Howard. He is now in his eightieth year. 



158 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

The mother of Robert N. , Elizabeth Meeks, was born in Milo, Yates county, N. Y., 
in 1825, and she is still living. They were the parents of seven children, three of 
whom are living: Robert N., James L , a gardener of this town, and Charles, a 
lawyer of Plymouth, Ind. Robert was educated in the common schools and his first 
occupation was with other farmers and in saw mills until 1869, when he bought a 
farm of 120 acres on lot 10, which he has cleared off and on which he has erected 
buildings and made many improvements, and it can truly be said "From the wilder- 
ness a garden now blooms " October 6, 1869, he married Mattie. daughter of Hiram 
Warner, a farmer and carpenter of Urbana, and they have been the parents of five 
children, two of whom died in infancy. The remaining three are, Bertus, who 
assists in conducting the homestead farm, Cleveland, a student of district No. 4 
school, and Millie now m her third year. 

Prentiss, Harvey, was born in the town of Tyrone, now Schuyler county, April 27, 
1835. Watson Prentiss, the father of Harvey, was a native of Vermont, born in 
Brattleboro. He came to New York State when a young man and located in Tyrone. 
He was a farmer, contractor and lumberman for a number of year.s. At the time 
of the building of the Erie Railroad he had a contract for clearing laud for them, 
and in 1850 removed to Hornellsville, and after the completion of the road had a 
contract for furnishing wood to them both here and Canisteo. He bought a farm of 
183 acres south of the city, only five acres of which was cleared, and he cleared the 
balance and furnished the product for the railroad for lumber and wood. He was a 
true Christian and for many years a member of the Methodist church. He died in 
1872. The mother of Harvey, who was Susannah Price, was a native of Schuyler 
county. She died in March, 1877. They were the parents of three daughters and 
five sons, of whom four are still living: Albert, a farmer of Allen, Hillsdale county, 
Mich.; George W., a contractor of Hornellsville; Anson, a conductor on the Erie 
Railroad, and Harvey. The latter was educated in the common school and re- 
mained with his father on the farm until reaching his majority. In 1857 he was 
elected constable and held the office for twelve years, and during that time for eight 
years was deputy sheriff. In the meantime he held many other offices; was trustee 
of the village for two years, and was street commissioner for the village of Hornells- 
ville, and detective and oHicer for the Railroad Co. He was an assessor, and a 
number of years inspector of election. In 1893 he was elected to the ofiice of super- 
visor of the Fourth and Fifth wards of this city. In 1870 he purchased the home- 
stead farm, and still owns the most of it, which he has laid out into building lots for 
the improvement of the city, and bought until he has about the same acreage. He 
has dealt e.\tensively in real estate and built a number of houses. He was married 
in 1857 to Miss Osie M., daughter of Christopher Doty, one of the pioneers of this 
section, by whom he had three children: Edward A., who died Marcn 2, 1864, at six 
years of age; Ada (Isie, wife of George Gill Fowler, a merchant of Dansville, Liv- 
ingston county; and Miss Grace Isabelle, a graduate of Hornellsville Academy, liv- 
ing with her parents. 

Rial, John, is a son of Simon S. Rial, a native of New Jersey, who came to Seneca 
county in 1812, where he was engaged in farming, and in 1838 came to Erwin and 
settled near Painted Post, where John received his educatian. In 1856 Mr. Rial pur- 
chased a farm in the northeast corner of Addison, where he died in 1860, aged fifty- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 159 

seven years, leaving six sons and two daughters. He was a Democrat, and a mem- 
ber of the Methodist church. John Rial has always been engaged in farming and 
moved on the farm which he now owns in ISC'). lie makes a .specialty of haying 
and dairying, July 4, ISGl, he enlisted in Company F, 33d Regt. N. Y. Vols, for 
two years, during which time he was taken prisoner at Fredericksburg and confined 
thirty days. In 181)4 he married Louisa Kent, and they were the parents of two 
children: Fred, an active farmer of Addison, twenty-eight years of age and Lizzie. 
Mr. Rial is a Republican, and has been school trustee for many years. 

Wheeler. John D., was born in the town of Cameron in 1845, and is a son of James 
B. and Malinda G. (Willard) Wheeler, who settled here in 181.1, when James B. was 
seven years old. John D. married Adelle. a daughter of Jessie and Susanna Santee. 
of Hornellsville. They have one child, Charles J. Mr. Wheeler has been town 
clerk of Cameron for eight consecutive years and has several times refused the nomi- 
nation for supervisor. He is a member of Cameron Mills Lodge No. 542 F. & A. M., 
and has been commander of Hallett Post G. A. R. for five years. He enlisted in 
1863 and served until the close of the war. He was in the 16th N. Y. Artillery and 
was afterwards made captain in 106th Regt. N. Y. S. Nat. Guards. Mr. Wheeler 
was engaged m farming and milling until 1880, when he engaged in the general 
merchandise business, which he still follows. 

Wheeler. R. M., was born in Cameron, February 2, 1848. His father, James B. 
Wheeler, who was a farmer and lumberman in Cameron for many yeai's, was a na 
live of this county, born in 1809. He was married to Melinda Willard, a native of 
Massachusetts, in 1833. They were the parents of ten children that reached adult 
age. Mrs. Wheeler died March 16, 1889, at scf\'enty-six years of age. Gratton II. 
Wheeler, the oldest son, was one of the prominent men of Cameron. Robert, who 
was the fifth son, was given a common .school education. His father having owned 
both saw and grist mills, he was then engaged in farming and in the mills until 
eighteen years of age, when he learned the carriage-maker's trade in Bath and fol- 
lowed it for ten years. He was then for eighteen months in a store at Cameron with 
his brother, J. D. Wheeler, who is in business there .still. In 1886 he came to Hor- 
nellsville and took up building, working for a while at the trade, and a year later 
began taking contracts for the erection of buildings, and is now one of the leading 
contractors of the city. He was married December 25, 1877, to Louise Scarwell, 
daughter of Henry Scarwell of Bath, who was first .sergeant in Batter\- E, of the 1st 
N. Y. Artillery, in the late war, after which he soon died from wounds received 
while in the service. They have one daughter, Nina L., a student of the Hornell 
.Academy. 

Houghton, C. F., was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1846, and was educated at 
Ellington, Conn., and Cambridge, Mass. He became connected with the " L^nion 
Glass Works" of Somerville, Mass., established by his father — later with the " South 
Ferry Glass Works " of Brooklyn, N. Y., owned, and operated by his father, and 
came to Corning on their removal here. He has been vice-jiresident since 1882. In 
1878 he married Helen Hall of Auburn, N. Y., and was a member of Assembly in 
1874. 

Metz, William, was born in Nescopeck, Luzerne county. Pa., August 30, 1820, 



160 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the oldest of three children born to John and Ann (Moore) Metz. The paternal 
grandparents were Wilham and Margaret (Larkin) Metz, and came from New 
Jersey to Nescopeck, where they died. The maternal grandparents were Will- 
iam and Mary (Coates) Moore. William Moore was six years and nine months 
in the Revolutionary war. William Metz, jr., was reared by an uncle, and at the age 
of twenty engaged in farming. In 1847 he settled on a farm of 120 acres, and re- 
tired from active business in 1883. Mr. Metz was twice married, first in 1846 to Ade- 
line Dunton, by whom he had one son, Clark D. They also reared an adopted 
daughter, ilarcia Reynolds, now the wife of Warren Gleason, who works the farm. 
Mrs. Metz died December 20, 188 . Mr. Metz then married, January 19, 1883, Fin- 
etta Pettibone Saunders. She was born June 2, 1831, daughter of Jonathan and 
Mary T. (Parcels) Pettibone, of Hartsville, Steuben county. Her grandfather, Dan- 
iel Pettibone, was a silversmith and invented many useful things. Jonathan Petti- 
bonewas born July 31, 1796, and Mary, his wife, was born March 2, 1806. She died 
in 1832 and he in 1876. He was a fisherman when young but was afterwards engaged 
in farming. In 1846 Finetta Pettibone married Charles Saunders, a farmer of Alfred, 
who died in 1877. They had these children; Charles R., George W., William C, 
Prudence L., and Finetta, wife of Luther Skinner, of Troupsburg. Mr. .Metz was a 
Prohibitionist and belonged to the M. E. church. Mrs. Metz is a Seven Da\- Baptist. 
William Jletz died May 19, 1S95. 

Maltby, Jerome B., was born in Schuyler county, in 1841, where his early days 
were passed, at Monterey, X. Y. In 1862 he migrated to the west, crossing the plains 
on horseback to the Pacific coast; forming part of the escort guard to emigration 
wagon trains. During 186j he worked the California gold mines and in 1865 came 
to Corning, where he has since been a member of the firmof C. R. Maltby & Biother, 
the only exclusively wholesale grocery house in Corning. He served as trustee dur- 
ing two terms and was twicj treasurer of the village. Curtis Maltby, his father, is a 
native of Tompkins county, and resides with him. 

Hartrum. John S., was born in New Jersey, May 4, 1823, son of William and 
Elizabeth Hartrum, mentioned elsewhere. John S. was reared on a farm, and edu- 
cated at Alfred University, and has taught school over thirty years, and for nine years 
has been town superintendent of schools. He has also been engaged in farming on 
a farm of 187 acres, keeping about twenty cows. In 1872 he married Belinda, 
daughter of Lorenzo and Julia Ann Ward Orcutt, of Savona. Mr. Orcutt was a shoe- 
maker, tanner, and currier. He died in March, 1894, and Mrs. Oicuti in 1868. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hartrum have had three children; William W., deceaseil, Elizabeth I., wife 
of Lewis Osniin, a farmer of West L^nion, and Mary E. Mr. Hartrum is a Republi- 
can, and lias been road commi.ssioner, assessor, and supervisor of Greenwood. They 
are members of the Methodist church. 

Merrill, Levi, one of the oldest settlers of Addison, is a descendant of a Massachu- 
setts family, a son of Clark Merrill, who came from that State in 1828, and settled in 
New York. He died at Cooper's Plains in 1877, aged seventy years. Levi was born 
in the town of Campbell, Steuben county, in the year 1835, coming here about 
forty years ago, and by occupation a farmer and engaged in lumbering, and also 
running a saw mill. In 1859 Mr. Merrill married Diantha, daughter of Isaac Brisso, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 161 

of Campbell, who died in 1890, leaving one son, Lorenzo, who married Lizzie Andrus 
in 18HS. He was drafted in July, 1863. 

Stewart, Oliver Dwight, was born in Schoharie county, N. V., in 1846, son of Will- 
ard Stewart, now a farmer of Rathbone. Oliver came to Horuellsville in lH,'5;i, where 
he received his education, and in 18.59 he removed to Addison, buying a farm of one 
hundred and fifty acres, and making a specialty of raising choice sheep In 1803 he 
enlisted in Company B, 107th N. Y. Volunteers, and took part in several severe bat- 
tles during his two years' .service; was in Sherman's army all the time. In 1872 he 
married Sarah Sizer of Rathboneville, and they are the parents of three children : 
Charles A., Gertrude, and Htrtha. 

Wagner, Anton. — Edward Streebeck, of German descent, was born in New York 
city, and in 1858 came to Steuben county, where he has since resided in the town of 
Caton. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, 141st N. Y. Vols., and served until the 
close of the war. He was married in Philadelphia to Ann (Behler), who died in 189). 
He has two children: Alvena, wife of Anton Wagner, a native of Germany, who re- 
sides on the home place, which he manages; and Augusta, wife of Frederick Keller 
of Chemung county. 

Sutton, W. R., was born in Bradford, Steuben county, N. Y., May 17, 1852, a son 
of E. W. Sutton, who was born in Waverly, Tioga county, and came to Steuben 
county in 1850. E. W. Sutton was a tailor by trade, which business he followed for 
many years. Later he engaged with H. W. Perine as salesman in the general mer- 
chandise business, which he cor tinned up to the time of his death, May 26, 1887. He 
married Ilulda, daughter of Samuel Hopkins, of Steuben county, by whom he had 
seven children, of whom Dr. O. W. Sutton, of Bath; W. R. Sutton, of Avoca; Dr. 
L. Sutton, of Canisteo; and C. E. Sutton, of Palisades, N. Y., are now living. W. 
R. Sutton vi'as educated in the district schools of Cooper's Plains, then entered the 
store of Perine at Bath, where he remained nineteen years. March 21, 1885, he es- 
tablished a general merchandise business in the village of Avoca and is now one of 
the leading business men of the town. Mr. Sutton married Ada, a daughter of M. 
C. Purdy, a painter of Bath, by whom he has five children: Edwin R., Walter L., 
Lawrence, Purdy, and Florence. He is a member of Avoca Lodge No. 666 of 
Masonry, K. of II. 

Northrup, Jesse D., was born in Greenwood, March 9, 1859, the only child of Ebe- 
nezer and Hannah Elliott Northrup. Ebenezer was left an orphan when very young 
and was brought up by an uncle in New Jersey, where he learned the blacksmith's 
trade, at which he worked a number of years. April 8, 1858, he settled on a farm in 
Greenwood, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred April 8, 
1873. Mrs. Northrup was the daughter of John and Sarah Ingraham Elliott, who 
came from New Ashford, Mass., to Allegany, N. Y., at an early day. Mr. Elliott 
was a rope maker by trade, but the latter part of his life was spent on a farm. He 
died in 1878. and Mrs. Elliott in 1874. In politics Mr. Northrup was a Republican, 
and for a number of years was magistrate of Greenwood. They are members of the 
Baptist church. Jesse D. was reared on a farm, and after his father's death, which 
occurred when he was but fifteen, took charge of the homestead farm which he has 
carried on successfully to the present lime. He is a Republican, and at present one 



162 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of the assesors of the town. He is a member of the Sentinel Lodge, No. 151, F. & 
A. M., of Greenwood, of which he is master. 

Baldwin Famil)-, The. — The family of Baldwinsis descended from Henry Baldwin, 
who came from Buckingham, England, about 1627. He settled in Woburn, Mass. 
His son, Benjamin, the youngest of twelve children, moved to Canterbury, Conn., 
about 1700. Rufus Baldwin, father of James and Henry Baldwin of Addi.son, was 
born in Canterbury, Conn., in 1795. In 1812 he was connected with the Light Guards 
and gained the title of major. In 1821 he came to Tioga county. Pa., purchased 
some 1,000 acres of timber land on the Cowanesque River, and engaged e.xtensively 
in the manufacture ot lumber. In 1825 he married Pamelia Wombough, daughter of 
Wm. Wombough, one of the pioneer settlers of Addison. In 1834 he removed to 
Addison and settled upon a farm about one mile east of the village, where he lived 
until 1851, in which year he moved into the village of Addison and retired from the 
active duties of life. He was one of the pioneer movers in the founding and erection 
of the Addison Academy in 1848. Through his efforts the lirst sash and blind factory 
was built in Addison. He was one of the projectors and stockholders of the plank 
road from Addison to Elkland. Major Baldwin was chosen to several important 
places of trust by the citizens of Addison. He was interested in every enterprise that 
had for its object the improvement of his town or the benefit of society. He was a 
man of strict business integrity, and was genial and sociable. He died in 1883; his 
wife died in 1866. 

Baldwin, Henry, son of Rufus Baldwin, was born in 1831 ; admitted to the bar in 
1853, and was supervisor of Addison from 1859 to 1861. In 1861 he raised a company 
and as captain joined the 34th Regt. N. Y. Vols. He was in the battles of Ball's 
Bluff, Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. He was 
chairman of the Board of Supervisors in 1876; was elected colonel of the 106th Regt. 
N. Y. S. militia in 1869; was elected sheriff of Steuben county in 1885. He was 
married in 1856 to Bella Bliss of Hornellsville ; she died m 1863. Henry Baldwin has 
always been identified with the improvements of Addison. Through his efforts the 
Addison and Northern Pennsylvania Railroad was constructed. At present he is 
largely interested in farming. 

Baldwin, James, son of Rufus Baldwin, was born in 1834. After leaving Lima 
Seminary in 1853, he settled upon a farm about two miles west of Addison, where he 
engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods and farming. In 1855 he married 
Emma L. Cowley In 1857, having sold his farm and timber lands to Hon. F. C. 
Dininny, he moved to Woodhull, where he built a steam grist and saw mill, and 
engaged in the mercantile business. In 1866 he returned to AddLson, and soon after 
commenced the banking bnsiness, in which he is still engaged. He has been from 
the organization of the party a prohibitionist ; has been a candidate on the State 
ticket for treasurer, and also for congressman in his district. He has one .son, born 
in 1857, who is a farmer and stock raiser, living about two miles from Addison. 

Carter, jr., George W., was born May 30, 1872. George W. Carter, his father, was 
born in the town of Greenwood, January 24, 1833. His grandfather was a native of 
Vermont, and was born October 19, 1787, and married Rachel Tetter of Tomjikins 
county. Anthony Carter was the next youngest son to settle in Greenwood in 1830, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 163 

where he resided for nine years, then came to Canisteo, to what is known as Ben- 
nett's Creek, and purchased 1,0^3 acres of land, which is most all in the hands of some 
of the family yet. George W. married Cynthia, daughter of James Cross, of Canis- 
teo, by whom he had five children: Cassica A., Mary A., Lura T., Flora G., and 
George W.. jr., who is working a part of the homestead farm, which was given him 
by his father. 

Waldorf, William !•>., was born in the town of Richmondville, Schoharie county, 
N. Y., March 20, 1860. He was educated in the common schools and Utica Business 
College. His first occupation after leavmg school was bookkeeper for Bacon & 
Pillmore, of Rome, N. Y., which position was held by him for several years. In 18S,5 
he became one of the proprietors of a general store in the village of New York Mills, 
under the firm name of Wilson & Waldorf. After conducting this business for two 
years, he sold out his interest and entered the employ of the Pullman Palace Car Com- 
pany, where he remained one year. After leaving the Pullman Company he ac- 
cepted a pi>sition as cashier for the Wells, Fargo Express Company, at Hornellsville, 
N. Y. The spring of 1S91 he resigned, to accept a position as bookkeeper with the 
Hornellsville Water Company. In June, 189;), he was elected a member of the board 
of directors, and made superintendent, which positions he now holds. He has been 
a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1890, Hornellsville Lodge 331, F. & A. M. ; 
Steuben Chapter 101, R. A. M. ; Hornellsville Council S.'i, R. and S. M. ; DeMolay 
Commardery 22. Knights 'iemplar; and has for the past four years acted as organist 
for all the Masonic lodges in the city of Hornellsville; also is recorder of Hornells- 
ville Council 35, R. and ^. M., and DeMolay Commandery 22, Knights i emplar; a 
member of Orient Tent 21, K. O. T. M. ; Samuel Campbell Council 1090, Royal Ar- 
canum : and Park Methodist Church. hebruary 10, l!-86, he married Lizzie J. 
Hughes, of New York Mills, by whom he has three children: William Edward, jr., 
Walter H., and Mable Edna. 

Page, Ebenezer, was born in tlie town of Scio, Allegany county, N, Y , December 
19, 1S47, the oldest son of Charles and Matilda Mayeron Page, a farmer and now a 
resident of Hornellsville. Ebenezer was given a common school education, and be- 
came a farmer by occupation. In his twenty-second year he bought the old home- 
stead farm in West Almond, and conducted that until January, 1879, when he ex- 
changed it for one half of the old McBurney farm of 165 acres, and has added to this 
by the purchase of the John Santee farm of 100 acres, and also owns 100 acres pur- 
chased of the Hartshone estate in the fall of 1894. In June, 1^89, he bought sixty- 
two acres of the Jeff McGee farm on lot 10, and also owns 100 acres on Crosby Creek, 
purchased of the Oliver Cleveland estate. Mr. Page has always conducted a dairy 
farm, and now has (ifty-eight head of stock, besides nine horses. He conducts a 
milk route in Hornellsville. Mr. Page was married three times, first, to Clara, a 
daughter of Oliver Cleveland, who died in May, 1876. His second wife was Elethra 
Cleveland, sister of his first wife, and her death occurred March 26, 1892. The pres- 
ent Mrs. Page was Mary L. Orvis, daughter of Daniel H. Orvis, of this town. He 
has two children: Clara A., a student of Hornellsville Academy, and Frederick, a 
student of Bryant School. 

Durnian, Richard, was born in Tyrone, Ireland, April 13, 1835, and came to the 



164 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

United States in 1850 and settled in the town of Bath. In ISOO he married Elizabeth 
L., daughter of James T. Stewart, by whom he had two children, A. C, and Adelle. 
In 1857 he bought the Dunsmore lot, in 18G1 the Amos Tanner lot, and in 1878 the 
Jesse S. Aber farm, having 155 acres of farm land, and making a specialty of raising 
stock, and buying, feeding, and shipping same to New York. Mrs. Durnian died in 
1890, and for his second wife he married Rosamond M.. daughter of Isaac Ross. 

Fancett, Samuel R. , was bom in Bath, September 15, 1856. His father, Richard, 
was born December 8, 1809, in County Mayo, Ireland, and came to Bath in 1838. He 
married Fannie, daughter of Roberts. Fancett, December 29, 1842. He was a farmer 
by occupation and greatly respected by all who knew him. He died August o, 1888, 
aged seventy-nine years. September 29, 1886, Samuel R. married Emma, daughter 
of John Hall, by whom he has two daughters, Florence D. and Mabel B. Mr. Fan- 
cett is one of the leading farmers of the town. 

Rosa, Andrew Yates, was born Schenectady, N. Y., in 1828, son of John Rosa, born 
in 1808, a contractor, who built considerable of the Erie Canal. He built the old 
basin at Schenectady and assisted in building the New York Central Railroad. He 
married Mary Eliza, daughter of Andrew Yates, of Glenville, Schenectady c-ounty, 
and their children were Andrew, Deborah, Harriet (deceased), J. E. and John Rosa. 
He died in 1841, and his wife in 1866. Andrew's grandfather, James Rosa, a native 
of Schenectady, was a stage superintendent, and in later years became assistant 
superintendent of the Albany and Schenectady horse railroad. He took charge of 
buying the horses and hiring the men. Andrew has led an active life, having been 
for twenty- eight years a locomotive and steamboat engineer, and engineer in Sacra- 
mento valley in California. At the age of seventeen he entered the Thomas Rogers 
locomotive works, at Paterson, N. J., where he served his apprenticeship, since 
which tune he has served in the shops of the New York Central Railroad, also as 
engineer, and later as engineer on the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Rail- 
roads, and numerous other roads. During 1865-66 he was engineer on the steam 
propeller, James McBride Davison, which plied between Wilmington and Fort Fisher 
and Cape Ann River for the government. In 1867 Mr. Rosa journeyed to California 
via Panama, where he engineered and served for a time as foreman of railroad shops 
stationed at Wadsworth, Nevada. In 1869 he returned to Schenectady as engineer 
on the New York Central, and in 1871 came to Prattsburg and located on his present 
farm, but was called to engineer on the Midland River Railway, where he spent three 
years, thence to Missouri for a time. He then returned to Prattsburg where he has 
devoted his attention to general farming, and the breeding of Jersey cattle and fine 
driving horses. In 1862-63 he owned boats on the Erie Canal. He was a member 
of the Odd Fellows Lodge in New Albany, Ind. In 1870 he married Mary Jane Brown, 
of Schenectady. 

Stephens, Joshua Chapman, was born in Canisteo, May 30, 1816. Nathan Stephens, 
his father, was born December 8, 1783, and May 11, 1790, came with his father, 
Jedediah Stephens, to Canisteo and settled on a farm of 400 acres. He married 
Rachael, daughter of Elisha Gilbert of Addison, by whom he had five children, 
Elisha G., Jedediah, H. M., Ebenezer C, and Franklin. He lived on afarm, known 
as lot No. 10, 1st division, until his death, which occurred April 4, 1862. August 3, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 165 

1845, Joshua C. married Hannah, daughter of Harris Abbe of Canisteo, by whom he 
had seven children: Ira G., James A., Harris M., Nathan J., Rachel J., Emma H., 
and Mary M. Three of the sons are carpenters and joiners, and James A. is at 
home on the farm. A fact worthy of notice is that not one of the sons weighs less 
than 200 lbs., and is said to be the strongest and most robust family in the town. 
Mr. Stephens has held the office of supervisor and other minor offices, and is a mem- 
ber of Morning Star Lodge of Masons, No. 65, also of Steuben Chapter. 

Hall, Alexander, was born in Campbellford, Ontario, June 21, 1862, the son of 
James Hall, a farmer of that town. Alexander was educated in the public schools of 
his native town, and after spending a short time on the farm and as a maker of 
cheese, he took up the study of dentistry in the fall of 1889 in the Ohio College of 
Dental Surgery, at Cincinnati, graduating from there with the degree of D. D. S. 
March 9, lf<92. He first began the practice of his profession at his home in Ontario, 
where he remained until May 5, 189:{, on which date he located in Hfirnellsville 
where he established an office at 59 Main street, where he has made rapid advance- 
ment in the good will of the people and a rapidly increasing practice proves his 
ability as an honored member of the profession. He was married, December 21, 
1892, to Miss Nettie McCann. They have one child, Mary Lewella Hall in her sec- 
ond year. The winter of 189:J-94 Dr. Hall spent at the Ohio Medical University as 
general demonstrator on operative and posthetic dentistry. 

Mackie, Frank G., was born in the town of Avoca, July 15, 1855, son of Robert 
Mackie, who was bom in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to the United States in 1820, 
and first settled with his father, William Mackie, in Paterson, N. J., and in 1824 
came to Avoca, Steuben county, where he has since resided on a farm of 320 acres, 
his principal crops being potatoes, barley, rye, and oats. Robert married Jane 
Howard, and they have two children: Sophia and Frank G. The latter was edu- 
cated in the town of Avoca, and is a farmer by occupation. He married Hannah, 
daughter of Joseph Eells, of Avoca. Mr. Mackie has filled the office of assessor for 
one term. 

Cram, Mrs. I'ermelia. — The late Simon B. Cram was a native of Chenango county, 
son of Isaiah Cram, and was raised on a farm in Caton. He served three years in 
the 50th New York Regt. In 1870 he married Permelia Whitmore. a native of the 
town of Hornby. He died in 1886, leaving five children : May, Jennette, Roscoe, 
Preston, and Bertrand. They have a well improved farm of 126 acres. 

Davis, Daniel, one of West Caton's well known and oldest citizens, tt-asborn in Massa- 
chusetts in 1816, and in 1838 went to New Orleans, locating in Southern Mississippi, 
where he followed the trades of carpenter and builder. He then came to Steuben 
county, locating on his present place, known as the Pail Factory place, where he has 
since resided. Dexter Davis, a brother, had come here a year before to manufacture 
lumber and wooden pails, pun:hasing lots number 1 and 24; another brother, Norris, 
came with Daniel in 1843, and the three continued the business of manufacturing 
pails for five or six years, when Mr. Davis succeeded to the ownership of the entire 
place, which he still possesses, excepting forty-five acres. In 1844 he married Ruth 
Bates, of Ma.ssachu setts, and they have three children: Edwin F., Lucy E., and 
Mary E. Mr. Davis was justice of the peace previous to 1880 for sixteen years. 



166 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Lawrence, F. H., M. D., son of Hiram Lawrence, who was a native of Rochester 
and one of the first merchants of Hornellsville, was born in Ark port, April 14, 1858. 
His father, Hiram, married Jane, daughter of James Hill of Bradford county. Pa., 
removed to Arkport and died in 1867 in his fifty second year. F. H. Lawrence was 
educated at Rogersville Seminary, was graduated from Alfred University in 1878, 
and studied medicine with Dr. J. E. Walker, of Arkport N. Y. In 1881 he was grad- 
uated from Cincinnati Medical College and located in Kanona, N. Y., making a 
specialty of hernia. In 1892 he married Jessie, daughter of John Bonney. Dr. Law- 
rence has held the office of postmaster, and is at present a member of the United 
States Pension Board located at Bath, N. Y. 

Wilkes, Harriet M. — Robert B. Wilkes was born in Ireland in 1830, and came to 
the United States in the following year with his parents, Bartholomew and Ann, 
who settled in Bath. Robert was educated in Bath, and in 1800 married Harriet M., 
daughter of General F. E. Erwin, by whom he had eight children: Sophia, Mrs. 
Anna Hunter, Robert B.. H. Jane, Francis E., James S., Mary E., and Samuel E. 
Robert B. was one of the representative farmers of his town, identified in promoting 
its best intersts and the welfare of the people, and was elected president of the Steu- 
ben County Agricultural Society. He died in 1876. 

Burrell, Allen M., was born in Lansing. Tompkins county, N. Y., April 8, 1828.' 
He spent his early life on a farm in Greenwood, Steuben county, but later engaged 
in carriage building with his brother in the village of Greenwood, which business 
they conducted for seven years; during this time he read law with Hon. Martin 
Grover and Lewis Simons, who at that time were practicing law at Angelica, Alle- 
gany county, and in the fall of 18.54 he came to Hornellsville in the oflSce of Hon. 
John K. Hale, who was then practicing at that place, and in December of the same 
year was admitted to the bar at Rochester. In June, 1855, Mr. Burrell married Mary 
A. McClay, whose father conducted a large dairy in West Greenwood, and on May 
10, 1860, moved to Canisteo, where he still practices hi.s profession. Mr. and Mrs. 
Burrell have had seven children, two of whom died when small, and five are now 
living: Glen, a hardware merchant; Harry, a farmer; Ella, their only daughter, 
married Fred C. Goff, who is now a stockholder and general manager of a shoe fac- 
tory at Racine, Wis. : William is engaged in said factory, and Charles is now study- 
ing law with his father. 

Stone, James D., was born on the farm he now owns and on which he resides in 
1826. James Stone, his grandfather, was a volunteer in the Revolutionary war, and 
took part in a battle in which the Tories were routed, and during which conflict he 
was wounded in the hand by a bayonet. Before the war he was a farmer by occu- 
pation, residing in Montgomery county, and later located in Northumberland 
county, Pa., and in 1804 removed to Yates county, X. Y., and in 1810 settled in Pulte- 
ney, where he and his sons cleared a farm of 160 acres. His wife was Tamer 
Davis, and they reared si.\ sons and two daughters. Mr. Stone died in 1832, aged 
seventy-eight, and Mrs. Stone in 1833. Thomas Stone, the father of James, was 
born in Montgomery county in 1790, and came to Pulteney with his father. He 
served in the War of 1812, and fought at the battle of Queenstown. For some time, 
while a young man, he cut wood for the salt works at Liverpool, Onondaga county. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 167 

and finally settled on the farm now owned by James D., which was then a wilder- 
ness. For many years he was a deacon in the Freewill Baptist church. In 1820 
he marrried Betsey, daughter of Joseph and Lydia Stewart, who were pioneers in 
Pulteney. He died in 1870, and his wife in 1881. James D. has always devoted his 
time to farming, and has made many improvements on the homestead, and also 
owns another farm and vineyard of several acres, and for several years was inter- 
ested e.\tensively in breeding and dealing in sheep. January 24, 1850, he was united 
in marriage to Jane daughter of JoFin and Martha Harwood, of Prattsburg, and 
their children are George, of Syracuse, who is in the steam fitting business, Emmet, 
a farmer in Pulteney; Flora, wife of Charles Hill of Pulteney; and Satie, wife of 
John McConnell of Pulteney. They are members of the Freewill Baptist church, of 
which Mr. Stone is deacon, and Mrs. Stone is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society, 
of which she is secretary and treasurer. In politics Mr. Stone is a Democrat and 
has served his town as a member of the board of supervisors, constable, collector, 
and overseer of the poor. 

Bradley, Thomas, was born in Hammondsport in 1S.")0. He learned the stone and 
brick mason's trade with his father and located in Cornmg in 1885. Among the 
many prominent buildings which he has built may be mentioned the new City Hall, 
Episcopal church, the Drake block of Corning, and Col. John Magee's residence at 
Watkins Since 1890 he has also had all the stone and bridge work of the Fall Brook 
Railroad. Patrick Bradley, his father, was a native of Ireland, and located in Steu- 
ben county in 1844 at Hammondsport, and died in 1890. 

Barney, Richard \V., was bom in Mount Morris, Livingston county, August 24, 
1834. George W. Barney, his father, a direct descendant of Commodore Barney, 
of Revolutionary fame, was a native of Herkimer county, and came to Livingston 
county about 1830 and established a mercantile business in Mount Morris which he 
conducted a great many years. The later years of his life he held the office of post- 
master, made such by Lincoln and served under Johnson. He was for twelve years 
superintendent of the poor and insane of Livingston county. He died in June 1884, 
at seventy-six years of age. Mary Peterson, the mother of our subject, was of 
Holland descent and a native of Cayuga county, was born in Scipio, February 28, 
1814, and is still living in Mount Morris. Of the six children that reached adult age 
from this union Richard was the oldest son. He was educated in the common 
schools and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, now known as the Lima Univer- 
sity. After finishing his education he spent two years in his father's store, and 
then was engaged in the same business in the wholesale department in New York 
city for five years, after which he returned to Mount Morris, where he spent two 
years as a law student in the office of Hastings Sz Bingham as a means of recreation. 
The early days of the war he was with Scott's Band in the Army of the Potomac, 
and in 1862 became a regularly enlisted member of Co. I of the 13Gth N. Y. Vols., 
going as quartermaster-sergeant. He was transferred to the 17th Vet. Reserves in 
1864, and served at headquarters with Col. A. J.Warner till the close of the war, when 
he was discharged under general orders. Returning to his native town he remained 
only a .short time and then went to Ottawa, Kansas, where he engaged in real estate 
dealing until 1873, when he returned to New Vork State and took up the study of 
dentistry with iJr. iJaboU of Buffalo, N. Y. In 187() he began the practice of the 



168 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the profession at Owasco, N. Y., and in the spring of 1878 he located in Hornells- 
ville, where he has ever since been engaged in the practice of the profession with 
continued success and a constantly increasing practice. He is the inventor of an 
automatic dental vulcanizer which is a great improvement in the vulcanizing of den- 
tal plates. He is also interested in farming in Mount Morris, N.Y. In 1867 he mar- 
ried Fannie Thomas of Rockland, Me., who lived but two years after marriage. His 
present wife was Clara M. Bacon of Princeton, Ills. 

Peet, Rev. Wilbur C, traces his ancestry back for two generations. His paternal 
grandfather was Hiram Peet, who lived for many years in Pentield, Monroe county, 
N. Y., where he died. He married Eunice Mason, of Pentield, by whom he had 
three children: Sophronia, wife of Norman C. Peet, now ling in Penfield; Deborah, 
wife of H. \V. Sherburne, of Rochester, N. Y. ; and Silas C, father of Wilbur O., 
who was born in Penfield in 1821 and died January 4. 1891. He lived and died on 
the same farm. He was one of the founders of the West Webster M. E. church, of 
which he was a member and officer for many years. He married Eliza Jane Sim- 
kins, who was born in Eastern New York, and still lives in West Webster, N. Y. 
Their children were Prof. Hiram L., born March 10. 1848, superintendent of the city 
schools of Yankton, South Dakota; Rev. Wilbur C, bom in Webster, N.Y., Septem- 
ber 9, 1850; R. A., M.D., born in West Webster, N.Y., January 23, 1853, died March 
30, 1883; J. C. , business manager of Green's Fruit Grower, a horticultural magazine, 
published in Rochester, N. Y., born February 25. 1855; and Mrs. E. G. Dickinson, 
born November 19, 1858, of East Saginaw, Mich. Wilbur O. spent three years in the 
Genesee Wesleyan Seminar)', where he prepared for college. He spent three years 
in Genesee College, Lima, N.Y., the fourth year being spent in Evanston, 111., at 
Northwestern University, from which he was graduated in 1872. He graduated 
from the theological seminary known as Garrett's Biblical Institute, same place, in 
1874. He joined tne Genesee Conference and in October, 18TG, was ordained deacon 
in Rochester by Bishop Ames. Two years later he was ordained elder by Bishop 
Merrill in Jacksonville, 111. Aside from three years between 1877 and 1880, when he 
was a member of the Illinois Conference Mr. Peet has always been a member of the 
Genesee conference. During the three years spent in Illinois while pastor of the 
M. E. church of Petersburgh, he met and married E. Jenny Frackelton, who was 
born in Petersburgh, October 9, 1853. They have three children; James Clinton, 
born November 25, 1880; Mary, born January 28, 1889; and Robert Leslie, born 
March 5, 1891. 

Rauber, Jacob N., was born in Wayland, N. Y., November 22, lS-")6. His father, 
Mathias Rauber, was bom in Prussia, Germany, in 1816, emigrated to the United 
States in 1852, and settled in Wayland. He is a farmer by occupation, and in 1841 
he married Margaret Brick, who was born in Prussia, by whom he has these chil- 
dren: Catherine, born December 14, 1843, and married Philip Conrad, deceased; 
Nicholas, born March 5, 1845; Mariah, born August 20, 1847, and married Cris. 
Klein of Wayland; Lizzie, born February 25, 18,50; Peter, born January 28, 1852; 
Jacob X., born November 22, 1856; and Margaret, born May 1, 1859, and married 
Nicholas Schu, jr., and resides in Wayland. Jacob N. was educated in the common 
schools of Wayland, after which he engaged in the hotel business, and run the Way- 
land House for three years. In April, 1890, he bought the old Chase property. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 169 

situated on East Naples street, where he erected the building which he now occupies. 
In connection with the hotel business he also runs a bottling business. He has been 
a member of the Wayland Hook and Ladder Company for ten years, and is now an 
honorary member. At Perkinsville, May 2.5, 1880, he married Elizabeth Gross, who 
was born in Wayland, February 15 1808. 

Shults, Gertrude. — Philetta Jane Bush, widow of the late Ira Bush, was born in 
Prattsburg, N Y. . April 3, 1820. Ira Bush was born at Milton, Saratoga county, 
N.Y., October 1, 1818, and died at Wayland, September 9, 1870. He was of Dutch 
and French descent, and settled in Wayland in Decemijer, 1806, where he carried 
on a mercantile business for about three years, when he retired from business. He 
was a broker for several years before his death. At Prattsburg, N.Y., November 12, 
184.5, he married Philetta Jane, one of a family of five daughters and one son of 
Rogers and Lydia Abel Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Bush had four children: Gertrude, 
who was born at Wheeler, Steuben county, N. Y., December 14, 1846, and married 
Alonzo Shults, January 15, 1868. They have two children: I. J., who was born May 
25, 1870, school secretary of the New York State Reformatory at Elmira, and is a 
graduate of Buffalo Normal School; Clyde E., who was born April 13, 1876, a grad- 
uate of (ieneseo Normal School, and is engaged in Alley's store in Hornellsville. 
Anna Amelia, who was born at Wheeler, N. Y., July 23, 1849, and September 26, 
1871, married Everett M. Fowler, who died February 24, 1894; Ira Eugene, who was 
born at Prattsburg, N.Y., February 21, 1859, and died December 9, 1803; and Frank 
Adsit, who was born at Bath, October 1, 1800, and died June 14, 1800. Peter Bush, 
father of Ira Bush, was born July 19, 1785. He is of French and Dutch descent. In 
Dutchess county, N.Y., June 29, 1806, he married Elizabeth Dubois, who was born in 
Dutchess county. September 24, 1788, and died March 3, 1871, by whom he had 
eleven children: Abram, born September 23, 1808, and died in Illinois in 1889; 
Amelia, born September 22, 1810, and died January 18, 1818; Jane Ann, born July 
14, 1812, and died September 15. 1841 ; Gideon, born June 3, 1814, and died in Bath 
March 15, 1840; Mary, born July 1, 1816, and resides at Cohocton, wife of Levi 
Mallette; Ira, as above; Elizabeth, born February 2, 1820, and resides in Hazelton, 
Iowa; Margaret, born January 6, 1828, and died January 9, 1823; Abigail, born 
January 30, 1824, and resides in Warsaw, Ind. ; Alfonzo, born March 15, 1830, and 
resides at Beatrice, Neb. ; and Elenore Ann, born August 25, 1828, and died April 
39, 1848. Mr. Bush died at Avoca, N.Y.. August 19, 1866. Elizabeth Dubois, grand- 
mother of Ira Bush, was born March 10, 1759. 

Stewart, Richard F'., was born in Pulteney in 1819. Joseph and Lydia (Stuart) 
Stewart, his grandparents, were born in Litchfield county. Conn., of Scotch parents 
from the North of Ireland, where they grew to maturity and were married, thence 
they removed to Whitestown, N. Y., and in 1810 came to Pulteney and settled at 
what is now known as Stewart's Corners, and cleared a large farm. They had 
fifteen children ; Joseph, William, John. Lyman, Spencer (who died at twenty-two 
years of age), Selden, Lydia, Eliza, Hannah, Betsey, Rhoda, Polly, Statira, Harriet, 
and Arnold, who died at two years of age. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war, and lived to be over eighty years of age. Selden .Stewart, father of Richard F. , 
was born in Whitestown, N. Y., in September, 1782. He came to Pulteney in 1811 
and took a lOO-acre farm adjoining his father's farm, which he cleared of the timber. 



170 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

where he spent his life. He married Polly Parker, by whom he had eight children: 
Julia Ann, Melinda, Louisa, Elsie, Richard F.. L\Tnan, George, and Jane. He died 
in September, 1843. Richard F. remained with his father until he was twenty-one 
years of age, and at twenty-two years of age he began lumbering and farming sum- 
mers, qnd for several winters was engaged by contract in hewing ship timbers. In 
1860 he engaged in the grape culture, which business he hassuccessfully followed to the 
present time. He was a member of the State militia, first elected as fourth corporal, 
and promoted along the line to that of captain, which office he held when it dis- 
banded. In politics Mr. Stewart is a Republican, and has held the office of constable 
ten years, collector two years, and overseer of the poor fourteen years. In 1845 he 
married Sarah Ann, daughter of John Francisco, who was bom in Middlesex, Mass., 
by whom he had two children ; Olive who died at four years of age ; Viola, wife of 
Farcelles Mothersell, of Urbana. Mis wife died in 1885, and he married for his 
second wife Mrs. Charlotte (Nichols) Camp, of Seneca Falls. 

Horton, Menzo L., was born in Pulteney, December 16, 1873, son of Philetus C, 
who was born in Pulteney in 1852. Philetus O. was a son of Richard F., born in 
Pultney in October. 1825, son of William, who was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 
1795, one of six sons and two daughters born to Thomas Horton, who was of English 
descent, a descendant of a Horton who settled on Long Island in the latter part of 
the sixteenth century. He came to Pulteney in the early days, settled in the forest, 
and cleared a 300 acre farm. William, great-grandfather of Menzo L., devoted his 
life to farming in Pulteney. and was school superintendent, a.ssessor of the town, etc. 
His wife, Eliza, was a daughter of Joseph and Lydia Stewart, of Pulteney, and they 
reared six sons and two daughters. He died in 1888 and his wife died in 1878. 
Richard F., grandfather of Menzo L., has devoted his life to farming in Pulteney and 
from 1883 to 1887 ran a mail route from Hammondsport to Penn Yan. His wife was 
Philena Lincoln, of South Bristol, Ontario county, whom he married in 1849, and 
their children are Lucius, Philetus, and Ada. He has served as assessor, collector, 
and commissioner of highways. Philetus O. at the age of eighteen learned the 
painter's trade, which he has since followed. He has a pleasant home in Pulteney 
and conducts a five acre vineyard. He has served as collector for two terms and has 
been one of the Town Board since he was twenty-one years of age. At the age of 
twenty he married Irene, daughter of James Brush, of Pulteney, and their children 
are Menzo L., Le Verne, Linn D., and Claire. Menzo L. was educated in Pulteney 
and at the age of seventeen began teaching school. The year 1892-93 he spent in 
teaching near Lincoln, Nebraska, and from 1883 to 1895 he taught at Catawba. Mr. 
Horton is a young man of enterprise and public spirit, with indications of a bright 
and successful future. 

Merring, Henry C, was born in New Jersey, November 28, 1852, son of Peter and 
Elizabeth (Grossman) Merring. natives of Sussex county, N. J., who came to Rath- 
bone and settled the farm Henry C. now owns. Here they lived until 1886, when 
Mr.s. Merring died and he went to Arnot, Tioga county. Pa., to live with his daugh- 
ter, where he died January 12, 1887. Henry C. was educated in the Woodhull Acad- 
emy, then taught school for five terms. He has also followed lumbering and is now 
engaged in farming, owning nmety-one and one-half acres of land. He has served 
his town as constable, inspector of elections, and collector. He is a member of 



KAMir.V SKETCHES. 171 

Hedgesville Tent No. 277 K. O. T. M. April 5, 1887, Mr. Merring married Addie, 
daufjhter of George C. Lloyd, of Rathbone, by whom he has had two children : Har- 
rison L. and one who died in infancy. Mr Merring is interested in breeding Berk- 
shire hogs and Bronze turkeys. 

Faulkner, Robert K., the son of William and Sarah J. Faulkner, was born October 
fi, 18-12, at South Dansville, Steuben county, N. Y. William Faulkner, the father, 
was a native of Steuben county and was bom October 1, liiVi, at South Dansville, 
and died January 12, 1875. Sarah J. Killbury, his wife, a native of South Dansville, 
is living at the age of seventy-four, a woman of decided character, and, from her, 
the subject of this sketch inherited his rare force and executive ability. They 
were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are still living. Robert K., the 
oldest son, was educated in the common schools and at Ames's Business College at 
Syracuse; he followed farming for about two years in South Dansville, and in 1867 
removed to Hornellsvills where he engaged in the flour and feed business. He soon 
after became associated with W. H. Willett, under the firm name of Faulkner & 
Willett, in the wholesale and retail grocery^ business ; the firm having a wide and favor- 
able reputation in this business and as proprietors of an extensive creamery establish- 
ment. Mr. Faulkner also owned and managed, during the latter years of his life, a 
valuable farm, and dealt in live stock. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
and for several years chief of the Hornellsville fire department. He took a decided 
interest in public affairs and was prominent in local and county politics, and wasone 
of the acknowledged leaders of the Republican party in his section. In 1883 and 
1884 he was president of the then village of Hornellsville, and in 1886 he waselected 
county clerk and served for three years, and at his death he was president of the 
Hornellsville city sewer commission. He died April 23, 1892, leaving his forceful 
stamp on these offices. In 1865 he married Celia E., daughter of J. B. and Eliza J. 
Phelps. Mr. Phelps "was a native of South Dansville and was a farmer by occupation. 
He was born June 27, 1815, and died February 13, 1887. Eliza J. Haskins, wife of 
J. B. Phelps, was born in the town of Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y. Her father, 
Samuel Haskins, came to Steuben county in 1827. Mrs. Robert K. Faulkner, who is 
now living in Hornellsville, is the only surviving child of this union, a son, Joseph 
W. Phelps, having died October 27, 1886, at thirty-four years of age, leaving a widow 
and one child, Gertrude. 

Fults, Henry, w-as born in Chenango ccnnily, N. V., January 7, l»4i*, a son of Nel- 
son and Mary E. (Brown) Fults, natives of Herkimer county, N. Y., and Connecticut, 
town of Brookline, respectively. The grandfather, Jacob Fults, was a native of Ger- 
many and came to Herkimer county in the early days, where remained until 1829, 
when he removed to Morris, Otsego county, where he died. The maternal grand- 
father, Rufus Brown was a native of Connecticut and died in Otsego county, N. Y. 
His wife, Mary Williams, was also born in Connecticut. The maternal grandfather 
of Mary E. Fults, William Williams, was one of the signers of the Declaration of In- 
dependence. Nelson Fults settled and cleared the farm, where Henry now lives, 
dying there June 27, 1885. Henry Fults was educated in the WoodhuU Academy. 
His first wife was Rachel Sanford, who died in January, 1880, leaving one child. May 
C, born in 1876. In November, 1883, Mr. Fults married Bertha Anna Dorathy, of 
Wayne, Steuben county, N. Y. She was a daughter of M. J. and Mary (Sullivan) 



112 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Dorathy, nativ'es of Canada and Ireland, respectively. Mr. Dorathy served three 
years in the late war and was wounded; and died in a few weeks after being dis- 
charged from disease in 1864. His widow now resides in Canisteo. 

Bill, Christian C, was born August 1, 1859. John Bill, his paternal grandfather, 
was born in Germany, emigrated to this country in 1834, and settled in Rochester, 
N. Y., where he remained two years. In 1836 he moved to Wayland and purchased 
ninety acres of land. He was one of the pioneers of the town of Wayland. He had 
but one son, John N. , who died April 17, 1893, father of Christian C, who was born 
in Germany in 1831, and emigrated to this country at three years of age. He sub- 
sequently owned his father's farm. In March, 1864, he enlisted in Co. C, 179th N.Y. 
Vols., and was discharged in June, 1865. In Dansville, N. Y., in 1849 he married 
Louisa Bauer, who was born in Germany in 1833, and emigrated to this country 
when thirteen years of age. They had seven children: Catherine, Louisa M., John, 
deceased, Christian C, Henrj' J., Julia M., and William, deceased. Christian C. 
was educated in the common schools of Wayland, and was graduated with the Ham- 
ilton College law class of Jlay 27, 1881. He studied with W. W. Clark and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in the spring term of 1881. He has an office in Wayland where he 
has practiced for fourteen years. He has been village treasurer of Wayland for one 
year, and has been delegate to the Republican nominating convention, district and 
county, numerous times. He is a member of the J. F. Little Camp Sons of Veter- 
ans, No. 195, of which he was one of the organizers. At North Cohocton, September 
23, 1883, he married Ida L. Wilson, who was born in Naples, April 2, 1863, by whom 
he has one child, Florence Pearl, who was born December 31, 1884. 

Souerbier, Albert. — His father, Casper J., was born in Hesse, Germany. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth Lam, a native of German 3-, in 1834; to them were born two sons, 
Albert, in 1836, and Julius, in 1888. Albert's mother died in Germany in 1839, and 
his father, Casper J., married again in 1841, Elizabeth B. Greg, also a native of Ger- 
many, to whom were born nine children: Sawbinnia, Theresa, Adam, Joseph, Mary, 
Frederick B., George, John, and Clara. Casper J. emigrated to this country- with his 
family in 1846, and settled in the town of Dansville on ninety acres of land that he 
purchased. He sold his farm in 1866, and moved to the town of Cohocton, where he 
died November 5, 1875, at the age of sixty-nine years. His second wife now resides 
at Rochester, N. Y., at the age of eighty-two. Albert commenced life for himself 
when but seventeen years of age by working in the lumber woods, till the war of the 
Rebellion in 1861, when he enhsted December 13, 1861, in Co. D, 104th N. Y. 
Vols., known as General Wadsworth Guards, for the term of three years. He was 
discharged December 9, 1864, on account of a gun shot wound in the right foot re- 
ceived at the battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1S63. After his return home from the 
service he located at the village of Wallace, Steuben county, N. Y., where he married 
Anna Mary Myers, daughter of John and Helen Myers, January 3, 1865. who was 
born in Bavaria, June 30, 1844, by whom he has seven children: Frank G., born 
February 9, 1867; John B., January 28, 1869; Lewis J., October ^, 1870; Frederick 
K., August 1, 1873, who died April 1, 1874; William A., born Februarys, 1872; 
Helen T., January 17, 1876; and Julia A., March 21, 1880. Albert moved to the 
village of Wayland in 1869, where he engaged in the business of keeping a saloon 
and restaurant, which business he has followed ever since in the village of Wayland. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 173 

He has held the office of village treasurer for two years, treasurer of the Cham])i<)n 
Hook and Ladder Company for seven years, and quartermaster of Theo. Schlick 
Post, No. 314, G. A. R., for the last eight years, of which he is a member. His son, 
Frank G., is employed by the Wells, Fargo Express of Jersey City, N. J., and has 
been for the last eight years, and his son, Lewis J., is employed by the same com- 
pany and in the same office, and has been for the last five years. His son, John H., 
IS now and has been for the last eight years, assistant train dispatcher on the Erie 
Railroad at Rochester, N. Y., and his son, W. A., has been for the last two years and 
now is employed by the same company as telegraph operator at Kanona, N. Y. 

Angst. Lorenz, was born in Tioga county. Pa., p-ebruary 28, 1858, son of Charles 
and Catherine (Weber) Angst, both natives of (lerniany, who came to Tioga county. 
Pa., he in lH.5.5and she in 1852, where they were married July 4, 1855, and came to 
Campbell in 1859. He worked in the tannery for J. 1). Hamilton & Co. twenty-one 
vears. He moved his family to the town of Thurston in 1875, where his widow and 
family have a farm of eighty-four acres. Lorenz Angst was reared in Campbell and 
educated in the common schools and the Union Graded school of Campbell. He has 
clerked in Risingville and has also clerked in Campbell for some years, and is also 
engaged in farming; he is a Populist in politics, and in 1894 was elected on the Dem- 
ocratic ticket for town clerk. 

White, Royal S., was born in Cayuta, Schuyler county, April 30, 1832, son of Hiram 
and Cornelia White, who had eleven children, six daughters and five sons. Royal S. 
being the youngest except one daughter, Adelia. Hiram White emigrated fnjm 
Connecticut, and was one of the first settlers in Cayuta, then known as Pony Hollow, 
which derived its name from being a wind-fall where General Sullivan, in his march 
from Ithaca to Elmira, pastured hishorses. Cayuta at that time was in Tioga county, 
afterwards Chemung county, now Schuyler county. The parents of Cornelia Van 
Etten, mother of R. S. White, came from Germany and were the first settlersin Van 
Ettenville, Chemung county, from whom Van Ettenville takes its name. Royal S. 
in early life was a lumber inspector at Albany, N. Y., but since 1865 has been en- 
gaged in farming. He enhsted in Chicago, 111., September 16, 1861, under Capt. 
Wm. Medill, brother of Joe Medill, editor of the Chicago Tribune, in Co. G, 8th 111. 
Cavaln,-, and was in the following engagements: Rappahannock Station, Beverly 
Ford, Williamsburg. Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Beaver Dam Creek, Cold 
Harbor. White Oak Swamp, St. Charles Court House, Malvern Hill, South Moun- 
tain, Antietam, Gettysburg, Snicker's Gap, besides a great many skirmishes. He 
was taken prisoner in the fall of 1861 near Snicker's Gap on the Shenandoah River, 
taken to Libby prison, where he remained most of the winter of 1861-62 until ex- 
changed. He was mustered out of service in June, 1865. He married Margaret, 
daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wilson) Campbell of the town of Cameron, by whom 
he had four children, two sons and two daughters, now living. He has been super- 
visor of Cameron three terms and assessor for twelve consecutive years. He is a 
member of Hallett Post of Cameron, and the F. & A. M. lodge at Cameron Mills. 

Coston, N. E., was born December 20. 1851, in the town of Greenwood, and lived 
on a farm until 1883, when he opened a store in the village of Greenwood, where he 
is now located. Mr. Coston's paternal grandfather, John G. Coston,- was a native of 



174 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Tompkins county, but in later life removed to Greenwood, where he died; his son, 
Hiram A., was a farmer by occupation, and was married to Mary E. Jameson, of 
Livingston county. He died April 27, 187.5, leaving five children surviving him- 
Mrs. F. A. Robinson, N. Emmet, Mrs. Mary Williamson, Charles A., and Hart A. 
N. E. Coston was married in 1882 to Addie, daughter of Elias and Olive (Miner) 
Williamson of Greenwood; they have three children: Glen M., PittV., and Mary. 
Mr. Coston has always been a Democrat; he was supervisor two terms, from 1888 to 
1890, and has served as postmaster several years under President Cleveland's ad- 
ministration. 

Murray, William H., was born in the city of Hornellsville, July 26, 18.54. John F. 
Murray, the father of William, was a native of Ireland and came to this city about 
1851 at the building of the Erie Railway. He was formerly a resident of Massa- 
chusetts and came with the contractors who were building the railroad, and was the 
superintendent of pile driving for all bridges between here and Attica. He died 
December 8, 1868. William was the eldest of a family of eight children. His ad- 
vantages of securing an education were limited, but he attended the city schools 
and the parochial school. The death of his father placed the burden of the support 
of the large family on him, and at the age of fifteen he went on the railroad, rapidly 
rising in the shops and yard, becoming yard master, which position he occupied for 
three years. January 1, 1883, he was appointed deputy sheriff under Sheriff Page, 
which he occupied for six years, being reappointed by Baldwin. In 1888 and 1891 
he was the Democratic nominee for sheriff of Steuben county. On the erection of 
the city of Hornellsville, March 1, 1889, he was appointed chief of police, which 
office he resigned to accept the position of postmaster, to which he was appointed by 
President Cleveland October 1, 1894, and which position he still holds. Mr. Murray 
was one of the founders of the Fire Department of this city, was for several terms 
its chief engineer, and is still on the active roll of his company. He was married in 
1876 to Miss Catherine Magnor of this city. They have five children. 

Pipe, James B., was born in Seneca, Ontario county, in 1853. James Pipe, his 
grandfather, was a laboring man and reared two sons and two daughters. Samuel 
Pipe, father of James B., was the eldest child, a farmer by occupation, who came 
from England to the United States in the spring of 1851, and landed in Castle Gar- 
den, coming direct to Geneva, N. Y., where he lived for twenty years, and in 1871 
came to Prattsburg, where he purchased 600 acres of land. Ten years later he 
moved to Ingleside, and in 1894 he came to Waterloo, where he has for many years 
devoted his time to the practice of veterinary medicine. He married Lois Mamby, 
who died in August, 1894, by whom he had four children: Maria, wife of L^riah F. 
Probasco of Ingleside; Samuel W., James B., and Mrs. Emma L. Castor of Pratts- 
burg. He is the only one of the family who came to America. James B. Pipe was 
educated in the common schools, and remained with his father until 1873, when he 
purchased 190 acres of his father's farm, on which he has since resided, and where 
he has been actively and successfully engaged in farming and potato growing. He 
is a member of the Lynn M. E. church in Prattsburg. He served the M. E. church 
of Wallace as pastor two years, receiving his license as local preacher in 1881, and 
also served the Wheeler charge one year. In February, 1873, he married Harriet 
Carhart, a well-Tinown teacher in the Prattsburg district schools, who was born in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 175 

Syracuse, a daughter of Hachaliah and Elizabeth (Shults) Carhart (both deceased), by 
whom he had five children: Alnara, wife of L. C. Cook of Avoca; Hart C, Elma, 
Frank B.. and Inez. Mrs. Pipe is a member of the M. E. church, and the W.C.T.U. 
iMr. Carhart was a carpenter and cooper, and the last twenty years of his life was 
spent in farming, and he came to Prattsburg in 1857. 

Capron, \V. W., son of Sylvester Capron. was born at Springwater, February 6, 
lH;i9, where he attended school, and afterward took a course of instruction at Genesee 
Wesleyan Seminary at Lima, N. Y., for two years. He commenced business for 
himself when twenty-one years of age, and engaged in farming for three years, and 
then became a partner with George A. Pierce in the dry goods business at Spring- 
water, where he remained one year. He then traded the stock of goods for a half 
interest in two flour mills at Springwater, and later traded the same for the Perkins- 
viUe flour mill and timber lot of fifty acres, but afterward sold the latter and moved 
to Wayland and in 1868 became a produce dealer. Mr. Capron was elected super- 
visor of Wayland in 1889, and has been trustee of the village for two years. Febru- 
ary 27 he was appointed port warden of the port of New York by Governor Morton 
and entered upon his duties March 16, 1895. He married Emily, daughter of John 
Wiley, a member of the State Legislature of New York State during the Civil war. 
Her mother was Julia B. Hyde, born in Granville county. North Carolina. They 
have one son, W. W. Capron, jr., born October ;51, 1H69. He attended Lima Sem- 
inary one year, aad Aurora Military Academy for three years, where he was grad- 
uated. Mr. Capron is a member of the Phoeni.x Lodge No. 115, and of F. & A. M. 
of Dansville. 

Wolfe, Anton, was born in Germany, January 2, 1854. John J. Wolfe, father of 
Anton, was born in Germany, and died in Wayland, N. Y. , October 14, 1878, aged 
sixty-five years. He emigrated to this country in 1856, and .settled at Buffalo, N.Y., 
where he remained for over two years, when he moved to Savona, N. Y., where he 
remained for seven years. In 1867 he moved to Wayland, where he was employed 
by the Erie Railroad, for whom he worked twenty-one years. While in Germany he 
married Mary Ann Dassing, who was born in Germany and died in Wayland, N. Y., 
March 22, 1883, aged fifty-four years. They had these children: Anton, as above, 
and three who were born in this country: Frank L., who was born May 25, 1857, 
and resides in Wayland; Mary Christina, who was born October 14, I860, wife of 
William Mead, and resides at East Aurora, NY. ; and Helen Frances, who was born 
in 1863, wife of Otta F. Leader, and resides at Wayland. Anton Wolfe was educated 
in the public schools of Wayland, and attended the German school at Perkinsville 
one year. He worked at farming in his younger days after which he was engaged 
as engineer of stationary engines for seven 'years. He worked at Baltimore, 
Md., one vear, after which he returned tcj Wayland and run the engine in the 
Kimmel & Morris mill for seven years. He worked in the sash, door and blind fac- 
torv of George Ueitzel for three years, after which he bought a half interest in the 
Kimmel & Morris mill, Jacob Shafer owning the other half, which they run under the 
firm name of Shafer & Wolfe,- doing custom sawing, planing and matching, and re- 
tail lumber, shingles, lath, paints and oils. He has been village collector two terms. 
At Wayland, June 27, 1876, he married Caroline Barbrich, who was born in Ger- 
many, October 29, 1852, by whom he has six children: John A., who was born in 



176 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTr. 

Wayland, March 24, 1877; Helen F., who was bom March 22, 1878; Frederick Wil- 
helm, who was bom April 24, 1880; William, who was bom July 12, 1881; Joseph 
Anton, who was born July 29, 1883; and Anna Louise, who was bom April 5, 1886. 

Yocum,' Nicholas, was bom in Germany, March 1. 1825, son of John Yocum, who 
was born in Germany in 1800, emigrated to America in 1851, and settled in Way- 
land, where he purchased a farm at East Wayland and there died in April, 1883. 
He married Margaret Shults, who was born in Germany in 1802. and who died in 
1870. They had eight children: John, who resides in Indiana; Nicholas, who was 
born in Germany, March 1, 1825; Christian; Barbara, w-ife of Anthony Marks; 
John, who resides at Dansville; Catherine, wife of Cins Crine; Peter, who resides 
at Dansville; Matthew, who followed lumbering for fifteen years, then purchased a 
farm and followed farmmg. In 1854 Nicholas married Lena Holzer, by whom he 
had four children: Barbara, Frank, Nicholas, and Lena. 

Comstock, Charles, was born in Allegany county, N.Y. May 13, 1854, and was the 
son of Martin Luther Comstock, who was born in Otsego county, N.Y. He came to 
Allegany county in 1835, where he followed his trade of wagon and carriage builder. 
He married Naomi Atlams of Vermont and they had ten children: Luisa, Thomas, 
James, Lillian, Frank, Nancy. Etta and Charles. Charles Comstock is a blacksmith 
by trade, and at present is the owner of two farms in the town of Hartsville. He 
married Charity E., daughter of John Oaks of Hartsville, who was one of the first 
settlers in that town. They had two children : Clara and Daniel. In politics Mr. 
Comstock is a Republican. 

Burdm, James Henry, was bom in Madison county, N.Y., October 13, 1834, son of 
John Burdin, who was born in one of the Eastern States, and came to the town of 
Hornellsville in 1835. He was a farmer and dealt in cattle. He married Betsey, 
daughter of Daniel Ackley, of Connecticut, one of the pioneer .settlers of the county, 
and they had four children : Spencer D. , James Henry, Timothy D. , and Julia A. 
Spencer and Julia are deceased. James H. is a farmer, owns a farm of ninety acres, 
He married Sallie A., daughter of Abel H. Baldwin, of Howard, one of the first 
settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin lived to be nearly 100 years old. Mr. 
and Mrs. James H. Burdin were the parents of three children; Scott K., John A., 
and Ida M. Scott K. married Charlotte Rankin, of Canada; John A. married Emma 
Bennett; and Ida married H. E. Brown, of Howard. He is a member of the 
Presbyterian church of Howard, and of the A. O. U. W. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 

Van Wie, Alonzo, was born in the town of Palatine, Montgomery county, Novem- 
ber 30, 1837. His father, John Van Wie, was a farmer by occupation, and a native 
of the same county. For more than twenty years he had occupied the same farm 
upon which Alonzo was born. His wife, Susanna, was the daughter of Henrj' 
Nehre, and to them were born fourteen children, seven of whom are still living: 
John, Catherine, Nancy Gertrude, Elizabeth, Alonzo and Henry. Thinking that he 
could better his condition by moving westward, he sold his farm in Montgomery 
county, and moved to Howard, Steuben county, where he bought a farm of 200 
acres, located a short distance south of the village of Howard, where he resided until 
his death, which occurred February 3, 1892. The last twenty years of his life were 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 177 

spent with his son Alonzo on a portion of the old homestead, one-half of which is now 
owned by his son Henry. Alonzo attended the district schools, taught school several 
terms, and in 1860 was j^raduated from Franklin Academy. He enlisted in the 189th 
X. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war, and was never off duty for a day 
during his army service. In May, 18(i2, he married Sarah E., daughter of Elias 
Wygant, a native of Orange county, but who moved to Prattsburg, Steuben county, 
in 1835. She has in her possession statistics of her ancestors as far back as 1754, 
when her great-grandfather, Thomas Wygant, was born. Mr. and Mrs. Van Wie 
have one son, Frank E., who was born December 29, 1808, and who is at present a 
member of the .senior class in Hamilton College. Mr. Van Wie is a Republican and 
has always taken a keen interest in politics, and for three consecutive terms was 
elected to the office of supervisor of the town. For thirty-four years he has been 
a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is one of the ruling elders. 

Roberts, Joseph, was born in Sparta, N. Y., January 26, 18:!8. His grandfather, 
John Roberts, was born in Sparta. Livingston county, N. Y., and died in 1852, aged 
seventy years. He had three children: Daniel, Elias, and Rufus, Rufus Roberts, 

father of Joseph, married Elmira , who was born in Sparta, N.Y., and died in 

1867, aged fifty-three years. They had these children: Joseph, as above; Amanda, 
widow of Mr. Wiley; Lyman, deceased, aged fifty-three years; Jane, wife of 
Lafayette Carney ; James; and Benjamin, who died aged about thirty years. Joseph 
Roberts attended the public schools of Springwater, after which he engaged in farm- 
ing, which he has always followed. In 1878 he bought the farm of fifty acres, where 
he now resides. He was a member of Phoeni.\ Lodge No. 115, F. & A. M., of Dans- 
viUe, N.Y. At Dansville. X. Y. , he married Sophia, daughter of Valentine and Mar- 
garet (Cremp) Beck. Mr. Beck died May 10, 188:1 aged eighty-si.x years, and Mrs. 
Beck died July 1, 1893, aged ninety years. They had eight children, six of whom are 
living: Mary Wolf, Maria Jacobs, Margaret Young, Sophia, who was born August 
12, 1838; Catherine Hoffman, and Helen Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have eight 
children: Henry, born March 26, 1859; Mary Shaver, born January 8, 1861; Jacob, 
born June 1, 1864, and married Florence Glover; Rosa Flashman, born December 12, 
1866; Maggie, born August 11, 1809; Fannie Shaver, born April 9, 1872; Melvin, 
born January 17, 1874; and Charles, born June 5, 1879. 

Morsch, John P., was born in Germany in 1847. His father, Peter Morsch, was 
born in Prussia, Germany, emigrated to this country in 1850, and settled in Perkins- 
ville, where he died in 1880, aged fifty- si-x years. His wife Mary died at Perkinsville 
in 1870, aged thirty-eight years. They had two children: John P., as above; and 
Michael, who was born in 1849, and resides in Perkinsville. John P. emigrated to 
this country with his ])arents when three years of age. He was educated in the 
common schools of Perkinsville, also attended the Catholic school, where he learned 
English and (ierman. At fourteen years of age he started for himself by working in 
the flouring mill, where' he remained for two years, tlience to Hemlock Lake, where 
he engaged in the same business for one year. He then went to Honcoye, where he 
worked over five years, after which he went to Patchinsville, where, in company with 
Joseph Tompkins, they run a mill one year, thence to Perkinsville, where they rented 
a mill, which they run ten years, after which they dissolved partnership and Mr. 
Morsch run the mill for two years. In 1887 he bought the Patchiusvillc mill, which 



178 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was the first flouring mill in the county, erected by Dr. Warren Patchin, one of the 
first settlers, moved there, and run the same until 1889, when it burned. He moved 
back to Perkinsville and run that mill in partnership with E. M. Fowler for one year, 
after which he built a new mill at PatchinsviUe, which he has run to the present time. 
It is now a roller mill. In 1886 Mr. Morsch was elected supervisor of the town of 
Wayland, on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected in 1887. In 1894 he was 
elected to the same office for a term of two years. In 1881 he married Mary Bricks, 
of Perkinsville, where she was born in 1854, by whom he has six children: Katie, 
John S., Lizzie, Stephen, Anna, and Mary. 

Goflf, Lucian H., was born in the town of Howard, October 18, 1840, son of Jacob 
M. Goff, also a native of Howard and now living in Canisteo. Asa Goflf, his father, 
was one of the pioneers of the town of Howard. Lucian was the oldest of a family 
consisting of four daughters and two sons. He was given a common school educa- 
tion until he was fifteen years of age but his real education has been derived from 
the hard school of practical experience. At the age of twenty-eight he was married, 
and the same j'Car he bought a farm of 145 acres in the town of Jasper, where he 
made his home for seven years and then spent four years farming on the eastern 
shore of Maryland. Returning he bought his old farm and two years later bought 
the Alexander H. Stephens farm in Greenwood of 150 acres, which he conducted five 
years. In the spring of 1891 he sold and bought the Judge Thatcher farm of 140 
acres on lot 3 in the town of Hornellsville, where he has since devoted his time and 
attention to the production of vegetables, poultry and dairy products. In politics 
Mr. Goflf has always supported the cause of temperance and is now a worker of the 
Prohibition party. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. two years with Oasis 
Lodge No. 251. He was married in 1868 to Irene Coston of Canisteo; and they have 
five children: Adele, John H., Lessie, L. Preston, and Robert C. 

St. John, Dr. Northrup N., was born in Webster, Monroe county, N. Y., Novem- 
ber 26, 1829. His grandfather, Northrup St. John, was born in Danbury, Fairfield 
county. Conn., and died in Webster, Monroe county, N. Y. Niram St. John, father 
of Northrup N., was born in Danbury, Conn., October 18, 1804, and died in Spring- 
water, August 2, 1883. He was a farmer by occupation, and married Hannah M. 
Stratton, who was born in Catskill, N. Y., April 2, 1805, and died February 25, 1895. 
They had three children: Rosalia J., who was born December 14, 1825, and died 
June 14, 1846; Northrup N.. as above; and Huldah A., who was born Februarj- 27, 
1833. Northrup N. attended the common district schools of Webster, and afterwards 
moved to Springwater, N. Y. , where he attended school for a time. He studied 
medicine with Dr. Hiram Hess, in Wayland, for one year, when he took a medical 
course at Buffalo Medical College, and commenced the practice of medicine at Spring- 
water. N. Y., where he remained about ten years. He practiced m Atlanta, N. Y., 
for six years, after which he moved to Wayland, where he has practiced his profes- 
sion continuously for twenty years. At Springwater. in 1848, he married Ann 
Howell, who was born November 22, 1828, by whom he had one child, Ella R., who 
was born July 8, 1854, married Austin Salter, and resides in Springwater; they have 
one child, Minnie L. March 16, 1866, Mr. St. John married for his second wife, 
Lucretia Ashley, who was born July 23, 1848, by whom he had three children: Verne 
A., who was born April 25, 1871; Byrd E., who was born April 25, 1875; and Clare 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 179 

A., who was born March 21, 1881. Verne A and Byrd E. are teachers, now attend- 
ing the Genesee Normal School, of Genesco, N. Y. Mr. St. John has been president 
of Wayland eight years, and trustee two years. 

Millard, Morgan R., was born in the town of Cameron, Novembers, 1824. Reuben 
\V. Millard, his father, was a native of Onondaga county, X. Y., and came to Steu- 
ben county in 1804. He married Sallie A. Hooker, of Providence, R. I., by whom 
he had five children. Morgan R. is a lumberman and farmer, owner of a saw mill 
and manufacturer of lumber and shingles ; has been justice of the peace twenty years 
in his town, and practices law to some extent. He married Mary J. Fulton, of Can- 
isteo, by whom he had two children: John H., who died at twenty-four years of 
age, and Mrs. A. E. Waight, of Jasper. Mr. Millard is a member of Morning Star 
Lodge of Masons No. 65, and is and always was an abolition protectionist. In 1888 
his wife, Mary J., died, and in 1893 he was married to Mrs. Shell, then a widow. 

Northup, Norman, was born in Franklin, Sussex county, N. J., son of Benjamin 
D. and Sarah (Perry) Northup, both natives of New Jersey, who came to Rathbone 
in 1835, settling on the farm his brother had cleared ten years previously. Here he 
lived and died. He was one of the founders of the East Cameron Baptist church. 
He died June 10, 1874, and Mrs. Northup September 7, 1877. The grandfather, 
Moses Northup, lived and died in Sussex county. N. J. Norman was ten years of 
age when he came to Rathbone with his father and helped to clear the old home, 
which he owned and worked until 1892, when he sold fifty acres and retired from 
active business. In 1853 he married Marilla, daughter of John and Martha H. Har- 
wood, of WoodhuU, by whom he has five children; Walter, a machinist in Utica; 
Amelia, wife of Burr Willard, a druggist of Campbell; Hattie, widow of Dr. Garret, 
formerly of ^Vo(>dhuIl, but died in Alaska, Mich. ; Alma, wife of R. O. Demun, a 
farmer of Rathbone ; and Arthur, a farmer of Rathbone, who married in 1892, Lou 
Sanford, and has one child, Isabella. Mr. Northup has been assessor and was super- 
visor of Rathbone for five years. 

Reynolds, Chauncey E., was born in Troupsburg, February 2, 1853. and is the 
third of nine children born to William and Ruth (Metz) Reynolds, he a native of 
Troupsburg, and she of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandparents were Frederick 
S. and Betsey Reynolds; Frederick R. came from Massachusetts with his parents. 
Squire and Patty (Rice) Reynolds, to Troupsburg at an early day, and here the old 
people lived and died. Squire Reynolds was born in Middlebury, Mass , February 
21, 1761. Frederick Reynolds followed farming in Troupsburg, and spent his last 
days in Jasper, where he died in 1876. Mrs. Reynolds died in 1863. William Rey- 
nolds, father of Chauncey E., was reared on the farm, and always followed farming. 
He died in July, 1892. Chauncey E. Reynolds was reared on the farm and for eight- 
een years followed farming. In 1893 he entered in partnership with Mr. Fitch in the 
mercantile business at Troupsburg. under the firm name of Fitch and Reynolds. In 
1875 Mr. Reynolds married Ella, daughter of John and Minerva Fitch, of Brookfield, 
Pa., bv whom he had six children: Olive, Fitch, Verna, infant, Harry, and Chauncy. 
Verna died at the age of ten months; infant at two months. 

Marvin, Albert C, can trace the genealogy of the Marvins back to 1636, when Rey- 
nold Marvin settled at Lynn, Conn., the family being of English origin. Mathew, 



180 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

his grandfather, was the eighth son of Thomas, who was born at Salisbury, Conn. 
June 7, 1854, and married Mary Weed, of New Canaan, Conn., by whom he had six 
children: Abigail, born August .5, 178.1, died at Lansingburg, N. Y., March 4, 1788; 
Joseph, born May 1, 1787, at Lansingburg, died at Hamden, N. Y., in 18i0; Jared, 
Thomas, William W., and Lewis. In 1819 Joseph Marvin married Polly Tiffany, 
who was born December 17, 1801, at Walton, N. Y., and they had one child, Albert 
C, as above, who was born February 4, 1820. He was educated in the common 
schools and Delhi Academy, and afterward taught school in Hamden and Meredith, 
and for the past thirty years has been engaged in farming and lumbering. He has 
held the office of assessor for three terms, and was a member of the 1. O.O. F. In 
1849 Mr. Marvin married Amarilla C. Stetson, of Wayland. and they are the parents 
of five children: Melvin Kno.x, born March 8, 1850; Anna Amanda, born March 21, 
1851, died March 19, 1852; Curtis P., born February 25, 1853, died April 12, 1854; 
Eleanor Augusta, born March 20, 1856; and Francis E., born December 4, 1864, who 
resides in Howard. Melvin Knox married Slary C Vogle, who was born January 1, 
1851, by whom he had the following children: Genevieve, born March 14, 1872; 
Albert Curtis, born September 18, 1873, died April 24, 1874; Anna Augusta, born 
February 12, 1875, died February 6, 1876; Nettie Adell, born August 24, 1876, died 
July 19, 1881; Katie, born June 15, 1878; Archibald Knox, born June 24, 1880; 
Lorinda, born March 20, 1882; Clarence, born January 14, 1884; Bell, born January 
25. 1887; Lizzie, born December 30, 1888; and Flossie Helen, bom July 15, 1894. 
Eleanor Augusta married Jacob Mehlenbach, of Salamanca, and they have three 
children: Nellie, Ethel, and Iva. Francis E. married Ada Hoag and have one child, 
Edith. 

Gottschalk, Christian Lewis, married Mary Elizabeth Shafer; both were born in 
Prussia. Mr. Gottschalk was a foreman in a coal mine there, and came to America 
in 1833. moved to Pennsylvania and stayed one year, and then came to Dansville 
and bought a farm on Sandy Hill in 1834, but was obliged to forego a settlement 
there until the next year on account of cholera, which was raging there at that time. 
Mr. Gott.schalk died April 1, 1849, aged sixty years. Family Record of Christian 
Lewis Gottschalk; Lewis, Conrad, William, Louisa Losey, Mary Foltz, Valentine, 
John, Frederick, Elizabeth Zoldoske, August, all deceased. Henry lives in Missouri; 
and Christian resides on the Sandy Hill farm in the town of Wayland. Christian 
Gottschalk was born in 1832 and married Maria E. Weber February 2, 1862. Maria 
E. was born in 1839. Christian Gottschalk's Family Record: William, born Novem- 
ber 13. 1863, and died September 10, 1892; Mary Wenz, born September 26, 1865; 
Lewis C, born November 2, 1867; Rose Amelia, born April 26, 1S69; and Henry 
Alonzo, born June 13, 1864. 

Smith, Charles R., was born in Starkey, Yates county, N. Y., September 3, 1829, 
son of Tolman and Eliza Ann Hathaway Smith, he a native of Niagara county, N.Y., 
and .she a native of Newtown (now Elmira). Charles's grandfather, Russel Smith, 
lived and died in Niagara county. When a small boy, Tolman was bound out to 
John Bordman, by whom he was cruelly treated, and at the age of seventeen he left 
Mr. Bordman and learned the shoemaker's trade. He afterward learned and worked 
at the carpenter's trade. In religion he was a Methodist. He died in 1867, and Mrs. 
Smith in 1893. The matenial grandparents were David and Elizabeth Demeress 



Family sketches. i8i 

Hathaway. Charles R. Smith followed the carpenter's trade until 1891, when he 
engaged in small fruit growing, and has been located in the town of Wayne since 
18.50. In 18.54 Mr. Smith married Sarah J., daughter of Moses and Sarah Crooslon, 
and to them have been born si.x children: Aniasa C, William H., died April 22, 1874, 
aged seventeen years; Horace, died January 29, 1875, aged ten years; Moses T., 
Sarah Ann, wife of Henry Slater, and Charles F. In religion they are Methodists. 
Mrs. Smith died December 2, 1878. 

Northup, Asher S., was born in the town of Harrington, Yates county, N. Y. , 
March 7, 1827, son of Eli and Phoebe Osborn Northup, who came to Cameron, this 
county, in 1830. He died in Bath, in April. 1878, and his wife, September 3, 1873, in 
Yates county. Asher S. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. 
He spent one year in the oil regums, and lived in Cameron until 185.5. when he 
bought the farm he now owns. September 3, 1849, he married Catherine E. 
Allen, who was born in Howard, February 8, 1823, daughter of Samuel and Char- 
lotte Shoals Allen. Mr. Allen was a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1813 he came 
from Amsterdam, N.Y,, to Howard on foot with a change of clothes and an ax. He 
died in Avoca, aged eighty-eight years, and his wife, aged si.Kty-two years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Northup have two children: Alice J., wife of Peter B. Rumsey of Cameron, 
and they have three children: Edith E., Claude B., and Laura P.; and Byron A., 
who was graduated from the school at Bath and Poughkeepsie Business College, and 
first clerked in Elmira and was then engaged for three years as clerk at .§1,000 a year 
in the government Arsenal at St. Louis, and afterwards in the mercantile business 
at Rockford, 111., and was also with a Chicago Brush Company for three years, and 
for four years has represented the firm of Strong, Cobb & Co., of Cleveland, at a 
salary of $17,000. He married Laura Warner of Rockford, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Asher 
Northup are members of the First Christian church of Cameron, N. Y. 

1-ean, William D., was born in Tyrone. Schuyler county, N. Y., August 19, 1829, 
son of Horace and Euphemia (Doty) Dean. The maternal grandparents came from 
the East and settled in Seneca county, where they died. Horace Dean, father of 
William D., was reared in Tyrone and followed shoemaking. In politics he was first 
a Democrat afterward a Republican, and was assessor many years. He was a 
member of Tyrone F. & A. M. He died in 1879, and his wife in 1876. William D. 
was reared in Tyrone, and commenced for himself as a carpenter, which business he 
followed fifteen years. He came to Wayne in 18(i5 and .settled on the farm of 100 
acres he now owns, where he carries on general farming. In 18.52 he married Anna 
M., daughter of Rev. Jonathan Ketchum of Harrington, Yates county, by whom he 
had four children: Carrie, who died at nine years of age; Fred C, editor and pro- 
prietor of the "Portland Enterprise," Portland, Pa. ; Stella, wife of F. A. Loveridge, 
a vineyardist and liveryman of Cuba, Allegany county, N. Y. ; and Grace, who re- 
sides at home. In politics Mr. Dean is a Democrat, and is a member of Pleasant 
Valley Grange. 

Huganir, Charles, was born May 11, 1840. His father, Adam Huganir, located on 
the Brayton farm in the town of Howard, and which is now owned by his son, to 
which he has added until he now owns 2.58 acres, January 29, 1826, he married 
Catherine Voorhees, a native of Herkimer county, N. Y., by whom he had ten chil- 



182 LANDMARKS OF STEDBEN COUNTY. 

drf^n: David, born Januarj- 12. 1828; Jane Ann, born November 18, 1829; Voorhecs, 
born August 4, 1831 ; Barbara, born July 2fi, 1883; Maria, born June 9, 1885; Han- 
nah, born April 21, 1837; Elizabeth, born August 10, 1839; Leonard, born Septem- 
ber 3, 1841; Pamelia, born March 1, 1843; and Charles, as above, who was educated 
at Rogersville Seminary, and has always followed farming. At Howard, N.Y. , May 
2, 1882, he married Etta Saxton, who died January 11, 1894, by whom he had two 
children: Lena L., born November 9, 1886, and Guy C, born March 12, 1889. 

Olcott, Marvin, dealer in real estate, was born at Corning m 1858, and graduated 
from Yale College in 1881. At the death of his father, Alexander Olcott, in 1887, he 
took up his real estate business which he conducted successfully for several years. 
He was one of the first police commissioners, and has been for two years president 
of the fire department. He married Fanny F. Cook of Albany. His father came 
from Albany to Corning in 184S, and was in the Assembly for two. terms. 

Osborn, A. D., was born December 1, 1835. His father, Lewis Osborn, was born 
in Scipio, N. Y. , and in 1837 he came to Dansville and settled on a farm of 150 acres. 
He was a mason by trade. He married Samantha Gates, who was born May 20, 
1812, and died in July, 1866, by whom he had two children: A. D., as above; and L. 
M., who was born August 31, 1837. A. D. Osborn received a common school educa- 
tion, and has always been a farmer, and owns a farm of eighty-nine acres. He is a 
member of Stephens Mills Grange, No. 308. He has visited a number of the West- 
ern States, and at one time lived in Hartsville. January 3, 1858, he married Caro- 
line, daughter of John Ingles, who was born in New Hampshire, October 3, 1832, by 
whom he had five children: Frances V., who was born January 1, 1859, and died 
October 20, 1869; Willis L., who was born December 24, 1863, and died October 31, 
1869; Albert A., who was born January 21, 1872; and Clara, who was born May 29, 
1873. 

Overhiser, Andrew Peck, was born in Wheeler, August 14, 1822. Conrad Over- 
hiser, his grandfather, was a farmer and came with his wife Mary from Chittenango, 
Onondaga county, to Wheeler, about 18;>2, where he died in 1840, and his wife in 
1843. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and reared nine children, all of whom 
grew to maturity and ranged in age at their deaths from sixty to ninety-five years. 
John C. Overhiser, father of Andrew Peck, was born in Montgomery county, April 
1, 1782. He was a farmer, and came to Wheeler about 1816, and settled on a tractof 
150 acres of land on West Creek, which was then covered with forest, and after many 
years of hard toil, with the assistance of his .sons, he cleared the entire farm, cutting 
the timber and burning it. He w-as twice married. By his first wife he had three 
children, two of whom grew to maturity, a son who lived to be seventy years of age, 
and a daughter who lived to be ninety-seven years of age, and one died in infancy. 
He married for his second wife Ruth French, by whom he had eighteen children, 
fourteen of whom are still living. He died May 13, 187], aged ninety years, and his 
wife in 1855, in the sixtieth year of her age. Andrew Peck Overhiser was born 
August 14, 1822, and remained with his father until he was twenty-six years of age, 
when he purchased a farm of ninety acres with no buildings and little improved, and 
to which he has added forty acres, paid for the whole farm, erected suitable build- 
ings, and made many other nece.ssary improvements. For some years he has raised 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 183 

a great many sheep. He has served as commissioner of highways, and many other 
minor offices. In December, 1847. he married Kliza, daughter of Henry Ackerson, 
of Pulteney, by whom he had one child. Lydia Ann. wife of Henry Miller. 

Alderman, J. M., was born in Schuyler county, N. Y.. January 28, 1847, son of 
O. P. and Martha M. Conklin, a distant relative of Roscoe Conklin, he a native of 
Connecticut, and she of New Jersey. They both came to Schuyler county in 1830, 
and were married at Altay, where J. M. was born. He came to Thurston in 1850, 
where he has since lived. His father has been a member of the Christian church, 
and organized and built the Merchantville church, of which he was pastor for a num- 
ber of years. He was a member of the Blue Lodge in Risingville, and Bath Chapter, 
R. A. M. He and his wife are now living on a farm in Thurston, aged seventy-six 
and seventy-five, respectively. Our subject was educated in the common schools, 
Sonora Academy, and Starkey Seminary, and at the age of fifteen enlisted in Capt. 
William H. McLain's company, .'5th L'nited States Cavalry. On account of his age 
his father had him withdrawn, but at the age of sixteen he enlisted again in Co. K, 
4th New York Artillery, and served two years and six months. He was in the battle 
of the Wilderness and under fire until the battle of Spottsylvania, where he was 
severely wounded in his right elbow, and was then placed in the N'eteran Re.serve 
Corps, being unfit for field duty, and was then detached as orderly for Gen. Thomas 
H. Neill. who was president of the board of examiners. Mr. Alderman has been in 
the insurance business at Merchantville for some years, and was general agent in 
Pennsylvania for a Philadelphia company in 1870 and 1871. He was in the mercan- 
tile business at Hedgesville four years, and manager of a lumber companv near 
Canisteo for four years, and has held his present position five years. He was also in 
the employ of a lumber company in Texas for three years. He is a Republican and 
has represented Woodhull and Thursttm in county conventions and was census 
enumerator in 18il0. He is a member of Loga Post No. 469, G. A. R., and Subor- 
dinate Union No. 272, E. A. U. October 20, 1868, he married Mary L. Masters, 
daughter of Lewis Masters of Thurston, and they have had one child. Burr W., who 
died at the age of seven months. Mr. Alderman has been assistant postmaster at 
Merchantville for about four years. Is now a merchant at Thurston, N. Y. 

Burdin, T. D. — Hisgrandfather, James Burdin, was born in Madison county, N.Y., 
and came to the town of Howard, where he located and followed farming. He died 
October 11, 1848, aged sixty-nine years, and his wife Mary died January 23, 1860. 
The father of our subject was John Burdin, who was born in Madison county, N.Y., 
in 180b, and died December .5, 1861. His wife Betsey A. died December 30, 1882, 
aged seventy-four years. While he lived in Madison county he was a section boss 
on the Cherry Yalley Turnpike, but he located on a farm when he came to Hornells- 
ville in 18;i.j. They al.so kept a temperance hotel on Big Creek, four miles east of 
Hornellsville. Mr. and Mrs. Burdin were members of the Presbyterian church. 
They were the parents of four children: Daniel S., who died in 1860, James Henr)', 
Timothy Dwight, and Julia Ann, died October 3, 1847. T. D. Burdin was born in 
the town of Hornellsville, May 13, 1838, and was educated in the common schools. 
He drove on the stage route between Bath and Hornellsville for five years, and has 
since followed farming. He was elected assessor two terms, and was poormaster 
three terms. He is a member of the United Workmen No. 249, also of Big Creek 
• 



184 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Grange No. 324. August 23, 1861, he married Mary, daughter of Cornelius Fisher 
of the town of Fremont, and they have two children: Julia May, born December 22, 
1862, wife of Charles A. Stillmau, who works his father-in-law's farm, and is a 
pattern maker by trade; and Oris E., born June 21, 1867, and died at the age of 
twenty-two years. 

Brush, Ilorton L.. was born in this town, March 4, 1853. Thomas Brush, his 
grandfather, was a shoemaker who came to Pulteney in 1819, and later purchased a 
tract of timber land, which he and his sons cleared. He was the son of Jacob and 
Anna Green Brush, whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Albert, 
the father of Horton L. , was born in Pulteney, in July, 1820, and has devoted his 
time to farming since he became thirteen years of age, and when eighteen he worked 
out and earned the last one hundred dollars which finished paying for his father's 
farm ; his time was then given him and he began for himself, purchased his first 
farm when twenty-two and now owns 105 acres. In politics he is a Republican and 
served as assessor two terms, and is a deacon in the Baptist church. His wife was 
Lydia Horton, who was born in Pulteney, and their children were Harmon M., 
Thomas, who died in 1846, and William, died in 1879, who was a soldier in the late 
war and fought in the battle of Appomattox, and Marion S. Horton L. was the 
youngest son, was educated in the common schools, and while a young boy engaged 
as engineer in a saw mill, and when fifteen years of age took charge of a vineyard, 
which position he kept until he was seventeen years of age, when he spent two win- 
ters in Michigan as engineer in a mill. He then engaged in buying fruit, spent three 
seasons in a commission house in New York city and spent one year each in the em- 
ployment of the Adams and United States Express Companies on Lake Keuka. ' He 
has studied electricity for .several years, and since 1891, in connection with his fruit 
growing and commission business, he has dealt in telephones, constructing them 
himself. In 1881 he married Lilly I., second daughter of William E. and Nancy 
Bancroft Horton, who was born in the town of Cameron. She is a member of and 
teacher of the Baptist Sunday school, and they are both members of the Baptist 
church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Prattsburg Lodge No. 583, of 
which he has been chaplain and junior deacon. He is now treasurer of the Yates 
Baptist Association, having been elected for three years. 

Hoag, Perry C, was born June 2, 1838. His father, Nathan Hoag. was born in 
Wayland, and died in 1842, from injury received in a flour mill in Dansville. He 
married Susan Bowdish, who was born in Wayland, and died in 1882, aged sixty-five 
years. They had six children : Martha Warring ; Margaret, deceased ; Susan Wells ; 
Perry C, as above; Nathan; and Harriet Roberts. Perry C. Hoag has followed 
farming for many years. When four years of age his father was killed and his 
mother lived with her children among the Shakers at Mount Morris, Livingston 
county, and she finally married Ira Sherman, of Naples, N. Y. Perry C. enlisted in 
Co. D, 188th N. Y.Vols , October 5, 1864. He took part in nine battles, and was dis- 
charged in July, 1865. He is a pensioner. He is a member of Theodore Schhck 
Post, G.A.R., of Wayland. At Springwater, October 27, 1861, he married Emcline 
Haight, who was born in Springwater, November 6, 1844, by whom he has four chil- 
dren: Herman, born September 18, 1862; Arthur, born January 8, 1865, and died 
December 27, 1891; Idella Warring, born January 7, 1867; and Addie Marvin, born 
March 14, 1871. • 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 185 

Lake, Charles G. — His grandfather was Robert Lake, who died at sixty years of 
age. Israel Lake, father of CharlesG., was born in Hector, Schuyler county, N.Y., in 
1818, and died at seventy-three years of age. He has always followed farming, and 
was a member of Big Creek Grange No. 324. He married first Clarissa White, by 
whom he had these children; Martin (deceased), Mary, Martha, Miranda, Maria, 
Kstella, Hubbard M., and Melvin. He married second Christian N., daughter of 
John Wanner, of the town of Sparta, and had one son, Charles G., who attended 
school at Hornellsville, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns a farm of 
ninety-one acres on Hig Creek. He is a member of Big Creek Grange No. 324. His 
mother's first husband was William Magee, and with this union there were six chil- 
dren: Worden, born June l,!, 18.51 ; Sheldon, born July 11, 18.52, who was killed by a 
train at Groveland, November 1, 1890; Frank, born October 17, 1853, and died at 
Stockton, Cal. ; Sarah, bom June 26, 1856; Maggie, born June 28, 1860; and Idell, 
born June 12. 18f)2. Mr. Magee was a soldier in the late Rebellion, enlisted in the 
Itilst N. Y. Vols., Co. C, and died at Baton Rouge, La., June 1, 1803. 

Relan, Nelson, was born in the town of Pulteney in July, 1837. His grandfather, 
Barnett Retan, was born in March, 1790, and he married Sallie Drew, who was born 
in November, 1789, and their children were John, born June 23, 1809; Almeron, 
born in September, 1811 ; Gilbert, born in October, 1813; Hannah, born in Novem- 
ber, 1815; Susan, born in January, 1818; Rachel, born in February, 1820; Barnett, 
born in December, 1822; Ebenezer, born in January, 1.825; David, born in March, 
1827; Sally Ann, born in July, 1829; and Eliza, born in January, 1830. They were 
farmers and came to Pulteney with their family in 1818, cleared a farm, on which 
they spent their remaining days. John, father of Nelson, was a farmer by occupa- 
tion. !n politics he was a Democrat and served several years as a commissioner of 
highways. He married Rachel Smart, who was born September 11, 1811, and their 
children are Susan, born in September, 1831 ; Jeptha, born in July, 1835; Nelson, as 
above; Sylvester, born in July, 1840; An.son, born in April, 1842. killed in the siege 
of Port Hudson in 1863; Sylvina, born in JIarch, 1844; Olney, born in February, 
1846; and Cynthia, born in October, 1849. Their deaths occurred April 29, 1870, and 
February 17, 1884, respectively. Nelson was educated in the district schools, and 
began life for himself as a farmer. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Co. A, 161st X.V. 
Vols., and served until the close of the war, having participated in the sieges of 
Mobile and Blakely. In 1866 he purchased his first farm, and in 1S84 he engaged in 
manufacturing lumber, boxes, and grape baskets in the village of Pulteney, this being 
the largest establishment of the kind in the county. In 1886 he purchased a resi- 
dence in the village, where he removed. In 1892 his mill and factory were burned, 
but the same year he rebuilt on a larger scale, which buildings were burned in June, 
189.5. He again rebuilt and commenced work in August of the same year. In addi- 
tion to the manufacturing interests, Mr. Retan owns several small farms, to which he 
attends. In 1860 he married Esther S., daughter of Nelson and Julia Pinkerton Hall, 
and their children are Alice, born in August, 1863, wife of Clarence Fox of Pulteney; 
Nellie, born in June, 1867, died in January, 1871 ; and Anna May, born in May, 1880. 
Mrs. Retan died July 13, 1889. For his second wife he married Helen Hall, in De- 
cember, 1890. Her father. Nelson Ball, was born in Pulteney in 1815, and died in 
1871, and was a blacksmith bv trade. Mr. Retan is a member of the Odd Fellows 



186 LANDMARKS OV STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Lodge of Pulteney, the Pleasant Valley Grange of Urbana, and of the Henry C. 
Lyon G. A. R. Post No. 535 of Pulteney. 

Rex, Charles N., was born in Wayne county, N. Y., December 11, 1845. Jacob 
Rex, his father, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1H17, and moved to the town of Way- 
land in 1850, and settled on the farm now known as the Saxton farm. He is still 
living in the town of Cohocton. In 1838 he married Olive Hall, who was born in 
Savannah, Wayne county, N. Y., in 1813, and died in April, 1895. They had three 
sons; William H., born in Wayne county, March 22, 1843; Charles N., born in 
Wayne county, December 11, 18-15; and John W., born in Wayne county, November 
9, 1848. Charles N. was brought up on a farm and has always followed that busi- 
ness. In 1875 he purchased the farm where he now resides. At Conesus, N. Y., 
March 17, 1869, he married Weltha A. Heath, who was born in Conesus, N. Y. , De- 
cember 2, 1846, by whom he had two children: Myron E., born September 28, 1873, 
and graduated at the Hornellsville Business and Shorthand College in March, 1893, 
and Bertha M., born October 4, 1875. 

Schwingle, John A., was born m Germany, in the Rhine province, in 1829, and at 
eighteen years of age emigrated to America, and settled in Buffalo with his uncle, 
Frederick Schwingle, where he remained for three months worknig for him. He 
then went to Dansville, where he worked by the month for two j-ears, thence to 
Wayland, where he worked by the month until 1852, when he purchased a house and 
a lot of fifteen acres, his first home in America. In 1850 he married Louisa Schwingle. 
who died in 1851, aged twenty-five years. They had one child, Louise who was 
born June 28, 1851, and who is now the wife of Fred Sorge, and resides at Dansville. 
They have five children: William, Inez, Edward, Rosa and Clarence. In 1855 Mr. 
Schwingle married Mary Miller, who was born in Illinois, August 29, 1836, by whom 
he had these children: H. Franklin, born January 18, 1856; Frederick William, born 
December 26, 1857; George J., born February 3, 1860; Mary B., born January 24, 
1863, died April 9, 1887; Amanda S., born November 21, 1867, died March 23, 1869; 
Edward C, born July 13, 1865; John A., born October 3, 1869; Ida A., born Decem- 
ber 29, 1871 ; William M., born June 13, 1874; Albert E., born August 19, 1876; and 
Emma C. E., born March 26, 1879. These children are all well educated, two of 
whom are teachers. Mr. Schwingle has owned 152 acres of land, and in 1893 sold 
105 acres to his son. He has held the office of assessor three years, and is now over- 
seer of the poor. He was a member of Dansville Lodge, No. 123, I. O. O. F., and is 
now a member of Wayland Lodge, No. 176, joined by permit from the Dansville 
Lodge. Mr. Schwingle's married children are as follows: Frank, who married Laura 
Hilts, lives in East Sparta, and has one son, Philip; Frederick W. , who married 
Maggie Lander, and resides on a farm near Loon Lake; George J., who married 
Sophrona Totten, and has two children. Jay and Emma, and resides in Wayland 
village; Edward C, who married Mary Kramer, who has one daughter, Margaret, 
and resides in Dansville, where he owns and runs a hardware store, and is the in- 
ventor of the Schwingle Potato Hiller, Coverer and Furrower. 

Wallace, Dr. Edwin E., was born in Hartsville, N. Y., August 7. 1852, son of 
Nathaniel and Eunice (Davi.s) Wallace, both natives of Livingston county, N. Y. 
The grandfather, Abner Wallace, spent most of his days in Livingston county. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 187 

Nathaniel Wallace, father of Edwin E., first came to Canisteo, where he remained a 
year, thence to Ilartsville in 1S40, where he engaged in farmmg. He linally removed 
to Hornellsville. He died March '-i, 1887, and his widow resides in the town of Cone- 
sus, I^ivingston county. Edwin E. Wallace was reared on a farm and educated in 
Canisteo Academy. He began the study of medicine with Dr. Picket of Canisteo 
and Ur. Joseph W. Robinson of Hornellsville, and graduated from the medical de- 
partment of the University of New York City in 1879, and made his own way through 
college, teaching for several terms, and was awarded the prize for the best examina- 
tion in materia medica, and therapeutics. In April, 1879, he came to Jasper, where 
he has since had a very successful practice. In 1887 Dr. Wallace took a post- 
graduate course in the New York Post-Graduate School. He is a member of the 
Morning Star Lodge, Xo. 65, F. & A. M. He is also a member of the New York 
State Medical Society. January '>, 1881. he married Myra Metcalf, of Jasper, by 
whom he had two children : Allen M. and Maud E. 

Zinunerman, Sylvanus A., was born in Bradford, June 20, 1831, and is the fifth of 
seven children born to John and Elizabeth Stocum Zimmerman. John, who was a 
native of Austria, was taken from his bed at midnight by the Austrian army and 
pressed into service, and being taken prisoner by the French army, he fought under 
Napoleon. He was afterward taken prison by the English and sent to Canada to 
serve in the British army, and in 1812 he was sent out to look for a deserter, and he 
came to the L'nited States. At Buffalo he received a pass to Canandaigua from 
General Brown, and from there he made his way to Bartle Hollow, now Bradford, 
and engaged with Mr. Bartle in the distilling bu.siness. He soon went to Lancaster, 
Pa., and engaged in the same business, being very successful. He finally returned 
to Bradford where he built and run a distillery. He died in 1802, aged eighty-two 
years, and Mrs. Zimmerman died in 1880. Sylvanus was educated in the common 
schools and the Dundee Academy, and in music at Reading, Mass., and has been a 
music teacher the most of his life. In 1878 he married Maggie Houck, by whom he 
has three children Mary E., Sylvanus A., jr., and Hattie. August 29, 1862, Mr. 
Zimmerman enlisted in Co. G, 23d N. Y. Vols., and served until May, 1863, when he 
was transferred to Co. B, 80th N. Y. Vols., and sent to provost-general's headquar- 
ters, where he had charge of the commissary department under Capt. H. P. Clinton, 
where he remained until the close of the war. He is a member of Lamoka Lodge, F. 
& A. M. In politics he is a Democrat and has been justice of the peace for eight 
years and is now notary public, and in 1892 was elected supervisor, which office he 
still holds. 

Hall. Jeremiah, was born in Urbana, A\ni\ 22, 1842. Thomas Hall, his father, was 
born at Williamsport, Pa., August 1, 1813. He was a farmer and came to Urbana 
about 1834, and later came to Bath, where he lived until his death, which occurred 
in October, 1893. He married Emily Douglass of Steuben county, by whom he had 
these children: Mary, Almira, Jeremiah, Ary, Ann, and Frank. Jeremiah was first 
engaged in farming, after which he worked at the blacksmith trade, which business 
he followed for twelve years. He was postmaster of Avoca under Harrison for four 
and a half years, and since 1893 has been in the clothing business in the village. He 
enlisted in the 107th N. Y. Vols., in August. 1862, and served for a term of three 
years, returned unharmed in poor health. He owned and conducted a hardware 



188 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY*. 

business in Avoca from 1882 to 1891. Mr. Hall was supervisor one term. He is a 
member of Avoca Lodge of Masons, No. 673, also of Morey Post, 507. 

Hardenbrook, George H., was born in Lodi, Seneca county, N. Y., May 15, 1837. 
Richard Hardenbrook, his father, was a native of Hunterdon county, N. J., and mar- 
ried Catherine, daughter of Nathan Smith, of Georgetown, Queen Anne county, Md.. 
and was a manufacturer of boots and shoes in Seneca county until 1844, when he 
came to the town of Bath and engaged in farming. In 1850 he moved into the vil- 
lage of Bath, as superintendent of the Whiting & McCass foundry, and afterwards 
purchased the business, being associated with William Sedgwick. In 1857 the plant 
was destroyed by fire, and Richard Hardenbrook H: Sons purchased the old Steuben 
county foundry of Biles & Owens, which is now run by his son, George II.. making 
a specialty of agricultural implements, mill machinery, and building and repairing 
engines. In 1862, with Captain Mowers, he raised Co. F, 78th N Y. Vols. , and took 
part in the battles of Bull Run, Cedar Mountain, Antietani, and numerous others, 
receiving an honorable discharge in 1865, with rank of acting captain, and in the 
same year married Mary A., daughter of John McKenzie, of Baton Rouge, La., by 
whom he had two children, Katherine and M. Aldine. 

Olmsted, John E., was born in the town of Avoca, August 27, 1853, son of Erastus 
Olmsted, who was born in the town of Avoca, March 6, 1830, and grandson of John 
Olmsted, who was born in Montgomery county and settled in this town where he 
bought land and cleared a farm of 100 acres. October 27, 1852, Erastus married 
Margaret, daughter of William P. Bellenger, of Montgomery county, who was among 
the first settlers of this county. They have one son, John E., who was educated in 
the town of Avoca. He was in the mercantile and produce business from 1876 to 
1888 in the village of Wallace, since which time he has devoted his time to farming 
and to the sale of agricultural implements. He married Estella M. Tripp, of Cohoc- 
ton, and they have one daughter, Bulah M. Jlr. Olmsted has filled the offices of 
assessor and highway commissioner. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity of 
Avoca, No. 673, and Wallace Lodge, No, 519. I. O. O. F. 

Peck, George W., was born in Lansdown, February 18, 1854. Rev. J. B. Peck, 
his father, was a native of England and settled in Jefferson county in 1840, and for 
thirty-five years has been engaged in the ministry of the M. E. church, the larger 
portion of his work being in Steuben count)-. George W. began, at the age of four- 
teen, to learn the hardware business, entering the employ of Powers & Wagoner in 
1870. In 1875 he formed the partnership of Wagoner & Peck, and in 1876 purchased 
Mr. Wagoner's interest, and in 1880 he removed to Prattsburg and purchased the 
hardware stock of (jeorge H. Look. In 1883 he established a branch store at Pulte- 
ney, and in 1886 purchased the Harris stock at Cohocton. In 1888 he purchased the 
stock of Hodgraan & McNamara of Bath, and in 1893 established a branch store at 
Bradford, N. Y. , and in 1894 the business was put into a stock company, under the 
name of the George W. Peck Hardware Co., starting in 1875 with yearly sales of 
$4,000, in 1894 the aggregate amount was §150,000. In 1884 he married Flora, 
daughter of B. Gri.swold, by whom he had four children, George (J.. J. Arthur, War- 
ren B., and Flora M. 

Raymond. Joel, and his only son Orville were among the early settlers of the town 



■ FAMILY SKETCHES. 189 

of Wheeler, clearing and occupying a farm near Wlieeler Center until their deaths, 
now owned by Elder J. \V. Raymond, eldest son of Orville. Joel Raymond died of 
an injury received by accident at town meeting February 12, 1850, in his seventy- 
seventh year. His wife, Lydia. died August 21^, l.'Sr)4, in her eighty-third year. To 
them were born three children; Hannah, Orville and Tryphena. Hannah married 
Jacob Thompson of Wheeler, January 1, 1823. To them were born six children: 
Lydia, Calvin, Catherine, Orville, Joel, and John, all of whom are now living except- 
ing Calvin and Orville, Calvin having died December !), 18G3, in his thirty seventh 
year, and Orville, April 30, 1895, iu his sixty-lifth year. Jacob Thompson died May 
9, 1868, aged seventy-four years. Hannah, his wife, died July 20, 1880, aged eighty- 
seven years. Orville Raymond, .son of Joel, married Caroline Smith of Nelson, 
Madison county, February 17, 1834. To them were born five children: John W., 
Neheniiah S., Harriet, Mary, and Amasa C, all of whom are living except Mary, 
who died April 3, 1851. in her eleventh year. Orville Raymond died July 19, 1880, 
in his eightieth year. Caroline, his wife, died November 25, 1885, in her eighty- 
fourth year. Tryphena, daughter of Joel Raymond, died October 26, 1876, aged 
seventy-one years. John W. married Sarah Jayne of Barrington, Cook county. 111., 
by whom he had these children: Mary C, Silas C, and Ilattie O. (twins), and Daniel 
A. Silas C. married Carrie Kelley. by whom he has two children, John W. and 
Kninia L. Mary C. married Dixie Martin of Kanona, Steuben county. Nehemiah 
S. married Ophelia Lanphear of Nile, Allegany county, and is a farmer in Wheeler. 
Harriet married Michael Jones, who is also a farmer in Wheeler. Amasa C. mar- 
ried Emma Robinson of Pulaski, Oswego county, and is a farmer of South Richland, 
Oswego county. John W. is engaged in the work of the ministry, being a membci' 
of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. He was a member of the Pennsyl- 
vania Conference of said order for fourteen years, and president of the conference 
for the last Hve years of his connection therewith. January 1, 1893, he was trans- 
ferred to the New York Conference of said denomination, of which he is now a mem- 
ber and minister. 

Avery, Chauncy, was one of the pioneers of Steuben county. lie was l)orii June 
28. 1798, in the State of Connecticut. He came to New York and married Emaline, 
a daughter of William Van Brunt of Byron. They were the parents of tliirteen 
children. He died May 18, 1876; his wife died October 19, 1870. They were pio- 
neers in the Christian church of which they were members. Their children were 
Chauncy Stillman, born May 7, 1825: Gilbert Franklin, born January 15, 1828; Cla- 
rissa M., born October 29, 1832; she married Warren Northrop; he was killed in the 
Wayland tragedy January, 1871, by Mrs. Mary Hess; Simon G., born December 1','. 
1834 died March 20, 1893; Rose C, married Horace Avery, lives in Pennsylvania; 
William H., born December 13. 1837, died October 7, 1877, leaving a wife and four 
children in Florida; Nancy M., born April, 1840, died May, 1848; Charles F., born 
November 24, 1842, died March 20, 1895; John H., born March 2, 1849, married Anna 
Hayward; they have three sons and a daughter. The others all died in infancy. 
Chauncy S. married Mary Jane, a daugliter of Augustus Mathers, who was one of 
the old pioneers of Cohocton (now Wayland); she died August 4, 1866. They had 
three daughters. Maryette, now Mrs. Abram Van Riper, of Cohocton ; F'rank M., now 
Mrs. Robert Cole of Hornellsville; and Harriet A., now Mrs. George Pierce of South 



190 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Dansville. His second wife was Lucinda R., a daughter of Zina Tripp. In 1873 he 
purchased the Avery homestead near the IJ. L. and W. depot, where he still resides. 
He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, and also of the I. O. O. F., Lodge 176, in Way- 
land. Four of the Avery brothers enlisted in the United States service in our late 
Civil war. Chauncey S. and Simon were in the last year and took part in a number 
of hard fought battles; assisted in tearing up the Weldon Railroad, and were pres- 
ent at General Lee's surrender and witnessed the stacking of the Rebel arms. Gil- 
bert enlisted in 1862, was in General Bank's division in Louisiana. Charles F. en- 
listed iu the beginning of the war and was a soldier until its close. He received a 
bad wound in the face, the ball entering just below the left eye and coining out just 
below the ear, destroying the sight and hearing of that eye and ear. Besides a com- 
mon school education he graduated from the Poughkeejjsie Commercial College 
since the war. He went to Florida and was twice elected by the Republicans to the 
Legislature of that State. He died of consumption March 8, 1895. Zina Tripp, 
born April 3, 1789, in Washington county, N. Y. He married Ruth Baudish. She 
died in June, 1820. They had five children ; none of them ever lived in this county. 
His second wife was Parthiana, a daughter of Nathaniel Bennett, of Waterloo, N.Y. 
Their two oldest children died in infancy ; names of the other five were Harriet 
Eliza, born April 26, 182.5, died in 1848; Lucinda Ruth, born December 21, 1828, 
married C. S. Avery ; Catherine M. died in Wayland, September 7, 1884. Nathaniel 
Bonnell, born November 9, 1833, was lost in the woods May 8, and found dead May 
11, 1837. Christopher Columbus,' born April 19, 1836, married Rachel Pierce; they 
were married in March and he enlisted in the United States service the next Sep- 
tember, 1862. He was in General Banks's division and in his expedition up Red 
River in Louisiana was in two hard fought battles when our army lost near four 
thousand and the enemy nearly as many. On the retreat down Red River Admiral 
Porter's fleet got stuck and could not get down over the falls at Alexandria and 
Grand Ecore when our boys had to work building dams to raise the water. Christo- 
pher was among the number working in the water up to their waists and often up to 
their necks. After the gunboats were off and safe he had to march on a forced 
march from two o'clock in the moraing until two o'clock the next morning. This 
broke his constitution and he was sick after it as long as he lived. He was home on 
furlough at the time of his death, which occurred September 20, 1864. His captain 
said he was a brave and faithful soldier. He was converted before the war and his 
chaplain said he was a faithful soldier of the Cross. Zina Tripp and his wife were 
both converted years ago, but they never united with any church, but their wives 
were like the (Quakers, not believing in a water baptism or vocal prayer, but in a life 
hid with Christ in God. He died September 27. 18.59; his wife died August 30, 
1870. 

Sherer, Sylvester. — In the year 1826, Robert Sherer and his wife, Elizabeth Smith, 
having then only one child, Louisa, a year and a half old, found their way westward 
through the then almost unknown wilderness, to the place now known as Sherer's 
Corners, though then miles from any road. Here they cleared a spot, constructed a 
cabin and established a home, which they occupied till removed by death. In the 
years that followed there were born to them seven other children: Mary, Sarah, who 
died in infancy, Lewisa, Daniel, Roliert and Betsey (twins), and Sylvester. Soon 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 191 

after the birth of the last child the wife at:cl mother died, but the father lived to see 
the seven children grown to manhood and womanhood, himself surrounded by 
grandchildren, the wilderness turned into orchard and garden, and " made to blos- 
som as the rose. ' At present there are only three of the immediate family living — 
Louisa. Robert, and Sylvester, who owns and occupies the homestead, he havmg 
married Mary Jane Irvin, after serving his country nearly three years, during the 
Civil war. He enlisted in the 141st Regt. N. V. State Vols., and was with them in 
each of the fifteen actions in which they were engaged. Some of the most noted 
were Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Gulp's Farm, and Peach Tree Creek, in 
which he was wounded on July 20, 1864. On July 20, ISO.'i, a reunion was given to 
the surviving members of Co. H, of the 141st Regt. of which Mr. Sherer was a mem- 
ber, by himself and family consisting of his wife and daughter. Bettie, they having 
buried their son Irvin in the year 1878, at the age of eleven years. Mr. Sherer is a 
Republican in politics, a member of the G A. R. Abram Allen Post No. 194 Ca- 
nisteo, N. Y.. and with the family belongs to the M. E. church. In the winter of 
1800-61 a religious revival swept this part of the country with the result of the form- 
ing of the 2d M. E. Societv of the town and the erecting of a church edifice, which in 
1890, was remodeled and enlarged. It stands upon ground contributed to the society 
by Robert Sherer who also paid largely toward the first erection, and is connected 
with fine cemetery grounds also donated by him to the society and where his remains 
now rest. 

Rider, Myron H., was born in Fremont, N. Y., May 18, 1848. His grandfather 
was born in Massachusetts in 17(>6, and moved to Dutchess county, N. Y., thence to 
Saratoga county, N. Y., and in 1811 he came to what is now Fremont, where he was 
one of the oldest settlers. He died in 1803. The father of our subject was born in 
Saratoga county. N. V., and came to Fremont with his father in 1811. He was a 
mechanic, but his principal occupaticm was farming. He has a good common school 
education, and has held the office of assessor of the town. He was also member of 
the Presbyterian church at Howard. He married Eliza Mosher, by whom he had 
three children: Harriet .-\., who was born in September, 1831; f)rrin L., who was 
born in 1833; and Samuel K., who was born in 1836. His wife died in 1830, and in 
1838, he married Elizabeth Connor, who was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1811, 
by whom he had one child, Myron H., as above, who received a common school edu- 
cation, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns a farm of 126 acres near 
Haskinsville. At Howard, N. Y., April 20, 1809, he married Eliza J. Cornue, who 
was born October 11. 184.5, in Prattsburg, by whom he had three children: Archie C, 
who was born May 24, 1S78; Derry S., who was' born April ."i, 1882: and Carrie S., 
who was born July 26, 1884. Samuel E. Rider, brother of our subject, served in the 
Rebellion, in the 141st N. Y. Vols., and died in the service. 

Patchin. Ira, was born in 1812. His grandfather, Walter Patchin, was born at 
Hallston Spa, Saratoga county, N. Y., and settled in Wayland about 1814. He pur- 
chased a tract of land at Patchinsville. He was a Revolutionary soldier and pen- 
sioner. He died in 18.Vj aged ninety years, and is buried at East Wayland. Warren 
Patchin, father of Ira, was born in Hallston Spa, Saratoga county, in 178,5, was in the 
War of 1812, and settled in East Wayland in 1817, and died in 1872. He was the 
mo.st noted doctor in this locality, having a ride of over fifty miles. He owned 700 



192 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

acres of land at one time. In 1803 he married Ruth Cartwright, who was born at 
Catskill, Greene county, N. Y. , in 1783, and died in 1853, by whom he had six chil- 
dren: Warren, who was born in 1804, and died in 1879; Jabez, who was born in 
1806, and died in 1825; Harriet, who was born in 1808; Ira, as above; Cameron, who 
was born in 1820; and Minerva, who was born in 1826. Ira Patchin was educated in 
the common schools and attended the Prattsburg Academy. He was a clerk in the 
store of J. Hess & Co., of Dansville, for six years, and previously clerked in the store 
of J. L. Monier, of Patchinsville for six years. In 1853 he purchased the farm where 
he now resides. At Penn Yan, N. Y., in 1852, he married Elizabeth M. Ellis, who 
was born in Madison county, N. Y., in 1825, by whom he had two children: Carrie 
Elizabeth, who was born in 1858, wife of Eugene Wilhelni, and resides in Michigan. 
They have two children: Eugene B. , who was born in 1886, and Philip, who was 
born in 1890; and Sprague Ellis, who was born in 1861; and married Amelia C. 
Hurzler, who was born at Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1867, by whom he had two children- 
Merton H., who was born in 1890, and Ira J., who was born m 1893. 

Day, Paul E. , and Polly Blodgett, his wife, moved from Bennington, Vt. , in the 
winter of 1814, to Genesee county, two and one-half miles west of Le Roy; in the 
spring of 1819 moved to Seneca county ; left there the following year for Cohocton, 
Steuben county, now Patchinsville; in the spring of 1824 moved to the farm now 
owned by Charles F. Day. The children of Paul E. Day were Franklin E., born 
in 1810; Washington W., born 1812; William P., 1814; Jackson J., born 1816; Cal- 
phurnia, born 1819; Mary J., born 1821 ; Jonas B. , born 1823; Laura L., born 1825; 
Riley, 1828. Franklin E. Day married Matilda Chase, daughter of Thomas Chase 
of Cohocton, January 2, 1836, and came into possession of the property at Patchins- 
ville in the spring of 1838, where he resided until the spring of 1868, when he moved 
to Rochester, N. Y., where he now resides. His family consisted of two children, 
Orleans W., born October 30, 1838, died March 21, 1887; Mary M., born February 5, 
1841; she married David M. Stuart, a Presbyterian clergyman, and resides at Na- 
tional City, Cal. ; Orleans W. married Jvdia A. Mather, who was born at Geneseo, 
N. Y., January 3^^, 1836; he was engaged in mercantile business several years, sub- 
sequently moved on to the farm where our subject resides taking charge of it and 
the saw-mill. The first clothing mill was built by Paul E. Day in 1826, and rebuilt 
by Franklin E. Day in 1833; first saw mill built by him in 1841, rebuilt in 1853. Or- 
leans Day's children were Charles Franklin, born Januarys, 1862; William W., born 
July 31, 1869, and resides in Rochester, being corresponding clerk for Eastman's 
Kodak Works; Mary E. , born May 12, 1872, wife of William Faulkner of Wayland; 
Harry W., born April 29, 1876, who is a student in the Medical College, Buffalo; 
Amelia M.. born August 25, 1879, a student at Rochester Free Academy. Charles 
Y. Day married Addie H. Nichols, daughter of Edward Nichols of Hatavia, Decem- 
ber 11, 1884. He is the present owner of the farm and is engaged in farming and 
the lumber business. 

Hedges, Benjamin Y., was born in Bradford, N. Y., July 15, 1843, and is the 
eighth of ten children born to Caleb S. and Nancy (McDowell) Hedges, who came 
fr.om Barrington to Cameron in 1830, and in 1838 came to Bradford, where they en- 
gaged in farming. He died December 19, 1884, and his wife in May, 1883. The 
grandfather, Isaac Hedges, was a blacksmith, and lived and died in Yates county. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 193 

Benjamin Y. has always followed farming and lumbering; he cleared sixty acres of 
land where he now lives. He has been a hard uorking man ; in clearing up his land 
he has burned log heaps all night and for many nights till past midnight. He now 
owns Iti'i acres of land. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been assessor of 
Bradford for six years. In 1804 he married Eliza J., daughter of Isaac Sutfin of 
Tyrone, bj- whom he had three children: Mary A., who died in infancy; Cora, who 
married David Whitehead, a farmer of Bradford; and Hila, who married N. Van 
Curen, a farmer of Schuyler county, \. V. 

Schoetfler, Henry, was born in Deidesheim Rhein Baicrn, (Jermany, in 1S4I>. 
Martin Schoetfler, father of Henry, was born in October, 171)9. He was a soldier for 
six years in the Bavarian army. He married Susan Glasscr, who was born in 1805, 
and died in 1880, by whom he had four children, Martin. Thomas, Henry and 
Thekla. Henry Schoetfler came to America in 18()7, landing in New York on New 
Years' day. with but three cents in his pocket. He borrowed twenty dollars and 
went to Chicago. 111., where he worked two months at gardening, thence to Urbana 
where he spent three years in a vineyard, thence to Indiana, where he engaged in 
farming three years, after which he returned to Urbana and spent three years more 
in a vineyard. In 1874 he purchased his present tract of thirty nine acres, seventeen 
of which he cleared of timber and of all the stumps and stones and made twenty-live 
acres of it a vineyard, and has erected large, first-class building.s. In 1870 he mar- 
ried Johannah Poelhuis, who was born in St. James, Ind., in 185.'), daughter of John 
B. and Mary (Tevogt) Poelhuis, both of Holland, by whom he had seven children; 
Anna Mary, Helena, Susanna, Martin A., George H., Randolph J., and J. Apolonia. 
Dr. Schoetfler is a member of the C. M. B. A. of Hornellsville. 

Lattimer, John C, was born in Pike county, Pa., July 15, 182:i, son of John and 
Dorothy (Van Ettan) Lattimer, who came to Woodhull in 183(), where they lived and 
died, he in 1858, and she in 1844. He was a farmer, and also kept a hotel in early 
life. John C. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and has 
since followed farming and now lives on the homestead farm of 120 acres. January 
1, 1847, he married Charlotte, daughter of Edward L. and Almira (Gurnsey) Stroud, 
he born in New Jersey, and she in Connecticut, and they came to Woodhull about 
1820, where he died May 18, 1873, and his wife in 1885. He was a Republican in 
politics, and held minor offices. 

Gilmer, Joseph B., was born in the town of Bath, N. Y., October 9, 1828, son of 
William and Eunice (Benedict),Gilmer, he a native of North Hector, born in I80:i, 
and she of the town of Lodi, N. Y., born in 1804. The paternal grandfather, James 
Gilmer, was a farmer in North Hector, where he died September 15, 18;!(1, aged sixty- 
seven years. William Gilmer settled in Bath, three miles east of Savima, in 1825, 
and lived there until the time of his death in 1877, and Mrs. Gilmer died in 1865. He 
was a deacon in the Baptist church for a great many years. Joseph B. was reared 
on a farm and for six years taught school winters and farmed summers. In 1851 he 
married Melinda, daughter of Rev. J. D. Carr, of Bradford, by whom he had three 
children: Rose; Charles W. ,a farmer and vineyardist on the old homestead in Bath ; 
and Ray C, a farmer in the town of Bradford. In 1864 Mr. Gilmer settled on the 
farm of 100 acres, where he still resides. Mrs. Gilmer died January 2, 1895. 
y 



194 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Rogers, Frederick S., was born in Rochester, \. Y., May 21, 184T, and is a son of 
Henry T. Rogers, who came to this city from London, England, at an early day, and 
died here in 1878, his trade being that of a carpenter and builder. Frederick S. was 
educated in private schools. At the age of sixteen he entered the establishment of 
the Evening E.xpress, where he remained about six years, having charge of the mail- 
ing department. About 1868 he entered the hardware store of his father and his 
brother, James H., which was known as Rogers & Son, and later he was associated 
with Pollock &• Weaver in the same business. In 1877 he became bookkeeper and 
financial man for the late John Siddons, manufacturer of and dealer m roofing mate- 
rials and general iron work. In 1889 the John Siddons Company was incorporated, 
with John Siddons as president and treasurer; Charles Vogei, vice-president; John 
O. Vogel, superintendent; and Mr. Rogers, secretary. Upon the death of Mr. Sid- 
dons in 1890 the ofHcers were Charles Vogel, president; John C. Vogel, vice-president 
and superintendent ; and Frederick S. Rogers, secretary and treasurer. In 1895 they 
were changed to Charles Vogel, president and superintendent; Frederick S. Rogers, 
vice-president, secretary and treasurer; and T. J. Vogel, assistant superintendent. 
Mr. Rogers is a trustee of the Chamber of Commerce, of which the firm is a member, 
and he is also a member of Valley Lodge, F. & A. M., of Hamilton Chaper, R. A. M., 
of Doric Council, R. & S. M., of Monroe Commandery No. 12, K. T. ; also Monroe 
Commandery Drill Coi-ps, of Lalla Rookh Grotto, and of Damascus Temple, Mystic 
Shrine 

Van Keuren, James, was born Jlay 14, 1856. His grandfather, Philip Van Keuren, 
was born near Newburg, N. Y. , and went to Groton, Tompkins county, thence to 
Smith Valley, Schuyler county, and finally located in Fremont, Steuben county, 
where he died in 1862. Tcherick P. Van Keuren, father of James, was born near 
Newburg, N. Y., in 1815, and died February 11, 1883. He came to Fremont in 1856 
and located on a farm one-half mile north of Big Creek post-office, where he engaged 
in farming and teaching school. He taught school twenty-five years, and held the 
office of justice of the peace sixteen years. He was a member of the P. of H., No. 
324. In 1852 he married Elenore B. Spaulding, who was born in 1825, and died 
August 29, 1S93. By this union he had five children: Mary F., born September 6, 
1854, and married George R. Burdett, December 31, 1878; James, as above; George 
S., born August 4, 1858; Frank G., born June 1, 1860, and died December 5, 1884; 
and Fred, born March 26, 1865. James Van Keuren received a liberal education at 
Hovi-ard public school, and located on and owns the old homestead of 150 acres, where 
he is engaged in farming. He is a member of the P. of H., No. 324, Big Creek. 
March 20, 1891, he married Alice, daughter of Harri.son Russel. (leorge S. Van 
Keuren owns a farm of ninety-six acres adjoining the old homestead. He w-as edu- 
cated at Canisteo Academy, and has taught school ten terms, and has also held the 
otBce of supervisor two terms. He is a member of the P. of H., No. 324. December 
24, 1892, he married Minnie, daughter of Eli T. Weld, by whom he has one child, 
Fremont W. , born October 29, 1893. Fred Van Keuren owns a farm of seventy-five 
acres one-half mile .south of Big Creek post-office. He was educated at Canisteo 
Academy, and is engaged in farming and teaching school. He is also a memlier of 
the P of H., No. 324, Big Creek. 

Marlette, P. W. , was born at Girard. Pa., in 1833. The family arc of I'rench 



FAMIIA' SKETCHES. 195 

descent. His father, William J. Marlette. was born in Schoharie county, and died 
in Schenectady May 4. 1870, aged seventy-four years. Me was a contractor on public 
works, railroad, canal, etc. He married Lucy Ann Balch, who was born in Connec- 
ticut, and died in Iowa iu 186.), aged (i7 years. They had eight children: Maria 
Bircliard, deceased; James J., deceased; Seneca H. ; Lucy A. Chamberlain ; and 
P. W.. as above, who received a common school education, and afterwards attended 
the Pittsticld, Mass.. GvniDasiuni for some time. When twenty-one years of age he 
was a brakeman on the Williamsport & Elmira R. R., where he remained for si.\ 
years, and was then conductor on the same road and on the A. & G. W. R. R. si.\ 
years, after which he engaged in the lumber business, as bookkeeper for Hunt's 
Run Lumber Co., at Cameron, Pa., for fourteen years. In 1877 he bought the farm 
at East Wayland, where he now resides. At Bradford county, Pa., in 1864, he mar- 
ried Julia B. Gliues, born in that county November 29, 183"). Her father, AVinthrop 
G. Glincs, was born \n Massachusetts in 1803, and died April 23, 1870. He married 
Harriet M. Beeman, who was born in Connecticut in 1809, and died in January. 1H04, 
by whom he had these children: Merritt, born in January. 1830; Harriet M.. l)orn 
m Uecember, 1832, iiud married Or. Patchin; Julia B., wife of P. W. Marlette; 
Winthrop Y. , jr., born m January, 1836; and Zina, born in September, 1S40. 

Sanford. William R., was born in Dryden, Tompkins county, X. V., March 18, 
1831, son of Peter and Mary L. Gray Sanford, she a native of Lansing, Tompkins 
county, and he of \'ermont. Peter Sanford came to Cameron in 1842, where he 
resided the greater part of his life, and later moved to Addison, where he died May 
8, 1888. Mrs. Sanford died in Uecember, 1890. William R. was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools, and has followed farming as an occupation, and 
owns two hundred acres of land in Cameron and Woodhull. November 6, 1894, he 
came to Hedgesville, where he lives a retired life. He is a Republican, and has been 
assessor f)f Cameron for nine years in succession. July 19, 181)4, he married Sarah 
Morgan, a native of Tompkins county, and daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Ozman. 
Morgan Sanford's grandfather. Evan Morgan, came to Lansing, Tompkins county, 
at an early date, where he died. To Mr. and Mrs. Sanford have been born three 
children: Charles, who died in infancy; Morgan R., born February 12, 1862. edu- 
cated in Addison Union School, from which he was graduated in 1884, and was 
graduated from Syracuse University in 1888, and is at present a teacher of natural 
science in Wilbraham. at the Wesleyan Academy; he married Orinda Sexsmith, of 
Syracuse; and Edwin, born February 12, 1864, who was educated in Addison Union 
School, from which he was graduated in 1883, and was also graduated from Syracuse 
University in 1889. He is now a teacher of Latin, elocution, and English at Cayuga 
Lake Military Academy. 

Houck, Alonzo, was born in Orange county, X. V., August 1, 1849, son of Henry 
and Belinda Houck. He has always resided on the homestead, of which he now 
owns seventy acres, and carries on general farming and grape growing. He is a very 
successful vineyardist, and has about thirteen acres of grapes. In 1881 he married 
Margaret Louise, daughter of Andrew and Margaret Dunn, by whom he had two 
children: Harry A,, who was born January 16, 1SS7; and Ethel M.. who was born 
Julv 21. 1S9."). Mr. Houck is a member ot tlie Baptist church, and his wife of the 
Episco])al church. 



i96 Landmarks of steuben county. 

Lilly, Willis S., was boru in Hornby, where he now resides, in 1843, son of Samuel 
and Elizabeth Wolever Lilly, natives of Pennsylvania. They located on Mr. Lilly's 
present farm in 1820. The parents died in 1883 and 1865, aged eighty-nine and 
sixty-five. In 'September, 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 188th N.Y.Vols., serving till the 
close of the war. lu 186ti he married Cynthia Buck, a native of Schuyler county, 
and they have two children: Cassin G., and Ro)- O. He is serving a second term as 
justice of the peace, and has also filled the office of assessor. 

Shauger, Andrew, was born in Susse.x county, N, J., March 4, 1833, son of George 
W. and Mary (Dobbins) Shauger, she a native of Haverstraw, N. Y., and he of 
Morris coimty, N. J., and who died in Sussex county, N. J. The grandfather of our 
subject, Leopold Shauger, lived and died in New Jersey. His father was a native of 
Germany. The maternal grandfather, George Dobbins, was of Irish descent, and 
lived and died in Morris county. N. J. Andrew Shauger was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools, and worked with his father until he was twenty-one 
years of age, at farming and burning charcoal. In 1858 he came to Thurston and 
began working by the month. August 14, 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 86th N.Y.Vols. , 
and served until June 4, 1864. He was at second battle of Bull Run, Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville, Brandy Station, and Gettysburg, and he lost his left leg 
below the knee, at the battle of Gettysburg. May 6, 1867, he married Hannah 
(Sutton) Yost, by whom he had one son, George P., who married Lelia M. Jessup, 
and they have one daughter, Georgia L. He is a farmer and I'esides with his 
parents. He is a member of Loga Post No. 469, G. A. R. Andrew Shauger is a 
Republican in politics, and has been collector live years and highway commissioner 
for one year. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. 

Shults, Conrad D.. was born July 23, 1860. John Shults, his grandfather, was born 
in Germanv, June 24, 1799, emigrated to America in 1849, and purchased the farm of 
90 acres where Conrad was born and where he now resides. He died in 18><1, aged 8:5 
years. Peter Shults, father of Conrad D., was born in Germany, December 4, 1839, 
and married Elizabeth Grafl^, who was born in Germany and died April i^, 1892, aged 
sixty-five years. They had six children: John P., Maggie L., wife of Nicholas Hogg; 
Conrad D., born July 23, 1860; Andrew L., Peter, deceased; and Mary, wife of 
Martin Kimmel, jr. Conrad D. Shults was educated in the common schools and at- 
tended the German school of Perkinsville for two years, after which he engaged in 
farming. He is a member of Wayland Champion Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. 
He married Elizabeth Pirrung, who was born in Germany, December 7, 1865, by 
whom he had four children: Fronia E., born November 10, 1889; Peter J., born 
February 10, 1892; Anna K.. born September 20, 1898; and William C, born No- 
vember 15, 1894. 

Walling, Edgar L., was born in Bradford, August 12, 1858, the youngest of five 
children born to Asa and Sarah Walling. The other children were Thomas, Daniel, 
Charles A., and Delia. Asa Walling came to Bradford in 1845 and took up about 
200 acres. Edgar L. was reared on a farm and educjitcd in the common schools. He 
now owns 100 acres of land and follows general (arming. September 23, 1883, he 
married Melissa, daughter of Stephen and Catherine Jacoby, of Schuyler county, 
now deceased, he dying in 1883, and she in 1S90. Mr. and Mrs. Walling have one 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 19" 

child, Thomas E., Iwrn September 25, 1890. They also have an adopted daughter, 
Delia. Mr. Walling has been collector and is a member of Farmers' Alliance, and 
has been deputy sheritT of Steuben county. 

Swarthout, Minor E., was born in Wayne, N. Y., and is the only son of Wilham 
B. and Helen M. (Ellis) Swarthout, he a native of Wayne, and she of Barringtoii. 
The grandparents, Asa and Maria (Krench) Swarthout, were both natives of Wayne, 
where he lived and died. In 1857 William B. Swarthout, father of Minor E., 
located on the farm now owned by his son. In 1858 he married Helen M., daughter 
of Samuel and Elizabeth Ellis. Mr. Ellis was born in in 1795, and Mrs. Ellis, De- 
cember 31, 1789. Mr. Swarthout died in 1888, aged si.\ty-one years. Minor E. 
Swarthout has always followed farming, and now owns 110 acres of land and is en- 
gaged in general farming and fruit growing. In 1882 he married Frank, daughter 
of Dr. Allison, of Wayne. She died November 13, 1891, and January 31, 1894, he 
married for his second wife Lulu, daughter of Marcenus and Elizabeth (yuacken- 
bush) Mothersell.of Tyrone, by whom he had one son, Minor Swarthout, jr., who was 
born December 6, 1894. Mr. Swarthout is a Democrat in politics, and has been 
assessor six years and collector three years. 

Zimmerman, Peter H., was born in 1857. His paternal grandfather, Henry Zim- 
merman, was educated in Trevis, Germany, where he was afterward a teacher in the 
university for many years, and where he died in 1894. His family consisted of two 
daughters and three sons, two of whom emigrated to this country: Michael, who was 
intereste;! in copper mining in Wisconsin, where he died, and Nicholas, Peter's 
father, who came to the United States in 1848. He settled at Dansville, where he 
cngaged"in mercantile business for a time, and then moved toPerkinsville, where he 
kept a general store for a number of years, and was there elected justice of 
the peace, and was for a time a teacher in the (German school, being a man of 
tine education, having graduated from the Trevis University in German and Latin. 
Later he moved to Wayland, where he owned a hotel and continued in office of 
justice of the peace for a number of years, and was a member of the Catholic 
church, to which he gave liberally. He married Anna Hoffman, of Perkinsvillc, and 
their children were Nicholas, deceased; Peter H., C. Nicholas, who was born in 1859, 
and wa.s .station agent at Perkinsville seven years and now is billing clerk for tlie 
D., L. & W. R. R, at Buffalo; and Emanuel, who died January 1, 1885, aged twenty- 
three. Mr. Zimmerman died at Wayland. in April, 1875. Peter H. was educated 
under tutorship of his father and in the common schools of the town and the Ger- 
man school. His first occupation was as a clerk in Wayland, and then went to Car- 
bondale. 111., where he was billing clerk in the railroad office of the Illinois Central, 
and later came to Wayland, and attended school one year, and in 1878 became con- 
fidential clerk for Capron & Fowler, produce dealers, which place he now holds. He 
has held the office of justice of the jieace since January 1, 1885, and in 1887 was 
appointed notarv, which office he now holds. Me took the federal census of Way- 
land in 1880, and in 1893 was appointed special e-xaminer of mortgage indebtedness 
of the Twenty-ninth Congressional District, and in 1894 was elected justice of 
sessions of Steuben county. In 1883 he married Emilia Conrad, who was born in 
1801, and they have five children; Victor, born September 17, 1884; Emanuel .\., 



198 LANDMARKS OF STEDBEX COUNTY. 

born October 2, 18S6; Madge, born September 19, 1888; Beatrice, born February 14, 
]8!)2; and Harold, born May W, 1894. 

MacDowell, Sidney Darrin, was born at Bradford, N.Y., in 1858, of Scotch descent, 
and a son of Mathew D. MacDowell, a wagonmaker, who married Mary D. Darrin, 
and by whom he had five children. In 1849 Sidney came to Addison, where he re- 
ceived his education, and in 1887 purchased the furniture and undertaking business 
with a partner who had only a nominal interest, Mr. MacDowell always conducting 
the business himself, of which for the last three years he has been sole proprietor. 
In i88o he married Mabel, daughter of John Brundage, of Urbana, by whom he had 
four children: Roy Brundage, born April 2, 1887; Matthew D., born January 27, 
1889; Lucy Shepard, born April 28, 1892; and Sidney Monroe, born December 6. 
1893. Mr. MacDowell is a member of the Board of Health, is registry clerk, also a 
mertiber of the Masonic fraternity. 

Mullen, Seth, was bom in Waterford, Pa., in 1826. and was a posthumous child of 
John Mullen. He is a genial, unassuming, self-made man, who never went to school 
a day in his life, but was taught by his pet daughter to read and write, and is con- 
sidered a fairly well educated man. Previous to his coming to Addison in 1840 he 
worked by the month, running lumber down the Susquehanna River, after which for 
twenty-one years he was employed on the Erie Railroad, as a foreman of construc- 
tion works, and was afterward engaged in farming, but is now retired from activity. 
When he came to Addison there were only three houses on the upper side of the 
river, and he has done much toward the promotion of his town, filling the office of 
highway commissioner with credit for many years, where he has laid out the princi- 
pal roads and superintended the building of many fine bridges. He was street com- 
missioner when the village was first incorporated, and has been town assessor for 
nine years. In 1845 he married Betsy M., daughter of Thomas Phillips, by whom 
he had three children, one of whom died in infancy; Alice, who died in 1890, mar- 
ried Ross Jones of Addison, leaving one son. Ray S. The other daughter, Xcllie 
M. Cowley, resides in Findlay, Ohio, where her husband is United States e.\press 
agent. 

Finch, John M., was born in the town of Ilornellsville, January 29, 1841. His 
father, Nathaniel Finch, was one of the most prominent and widely known citizens 
of the county. He was born in Greenwich, Conn., in 1798, and for several years 
prior to moving to Hornellsville, was engaged in surveying public lands in Tennessee 
and Mississippi. In 1837 he located on a farm just east of the present city of 
Hornellsville, and in 1845 he moved into the then small village, where he continued 
to reside until his death in 18(iG. When it was an open question whether the Erie 
Railroad should be located through the Cohocton or the Canisteo valley. Nathaniel 
Finch, with other residents of the Canisteo valley, 'interested himself to secure its 
location through the latter valley, and was largely instrumental in bringing about 
that result. The acquaintance he then formed with the officials of the Erie road led 
to his being employed by that company, and until his death — for a period of over 
twenty-five years— he occupied the highly important position of attorney and gen- 
eral land agent of the company. John M. Finch was educated in the ])ublic schools 
uf Hornellsville, and at the old academy in Xunda. X. V. .\t the age of eighteen 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 199 

years he enlered into the service of the Krie Railroad Company, under his father as 
clerk, and later, as assistant to his father. To fit himself more fully for the particu- 
lar service that he was engaged in, he studied law and civil engineering, and at the 
age of twenty-two years was admitted to practice as an attorney. His duties were 
mostly in connection with the company's real estate and ta.xes, and upon the death of 
his father in l!S6fi, he succeeded him as attorney and general land agent. Soon after, 
the work of the office was divided and Mr. Finch continued as general land agent 
until 1^91, having been in the service of the company for nearly a third of a century. 
Mr. Finch has engaged in several enterprises, nearly all of which have contributed 
to the building up and improvement of his native place. The beautiful cemeterv, of 
which Hornellsville is justly proud, is the work chielly of Mr. Finch, and to him and 
Andy L. Smith all the credit is due for its present favorable condition. The organ- 
ization of the Hornell Library was the result of Mr. Finch's suggestion, and he was 
the first contributor to it, and its first elected member. The first real government 
the village of Hornellsville had was when Mr. Finch was one of the village trustees, 
and imdcr a new charter drafted by him, which continued with little change until the 
city was organized. He has been vice-president of the Citizens' National Bank since 
its organization, in which he took an active part. He is manager and treasurer of 
the James Alley Real Estate and Building Company. He is president of the 
American Illuminating Company, and secretary of the Allegany Gas Company. 
During the war he was an ardent Republican, but since has shown a leaning toward 
Democratic principles. 

Gillmor, James M., was born in the town of Bath, August :il, IH'i'.i, son of William 
and Eunice (Benedict) Gillmor. William Gillmor was born at North Hector (now 
•Schuyler county) in ISO!!; his wife in Lodi, Seneca county, 1804. William Gillmor 
came to Bath in 1824, purchased a farm, cleared the land, built a log house, went 
went back to Lodi, married and brought his wife to Bath in March, 1825, where they 
both died. The farm is now owned by his grandson. Mr. Gillmor was one of the 
founders of the South Bradford Baptist church and was deacon for many years. 
James M. was reared on the old farm and has always been a farmer. He came to 
Bradford in IS.'iT, and settled on the farm he now owns of 100 acres. He has all the 
modern improvements and makes a specialty of raising sheep. January 10, IS.iS. he 
married Maria Ann, daughter of David and Anna Dennis of Bradford. Mr. and 
Mrs. (lillmor have three children: Sarah E., wife of D. L. Walling of Bradford; 
Arthur W., of Bradford; Albert 1)., of Weston, IN'. Y., both farmers. He was super- 
visor in 1875-76, and has served his town as commissioner of highways, assessor 
and bond commissioner. He is a member of the Grange at Savona. He, his wife 
and daughter are members of the BajJtist church at South Bradford. 

Kent, Henry F., was born in WoodhuU on the farm he now owns, November 80, 
is:!:i, son of Stephen and Caroline Kent he a native of Jerusalem, N. Y., born May 
8, 1803, and she of Middlesex county, born May 11, 1S12. The grandfather was 
John Kent, a native of Tioga county, and a sou of John Kent who was drowned in 
the Chemung. River. He came to Woodhull in 1820, from Yates county, and settled 
on a farm of 190 acres, and he assisted in clearing the farm owned by Henry F. He 
died in 187it, and his wife died April 28, IH87. He was supervisor four years in suc- 
cession, and also served as justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs, Kent were members 



200 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of the Baptist chinch, and his father was the first to preach the Baptist doctrine in 
Woodhull. Mr. Kent and son with eighteen others organized the first church there, 
known as Woodhull Regular Baptist church. Henry F. was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools and Troupsburg Center Academy. He is a farmer 
by occupation, owning a farm of 228 acres, and makes a specialty of raising tobacco. 
In 185(i he married Anna M. Rejmolds, daughter of Harry B. Reynolds, one of the 
most prominent men of Troupsburg Center. Mr. Kent enlisted, August 21, 1862, in 
Co. H, Ifilst X. Y. Vols., and ser\-ed three years and two months. He is a rnember 
of J. W. Post, No. 505, G. A. R., and was one of the charter members. Mr. and 
Mrs. Henry F. Kent have had two children: Ida, who died in infancy; and Willie J.', 
now on his father's farm in the .south part of the town, who married Minnie Hober 
of Troupsburg Center, and they have had two children: Anna, and one who died in 
infancy. The maternal grandparents were Caleb and Deborah Sylsby Tyler, he born 
April 15, 1779, and died December 18, 1863 ; and she was born January 10, 1781, and died 
March 15, 18-17. Harry B. Reynolds was born December 23, 1800, in Massachusetts, and 
came to Troupsburg with his parents, when nine years of age, Squire and Patty P. 
Rice Reynolds, he a native of Middlebury, Mass., born February 21, 1767, and died 
in Troupsburg Center November 2!), 1824, and she died August 7, 1853. Mr. Rey- 
nolds was a miller, and also owned a saw mill, and about 200 acres of land. Pohti- 
Ciilly he was a Democrat, and was justice of the peace. He died April 28, 1884. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Martin, was born June 29, 1801, and died 
Februarys, 1851, Her father, George Martin, was born October 10, 1766, and died 
June 4, 1834; and his wife, Chloe Martin, was born March 15, 1766, and died Janu- 
ary 19, 1851. 

Orcutt, George N., was born in the town of Troy, Orleans county. Vt., July 13, 
1856. The family for many generations both iu the paternal and maternal lines were 
natives of New England. His father, Dr. Hiram C. Orcutt, who died at Hornells- 
ville, October 25, 1884, was a type and product of the early New England civiliza- 
tion. Success attended him in all his relations in life, a success due to his energy, 
self-reliance and Yankee shrewdness, aided by a rigid morality and a mode of life 
that reflected in simplicitj' the teachings of his Quakeress mother. Mr. Orcutt's 
mother, born Helen M. George, has contributed prose and verse to magazines, some 
of which have been deemed worthy of preservation in published collections. Mr. 
Orcutt attended the Franciscan College at Allegany, N. Y., and from 1873 to 1877, 
was a student in the classical course at the University of Michigan, 'rom which he 
graduated in the latter year, receiving the degree of B. A. He was one of the eight 
honor graduates in a class of seventy-seven, one of the speakers at the commence- 
ment exercises, and the historian of his class. He studied law with Horace Bemis 
at Hornellsville. attended the Columbia College Law School in New York, and was 
admitted to the bar in June, 1879. He was immediately received in equal partner- 
ship with Mr. Bemis which contniued until the latter's death. In politics Mr. Orcutt 
is a Democrat, earnest and active in maintaining the principles of his party. He 
was married in June, 1882, to Fannie Pardee, of Hornellsville. Their children are 
Helen R. Orcutt and Russell P. Orcutt. 

Hall, John II., was born in Pennsylvania, and is the oldest of nine children born 
to Richard H. and Eliza Jane (Reed) Hall, natives of Tompkins county, N. Y., and 



Family sketche?:. 201 

Pennsylvania, respectively. The paternal grandfather, John W. Reed, was a car- 
penter in Pennsylvania, who spent his early days in Minnesota. He was a soldier in 
the war of 1812. Benjamin Hall, the maternal }!;randfather, was a farmer in Penn- 
sylvania, where he died. Richard H. Hall came to Wayne in 1847 and engaged iu 
farming, buying a farm of 167 acres. He died in 18!)8. and Mrs. Hall is still living 
at the age of seventy-two years. John H. was reared on a farm and has followed 
farming and lumbering. He began to run a saw mill at the age of thirteen years. 
He and his brother Charles now own the homestead. In 18()f> Mr. Hall married 
Matilda J. Silvernail, by whom he has one daughter, Ella, wife of Henjamin House, 
a farmer of Bradford. They have one son, Harrison House. Mr. Hall is a member 
of North I'rbana Lodge, No. 387, K. O. T. M. He and his familv attend the M. E. 
church. 

Jamison, D. Stearns, was born in Canisteo, May D, 18(i(l. Daniel Jamison, his 
father, was also born in Canisteo, on the farm where they now live. He is a de- 
scendant of the family of Jamisons who are so widely known in that town, and who 
were early settlers. He married Rosina, daughter of Benjamin Towner, a Baptist 
minister, by whom he had six children, Hugh, I). Stearns, Carrie, Mitchell, Anna, 
and Benjamin. Hugh and Bcniamin are in the gold and silver mines in the West. 
U. Stearns was educated iu the district schools of Canisteo, and married Mary, 
daughter of J. C. Stephens, one of the first families of the town, whose history dales 
back to the days when the Indians were in pos.session, aud by whom he had two 
children, Carrie and Marion. Mr. Jamison was elected iu 1S94 as collector of tlie 
town, which office he now holds. 

Castle, Eri, was born in Whitestown, N.V., March K!. IHi:!, son of I'hilo and Mary 
(Lockwood) Castle, she a native of Chatham, N. Y., and he of Connecticut. The 
grandfather, Abisha Castle, died in Connecticut. The maternal grandfather, James 
Lockwood, died in Columbia county. Philo Castle, father of Eri, came to Whites- 
town, N. Y., where he died in 1814, and his wife, in 1836. Eri Castle was reared on 
a farm and educated in the common schools. He came to WoodhuU in 1861, and 
purchased seventy-five acres of land, where he has since resided. He was a Repub- 
lican, but is now a Prohibitionist, and was postmaster of East Woodhull for twelve 
years. He married Olive Gould, daughter of Samuel Gould, mentioned in this work. 
She died in 1882, and in 1883 Mr. Castle married Mary A. Warn, a native of Chenango 
county, and daughter of Augu.stus F. and Lucj- A. (Ferris) Warn, by whom he had 
nine children: Philo S, deceased ; Eri H., deceased; Rachel H . deceased; Mary E., 
deceased; Philo B., deceased; Olive A. ; Arnold G , deceased; Mary E., and Charles 
.S., who married Dora Edwards, by whom he had three children : Gertrude, deceased, 
Fred, and Ina. His wife<lied in 1889, and he married for his second wife, in 1890, 
Kittie Olin, by whom he has two children: Nellie and Fannie. Olive A. is the wife 
of Horatio Parker, and they have four children. Harry, Hattie, Mary, and Amenzo. 
Mary E. is the wife of James Trenchard. No children. 

Deck, Hiram, was born in Jasper, October 26, 1813, son of Urial and Elizabeth 
Deck. Hiram was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, after which 
he followed farming and now owns a farm of eighty-two acres where he resides, also 
one of fifty-four acres. In 1850 he married Julia U. Robinson, a native of Otsego 



202 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

county, N. Y., by whom he had three childreu; William; Andrew, who married 
Olive Vanskiver, by whom he had one child, Stella ; and Cora, wife of Jerry I Javis, 
they have three children, William, Damon, and Clarence. Mrs. Hiram Deck died 
December 22, 1894, aged sixty-four years. 

Talbot, Lorenzo S., was born in Jasper, April 29, 1851, son of Jarvis and Fidelia 
(Dennis) Talbot, both natives of New Hampshire, who came to Jasper when quite 
young. The grandfather, Jedediah Talbot, came to Jasper in 1823, and settled on 
Talbot Creek, where he died December 25, 18T0. Jarvis Talbot, father of Lorenzo 
Talbot, was a farmer, and died March 12, 1869, and his wife in March, 1994. Lorenzo 
was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in 
farming, and now owns 10.5 acres of the old homestead on which he built a good resi- 
dence in 1894. In 1878 he married Eva Brown of Canisteo, N. Y. 

Shults, Mrs R. — Horatio Nellis Shults was born in Avoca, on the farm Mrs. Shults 
now owns, April 9, 1846. Josiah Shults, his father, was born in Montgomery county, 
N. N . He was a hotel keeper, also a tanner, and came to the town of Avoca in 1840, 
where he has since resided. He married Catherine Nellis of Montgomery county, 
N. Y., by whom he had .six children. Horatio Nellis Shults was educated in the 
town of Avoca, after which he engaged in farming. He married Rebecca, daughter 
of David Garlock of Tonawanda, N. Y., by whom he had one son, Lee N , who is 
now fourteen years of age. Mr. Shults died in 1892, with consumption, and for two 
)-ears before his death was a great sufferer. 

Daniels, P. C. — Prominent among the familiar personal landmarks of this vicinity 
is Mr. P. C. Daniels, a resident of Addison since 18G8, and for more than a quarter 
of a century local representative o£ standard and reliable insurance companies. Mr. 
Daniels was born March 2, 1820, at Gorham, Ontario county. His years rfest lightly 
upon him, so correct has been his life, and so pure the blood bequeathed him from 
his English ancestry. He is one of a family which once comprised thirteen children, 
of whom but two survive. The ancestors of Mr. Daniels, especially on the paternal 
side, were somewhat noted for longevity, and his own father, Amasa Daniels, 
reached the age of ninety-three Mr. Daniels received but a common school educa- 
tion, but has by close observation and personal research acquired wide range of in- 
formation, and has kept wholly in touch with men and events. His first wife was 
Sarah Wolverton of Owego, and at her death in 1853 she left two children: Mrs. 
Catherine Dawson, of Toledo, O. ; and Sarah, who died in infancy. In 1854 he mar- 
ried his present wife, Mrs. Jane True. Mr. Daniels early gave his allegiance to the 
Republican party and holds it unshaken and with unswerving fidelity. He is now 
filling his second term as justice of the peace. He is a pillar of the local Baptist 
church, having been a member of that society from its organization, and a member 
of the denomination for fifty-four years, and for twelve years a member of the board 
of directors of the Baptist Missionary Convention of the State of New York. 

Cotton, Samuel S., was born September 20, 1831. His grandfatlier, Daniel Cotton, 
was born in Washington county, N. Y., where he died while quite a young man. 
Henry Cotton, father of Samuel S.. was born in Washington count)', N. Y., June 22, 
1802. He married Elmira Martin, who was born in Washington county, N. Y., in 
IHOl, by whom he had five children: Silas; Lydia Ann Collins, who was born in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 203 

1837; Samuel, as above; Daniel, of Rochester; and Julia Bowen. who was born in 
1843. He came to the town of Howard (now Tremont) in 181!), and enjjaged in 
farming and buying stock. He has held the office of assessor in the town of Howard 
for three years. He died in the town of Fremont, March 4, 1884, and his wife died 
in March, 18.54. Samuel S. Cotton was educated in Alfred Academy, after which he 
engaged in farming and has bought a great many cattle and sheep. He owns 166 
acres of land in the town of Fremont and 25(1 acres in Indiana. He has been super- 
visor of the town of Fremont for five years. He is a member of the Hornellsville 
chapter No. 101, F. and A. M., also a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 144, of Wallace. 
At Hoachville, in April, 1851, he married Sarah Carrington, who was born in South 
Dansville, May 22, 1832. She has been a teacher m the common schools. Her 
father. Joel Carrington, was born in Washington county, N'. Y., and died in Avoca. 
He was a member of the Legislature two years. Mr. and Mrs. Cotton have two 
children: Cameron, who was born September 8. 1852. He married Cornelia Miller, 
and they are living in Bath, where he is running a machine shop, and has held the 
office of game protector; and Josephine IT.unilti>ii, wlio was born October 3, 1H,54, 
and lives in Howard. 

Bronson, James S. , was burn November 14, 1822. His grandfather, Solomon 
Bronson, was bo/n in Oneida county, and came to Wayland and settled near Loon 
Lake, where he took up 1,200 acres. He was a Methodist minister, and also followed 
farming some. He died at sixty-five years of age. James Bronson, father of 
James S., was born in Oneida county, and came to Steuben county w'ith his father 
when nineteen years of age. He was a member of the M. E. Conference about forty 
years, and in connection with his ministry, he farmed it and dealt in lumber, and 
also was the owner of a store. He was a member of the F. and A. M. He married 
Lida Pierce, who was born in Otsego county, and died at seventy-five years of age, 
by whom he had six children- Maria, Lida Ann, Jane, James S., Levi C, and 
Julyann. Mr. Bronson died at eighty-four years of age. James S. Bronson was 
educated at Dansville. He has owned two saw- mills and followed farming on a farm 
located near Haskinville; he has been a correspondent to seventeen different 
editors' papers, and has been justice of the peace. He married Hannah, daughter of 
Hon. William C. Rogers of South Dansville. She was a teacher in the public school, 
and died November 18, 1889. 

Hathaway, James V., was born in Chemung county in 1833. He married there 
auii about 1858 came to Corning and has since resided in Steuben county. He fol- 
lowed canal boating for eighteen years and in 1880 located on his present farm in 
Hornby. He has 110 acres and follows general farming. In politics he is a Re- 
|)ublicau. In September, 1836, he married Sophia Hoffman, of Millport, Chemung 
county. 

Easlerbrooks, Samuel, of Painted Post, was born in Otsego county in 1816, and 
came to his present farm in 1821 with his parents, William and Mary Amy Easter- 
brooks, natives of Rhode Island and New York. The parents died here in 1854. 
Mr. Easterbrooks has always resided here since 1821. In 1842 he married Catherine 
Stanton, who died the same year. In 1844 he married Polly Underwood, his present 
wife. They have two children: Edwin J., and Samuel M. Mr. Easterbrooks has 



204 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

filled the offices of assessor and supervisor, the former oflSce six years, the latter four 
years. He has the original home place of forty-nine acres, to which he has added 
eighty-nine acres. 

Hyna, Samuel, was born in the town of Avoca, April 15, 1848. Enoch Hyna, his 
father, was born in Germany in 1808 and came to America when a young man and 
began farm work, working out by the month. Later he settled in Avoca, then 
moved to Wheeler, where he remained for over thirty years, when he retired to the 
village of Avoca. He married Christana Wenno, by whom he had six children : 
Maria, George, John, Peter, William, and Samuel. The latter was educated in the 
district schools and remained on the farm with his father until twenty-three years of 
age, when he rented a farm, later buying one of 100 acres, to which he has since 
added seventy-five acres. pe,has bred many fine horses and sheep and has taken 
special interest in breeding^aloa China hogs. He was one of the first men to g^ow 
large quantities of potatoes in Wheeler, growing 5,000 bushels in one year. He was 
an active member of the West Creek Grange until its disbandment in 1876. Mr. 
Hyna married Alice, daughter of Simeon Wagener, of Wheeler. Their children are 
Elmer, Clara, wife of William Early of Prattsburg, who has one son, Deyo S. E. 
Early; and Nellie. Mrs. Hyna is a member of the Lutheran church. 

Ueyo, Alonzo, one of the well-known influential citizens of Caton, was born in 
Newfield, Tompkins county, N. Y., in 1835. He came to Caton in 184T, locating on 
his present place, where he now owns sixty-si.\ acres of well-improved land. He also 
has other real estate interests in the county. He served as supervisor of the town of 
Caton during the years of 1875-77, during which time he was appointed sole com- 
mittee on county poorhouse investigation, and was again elected to the same office 
in 1892, which he still continues to fill. His report and the consequent action of the 
Board resulted in a vast improvement in the management of the poor affairs of the 
county, and a complete change in the sanitary condition of the county poor build- 
ings, besides the saving of thousands of dollars to the tax payers of Steuben. Mr. 
Deyo has spent seventeen years of his life in teaching, and has also served twenty- 
eight years in continuous action as justice of the peace, and was re-elected at the last 
town meeting for four years more. For many years he has been foremost as legal 
adviser and counsellor in the town, and his practical judgment and sound sense, com- 
bined with a degree of legal knowledge not often attained by men outside the pro- 
fession, eminently qualify him for this position, and his irreproachable character and 
high sense of moral integrety fit him most admirably for the many private offices of 
trust which he is so often called upon to fill. He married Charlotte Maria, daughter 
of Anson and Betsey (Caulkins) Cooper of Caton, who was born in Corning, May 13, 
1842, by whom he had seven children: Viola Eunice, born May 3, 1861, wife of Will- 
iam H. Scott, of Elmira; Minnie Elnora, born April 21, 1864; Bessie Chloe, born 
Xovember 7, 1867, wife of Willard P. Smith, of Corning; Mary Delphine, born De- 
cember 26, 1872, wife of Samuel Wilson Adams, of Caton; Willie, bom October 8, 
187!); Frank, born Xovember 18, 1882, and died September 25, 1884; and Lottie M., 
born June 23, 1884. 

Clawson, John M., was born in the town of Southport, January 30, 1831, son of 
Ebenezer Clawson, who for the last twenty years of his life was a hotel proprietor 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 205 

of Campbell village, and married Rohanna McHenry, by whom lie had three chil- 
dren: John M.. Jacob, and Betsey. For his second wife he married Lorelta Reed, 
by whom he had two children: Martha and Julian. John M. Clawson has spent the 
most of his life in Campbell in the tannery for J. I). Hamilton. In 1862 he enlisted 
in 107th N. Y. Vols., as a private, and served until the close of the war; he was pro- 
moted to second lieutenant May 25, 1865. He married Lucinda R., daughter of 
Philip and Maria Drake, by whom he had one son, Charlie D. Clawson, a merchant 
in Pennsylvania. He is a member of Kno.x Post No. 447, and in politics is a 
Republican. 

Buck, Herman E., was born in the town of Farmington, Washington county, Wis., 
May 14, 1847. His father. Benjamin F. Buck, was born in Bradford county. Pa., in 

1823, moving to Wisconsin in 1846, returning to Bradford county in 1848, and now 
resides in the State of Washington. Herman E. Buck enlisted in 1862, in the 75th 
N. Y. Vols., and served one year and a half, when he was honorably discharged on a 
surgeon's certiticate of disability. In 1869 Mr. Buck came to Hornellsville, and to 
Canisteo the following year, where he has since remained, and at the present time is 
conducting the retail boot and shoe business. In 1873 Mr. Buck was married to 
Elbertine Shuart of Pennsylvania. They have two children living, Gertrude S. and 
William E. Mr. Buck has been supervisor of the town, a member of the Legislature, 
and has held various minor town offices, and at present is president of the village of 
Canisteo. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge No. 65, F. and A. M., of 
which he is a past master; he is also a member of Abram Allen Post No. 194, 
(',. A. R. 

Carman, Alexander, was boru in the town of Hector, N. Y. , November 19, 1829, 
son of Abraham and Elizabeth Horton Carman, both of Ulster county, N. Y. Mr. 
and Mrs. Carman came to Hector about 1826, and in 1836 moved to Bath, where they 
.spent the remainder of their days. He was a farmer by occupation, and died April 
3. 1876, and his wife in 1864. Alexander Carman was reared on a farm and contin- 
ued farming and lumbering until about 1870, when he commenced working at car- 
penter work, which business he followed until about 1881, when he purchased the 
farm where he now resides and engaged in farming. In 1859 he married Melissa, 
daughter of Stephen and Jane Horton, of- Bath, by whom he had two children : Rosa, ' 
who married James Stinson, a farmer; they have three children: Emma, William 
and Alexander; and Emma, widow of Charles De Waine, who died January 8, 1893, 
and she now resides with her father, Mr. Carman. Mr. and Mrs. De Waine had 
three children: Rosa, Ray and Meli.ssa. In October, 1862, Mr. Carman enlisted in 
Co. D, 161st N. Y. Vols. ; he was at the siege of Port Hudson and a number of other 
engagements, and was wounded on Cox's plantation, July 13, 1863, and was honor- 
ably discharged OctoTjer, 1865. Mr. Carman is a member of Knox Post No. .549, (',. 
A. R. 

Stedgc. Harrison, was born in the town of Hector, Schuyler county. October 4, 

1824. and is the seventh of eight children born to Peter and Betsey Rorabuck Stedge, 
both of New Jersey. The grandfather. William, was a tanner and currier in New 
Jersey. Peter learned the tanner and shoemaker trades, at which he worked 
throughout his life. He came from New Jersey to Chemung county, and then went 



206 LANDMARKS OP STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to Schuyler county, and died at Beaver Dam, aged seventy-two years. He was a 
soldier in the war of 1813. In 1842 Harrison Stedge married Fairmenia Rhodes, of 
North Hector, Schuyler county, and they have had six children : Laura, wife of W. 
O. Preston, a carpenter of Elkland, Pa. ; Mary, wife of Jack Gordon, a mason at 
Flint, Mich. ; Catharine, wife of James Randall, a carpenter of Watkins; Delia, wife 
of Henry Crandall, a mason by trade, and a farmer of Cattaraugus county; William, 
of Corning; and Ernest, a farmer of Bradford. Mrs. Stedge died in 1860. For his, 
second wife Mr. Stedge married Abigail Chandler, and they have one son, John,, who 
is a hardware merchat of Harvard, III. Mrs. Stedge died, and he married for his 
third wife, Susan M. Pickley Benette, widow of Hiram Benette. Mr. Stedge came 
from Hector to Campbell in 1863, and to Bradford in 1870, where he has a farm of 
eighty acres, and carries on general farming and a dairy, making a specialty of 
thoroughbred Durham cows. In politics he is a Republican, and has been assessor. 

McDougall, John, was born in Paisley, Scotland, July 25, 1833. When eighteen 
years of age he arrived in this country an almost penniless and inexperienced lad. 
His first year in America was spent in Brooklyn, and the next in Syracuse. He sub- 
sequently removed to Oswego, wnere he entered into partnership with a Mr. Avery, 
a partnership that continued for nearly thirty-five years. The firm built several gas 
works, among them the one at Hornellsville, which was built in 1801, and Mr. Mc- 
Dougall was a resident of Hornellsville from that date until his death, which occurred 
November 2, 1888. He was not only one of the best known citizens of Hornellsville, 
but his reputation extended throughout the States, both in political and business 
circles, his frank and honorable nature, coupled with great energy and sagacity, 
making him a valuable factor in both. He possessed all the characteristics of the 
hardy, energetic race, whence he sprang. The impress of Mr. McDougall's energy 
and intellect was left upon every year's growth of Hornellsville, from the time he 
became a resident here until his death. Besides his many local enterprises, he was 
interested in chemical works in Allegany with Messrs. Hilton & vSherwood. at Hilton- 
ville. He formed another partnership with Mr. Keery, of Hancock, and erected at 
that point one of the largest acid works in the country, known as the Cadosia Chem- 
ical Works. Mr. McDougall was first president of the R., H. & L. R. R.,and was 
deeply interested in every public enterprise, to which he lent his influence and con- 
tributed generously of his means. The "Hornellsville Tribune," in an editorial on 
the occasion of his death, says: "Here we take opportunity to pay the parting 
tribute to the memory of a personal friend, and to a citizen whose every heart-throb 
beat for the prosperity of the people with whom he had cast his fortunes, and for 
whom he had always a fervent and sincere regard and an honest desire for their 
prosperity and .success. The one overwhelming desire of his heart was the growth 
and progress of our beautiful city. Poor in all material wealth, became to Hornells- 
ville and has grown rich in the esteem, the love and heartfelt resjiect of his neighbors. 
With open hand and energy of spirit he has embarked in every enterprise that prom- 
ised to aid in the rapid development of our city, and every enterprise that felt his 
vigor behind it went on to assured success." 

Peterson, Jeremiah M., was born in Potter county. Pa., April 26, 18.")!. Jacob 1). 
Peterson, his father, was a native of Ohio, and came to the town of Avoca in IS.')4. 
He was an architect and millwright, which business he followed for many years, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 207 

if now residing in the town of Woodhull, Steuben county, at the ripe aijc nf ninety 
years. He married Sarah A. . daughter of William and Harriet Wiley, by whom he 
had nine children: Jeremiah M., Jacob I)., Amenial. Orin J., Lorevo, Henry O., 
M.ary M.. Cynthia, and limma. Jeremiah M. wa.s a head sawyer for twenty-five 
years, and since then has been a jjeneral jobber and dealer in lumber. He married 
( )ra Adelia, daughter of Ezra and Margarjjt Strong, by whom he had four children : 
Dora L. , Gay B., Adelbert J. D. , and Kay. He was elected highway commissioner 
in 1894. on the Republican ticket, and is a leading member in Mountain Lodge No. 
'MS. of I. O. O. F., also of the Canton Loyal, No. 43, of Hornellsville. 

Piatt, Francis C, was born in the town of Erwin in 1866, son of C. F. Piatt, who was 
born in Otsego county. N. Y., and settled in Erwin about 1S4."). Francis C. married 
Jennie, daughter of Henry P. Faulkner, January 7. 1895. Mr. Piatt is owner of the 
Evans Farm dairy, the largest one in the valley. 

Erwin, Francis, was born in Erwin in 1834. is a son of Gen. Francis E. Erwin, 
who was born on the farm now owned by Francis. General Erwin was a grandson 
of Col. Arthur Erwin. who was the first owner of this town. Francis married a 
daughter of Bradford Campbell, and granddaughter of Archibald, and they have two 
children Sophia H., and Arthur B. Mr. Erwin has held the office of town clerk, 
was supervisor seven years, and justice sixteen years. 

Covert. Reuben, was born in the town of Greenwood, June 9. 1843, is the si.xth of 
nine children born to Smith and Mahitable{Luce) Covert, he a native of Holland, N. 
Y., and she of Long Island. The paternal grandparents were natives of Ireland and 
settled at Harlem, N. Y. , where they died. The maternal grandfather, David Luce, 
came from Long Island and settled in Greenwood where he died. Smith Covert 
worked in woolen mills in his younger days and then followed farming in Greenwood 
where he settled about 1.S39, and died in 1869. Mrs. Covert died in 188,"). Reuben 
Covert followed farming until June 19, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. C, 67th N.Y. 
Vols., and was honorably di.scharged July 4, 1864. He was in thirty-two hard fought 
battles, among which were Fair Oaks. Malvern Hill, Chancellorsville, Fredericks- 
burg, Antietam, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Wildnerness. Cedar Creek, etc. Mr. 
Covert spent eight years in Michigan farming, and in 1882 settled in Greenwood. 
In 1849 he married Erselia. daughter of Jackson King of Greenwood, by whom he 
had five children: Norman, iJever, Mary, Mahaly, and Andrew J. Mr. Covert is a 
member of William C. White Post, No. 161, G. A. R. 

Goff, Robert H., is a resident of New York city but his summer home has been in 
Painted Post for the past twenty-one years. He married Mary C, daughter of Free- 
man Campbell, by whom he had these children: Charles C, Clarence (deceased). 
Adele, Freeman C, Robert H., jr., and Wallace C. Mr. Goff has been senior war- 
den of the Church of the Holy Apostles of New York for more than twenty years. 
In early life he was interested in the mercantile business and was of the firm of 
Wagstaff &: Goflf. He has a farm of 1,00(1 acres in Tuscarora, near Addison, and 
also owns the Erwin homestead, where he now resides. He is also interested in the 
real estate business. 

Tucker, Smith, was born on the farm where he now resides. June 19, 1835. 
ICleazer Tucker, his father, was born in Connecticut, and came to the town of Avoca 



208 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

about 1820. where he took up land and cleared a farm Qf 150 acres He was a inill- 
wright by trade, and came two years in advance of his family and built a saw mill 
on what is called Twelve Mile Creek. He later built a mill at Blood's Corner, from 
there he went to Texas, returned, and at seventy years of age returned to Texas and 
the family have never heard from him since. He married Elizabeth Wood of 
Dutchess county, by whom he has these children; Harriet, Ira, Phoebe, Amos, Smith, 
and Elizabeth. Smith Tucker was engaged in farming and lumbering for nine 
years, and since that time has devoted his time to farming. He married Hannah 
Folwell of Avoca, by whom he had these children : Bayard T. and Gaylord C. Mrs. 
Tucker died in 1850, and he married for his present wife, Jemima R. Roberts of 
Avoca. 

Shults, Elias, was born m the town of Bath, March 3, 18-12, son of ( jeorge H. Shults, 
who was born in Montgomery county, and was a farmer and hotel keeper. He came 
to Steuben county in about 1841, and settled in the town of Bath, where he pur- 
chased land and cleared a farm, which is now owned by the State for the Soldiers' 
Home. He married Betsey, daughter of Aaron Brown, of Montgomery county, and 
they were the parents of twelve children: Betsey, John, Aaron, Margaret, David, 
Jeremiah, Ezenah, George, Elias, Levi, Amanda, and William. Elias is a black- 
smith by trade, which business he has followed all his life with the exception of a 
few years s'pent in the war. He enlisted in the 22d New York Cavalry. He married 
Emma, daughter of Benjamin Decker, of Hammondsport, and they have had two 
children: Herbert and Elizabeth. For his present wife he married Maggie, daugh- 
ter of Peter Watson, of Painted Post, and they have two children: Violetta and 
Daniel, who is a student in the Bath Academy. Mr Shults is a member of the 
Morey Post, No. 507, G. A. R. 

Stowell, Henry, was born in the town of Afton. Chenango county. July 17, ]X'):i, 
son of Richard S. and Almira Vinton .Stowell, who settled in Lindley in 1871. He 
married Alice, daughter of Theron and Mary Wheat Harris, and they have four 
children: Claude, Burt, Allie, and Richard. Mr. Stowell is a dairy and tobacco 
farmer. He has been justice of the peace for three terms. He is a member of Law- 
rence Lodge, No. 913 of I. O. O. F. , and Encampment, No. 227, of Lawrencevillc. 
Pa., has passed the chairs in the subordinate lodge and was selected as past grand 
to represent the lodge at the session of the Grand Lodge held in Philadelphia, May 
21, 1895, at the time of dedication of the Odd Fellows' Temple. Mr. Stowell is in- 
terested in the Lindley Fairview Cemetery Association, having been its president 
since its organization. 

Jacobus, Henry, was born in Steuben county, N. Y., May 4, 1824. son of John and 
Sarah (Bennett) Jacobus. John Jacobus came from Orange county to Steuben county 
when a young man, and there spent most of his life on a farm. He finally settled on 
Mt. Washington, Urbana, where he died in 1870. He gave five sons to the Union 
ranks to save the life of the nation ; Henry, Jesse, Obedias, Bert and Sam. Jesse 
was killed at the battle of Fair Oaks. Mrs. Jacobus died in 183.5. Henry Jacobus 
has always followed the trade of painter. In 1850 he married Sarah Scofield, of 
Urbana, N. Y. , by whom he had one daughter, wife of Manley Crookston, who is a 
son of Nelson and Sarah (Wixson) Crookston of Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Crookston 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 200 

have four children; Krwiu H., Lela May, Rciia S. , and Carrie K. Mr. Crookston 
has the homestead farm of seventy-four acres and a vineyard of five acres. He is 
also working the farm of Mr. Jacobus, which he jiurchased in 1874, and deeded to his 
daughter in 18!)2, and on which he has since resided. Mrs. Jacobus died in 18."i4. In 
ISfil Mr. Jacobus enlisted in Co. I, :i4th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged 
in ISlilJ. He was a Democrat until 1800, when he became a Republican, but is now 
a Prohibitionist. 

Stephens, Emmett L , was born January 10, IS4S, at I'.cnuett's Creek, on a farm 
which was owned in his lifetime by Joshua Stephens, who was killed by the Indians. 
I)e Witt C. Stephens, his father, married Amanda M., daughter of John Hamilton, 
one of the oldest families in the town of Howard, by whom he had five children: 
John U. , Joshua B., Emmett L., Henry L., and Anna. ICniniett L. was educated in 
the common schools of Canisteo, and was a farmer and lumberman, and later he be- 
gan the study of law with A. I. Parkhill of Cohocton. then with William B. Jones, 
also with Eli Soule, and later with A. M. Burrell. In February, 1890, he was elected 
justice of the peace of the town of Canisteo and re-elected in 1804, wdiich office he 
now fills. He married Etta, daughter of Delevan Stephens of Hornellsville, and is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. 

Porter, William Gordon, was born in Woodhull, October 2!t, 1849, son of William 
G., who was born in Connecticut and came to Woodhull in 1830. William G., the 
father, first .settled in Woodhull, engaging in the mercantile business, but moved to 
Greenwood when William Gordon was .six months old. William Gordon learned the 
tinsmith's trade. In 18il he married Sabra H., daughter of Alexander II. Stephens, 
one of the old pioneer families. William Gordon was engaged in the mercantile 
business for ten years, then moved to Iowa, intending to engage in business with his 
wife's brother. At the death of this brother he moved to Canisteo and in 1883 the 
private banking business was started by Porter & Davis, which is still conducted in 
the village. Mr. Porter has been president of the village, trustee of the academy, 
and held other minor olihces. He is a member of the Morning Star Lodge of Masons, 
No. 65. 

Nichols, Samuel K., was burn in Tuscarora, N.Y., December 1."), 18lil, son of Will- 
iam Ira and Ann (Kemp) Nichols, he born in Tuscarora, N. Y.. July 10, 182."), and 
she in Lawrenceville, Pa., October 16, 1827. William Ira Nichols started a poor 
man and became one of the wealthiest men of the town, and owned 430 acres of land . 
He died September 6, 1893. The grandfather. Alfred Nichols, was born in Rhode 
Island, in 1802. He married Sallie Baxter, who was born in Smithfield, in 180.'). He 
settled in Tuscarora in 182,5, where he died September s, 1881. He was a Democrat 
in politics, and was assessor and collector. Samuel K. was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools and graded school of Nelson, Pa,, after which he 
engaged in teaching for ten years, but now follows farming, and owns eighty acres 
of laud. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been inspector one year. September 
30, 1891, he married Amanda Aldrich, born December 19, 1800, in Tuscarora, N. Y. 

Oldfield, Thomas, was born in Hornby in 1831, son of .Samuel and Harriet Hurd 
Oldfield, natives of New Jersey and Connecticct. The father came to Hornby about 
1«20 and married here. The parents <lied in 1867 and I83J, aged sixty-eight and 



210 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

thirty-eight, father and mother, respectively. When Mr Oldfield was seven years 
old he came with his parents to his present farm, where he has since resided. At the 
age of twentv-one he purchased the place, consisting of 169 acres. In Miii'i he mar- 
ried Phoebe M. Gould, a native of New Jersey. They have five children ; Gidecn 
G., Samuel, Hattie, Ann May, and Sarah G. Hattie is the wife of J. W. Bucher; 
Ann May is the wife of E. L. Townley; Sarah G. is the wife of L. H. Ferenbaugh. 
Five children are deceased, all under the age of ten years. Mr. Oldfield has tilled 
the offices of assessor, justice of the peace, and supervisor. 

Hall, Daniel B., was born in Dansville, N. Y., February '~6, IH.'iT. His grand- 
f.ither, Williani^Hall, was a native of Vermont, and died April 28, 1871. He settled 
in Dansville about 1833, and purchased and cleared the farm where Daniel B. now 
resides, and was finally the owner of 400 acres of land. He married Diana Gris- 
wold of Vermont, who died June 8, 1885, aged seventy-six years, by whom he had 
six children. William H., father of Daniel B., was born December 8, 1830. He 
married for his first wife Mary E. Blank, who died November 11, 1861, by whom he 
had two children: Daniel S., as above, and one who died in infancy. In 1872 he 
married for his second wife, Ann Driesbach, who died in 187."), by whom he had two 
children; Bertha, deceased, and Willie, who is a farmer and the largest land owner 
in town. Daniel B. Hall received a common school education and took a short cour.se 
in the Dansville High School. He is a farmer by birth and occupation, also a pro- 
duce buyer. At Dansville, N. Y., November 13, 1879, he married Ann Acomb, who 
was born in Dansville, N. Y., April 21, 1858, by whom he had three children: Effie 
L., born April 4, 1881 ; Ida M., born February 20, 1883: and Daniel R., born October 
3, 1884. 

Kershner, Mrs. E. L., is the widow of the late B. F. Kershner, who was born in 
Dansville, N.Y., September 15, 1829, and died March 14,1887. He was a repre- 
sentative citizen of Dansville and respected by all who knew him. He represented 
the town of Dansville on the Board of Supervisors two terms, and highway com- 
missioner two terms. He was a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 116. F. & A. M., and 
was buried with the Masonic ceremony. In 1834 he moved with his parents to the 
place now occupied by his widow, at the time when the cholera was raging in that 
locality. Mr. Kershner was educated at the old academy of Dansville, and was a 
great reader. His father, Philip Kershner, was born in Washington county, Md., 
and in 1812, when 28 years of age, he came to Genesee county when it was a wilder- 
ness, in company with Nathaniel Rochester and Leonard Coon. He was one of the 
first settlers of Dansville, and purchased the place now occnpied by his son's wife, 
which was at that time occupied by an Indian encampment. He died October 12, 
1850. His wife. Mary Knapjienberg, was born in Northumberland county. Pa., and 
died in 1879, aged eighty-five years. They had six children: Elizabeth M., born 
October 13, 1815; Nathaniel D., born May 8, 1817; Henry A., born March 26, 1820; 
Joseph, born June 22, 1822; Mary C, born January 3, 1825; and Benjamin F., born 
September 15, 1829, and on December 4, 1854, he married Eliza L. Southmayd, 
who was born in Os.sian, N. Y., in 1831, by whom he had three children: Rosa A., 
born September 27, 1856, and died February 8, 1.S64; Lilla Clare, born April 6, 1867, 
married, August 27, 1895, Charles S. Browning of Bay City, Mich., born in 1866; and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 211 

Mamie Peck, born November 9, 1869. ami married (Jeorge E. Walter, who was born 
December 21, 1857. 

Bill, G. Jacob, was born June 27, 1845, son of George C. Bill, who was born m 
Germany, emigrated to America in 1847, and settled in Wayland, where he pur- 
chased the farm of 180 acres, where his son now resides. He married Mary D. 
Drekmer, a native Germany, by whom he had these children: Mary Catherine, born 
April 14, 1825; Mary E., born October 22, 1826; John C, born August 29, 1828; 
Nicholas, born February 13. 1H34; Mary, born April 22, 1836; Charlotte, born June 
7, 1838; John Conrad, born February 22, 1841; John Nicholas, born June (i. 1S43; 
George Jacob, born June 27. 1845; and John Adam, born December 11, 1848. He 
was a blacksmith by trade, also a farmer. He died in Wayland in 1881, aged 
seventy-nine years, and his wife June 7, 1862, aged fifty-two years. George 
Jacob attended the common schools, also the German Lutheran school, where 
he was confirmed July 17, 1859. He has always followed farming and now owns 
the farm where his father settled about 1848. He is a member of Wayland 
Lodge No. 176, I. O. O. F. He married Mary C. Kausch at Dansville, N. Y., 
who was born in Wayland in 1848, daughter of Valentine Kausch of Wayland, by 
whom he has these children; J. William, born January 8, 1867; Delia Dora born 
October 26. 1871; Amelia, bo: n March 13, 1875; Charles Sylvester, born November 
S, 1S77. and died October 11. 1S89; and Lena Mary, born April 17. 1S79. Mrs. Bill 
died November 14, 1887. 

Crosby, Hiram. — Nathan Crosby was born at Cauisteo, March 26, 1815. Richard 
Crosby, his father, was born in the Eastern States, and came to Cauisteo with his 
father, Benjamin Crosby, first settling in Bath, then moving to Canisteo. Benja- 
min Crosby was one of the twelve purchasers of the township, owning 640 acres of 
what is now Hornellsville. Richard Crosby was the owner of 1,200 acres in Canis- 
teo, and this land they cleared, and the family is known through this section as one 
of the first of the town. He married Ilatniah Thomas, who was a descendant of 
one of the first families of the town, and by whom he had four children: Nathan, 
Ulysses, Mary, and Robert. Nathan Crosby is a farmer, and married Nuuev, 
(laughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Moore Hallett, by whom he had four children : 
Hiram, Byron, Lewis, and Elizabeth. The sons are farmers, owning a farm of 800 
acres in Canisteo. Byron is living in the town of Jasper, a farmer and general 
shipper of cattle, sheep, etc. He married Sylvia, daughter of A. Travis of Canis- 
teo. by whom he had one daughter, Florence. Hiram Crosby is the oldest son, and 
is living on the homestead. He enlisted in the 85th N. Y. Vols., going out with 
Captain Bennett, where he served three years, and w-as in the Second Bull Run 
battle. Battle of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and (Gettysburg, and Spottsylvania, 
and was discharged at Petersburg, Va., in September, 1864. He has a watch which 
once saved his life, and which show-s the mark of the bullet by which it was struck 
while in his vest pocket. In 1865 he married Julia, daughter of William Ordway. 
by whom he had four children; William, Mary, George, and Myron Clark. Mary is 
the wile of Martin Wallace of Canisteo. Hiram is a member of the G. A. R. Post 
No. 97. Lewis Crosby is the youngest son and lives on an adjoining farm, and is 
known as one of the leading farmers in the town of Canisteo, owning 450 acres of 
land. He married Ellen, daughter of L. P. Holmes of Troupsburg, Steuben county. 



2T2 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

by whom he had two sons, George and Marshall. Nathan Crosby was one of the 
charter members of Morning Star Lodge No. 65 of Canisteo. 

Hopkins, Daniel C. was born in the town of Almond. Allegany county, February 
18, 1853, son of Elias Hopkins, a native of Luzerne county, Pa., who came to 
Allegany when a young man and engaged in farming. Daniel, the youngest of a 
family of three children, was educated in the common school. Almond Academy and 
Alfred L^niversity and taught three terms after finishing his education. He engaged 
in farming, fruit growing and the nursery business, remaining on the homestead 
farm of 190 acres until 1886, when lie built a new home and established a nursery 
office in the town of Hornellsville, near Almond. He is now extensively engaged 
in growing all kinds of fruit and ornamental trees, shrubs and plants, being the only 
general nurseryman in Steuben or Allegany counties. He employs a large number 
of agents, besides help to take care of his nursery and fruit and vegetable farm. 
Mr. Hopkins served two years as supervisor of the town of Almond, was elected 
justice in the town of Hornellsville and nominated for supervisor in 1895. He is a 
member of the Order of Maccabees and Protective Legion. He is also a member of 
the Arkport Grange No. 179, and clerk of the joint school district No. 5. He has 
been called "Father" of the tree or Arbor Day in this part of the State: was the 
first to start the call for the well known Hornellsville Farmers' Club and has been 
connected with several other public enterprises. He was married, July 16. 1891, to 
Sarah, youngest daughter of Henry VV. Crandall of Almond, and they have one 
child, Carl Crandall Hopkins 

Bennett, Hiram, a native of Hornellsville, was born September 1, 1815. He was a 
son of the late Major Thomas Bennett, one of the early pioneers of this valley, and 
a grandson of Solomon Bennett, who came to this region from Wyoming before 
Judge Hornell settled here. Having been born in Hornellsville, he was naturally in 
its earlier history thoroughly identified with the town and its interests. He began 
his education in Howard Academy, then a school of some local note. He subse- 
quently went to Lima, where he completed his preparatory course, and afterward 
entered Union College, where he graduated with honor in 1839. He was Hornells- 
ville's first college graduate. Returning to Hornellsville he became the teacher of 
the village school, serving in that capacity with great acceptance. He shortly took 
up the study of law in the office of the late Hon. John K. Hale, in this place, and 
was admitted to the bar about 1842, when he began practicing. Although a man of 
thorough education and unusual attainments he did not find the practice of law 
suited to his tastes, and never took the position at the bar which he might have won 
if the profession had enlisted his enthusiasm. Mr. Bennett held several local public 
offices during his lifetime. From 1841 to 1845 he was town clerk, and held the office 
of justice of the peace for twenty-five years, beginning about 1845. He was once 
president of the village and was a village trustee for a number of years. He ran for 
member of assembly many years ago as the candidate of the Democracy — the party 
to which he gave allegiance throughout his life. He was defeated by the town of 
Reading, then a part of Steuben county, for his known desire to divide the county. 
He never after sought political honors. He was a school trustee and clerk of the 
Board of Education for a number of years. He was also president of the Hornell 
Association. He was at one time judge advocate on Gen. P. Hartshorn's statT. the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 21:5 

only military office he ever accepted. He was also one of the early surveyors of the 
town. He died December 8, 1883. He was married in 1850 to Miss Eliza, daugh- 
ter of Christopher Doty, one of the pioneers of Steuben county. They were the 
parents of one child, Frank H. Bennett. An adopted daughter, M. Estelle, is now 
the wife of Addison J. Sutfin, of Hornellsville. Frank H. Bennett, his son, was 
born in the city of Hornellsville, November 27, 18,")8. He was educated in the city 
.schools and in 1879 he entered Pennsylvania Military College, Chester, Pa., grad- 
uating with the degree of C. E. m 1883. He also entered the Philadelphia Commer- 
cial College, but was obliged to leave on account of his father's health He was 
.secretary of the Hornell Library Association for a number of years, and was also 
assistant chief engineer of the Hornellsville Fire Department. He has devoted his 
time to the real estate business since leaving school and was the originator of the 
William street property. ])lacing over forty building lots within reach of the city 
residents, and has taken an interest in literary work. He was the founder and also 
the publisher of the popular club and society journal, "New York City Life," with 
Richard O. Shaut, who still conducts it. Mr. Bennett severed his connection with 
the enterprise in the spring of 1893 and has since devoted his whole attention to his 
real estate business. 

Elyea, John H., was born in Urbana, N. Y., July 22, 183G. When a young man lie 
learned the carpenter's trade, which has been his principal occujiation. He spent 
four years in Michigan, and owns a farm of 124 acres in Wayne, which he purchased 
in 1868, and upon which he has resided since 1872. In August, 1861, Mr. Elyea en 
listed in Co. A, 89th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged February 14, 186S. 
January 4, 1864, he re-enlisted in Co. M, 50th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close 
of the war. He participated in Burnside's Campaign, in North Carolina, and was 
with Grant through the Wilderness, the Siege of Petersburg, etc. He is a Democrat 
in politics, has been assessor, and was elected justice but declined to serve, but 
served as commissioner of highways. He was a member of Jersey Lodge, No. 668, 
F. & A. M. 

Elyea, William H., was born in Orange county, X. Y., August 3, 1828, and is the 
oldest of four children born to Peter and Mary (Campbell) Elyea. both natives of 
Sussex county, N. J., who came to Steuben county in \X'M, being pioneers of Brad- 
ford. He died in 18.55 and his wife died in 1876. The grandfather, Henry Elyea, 
lived and died in West Jersey. The family are of Huguenot origin, but were several 
generations in New Jersey. William H. engaged in farming and was in a saw mill, 
and was also engaged in teaching school. In 1862 he married Catherine, daughter 
of William and Hannah (Sanford) Fuller of Bradford, by whom he had two children; 
Frank, who is a farmer at home, and married Mary Stinson ; and Cora, wife of Glen 
Earl, a farmer of Orange, and they have one daughter, Carrie. Mrs. Elyea died in 
1888. Mr. Elyea located on the farm he now owns in Bradford in 1856. In 1890 he 
retired and his son now runs the farm. He is a Republican in politics, and has been 
assessor three terms, also justice of the ]ieace. He is a member of Jersey Lodge 
No. 66S, F. & A. M. 

Havens, James, was born in South Bradford, March 7, I860 Sf)n of Lurenzo and 
Annie E. (Hallock) Havens. Lurenzo Havens came to the town of Bradford with 



214 LANDMARKS OF STEDBEX COUNTY. 

his father, John F. , about 1843. He was one of seven children: Lurenzo, James, 
Ann Eliza, Dewitt, Alonzo, George, and Lamenta. John F. was a stone mason by 
trade and was also engaged in farming. He was justice of the peace fifteen years 
in Bradford. Lurenzo Havens had two children : James and Mina E. He followed 
farming until he came to Painted Post in 1867, when he engaged m butchering. 
James Havens married Mary J. Wheeler, now deceased. His second wife is Edith 
Gertrude Stickler. Mr. Havens is a machinist by trade. 

Saltsman, G. E., was born in Ridgeway, Elk county. Pa., June 23, 1862. His 
father, Reuben, was engaged in the lumber business. He married Prudence Brown. 
The family trace their descent from German ancestors who settled in the Mohawk 
Valley at a verv early date. G. E. Saltsman was educated in the common schools, 
and in 1889 came to Kanona and engaged in the hardware business, carrying a full 
line of stoves, wagons, agricultural implements, etc. In 1885 he married Hattie E., 
daughter of C. W. Mason, by whom he has four daughters: Anna P., Clara E., Sue 
A., and Abbie. Mr. Saltsman is one of the leading men of the town. He is a stew- 
ard of the M. E. church. 

\'an Deliuder, Martin O. — William Van Delinder was born in Holland in 1780, and 
removed with his parents to Saratoga county, N. V., at the age of eight years, where 
he resided until about 1820, when he removed to the town of Howard, Steuben 
county. At that time he bought 100 acres of land that was covered with valuable 
timber for two dollars per acre. He was considerable of a speculator, and was con- 
sidered one of the wealthiest men of the town at his death, which occurred Decem- 
ber 16, 1868. His wife was Elizabeth Cochran, who died April 9, 1868. They were 
the parents of two children, one son and one daughter, Mrs. Sarah J. Thompson of 
Harwood, and Martin O. Martin was given a common school education, and worked 
on the farm with his father until the latter's death, and for two years succeeding 
conducted it for himself. He was interested in stock buying from the time he was 
eighteen years old, and in 1S70 removed to Canisteo where he became deeply inter- 
ested in real estate, and built eighteen or twenty houses and eight stores, during 
which time he became interested in mercantile business, and drifted from a grocery 
into a general store which he conducted for nine years, at the same time continuing 
in speculation. In 1892 he became interested in Ilornellsville property, and in 1893 
he removed to that city, where he bought the beautiful home erected by Thomas 
Snell about 1882. He still continues the real estate business, and has now eleven 
houses in the city. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. Lod.ge, and is connected with 
the Park Methodist Episcopal church of Hornellsville. He was married February 3. 
1864, to Catherine M. Cochran of Sullivan county, N. V. They have one child, Mrs. 
John B. Wilson of Hornellsville. 

Avery, John D., was born in Prattsburg, N, V., November 1, 1845, reared on a 
farm, and educated in the common schools. At nineteen years of age he learned the 
carpenter's trade, and in the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Co. A. 1st N. Y. Dragoons, 
and was injured while going into battle at Winchester, by his leg being caught on a 
snag. He also participated in the battle of .Strausburg, and was sent home on.'a 
parole, and a vear passed before he recovered from the effects of his injur\-. In 
lS(i6~67 he engaged in farming in the town of Wayne, after which he returned to 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 215 

PrattsburjT, and for three years worked at the carpenter trade with his father. He 
then engaged in the blacksmith business, which he followed for fifteen years, and in 
connection with this business he added a stock of hardware, later dropping the 
blacksmithing, and since 1888 has carried a general merchandise stock, his wife con- 
ducting the store, while his attention is given to his farm of 147 acres. In politics 
he is a Republican, and for three terms serving as overseer of the poor, and in 1888 
was appointed postmaster, which office he held for five years. In 1866 he married 
Sarah A., daughter of Major L. Fox of Wayne, by whom he had two children: Mrs. 
Anna Dell Simons of Pratt.sburg, and Delos Lee, who is a member of the Chicago 
Board of Trade. He also has an adopted daughter, May Eldred. John Avery, his 
granilfather. was born in Massachusetts about 1800, and was one of six children. He 
removed to Chenango county where he was a distiller for some years, and in 1828 
moved lo Prattsburg where he engaged in farming and lumbering the remainder of 
his life, also owned and conducted a steam saw mill. He married Ruby Spencer, by 
whom he had eight children: Mary, John, Sarah, Densmore, Emily, Samuel C. 
Daniel, and Orson. Samuel Avery, father of John D. , was born in Chenango 
county in 1824, and has followed the carpenter trade all his life, doing a great 
amount of contracting and building in his town and adjoining towns, and has spent 
his whole life in the town of Prattsburg. In politics he is a Republican, and has 
served in nearly all the town offices at various times. He is a member of the Ingle- 
side Grange Lodge. In 1841 he married Samantha, daughter of Israel Graves of 
Prattsburg, by whom he had five children: Mary E. , deceased, Delos L., Clark D., 
John, and Valvaria, deceased. All three sons served in the war of the Rebellion, 
and he was drafted but discharged. Mrs. Avery died January 16, 1895. 

Honness, James E., a native of Tompkins county, born in 1832, came to Caton, in 
lS.");i with his brothers, Benjamin and Joseph, buying 171 acres where he has since 
resided. Joseph died herein 1888. and Benjamin in 1893. Mr. Honness is a staunch 
Republican. Benjamin F. Honness was in his early days, and for a number of years 
after moving to Caton, engaged in teaching; his success and prominence as such 
.<{ave him a standing and influence to that extent that he was elected to the office 
of superintendent of schools in the town where he had for many years served as 
teacher. His counsel was much sought after on all questions of importance where 
educational matters were in question, and freely given when desired. His death 
was a great loss to the community where he lived. 

Ross, Lyman A., was born in the town of Canisteo January 28, 1852, the second 
son of James Ross, a farmer, who died in 1863. He was educated in the common 
schools and followed farming until twenty-one years of age. He left home at sev- 
enteen years of age and has ever since shifted for himself. The fall of 1873 he went 
as an apprentice at the blacksmith trade in partnership with Alonzo Solnave at No. 
1 Dennis avenue. He had a partner only one year, and has since been alone in the 
business, conducting a wagon building and repairing shop and horseshoeing. He 
was married to Ella Y. Dutcher of Horncllsville, November 24, 1K77. They have 
two children, Maude M. and Maebell. 

Brown, Anthony W., was bom in the town of Almond, AUeganv county, July 23 
1867, and came to Hornellsville in 1875. He was educated at Alfred Universitv, 



216 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Chamberlain Institute and Riverside Seminary. After leaving school he was em- 
ployed for two years with Brown Bros. Lumber Co., at Rhinelander, Wis. Return- 
ing in 1890 he became bookkeeper for Sheldon Bros., with whom he remained until 
1891, when he left them to engage in the real estate business, in which business he is 
still engaged. 

Mather, B. S., was born in Monroe county, N. Y., January 11, 1826, son of Buckley 
and Experience (Spencer) Mather, natives of Massachu.setts and New York, respect- 
ively, who came to Tuscarora in 1836, where they died. He was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and was in the war of 1813. He was a Democrat in politics, but became a 
Republican when that party was organized. B. S. Mather was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools, and is now engaged in farming and owns 102 acres 
of land. October 20. 1850, he married Louisa Blend, of Tuscarora. by whom he had 
six children: Vernum, Ida. Charles, Carrie, Esther, and Kate. 

Williams. John J., was born in Dansville. N. Y., October 28, 1841. His grand- 
father, John Williams, was born in Pownal, Vt., March 19, 1781, and took up the 
farm of TTo acres a portion of which is now occupied by our subject, about 1821. 
March 24, 180.J, he married Lucy Card, who was born in Pownal, Vt., November IT, 
1788, b}- whom he had ten children: Jotham T. born in Smithfield, N. Y., June (I, 
1806, and died in Dansville, March 1, 1866; Semantha, born in Nelson, N. \ ., May 
13, 1809; Sophina, born in Lenox, N. Y., July 24, 1812; Laura, born in Lenox, Au- 
gust 22, 1814; Huldah C, born in Nelson, August 8, 1816; Sally, born in Lenox, 
October 26. 1818; Joseph C, born in Lenox, January 14, 1821: Hannah, born in 
Dansville, April 17, 1823; John F., born in Dansville, October 12, 182,5: and James, 
born in Dansville, January 30, 1827. Mr. Williams died in Dansville, May 7, 1852. 
Novembers, 1829, Jotham T. Williams, father of John J., married Lovenia Jones, 
who was born Maj' 6. 1810, and died July 3, 1858, by whom he had si.x children; 
Charles, born in Burns, N. Y., February 3, 1830, and died February 4, 1830; Philander 
H., born in Dansville, March 1, 1832; Shepard J., born in Dansville, March 23, 1835; 
John J., as above; Jotham H., born in Dansville, March 20, 1844; and Lucy Elvira, 
born in Dansville, February 4, 1847, and married H. C. Royer. January 23, 1867, 
and resides in California; they have two children, Herbert and Eftie. Mr. Williams 
was a farmer, school teacher, and constable. October 19, 1858, he married for his 
second wife, Matilda Robertson, who died in 1880. aged eighty-two years. John J. 
attended the common schools, and Dansville Seminary three terms, and has always 
followed farming. August 9. 1862, he enlisted in 130th N. Y. Vols., afterwards re- 
organized and called the 1st N. Y. Dragoons, and was discharged July 13, 1865. 
He took part in the battle, Deserted House, and was wounded in action at the siege 
of Suffolk, Va., April 30, 1863, and in the battle of Trevillian Station, Va., June 11. 
1864. On February 3, 1865, he was transferred to the 19th Regt. Veteran Reserve 
Corjjs, at Elmira, N. Y., and discharged July 13, 1865. He is a member of Seth N. 
Hedges Post, G. A. R., of Dansville. At Savona, N. Y., September 19, 1867, he 
married Martha A. Tyler, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, December 24, 1842. by 
whom he had five children: Lottie M., born in Dansville, September 20, 11S69, and 
died January 20, 1870; Vinnie, born November 24, 1870, and died February 26, 1873; 
Minnie and Menzo, twins, born July 8, 1873, at Savona, and Minnie died at Dans- 
ville October 29, 18:3; and John Tyler, born May 24, 1875. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 217 

Fritz, Elias, was born at Sugar Loaf, Columbia county, Pa., November!), 1821. 
His grandfather Philip Fritz, was born on the River Rhine, Germany, and emigrated 
to this country and settled in Philadelphia, where he was a mail carrier between 
Philadelphia and Baltimore, traveling on horseback. He subsequently settled at 
Sugar Loaf township, Columbia county, Pa., where he taught school. He was a line 

scholar in both English and German. He married Greiner, by whom he had 

eight children: Charles, Philip, Henry, John, George, Samuel, Bet.sey Kyle and 
Maria \'ork. George Krilz, father of Ehas, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Septem- 
ber 4, 17!)3, and in the spring of 1825 he settled in Uansville, at Doty's Corners, 
where he purchased 100 acres of land, and subsequently was possessed of H.'jO acres. 
He married Catherine Kile, who was born February 2, 1792, and died May 16, 1887, 
by whom he had ten children: Wesley, born March (i, 1S19, and died April 1, 1889; 
Maria Baily, born March 8, 182(1; Elia';, as above; Hiram, born July 7, 1823, and. 
resides in California; G. W., born May 2(1. 1825; Matilda Munday, born in 1 )ansvilleJJ^ 
Ai)ril 8. 1827; Betsey Ann Wood, born April 9, 1S29, and died December 15. 1875; 
Lewis, born September 8, 1831 ; Phidelia McLain, born June 25, 1835, and died July 
21, 1857; and Lucius P., born August 13, 1837. and died January 31, 18G6, a soldier 
in the civil war. Mr. Fritz died March 3, 18(>8. Elias Fritz received his education 
in the common schools, and has always followed farming. He is a member of Oak 
Hill Grange, one of the charter members and first overseer. At Conesus, N. Y., he 
married Lucretia S. Flint, who was born December 20, 1828, by whom he had five 
children: Southwick E., born June 21, 1849; Leora G.. born January 30, 1852, and 
died May 8, 1863; Grata L. Dick, born November 2. 1857; Ca.ssius J., born April 9, 
1868; and Adelbert, who died in infancy. 

Perry, William, was born in Prattsburg, July, 1842. Solnniun Perry, his lather, 
was a native of Delaware, and came to Prattsburg in 1825 where he took up wild land 
and cleared bim a farm. He married Eva Huff, by whom he had ten children : Mrs. 
Mary A. Johnson of Prattsburg, Mrs. Wigdon of Prattsburg. deceased, Mrs. Cather- 
ine Pickett, deceased, Eli, of California, Mrs. Juliette Johnson, deceased, Solomon, 
deceased, Mrs. Louisa Washington, of Bath, William P., John of Butte, Mont., and 
Mrs. Emily Clark, deceased. He died in 1863, aged sixty-six years, and his wife in 
1887. William Perry remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, 
when he started for himself as a farmer, which vocation he has followed ever since, 
and in 1886 he purchased his jiresent farm of eighty six acres where he has since 
resided. He was the first of thirteen colored men to offer his services to the Union 
army from the town of Prattsburg, N. Y., and as this State did not acknowledge a 
colored man at that time, he was obliged to go to Rhode Island to enlist, where in 
1863 he enlisted in Co. K, 14th R. I. Heavy Artillery, and served two years, being 
sent to the (iulf department below New Orleans, where their fighting was chiefiy 
with guerrillas, and of the thirteen colored soldiers from this town he is the only 
surviving member. He is a member of the Gregory G. A. R. Post, No. 649 of Pratts- 
burg. His life as a soldier was a highly honored one, and during his service he was 
promoted from the first office to that of assistant .sergeant, often filling the office of 
first sergeant, the highest office obtainable by colored men at that time, and which 
office he was offered but declined to accept. In 1865 he married Catherine Johnson. 
a native of Allegany county and a daugliter of John and Samantlia (Hull) Johnson, 

Ml 



218 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

by whom he had four children: Mrs. Maud Wigdon of Prattsburg, Charles, deceased, 
Leonard, and Mrs Emily Walker of Naples. Leonard resides at home and assists 
his father on the farm. 

Hollands, George, was born in Sus.sex county, England, on January 9. 1841. His 
parents, William and Charlotte Hollands, with a family of si.\ children, came to this 
country in the year 1850. Soon after their arrival they found their way to Mansfield, 
Tioga county. Pa., where they have since resided. Four more children were born 
to them after their arrival to this country. They are still living and enjoying reason- 
ably good health and in their eighty-fourth and eighty-first years of age respectively. 

George Hollands, the subject of this sketch, at the age of eleven years found a 
home with a respectable farmer, with whom he was to live until twenty-one years of 
age, with the understanding that he was to receive a good common school education 
■ and when he became of age he was to have a good suit of clothes and .^100 m money. 
^teefore arriving at the age of maturity, however, the war broke out, and in Septem- 
ber, 1861, he left the farm and enlisted in Co. B, lOlst Pa. Vols., and served in the 
army for the period of three years and ten months, during which time he was en- 
gaged in many important battles. He was wounded in the battle of Fair Oaks on 
May 31. 1862, and was taken prisoner at the surrender of Plymouth N. C. April 20, 
1864. He was an inmate of Andersonville and Florence prisons until the following 
December, and has never recovered from the exposure and suffering of that terrible 
summer. 

He was shipwrecked in the Potomac River while on his way to join his regiment 
in April. 186.5, and was only saved from a watery grave by clinging to the mast of 
the ship all night where he was picked up in an exhausted condition by a United 
States gunboat, the following morning. He was discharged from the service in July, 
I860, having risen from a private to the rank of first lieutenant. Soon after the close 
of the war he embarked in the grocery business at Hornellsville, under the firm name 
of Hollands & Fletcher, occupying what was then known as the old "Mamouth Store," 
opposite the Park. On January 2, 18G6, he married Lydia Bailey of Mansfield, Pa. 
Five children were to them, viz., Minnie now the wife of Charles A. Smith of 
Middletown, N. Y. ; Evaand Robert, who died of diphtheria in October, 1876; George 
Hollands, jr. . who was born in November. 1875, and who is now at the age of twenty 
years, carrying on an extensive grocery business in the village of Bath, under the 
firm name of Geo. Hollands, jr., & Co. ; and Burr R. Hollands, who was born in June, 
1878, and is now being educated as a pharmacist. Mr. Hollands is an enterprising 
citizen, a man of sober and industrious habits and a inominent member of the First 
M. E. Church of Hornellsville. He has always been aprominent and active member 
of the Republican party and has had the honor of representing his ward as village 
trustee for six years prior to the organization of the city. In 1879 he was elected to 
the important office of county superintendent of the poor, serving as such for three 
years. In lS8(i he very ably represented the town of Hornellsville on the Board of 
Supervisors. He was commander of Doty Post No. 266, G. A. R., for two years, 
1889 and '90. He was one of the incorporators of the Hornellsville Sanitarium Co. 
and for several years a director and treasurer of said company. In the fall of 1891 
he was elected sheriff of Steuben county, which office he very satisfactorily filled for 
the term of three vears. A few months after his retirement from the office of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 219 

sheriff he, in company with Mr. I^. O. Thompson, purchased the interest of ]. \V. 
Bachman of Hornellsville, N. Y., in the drus business, and at the present arc carry- 
inij cm a very prosperous business under the firm name of Thompson & Hollands. 

Clark, A. B., was born in Allegany, N. Y., in 1844, son of Henry and Susan (Coon) 
Clark, who lived and died in Allegany county. At the age of eighteeu Mr. Clark 
moved to Tioga county. Pa., where, in 18()7, he married Loretta Swinley. He re- 
sided there till 1878, then purchased and located (ra his pre.sent farm of 110 acres, in 
the town of Caton, Then- children are Archie E. , Gertrude A., and J. Leland. 

Bromley, Frank, was born in Bradford county, Pa., in 1833. His father, Jonathan 
Bromley, was born in New London county. Conn., in 1806, and in 182(i married Polly 
C. Ray, of Xew London county. Conn., by whom he had si.\ children, two of whom 
died in infancy; Frank. Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Mira reached maturity. Mr. 
Bromley moved to Bradford countv, Pa., with his wife about 182T, thence to Tioga, 
N. Y., some ten years later, and in 1853 he came to Steuben county, with his wife 
and four children, and settled in the town of Addison (since Rathbone) where he en- 
gaged in farming and was very successful. He was much interested in educational 
and political affairs, and was one of the first assessors of the town of Rathbone, and 
was several times re-elected; this, with frequent terms as school trustee and commis- 
sioner of excise, comprised his official life. He met his death by accident when 
eighty-five years of age, while still remarkably vigorous. His second wife and two 
children, Frank and Elizabeth, survive him. Frank Bromley was educated at Owego, 
N. Y., after which he engaged in teaching, and was also a carpenter and a 
farmer. In 1853 he came to Steuben county and engaged in farming. In 
INIil he married Jane A. McDowell, by whom he has three .sons; Charley F., A. 
R., and Melvin J. In 1863 Mr. Bromley enlisted in the ^d Regt. N. Y. Yeteran Cav- 
alry, was discharged in November, 1865, and returned to farming which ill-health 
compelled him to abandon last year (1894). Elizabeth Bromley married William M. 
Wood, and they had several children, of whom but two are living. Mr. Wood served 
during the entire war and took part in the more severe battles. He met his death 
by accident after his return. Elizabeth remarried and is again a widow and resides 
with her sons in Tompkins county, N. Y. Charlotte died in Missouri about 1888, 
and two sons survive her. Mira married Rev. A. G. Cole, and they had two cliildrcn, 
both of whom survive her. 

Bull, George R., was born in the town of Bath, in 1H40. ICpharas Bull, his grand- 
father, was from the Mohawk Yalley, born in 1780, a farmer by occupation, who 
came to Steuben county about 1812, and settled in the town of Prattsbiirg, where he 
cleared a portion of a farm, and later removed to the town of Bath, where he owned, 
at different times, several farms, which he cleared himself During his earlier days 
he was obliged to go many miles by a path through the wood to the mill, carrying 
his corn on his back. He died in 1860. Harvey, George's father, was boru in the 
town of Bath, in 1816, and was a farmer and carpenter by trade. His wife was Lu- 
cinda Towle, and their children were George R., Henry G., who died in an army 
hospital during the Rebellion, Robert C, and Mary F. Mr. and Mrs. Bull were 
members of the Presbyterian church. He was a member of the Odd Fellows. He 
died February, 1894, and his wife survives him. George R. began life for himself as 



'220 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

a farmer when twenty-two years of age, in the town of Bath, and in 1871 he removed 
to the town of Wheeler, where he operated a farm for a few years, and in 1873 pur- 
chased his present farm, where he has since paid considerable attention to the breed- 
ing of fine grade Short-horn cattle, and in 1894 he introduced to his flock the Herford 
breed. In politics he is a Democrat, having been commissioner of highways and has 
also held other minor offices. He was one of the original organizers of the Grange 
Lodge and Patrons of Husbandry at Bath, in which he held official positions and 
later was instrumental in the organization of P. of H. Lodge, of which he was nia.i- 
ter. In 1861 he married Louisa, daughter of Charles Wagoner of Bath, and thev 
have three children: Ida E.. wife of George Morgan, of Urbana, George H., and 
Charles W. 

Young, Christopher, was born in Corning, N. Y., July 17, 1836, son of William 
Young, a tailor in that place. Christopher was educated at the district school in 
Ulster, Bradford county. Pa. At the age of fourteen he learned the blacksmith and 
carriage trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then started m busi- 
ness in Hammondsport, N. Y., but in 1863 he enlisted in the 22d N. Y. Cavalry and 
served to the end of the war, participating in nineteen engagements, some of which 
were the battles of the Wilderness, White (!>ak Swamp, the Wil.son raid, Winchester, 
Cedar Creek, and others. In 1859 he married Mahetabel Sweezey, born in Rhode 
Island in 1841. Of this union three children were born, two daughters and one son; 
Ida M. in 18.57; Ro.xie in 1870; and Lenord A., 1882. In 1870 they came to Canisteo, 
where he has been engaged in the carriage and blacksmith business up to the present 
time. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge, No. (i.'j. F. & A. M., and the A. O. U. 
W. , Lodge No. 29. 

Mathewson, Lemuel, was born in the town of Avoca, February 16, 1838 son of 
Joseph Mathewson, who was born in Providence, R. I., and came to the town of 
Avoca in 1816, where he began farming, which occupation he followed until his death, 
which occurred in 1867. He married Zilpha, daughter of John B. Calkins, of Half 
Moon, Saratoga county, and they were the parents of eight children: Barney, 
Lemuel, Lucinda, Eunice, Mary, Joseph, Zilpha, and Calkins, six of whom are liv- 
ing. Lemuel owns a farm of 520 acres, which he manages in connection with the 
post-office, of which he was postmaster four years under Cleveland's first administra- 
tion, and also since 1893. He married Matilda, daughter of S. H. Palmer, a farmer 
of Avoca, and they have two children: Deyo P., who is a medical graduate of the 
University of New York, and Eveline. Mr. Mathewson was highway commissioner 
for eight j'ears, supervisor for three terms, president of the County Agricultural 
Society two years, 1883 and '84, vice-president three years, 1877, '80 and '81, and 
president of the village of Avoca in 1884. 

Swon, Oren L., was born in 1845, son of John B. Swon, who was born in Chenango 
comity, and married Louise Fenton, by whom he had nine children, all of whom are 
members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Swon's mother was the first white baby born 
at Tuscarora. Mr. Swon died at Addison in 1888, and she resides at Tuscarora, 
being sixty-seven years of age. Oren L.'s grandfather, Allen Swon, one of the 
pioneer settlers of the county, came from England, and toolt part m the Revo- 
lutionary war, being one of the officers. This family is noted for longevity 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 221 

Mr. Swon married Rebecca Gunn in 1S7:!. lie has alway.s been engaged in farming, 
either in Tuscarora or Addison, and also makes a business of hay pressing. 

Carr, George A., was born in the town of Deerfield. Tioga county. Pa., May 1(1, 
1S:^7, and is a son of Ira and Ann (Varnell) Carr, natives of Chenango county, N. V., 
and Philadcl]>hia. Pa. The grandfather came from Ireland to Chatham, Pa., and 
they worked at the blacksmith's trade. Ira Carr was a farmer of West Union, 
but spent his last days in Troupsburg, dying November i), 188!t. His wife died in 
1883. George A. settled on the farm he now owns in 1858, when he cut the first tim- 
ber that was cut on the place. He owns ninety-five acres and carries on general 
farming, making a specialty of dairying. In 18fir> he married Mary A., daughter of 
D. C. and Susan White, of Harrison, Potter county. Pa., by whom he had two sons: 
Frank, who died at the age of two years; and Clinton. l)orn in 1874. who now works 
the farm. In September, 18G1, Mr. Carr enlisted in Co. H, Sfith N. Y. Vols., and 
was in the battles of Sec<md Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. He re- 
ceived an honorable discharge October l:i, ISfi-t. Mr. Carr is a charter member of 
Post Babcock, G. A. R., at Westfield, Pa. 

Rewalt. William, was born in Easton, Pa., July 7, 1830. The family ancestry of 
Mr. Rewalt dates back three generations to Germany. His great-grandfather on the 
paternal side and the grandfather on the mother's side were the original emigrants to 
this country, his great-grandfather settling near Harrisburg, Pa., his grandfather at 
Easton, Pa. William Rewalt, the father of Mr. Rewalt, was a merchant tailor, and 
was born in 1800 and died in 1841. Mr. Rewalt's mother died in 1838. William 
was given a good education, attending Vandeveer's preparatory school at Easton. 
His first occupation was as an employee of a confectionery manufactory and store. In 
1855 he moved to Hornellsville and established a small store and manufactory ne.xt 
the old Hornellsville House, where the Page now stands. In less than two years he 
removed next door, where he was engaged for about four years. In 18(i() he located 
in the Ward building now occupied by Howard's Shoe Store. In 1868 he made his 
last change, buying the lot at the corner of Main and Seneca streets, where the old 
American Hotel stood. On this lot he built a three story brick block with thirty 
feet on Main street and 100 on Seneca. In 1887, in company with Esek Page, he 
built a block facing Seneca street with twenty-five feet front and eighty-five deep. 
In the corner store Mr. Rewalt put in a general stock of toys, notions, and fancv 
goods, and has since been engaged in this line. While Mr. Rewalt has always been 
a warm supporter of the Democratic party, he has never held political office or been 
called a politician. He is the oldest active merchant of this city. He has devoted 
his whiile life to his business and family. He was married in 1851, at Columbus, 
Ohio, to Miss Lydia Van Brunt, a native of Fremont, Steuben county, N. Y. 'I'hey 
have had three children: William Rewalt, jr., who is with his father in the store; 
John Rewalt died in 188G, at twenty-six years of age, leaving a widow and one child. 
Jennie; and Anna Rewalt, who lives at home with her parents. 

Bricks, Stephen, was born in Prussia, December 27, 18;i0, .son of Anthonv Bricks, 
who was born in Prussia in 1804, and in I8'.3y married Mary Backes, who was born in 
1810, by whom he had these children: Stephen, born December 27, 1830; Margaret, 
born in 1835, and died in 1878; John, born in 1838, and died in 1871; Peter, born 



222 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

in 1842; and Elizabeth, born in 1846, and died in 1876. Mr. and ;irrs. Anthony 
Bricks emigrated to America in 1846, and purchased a farm in Wayland, where he 
died in 1873. Stephen Bricks attended the schools in Germany for seven years, and 
at fourteen years of age emigrated to America with his parents, where he attended 
the public schools of Perkinsville for several years. He worked ou a farm until 1858 
when he moved to Perkinsville and built a store where he kept groceries for several 
years, and finally erected a commodious store where he has kept dry goods and a gen- 
eral store for thirty-seven years. He has been postmaster at Perkinsville for fifteen 
years. January 10, lSo4, he married Catherine Malter, who was born in Germany in 
183;!, and came with her parents to Wayland when one year of age. Her father was 
one of the first settlers of this locality. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Bricks have seven 
children: Nicholas, born in 1854; Mary, born in 1856; Jacob, born in 1858; Peter J., 
born in 1864; Frank, born in 1866; Katie, born in 1870; and Maggie, born in 1874. 

Pratt Orson W., was born in the town of Bath, July 5, 1859, son of Sylvester H. 
Pratt, also a native of Bath, born August 13, 1830, who was a carpenter by trade, 
and lived in his native town nearly all his life. He died at Kittleville, Broome 
county, N.Y. Orson W.'s grandfather was a native of Connecticut, and one of the 
earliest settlers of Bath, taking up land in its normal condition and following farm- 
ing all of his life. Orson was the eldest of a family of four children, was educated 
in the Haverling Academy at Bath, and at the age of eighteen he became a clerk 
in a grocery store, which position he held for three years. In 1879 he went to 
Detroit, Mich., where he took up custom tailoring and cutting, remaining thereuntil 
March 29, 1884, on which date he located in Hornellsville and opened a shop and store 
on Broad street, where he conducted a very successful business until April 1, 1887. 
He then removed to 33 Broad street, where he occupied a beautiful store of twenty 
feet front and eighty feet in depth. He carries the finest line of clothes in the town, 
and has acquired a reputation as a cutter excelled by none in the city. Mr. Pratt 
has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for six years and is a member of the 
Hornellsville Lodge No. 331, Steuben Chapter No. 101, De Molay Commandery No. 
21, and is at present secretary of the chapter. August 26, 1885, he married Inez, 
daughter of Erastus C. Grover of this city, and they have two children: Grover, 
born August 98, 188G; and Dora L., born September 5, 1890. Mr. Pratt and family 
are members of the Presbyterian church. 

Fisher, George W., was born in Alfred, Allegany county. May 22, 1853, son of 
Cornelius Fisher, who married Catherine T. Searles, of Dover, N. J., and was a 
farmer and shoemaker by occupation. He settled in Fremont, and afterward located 
in the town of Alfred, Allegany county, then returned to Fremont. Later he went 
to Virginia, but returned in 1882 to the place where George W. now lives, which con- 
sists of .seventy acres of land mostly cleared. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren; Sarah A., Nancy D., Carrie S.. Mary S., Cecelia L.. James M., Martha M., 
Fidelia E., and George W. The last named is a farmer by occupation, and has 
lived on the present farm for thirteen years. He was educated in the town of Fre- 
mont. He married Flora, daughter of A. L. Smith of Hornellsville, and they have 
six children: Clinton D., Altia, Rosey E., Arthur A., Archie C. Mildred B., all of 
the sons being farmers. Mr. Fisher has held the office of school trustee. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. . 223 

Roloson, Alfred, was born in Tompkins coumy, X. Y., Mareh 12, 1830. He was 
the son of Peter and Judith Kirby Roloson, the father, being a native of New 
Jersey, and the mother of Massachusetts. They came to Hornby, Steuben county, 
in the spring of 1832. and were among the pioneer settlers of the town. The father 
was a prosperous farmer, living upon the same farm until his death, which occurred 
February !), 1S88, aged eighty-three years. Alfred Roloson was the fourth child of 
a family of fifteen children, there being eight sons and seven daughters, all of whom 
lived to manhood and womanhood, and were all married. The mother, aged eighty- 
seven years, and all of the children except two are living at the time of this writing. 
Mr Roloson was married September 20, 1835, to Mary R. Knovvlton, who died 
August 20. 1888, leaving three sons: Melvin P., Clayton C, and Lyman K. He 
afterwards married Mrs. Melissa Roloson iiee Hays. Since 18.56 he has resided on 
his present farm of sixty-three acres, and has also au adjoining farm of si.\tv acres. 
Me has been highway commissioner two terms and supervisor four terms. 

Smith, C. J., was born in Port Allegany, McKean county, Pa., June (i, 1840. and is 
the third of live children born to James and Mary (Semans) Smith, natives of Elk- 
land, Pa., and Chatham, Pa., respectively. They were married in 1834 and came to 
McKean county, where he died in .1846, and his wife in 1883. He was a carpenter 
and joiner by trade. The grandfather, Alton S. , was a miller of Klkland, Pa., but 
died in McKean county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. The maternal grand- 
parents, Jonathan and Mary (Potter) Semans came from Boston and were pioneers 
of Chatham, Pa. He was a baker in Boston, but followed farming in Pennsylvania. 
C. J. Smith was reared by his uncle, S. Odell, until he was of age, when he enlisted 
in Co. A, 1st Pa. Bucktails, and was honorably discharged February 4, 1864, and re- 
enlisted and was transferred to 190th Pa. Vols., and served until the close of the war. 
He was all through the McClellan campaign, was at Gettysburg, Fredericksburg, 
Wilderness, etc. In 1866 he married Mary, daughter of Abraham and Marv A. 
Stephens of Tioga county. Pa., by whom he had five chileren; Fred, Maud, Frank, 
Tressa, and Helen. Mr. Smith commenced his business career in a country store at 
Karmington, in 186.5, but in 1867 bought a farm in Tioga, Pa., which he sold in 1883 
and bought 117 acres in Tuscarora, where he has since resided. He is also engaged 
in general insurance business, and is pension attorney, and has au ofKce in the post- 
office building at Addison. Mr. Smith is a member of Middlebury Lodge No. 844, 
LO.O.F., of Pennsylvania, and of Post W. W. Angle No. 372, G.A.R., of Addison, 
N. Y., also the A.O.U.W. of Addison. 

Pratt Family, The. — The Pratt family of Steuben county trace their descent from 
John Pratt, who, with his brother, Lieut. William Pratt, emigrated to America and 
settled at Cambridge, Mass., in 1633. Capt. Joel Pratt, a lineal descendant from 
John Pratt, and son of Deacon Elisha Pratt, of Colchester, Conn., born in .Septem- 
ber, 1743. was married to Mrs. Mary Beach Fowler, daughter of Deacon Benjamin 
Beach of Hebron, Conn., in February, 1779, and lirst settled in Columbia countv, 
X. Y., and in \\\e year 1799 visited what is now Prattsburg, but then an unbroken 
wilderness; he returned home and in 1800 came with his son Harvey to Trbana 
Hill, and cleared 110 acres of forest, and in 1804 he removed his family and settled 
near the village of Prattsburg, and the farm is still owned and occupied by the 
family. Captain Pratt held a controlling interest in the early settlement and disposi- 



224 LANDMARKS OF STEUUP:N COUNTY. 

tion of lands, gave the town its name, assisted in founding the first religious society, 
laid out the public park, and secured it to the religious society. He died there in 
September, 1821, and his wife in 1818. Their children were Joel, Ira, Harvey, 
Anna, Dan, and Elisha. The last named was born in Columbia county in 1790, and 
married Emily Beach, daughter of Dr. Bildad Beach, and their children were Joel 
(deceased), William B. , and Mary B. (deceased.) Elisha died in April, 1849, and his 
wife in June, 1871. William B. was born December 27, 1822, and received his edu- 
cation at Franklin Academy. He was supervisor o'' the town for .seven years, a 
member of the board of trustees of Franklin Academy, Prattsburg, for fifteen years, 
and a liberal supporter of educational interests, and was largely instrumental in 
making the public park. He was married three times, first to Martha J. McXair, 
and .second to Mrs. Hester A. Carr. For his third wife he married Cornelia P., 
daughter of Henry and Mary A. Brother of Bath, and eleven children were born to 
them, of whom four daughters and three sons are living. He died March 24, 1893. 
The three sons were educated at Franklin Academy; William B. and Ira C. after- 
ward attended and were graduated from the Rochester Business University, and 
Henry V. from the Cornell Law School. The latter is now a law partner of W. W. 
Clark at Wayland, N. Y. Mrs. Pratt still survives and lives on the homestead with 
her eldest son, William B., who conducts the farm. Since February, :890, Ira C. 
has been engaged in the hardware business in Prattsburg. In 1893 he married Sara, 
daughter of William 11. Calkins of Elniira. 

Blain, Samuel W., was born in Seneca county, N. Y''., December 3, 1808, son of 
Samuel and Catherine (Waldron) Blain, he a native of New York city, and she of 
New Jersey. They came to Seneca county in an early day, where they lived and 
died, he aged sixty years, and she ninety-seven years. He was a captain in the war 
of 1812. He was a member of assembly in 1830, and was supervisor of the town of 
\'arick, Seneca county, for seventeen years, and has been justice of the peace and 
assessor. The grandfather lived and died in German}-. Samuel W. was reared on 
a farm and educated in fhe common schools, after which he engaged in farming, and 
lived in Seneca county until 1849, when he came to Woodhull, where he has since 
lived, and is the owner of fifty acres of land. He married Eliza Fowler, by whom 
he had two children: Uriah and Charles, both of whom were in the late war; Charles 
died while there and Uriah soon after his return. Mrs. Blain died in 1840, and Mr. 
Blain married Jane Patterson, by w'hom he had two children: ^ar()n, who married 
Libbie, daughter of Solomon and R Eliza (Carpenter) Brown, natives of Steuben 
county. Mr. Brown died in 1854, and Mrs. Bi-own married Levi Dawley, who died 
in the late war. Saron and Libbie Blain have two children, Nina J , and Florence 
E. ; and Emma J., wife of Gaylord Marlatt. and they have one daughter. Neva, wife 
of John Huested. 

Peterson, Willard, was born in the town of Campbell, January 29, 1857. William 
Peterson, his father, was a native of New York State, and came to what is known 
as Big Flats, Chemung county, N.Y., after which he came to the town of Campbell, 
which at that time was a wilderness, and cleared a farm of 150 acres. He married 
Anna Gardner, by whom he had six children: Frank, CJeorge, Willard, Edwin. 
Stephen, and Benjamin. Willard Peterson is a farmer and owns a farm of 100 acres. 



KaMILY sketches. 22o 

He married Nef.ie of Coopers, in the town of Krwin. by whom he had tlirce 

children: Harry, Willie, and Helen. 

Uralce, Edward, was born in Prattsburg, October, 1831, sou of Joliii K. Drake, who 
was born September, 1794, one of four children born to William Drake, who was a 
farmer, and who came to Prattsburg about 1810. He married Catherine Rose. John 
R. Drake was a farmer and spent his life in Prattsburg. In politics he was a Demo- 
crat and held the office of commissioner of highways and various other offices of trust. 
He was a member of the State militia, of which he was an officer. He married Polly 
Morse, by whom he had twelve children: William F., Wyman, Lydia M., Abner, who 
died in the army, Edward John, Matilda deceased, Alexander, who was killed at the 
battle of Stony Creek, Editha, Silas, who died in the army, Levi, and Lucinda, who died 
in infancy. He died in 1853 and his wife in 1868. Edward Drake began life as a farmer 
and shingle maker, and in 1864 enlisted in the N. Y. Engineers, and served until the 
close of the war. He was the only one of four brothers who enlisted and survived 
the war. !n 1875 he engaged quite e.xtensively in the manufacture of lumber, shin- 
gles and lath, and custom feed grinding, and in connection with this conducts his 
farm. In 185:i he married Temperance Terry, by whom he had two children : Mrs. 
Emma Coon of Prattsburg, and Oscar F., of same place. Mrs. Drake died in 186(1, 
and in 1861 he married Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Lavina (Fox) Dunham. In 
whom he had five children: Silas E., Mrs. Ida J. Tuttle of Cohocton, Mrs. Mary L. 
Wells of same place, Salem M., and Lydia M. In politics Mr. Drake is a Republi- 
can, and officiated as poormaster and assessor for two terms. 

Barney, Will H. — Darwin E. Barney, born in the town of Independence, Allegany 
county. N. Y., December 9, 183:1 is the third of seven children born to Anthony and 
Roxy (Chapin) Barney. < Darwin was reared on a farm and in jiartneiship with his 
brother, Levant, in 1851, bought the farm he now owns, which consists of 300 acres 
and makes a specialty of dairying. In politics he is a Republican and has been 
assessor, and in religion he is a High Universalist. December 8. 1851, he married 
Maria A., daughter of Luther and Clarissa Forsythe Horton, who came from Long 
Island to Herkimer county, N. Y., where Mrs. Barney was reared, and then moved 
to West Union. He was a carpenter by trade. He died December 6, 1860, and she 
September '22, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Barney were the parents of seven children: Del- 
win C, born June 9, 1855, a miller in West Union; Frank, born June 33. 1860, died 
April 33, 1861 ; Hiram C, born May 8, 1863, a farmer on the homestead and also en- 
gaged with George D. , born October In, 1864; and Will H., born February 8, 1867, 
manufacturer of rough lumber in West Union; and Omer L. , born August 13, 1869, 
who is a jeweler in Whitesville, Allegany county, where D. C. and W. H. are en - 
gaged in the foundry business. 

Knapp, Franklin L.. was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., Sei>tember 14, 1835, son 
of Ira and Joanna (Synnott) Knapp, natives of \ew York, who spent most of their 
lives in Onondaga county, but died in Ohio. The grandfather lived and died in 
N'ew York, and his wife in Ohio. Franklin L. had these brothers, of whom three 
are living: George, who died in the late war; Edward, deceased ; Elijah, deceased; 
Charles, who lives in Ohio; and James, who lives in Wiseon.sin. Franklin L. was 
reared on the farm he now <)wns, with an uncle, Richard C. Twogood, who came to 



226 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Jasper in 1847. Franklin L. spent forty years in Wisconsin, and in 1887 returner! to 
Jasper, where he owns a good farm of 103 acres and follows general farming. Mr. 
and Mrs Knapp had five children: two who died in infancy, one drowned at two 
years of age, and Richard, who was killed at forty years of age, while sawing tim- 
ber; he left three children by his first wife; Winifred, Gertrude, and Walter S. ; and 
two by his second wife; Helen and Mina R. The oldest son of Franklin L. , Edwin 
B., is a merchant in Waupaca, Wis., and hasone child. Mertie. 

Timerman, Milton, was born in Montgomery county. N. Y., at Frey's Bush, May 
3, 1834, .son of John I. and Maria (Youngs) Timerman, natives of Montgomery 
county, who caiDe to Jasper in 1848, where they died. The grandfather, John Tim- 
erman, lived and died in Montgomery county, Milton Timerman was reared in the 
village of Jasper, and learned the wagonmaker's trade with his-father, which busi- 
ness he followed si.xteen years in Jasper. ' In 1874 he purchased a farm of 133 acres 
on a contract and follows general farming. He is a Pruhibitionist \n politics, and 
has been town clerk and collector. February 11, 1859, he married Elenora. daughter 
of Benjamin Failing, who came to Jasper about 1840, and now lives with Milton 
Timerman, and is eighty-six years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Timerman have five chil- 
dren: Delavan W. , Arthur E. , Maria, i red B., and Charles. 

Brooks, Noah M., was born in Troupsburg, N. Y., October 31, 1829, and is the 
youngest of seven children born to Joseph and Margaret Hauber Brooks, natives of 
Connecticut and New York city. The grandfather, who was a pioneer of Delaware 
county, N. Y., served seven years in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grand- 
father, Malica Hauber, who was a Prussian, came with Hessian troops sent over by 
King George during the Revolution. Mr. Hauber and all of his company deserted 
the British cause, and in making their escape had to wade nearly to their shoulders 
in a river full of ice. Joseph Brooks came to Troupsburg in 1822, but soon removed 
to Erie county, where he settled in Holland Purchase, and two years later returned 
to Troupsburg where he engaged in farming. He died in 1850, and Mrs. Brooks in 
1871, aged eighty-four. Noah M. was reared on a farm, and engaged in farming 
until 1869, when he was obliged to give up on account of an injury. He then en- 
gaged in a general mercantile business being six years at South Troupsburg, and six 
years in Harrison, Pa., and then located in Troupsburg Center, where he is still en- 
gaged in the same business, making a specialty of clothing and groceries. In 1852 
he married Nancy Ordway, who died December 26, 1879. For his second wife he 
married Jennie Howard, of Troupsburg, and they have brought up one child, 
Josephine, a daughter of John L. and Eleanor Ferguson Broods, who married Albert 
Harrington. John L. Brooks, brother of Noah, was a soldier in the late war, a 
member of the 161st N. Y. Yols., who died at Key West, Fla., of yellow fever. Mr. 
Brooks has been town clerk three years, and highway commissioner two years, and 
is now serving his second term as supervisor. Mrs. Brooks is a member of the Meth- 
odist church. 

Herringlon, Samuel, was born in Burlington, Otsego county, N. Y., September 11, 
1849, son of C. G. and Aldema Wiltse Herrington, mentioned el.sewhere in this work. 
Samuel Herrington was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He 
came to WoodhuU when ten years of age, where he has since resided with the excep- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 227 

tion of four years spent in Osceola, Pa. He owns 184 acres of land. He is a mem- 
ber of Elkland Lodge. Xo. 800, I. O. O. F., and Borden Tent. K. O. T. M., and is 
also a member of Osceola Grange, No. U57. October 31, 1875, he married Mary A. 
George, by whom he had two children: George W., born May 31, 187T, and was ed- 
ucated in Osceola graded schools; Herbert S. , born September 22, 1879, and was 
educated in the common schools. 

Rising, Willis H., was born in Thurston, March 21, 1848, son of Clark A. and Polly 
A. Thompson Rising, he a native of Herkimer county, N. Y. , and she of Schuyler 
county. X. Y. His grandfather. Henry Ri>-iiig, was a native of Connecticut, and in 
1792 came to Herkimer county, removing to Schuyler county in 1836, and locating in 
Thurston in 1S39, where he died. He was a farmer and lumberman, and a soldier in 
the war of 1812. Clark A. Rising came to Thurston with his parents, where he was 
married, and engaged in farming and lumbering. lie died in 1852, and his widow 
lives in Thurston, where she owns a farm on South Hill. Willis was educated in the 
common schools, is a blacksmith by trade, and has also followed farming and luin- 
ing. In pilitics he is and has been a Dem )crat, and was elected supervisor in 1887, 
and re-elected in 1891 by a large majority, and has also held the oflice of town clerk 
for two terms. He is a member of the K. of H. at Campbelltown. also of the Grange 
at Merchantville. July 31, 1870, he married Alicfe J. Masters of Reading. Schuyler 
countv, and to them have been born five children: Lewis C, Archie F. , Emma M., 
Carrie S., and Willis B, The family attend and support the Christian (.hurch, 

Wilder, Josiah. was born in the Green Mountain region of Vermont, and after a 
residence of some years in Otsego county where he married Elmira Beadle, he moved 
to the town of Jasper, where he settled on the June farm in 1835; two years later he 
settled on the J. H. Boyd place in Cameron, and afterwards moved to the place where 
his son George now lives. Josiah Wilder was engaged in Uimbering and farming. 
His children were Eunice, Angeline, Sarah, Hannah. Elizabeth, Charles, William, 
Liza, Jane, Daniel, George W., and Elmira. His second wife was Betsey, a daugh- 
ter of Elder Smith, by whom he had one child. Leva J., a resident of Kansas. 
Josiah Wilder died in February, 1863. George Wilder married Cynthia M., daughter 
of John and Mary L. (Kellogg) Jackson, by whom he had seven children: Mary H., 
Maggie L., George R., Charles, Estella E., Edith B., and John C. Mr. Wilder has 
been justice of the peace and is active in school atTairs. He owns eighty acres of 
land, and his brother Charles owns fifty-eight acres in the town of Cameron. They 
are both members of Cameron Post, G. A. R. George W. enlisted in Co. F, ISOth 
X. Y. Vols., and Charles in Co. F. 31st Wis. Vols. 

Wiilcott, A. S., is a native of the town of Caton, was born in 1829, son of Judge 
Xelson and Margaret Hoffman Wolcott, natives of Vermont and Elmira, who were 
married in Elmira in 1824 and about 1827 located in the town of Caton. He was a 
gunsmith and farmer and died in 1860, aged fifty eight. The mother died in 1855, 
aged fifty. Mr. Wolcott and a brother. Jacob II.. of Salt Lake City, are the only 
survivors of tne family. 

Failing, Lucian J., was born in Jasper, August 28, 1842, the youngest of eight chil- 
dren born to Adam and Nancy (Lyon) Failing, early settlers of Jasper. They came 
to West Cnion in 1850, where he died November 1, 1870, and she in 1874. He was 



228 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

assessor of the town for years. The grandfather of Lucian J., Philip Failing, with 
six brothers and their father were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. The father 
and one son were taken prisoners and sent to Canada. Lucian J. was reared on a 
farm and has always followed farming, owning ninety-eight acres, where he settled 
in 1866. He has made dairying a .specialty. October 25, 1863, he married Maggie, 
daughter of William R. and Eliza (Mitchell) Brewster, of Greenwood. Mr. Brewster 
was a cabinet maker and farmer. He died September 18, 1893, and his wife in 1883. 
Mr. and Mrs. Failing have had seven children: Eliza, died in infancy; Daniel, a 
farmer of Hornellsville ; William R., of Canisteo, a stenographer, graduated from J. 
W. Robert's school in Elmira and taught school for two years; Franklin' a farmer; 
Milton G., Emily, and Andrew R., at home. September 19. 1864, Mr. Failing en- 
listed in Co. H, 141st N. Y. Vols., and was discharged June 26, 1865. He was at 
Havenborg, Bentonville, and with Sherman on his "March to the sea." Mr. Failing 
and family are members of the M. E. Church. 

Knapp, William S., was born in Warwick, Orange county, N. Y. , February 3, 
1814, and is the youngest and only survivor of six children bom to John and Eliza- 
beth (Sutton) Knapp, both natives of Orange county. John Knapp was a farmer and 
blacksmith, and spent most of his life in Warwick, but the latter part of his life was 
spent in Barrington, Yates county, where he died at fifty-six years of age. Mrs. 
Knapp died at Tyrone, where she was living with her daughter, aged seventy-two 
years. William S. was reared on the farm, and was engaged in farming and deal- 
ing in stock. He now lives retired in Bradford, where he settled in 1836, and the 
same year he married Emily, daughter of Ira and Hannah Crane of Putnam county, 
but early settlers of Barrington, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp had five 
children; Ira, who died in the army, aged twenty-four years; Beldon, who was a 
prisoner at Andersonville, and died in ten days after reaching home ; Augusta, who 
was the wife of E. Richardson of Bath, and died at twenty-nine years of age, leaving 
two children (Beldon and Carrie A.); Aurelia, who was the wife of Charles H. Ide, 
and died in 1880, leaving five children (William J., Bert B., Ira, Scott, and Emily); 
and William E., who is a druggist in ilichigan. Mr. Knapp has been a Republican 
since the party's organization. Mrs. Emily Knapp died February 19, 1891. 

King, Hammond A., was bora November 23, 1861, the youngest of five children 
born to William X., who was born in Bradford, June 7, 1824, and Clara (Littell) King. 
The paternal grandfather, Barzilla King, came to Bradford from Seneca county in 
pioneer days and was a millwright and carpenter. The parents of Mrs. King were 
Isaac D. and Lena (Vosburgh) Littell, born in New Jersey in 1793, and Minden, 
Montgomery county, respectively. Isaac Littell died in 1847. His father, Benjamin 
Littell, came from New Jersey to Reading, but died in Bradford. He was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary war. Catherine Switzer, wife of Barzilla King, eame with her 
parents, Henry and Anna May (Niff) Switzer, from New Jersey to Bradford. Will- 
iam N. King worked at wagonmaking in his younger days, but has followed farming 
mostly, and he and his wife now reside in Bradford, Hammond A. King was edu- 
cated at the Union School of Bradford. December 30, 1885, he married Julia A., 
daughter of Justus and Mary (Covert) Lamb, by whom he has two children: Charles 
N., born November 15, 1887; and Clara L., born February IS, 1889. Mr. Lamb is a 
vineyardist of Hammondsport. In 1886 Mr. King began running a hotel in Bradford 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 229 

and in 1887 purchased the Ellis House, which he now calls the King House, and 
keeps a first class house. Mr. King has been president of the Board of Trustees of 
the Union School of Bradford for five years. He is a member of Savona Lodge, I. 
(). (). F. 

Peck, Fernando, was born in Reading Center, Schuyler county, N. V., April 9, 
1S;!3, son of Tenant and Dorinda (Sutton) Peck, both natives of Reading Center, 
where they died, he June 1, 1889, and she March 19, 1883. The grandfather of our 
subject, Jason Peck, came to Reading Center in an early day, where he died. The 
maternal grandfather of our subject, John Sutton, settled in Reading Center early 
in life, where he lived and died. Fernando Peck was educated in the common 
schools, and has always followed farming, but when a boy he learned the masons 
trade. He located on the farm of 1T5 acres he now owns March 20, 1861, and is a 
breeder of Jer.scy and Durham cattle. January II!, IBM, he married Mary J., daugh- 
ter of James Masters, an early settler of Reading, by whom he had two children : 
ICffie M., who was born June 11, 186.5, who married Willis Corbitt of Thurston, and 
they have one child, Mary M. ; and Emma J., who was born January 6, 1867, and 
married Charles F. Weaver. Mr. Peck has cleared most of the farm where he re- 
sides, and put on all the buildings and all improvements. He was drafted in 1863, 
and furnished a substitute for three years. He served as road commissioner during 
the years 1883 and 1884. He is a member of K. of H., also a member of Merchants- 
ville Grange, of which he is now master, serving his fourth term. 

Conley, Henry, was born in Fermanaugh county, Ireland, September 22, 1840, a 
son of James and Margaret (McGuire) Conley, both of Ireland. They came to 
America about 1870, settling in Dundee, where James was engaged in farming. He 
died in 1877, and she in 1879. The grandparents, John and Mary (McManus) Conley, 
died in Ireland. They were Episcopalians. Henry Conley was reared and educated 
in Ireland and came to America at the age of eighteen. He settled in Tyrone, 
Schuyler county. N. Y. , and engaged in farming, which he has since followed. He 
has owned farms in Yates and Schuyler county and in 1872 came to Bradford and 
!)urchased sixty acres, to which he has since added forty acres. Augu.st 31, 1872, 
Mr Conley married Alice, daughter of John Bartholomew, by whom he has live chil- 
dren: John, Ora, James W., Arvilla, and Herbert. Mr. Conley and his family are 
members of the M. E. church. 

Xorthrup, John M., is the youngest son of Moses Xorthrup, who was born in Sus- 
se.x county, N. J., in 1817, and died at Addison, N. Y., June 22, 1894. He was of 
English ancestry, and came to Rathbone in 1836, where he spent the greater part of 
his life at farming. After living on his farm forty-three years, he removed to Cam- 
eron Mills in 1879, and ten years later to Addison. He was supervisor two years, 
and several years assessor. He married Nancy M. Allen, May II, 1844, who died 
after some years, leaving these children ; William J. of New York city; Dewitt and 
Allen of Xorthrup Settlement; Mrs. William Crawford of Cameron Mills; and Moses 
P., deceased October, 1886. He married again, October 22, 1H,")7, Amy Stroud of 
Woodhull, N. Y., who survives him. Their children are John M. of Addison, and 
Elizabeth, deceased wife of Harry Paxton. John M. was born at Rathbone in lHi2, 
where he first engaged in farming on the old homestead, and was educated at Cook 



230 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Academy, Havana, N. Y. In 1886 he came from Cameron Mills to Addison and pur- 
chased 100 acres of land one mile west of the village, where he gives close attention 
to his farming interests. On November 18. 1886. he married Clara Carpenter of 
Academy Corners, who died May 38, 1889, by whom he had two children: Loren M., 
born September 13, 1887, died ilarch 11, 18S9; and Clara Belle, born May 7, 1889. 
March 21. 1894, he married Jennie, daughter of George J. Merring, a Rathbone 
farmer, by whom he has one son, John Herbert, born March 4, 189.5. 

Brundage Family, The. — The first of the family of whom can be found any trace 
is Benjamin, who lived in the town of Mifflin near Wilkesbarre, and was twice mar- 
ried, having by his first marriage two sons, Abram and James, and one daughter. 
In 1807 Benjamin came from Pennsylvania to visit his sons in Steuben county, N.Y. , 
and died while there and was buried in Pleasant Yalley Cemetery. James was born 
in 1765, married Mary Hoffman, and in 1799 he, and his brother Abram, with their 
families, came to New York State and for a few months located at Elmira, and then 
removed to Painted Post, where they remained four years. In 1803 they settled in 
Pleasant Valley, and in April of the same year located where J. S. and Victor now 
reside. Mr. and Mrs. James Brundage were the parents of fourteen children: Philip, 
John, Abraham, Benjamin, Polly, Sally, Henry, Samuel B., George S., Catherine, 
Elizabeth, Uaniel, James M., and Anna. Mrs. Brundage died Octobers, 1815, and 
Mr. Brunda.ge, in 1839, aged seventy-four years. Abram Brundage was born March 
17, 1775, and his wife. Polly Sims, June 26, 1776. They were the parents of ten chil- 
dren: Benjamin, William, James, Jesse. Charles, Matthew, Hiram, Alfred, Almira 
and Abram S. Abraham, the third son of James, was born in Pennsylvania, Octo- 
ber 2. 1794, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was one of the solid men of 
the community, and accumulated about si-x hundred acres of land in this valley. 
December 14, 1821, he married Elizabeth, a native of the town of Wheeler and daugh- 
ter of Azariah Conger of Washington county, N. Y., and to them were born six chil- 
dren: Mary A., win married John W. Taggart, of this valley; Cornelius Y., who is 
a farmer of Seneca county, Ohio; John C, who died in 1843 at thirteen years of age; 
Azariah C. ; Myron H., who died April 9, 1864; and Sam B., who died May 25, 1877. 
Abraham, died August 19, 1875, and his wife, April 9. 1872. Azariah Conger Brun- 
dage was born on the old homestead farm, which he now occupies, in the town of 
Urbana, January 20, 1837. He was educated in the common schools, Franklin Acad- 
emy, Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and Starkey Seminary, and has always been a 
farmer by occupation. April 25, 1861, he enlisted in the 34th Regt N. Y. Inf., and 
was corporal of Co. I, and served with this regiment until the battle of Fair Oaks, 
where he was wounded by receiving a bullet in the neck, in consetiuence of which he 
was discharged July 30, 1862. His title of major comes from his being in that office 
wi'h the Xalional Guard after the war. Politically, he is a Republican and was 
elected to the State Legislature in the fall of 3877, serving the session of 1878, and 
re-elected and served the session of 1879. In the fall of 1.883 he was again a candi- 
date but was defeated, and in 1886 was elected to the same position, and re-elected 
in the fall of 1887, having been five times nominated by acclamation. He has been 
prominently identified with the management of the Steuben County Agricultural So- 
ciety, was two years president, four years vice-iiresident, and is serving his si.xth 
consecutive year as secretary. He is also president of the New York State Associa- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 2:il 

tion of County Agricultural Societies. He has been a member of the Grange nine- 
teen years, and was one of the promoters of Pleasant Valley Grange. He helped to 
organize the Patrons' Fire Relief Association, of which he has been president eight- 
een years, and assisted in the organization of the State Association for Fire Insur- 
ance, which was effected in 1881, and in 1887 he was made president of the State As- 
sociation, which office he held seven years. He has been master of the Grange sev- 
eral times. He is a member of Custer Post, No. 8, G. A. R., and has been its com- 
mander and quartermaster, passing the subordinate chairs. He has always been a 
warm supporter of church and school work. November 18, 18C3, he married Sarah 
C, daughter of Orville Tousey of Dansville, T^ivingston county, and they have two 
children: Myron T. and Lizzie. Samuel Baker Brundage, the fifth son of Abraham, 
was born on the old homestead farm, February 2, 1844, and was educated in the 
common schools and at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and followed farming as an 
occupation, being assigned by his father to the management of 275 acres of the old 
homestead farm. In jiolitics he is a Republican. He was one of the first to take up 
sheep breeding, and the wool and grain were the principal products of the farm. 
December 6, 1871, he married Ella J., daughter of Samuel Crum, a farmer of Bath, 
and they have been the parents of one daughter, Elizabeth, who still makes her 
home on the old homestead. Samuel B. died May 25, 1877. James M. Brunda.gc, 
son of James, a native of the town of Urbana, was born February 17, 1813, and suc- 
ceeded to the old homestead farm, on which he made many valuable improve- 
ments. In 1853 he set out three acres of grape vines, but his principal products were 
grain and wool. He was in early life a Whig, but later a Republican. He was for 
a number of years identified with the Presbyterian church. He was twice mar- 
ried, first on January 7, 1846, to Jerusha Davis, and second to Eliza A. Hender.son, 
daughter of John Collin of Avoca, and they were the parents of two sons: George 
A. and Jay S. Mr. Brundage died October 7, 1889, and Mrs. Brundage, July 29, 
1880. George Albert Brundage, the oldest son of James M. and Eliza Hender.son 
Brundage. was born on the old homestead farm January 28, 1862, was educated in 
the common schools, and has given his attention to farming and grape growing. He 
managed the farm until the death of his father and then came into full possession of 
124 acres, eight acres of which he has set out to vineyard, and the balance of the 
farm is devoted to grain and vegetable products. In politics heisa Republican. He 
is a member of the Order of Maccabees. He and his family are members of the 
Presbyterian church. October 22, 1884, he married Sarah, daughter of William H. 
Garvey of this town, and they are the parents of two children : Leon Jay, born 
March 22, 1886, and Chester Monroe, born September 17, 1888. Jay S. Brundage, 
Son of James M., was born on a farm in the town of I'rbana, October 28, 1867, and 
was educated in the common schools and at Angelica High School, and has always 
lived on the old homestead. At the death of his father he was willed 200 acres of the 
old farm, and the fourth generation of this family now occupy it. He has now a 
vineyard of thirteen acres, and with the balance conducts a grain and dairy farm, 
having a milk route in Hammondsport. He has held some minor town offices and 
has been a school officer. October 27, 1886, he married Linna, daughter of George 
Thompson of Wheeler, and they have two children: Hiram G., born March 20, 1888, 
and May, born February 29, 1892. Henry Brundage, son of John, who was a son of 



232 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

James, was born on a farm on the south part of lot 12, January 15, 1821. He mar- 
ried Emily T. Wood. July 2, 1845, and they were the parents of three children : Edward 
C, Frank W., and Anna. In 1853 he bought a farm of eighty-five acres on lot 8, 
where he spent the balance of his life, and where he died February 8, 1894. Mrs. 
Emily T. Brundage still survives, being seventy years of age. Henry was a Republi- 
can in politics, and was always interested in church and school work, being a trustee 
of the school. His farm consisted of 115 acres, on which he raised hay, grain, etc. 
Edward C. Brundage, the oldest son of Henry, was born on the farm where he now 
resides in the town of L'rbana, August 25, 1854, and has .succeeded his father in the 
management of the farm. February 14, 1877, he married Ella F. Jessop, a native of 
Orange. Schuyler county, and they have two children: Henry Amos, born Septem- 
ber 29, 1878, and Charlie Frank, bora August 2i), 1887. Frank W. Brundage, the 
youngest son of Henry, was born on the homestead farm, November 25, 1858, and 
was educated in Haramondsport Union School, and has always followed farming. 
He was married at the age of nineteen years to Mary C, daughter of John A. Stew- 
art, .a native of Scotland, who lived in the town of Bradford. Frank settled on a 
farm in Urbana where he made his home for five years, and in 1884 he removed to 
Darien, Wis., where he now owns and conducts a farm. He has one daughter, Ina 
E., now in her sixteenth year. Anna Brundage, daughter of Henry Brundage. is a 
graduate of the class of '86 of Haverling, and adopted teachin.g as a profession, 
teaching in the towns of Urbana and Pulteney, and was three years the teacher of 
the Pulteney village school, and is now the primary teacher of Painted Post Union 
School. Lewis Brundage was born on the farm where he now resides in North L'r- 
bana. August 3, 1839. He was given a common school education, and remained 
with his father on the farm until he was twenty-three years of age, when he went on 
a farm bv himself in the town of Wayne, where he resided until 1891, with the ex- 
ception of three \-ears spent on the old homestead, which he bought in 1891. He 
owns 110 acres, on five acres of which is a vineyard, but tile products of which are 
mostly grain and hay. In politics he is a Republican, and he has been trustee. In 
1861 he married Sarah, daughter of James Covert, a farmer of this town. They 
have one adopted daughter, Cora. Orson Brundage was born on a farm at North 
L'rbana, August 26, 1^57, son of James L., who was a son of Ebenezer. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools and Starkey Seminary and remained with his father <m 
the farm until 1890. He was then employed in a grocery store in Penn Yan, where 
he continued until March, 1894, when he bought the Rose grocery and provision 
store, in Haiiimondsport, where he is now engaged in a very successful business. In 
politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church of Penn Yan. No- 
vember 29, 1883, he married Lola Owen, of Second Milo, Yates county, and to them 
have been born four children: Ira James; J. Reader; Pearl Lucille, who died at the 
age of six months; and Fred Lewis, who died at the age of .seven years. Hiram 
Brundage, son of Abram Brundage, was born July 27, 1806, and succeeded his father 
on the farm. January 5, 1832, he married Mary Morrison of this town, and they 
were the parents of fourteen children, eight of whom are now living- Harriet Eliza, 
widow of Alexander B. McFee; James Wesley; Addison; Edgar; Mary C, wife of 
James M. Craig of Elmira; Elizabeth, wife of James Fancett of Bath; Victor; and 
Josephine, wife of William H. Hall of the town of Urbana. Hiram Brundage died 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 233 

Ajjril "), 188(5, an<l bis wife, Mary Morrison Brundage, died June li), 1889. Victor 
Brundage, son of Hiram, was born on the farm adjoining his present residence, April 
1, 1850. and was educated in the common schools, and has always followed farm- 
ing, succeeding his father on the old homestead, conducting a farm of 104 acres de- 
voted to the production of grain and hay. In politics he is a Republican. Addison 
Brundage, son of Hiram, was born on the old homestead farm in the town of Urbana, 
February 1, 1843. He was given a common school education, and took up the occu- 
pation of farming. November 29, 1863, he enlisted in the 23d N. Y. Cavalry, Co. G, 
and served until the close of the war, being on detached duty most of the time, and 
was at Winchester and also on the Wilson raid. Upon his return from the war, he 
bought one hundred acres of his father's farm, where he now resides. He has also 
been engaged in manufacturing lumber and bo.xes, conducting the Taggart sawmill, 
and also conducts a vineyard of six acres In politics he is a Republican. October 20, 
1870, he married EUzabeth, daughter of J. W. Taggart. She died June 25, 1895. James 
Wesley Brundage, the third son of Hiram, was born on the old homestead farm, Sep- 
tember 12, 1841, was educated in the common schools, and became a farmer by occu- 
pation, remaining with his father until he was twenty-four years of age. In 1867 he 
bought a part of the James M. Brundage farm, consisting of 125 acres where he has 
since made his home. He has taken quite an active interest in the cultivation of 
grapes and now has a vineyard of ten acres. Mr. Brundage has always been a warm 
supporter of the Republican party and its principles and has held the office of high- 
way commissioner for two years. He and his family are members of the Presbyte- 
rian church and lie was for several years a trustee and elder of the church, and still 
holds the latter position. He has always been interested in school work and has 
been one of the officers. He is the present steward of Pleasant Valley Grange, has 
been the master of the Grange for two years, and also master of the council for two 
years. February 10, 1870, he married Sarah Bron.son, daughter of J. Bronson of this 
town, and they have four children: Walter W., a graduate of Rochester University, 
class of '94, who is a bookkeeper with the Hammondsport Bank ; Carrie M. ; Hattie ; 
and Eva, all of whom are living at home. Roy S. Brundage was born on the Tag- 
gart farm in the town of Urbana, July 24, 18.57. Abram S. Brundage, the grand- 
father of Roy, was the youngest of the family of Abram and P(jlly Sims Brundage, 
and the most of his life was spent on the old homestead farm where Roy now lives. 
He was married to Louisa Prindle, a native of Schuyler county, and they were the 
parents of nine children, of which John was the eldest of the family. He was born 
January 11, 1834, and was educated in the common schools and at Alfred University, 
and the most of his life has been spent on the homestead farm. In politics he is a 
Democrat. June 7, 18.55, he married Lucy A. Sheppard, daughter of George Shep- 
pard of Wheeler, and they were the parents of three children: Roy S. ; Willie G. ; 
and May Bell, wife of Sidney McDowell, a merchant of Addison. Mrs. Brundage 
died March 20, 1875. The farm of 200 acres on which Roy S. is now living is de- 
voted to the cultivation of grain and the production of wood. Willie G. Brundage 
was born December 7, 1858, on the Taggart farm and has always made his home in 
this town. He was married December 24, 1890, to Lulu, daughter of William B. 
Johnson, of Bath, and they have one child, Gratton II. Brundage, who is eighteen 
months old. 
dil 



234 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COrXTY 

Richtmyer, Charles E., was born in Hector, Tompkins county, N. Y., Januar^' 1, 
1836, son of John Richtmyer mentioned in this work. Charles E. was reared on a 
farm and educated in Havana Academy, and at eighteen years of age he learned 
the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for about ten years. He came to Thurston 
with his parents when he was twelve years of age, and, except five years in Titus- 
ville. Pa., and five years near Erie City, Pa., has lived in Thur,ston, N. Y. In 1805 
he bought the farm of 105 acres he now owns, and followed general farming. He is 
a Republican in politics, and has been justice of the peace twenty-four years, and in 
lt:iT4 and lySO was justice of sessions. August 16, 185."), he married Lucretia M. 
Buck, who was born in Enfield, Tompkins county, March 29, 1831, daughter of Amos 
and Susanna (Lovell) Buck, by whom he had two children: Mina L. wife of F. L. 
Hawley. a merchant of Cameron, and they have one child, Inez M. ; and Bertie E., 
who is a clerk in a hardware store m Cameron, N. Y. Mr. Richtmyer is also a watch- 
maker by trade, and has worked at millwrighling for several years, and has also 
erected seven steam mills in Steuben county, N. Y. 

Grant, George E., was born in Delaware county, N.Y., April 20, 1843, son of John 
L. and Catherine Parmeter Grant, he a native of Scotland, and she of Delaware 
county, N.Y. John L. came to Orange county, with his father, Lewis Grant, who 
went to Delaware county, where he died in 1866. John died in Delaware county, 
June 19, 1866, and his wife, November 12, 1863. George E. was educated in the 
common schools of Tioga county, N. Y. , and engaged in farming, and has also 
worked in a sash factory. In 1868 he came to Erwin, and in November, 1884, re- 
moved to Woodhull, where he bought forty-two acres of land. He is a Republican, 
and has been constable for two terms, and is a member of J. N. Warner Post No. 
565, G. A. R., of which he is a charter member. June 24, 1869, he married Lucinda 
Edwards of Woodhull, and they have ten children : Mabel, John L. (deceased), Nellie, 
Grace, Charles, Clarie, Benjamin, Arthur, Fred (deceased), and George. December 
25, 1863, Mr. Grant enlisted in Co. B, 21st N.Y. Cavalry, and served one year and 
ten months, and was in the following battles: Newmarket, Piedmont, Lynchburg, 
Winchester, Ashby's Gap, and Mount Jackson. 

Loper, James A., was born in Woodhull, N.Y., November 4, 1854, son of James and 
IlaRosenkransLoper, heanative of Jerusalem, N.Y., and she of Delaware, Pa. They 
went to Brookfield, Pa., at an early date, where they lived for some years, and then 
went to Saginaw county, Michigan, where they now reside. The grandfather of 
James A. was Sir John Loper, an early settler of Rathboneville, where he died at 
the age of eighty-two years. James A. was reared on a farm, and educated in the 
common schools. He went to Michigan when a boy, and in 1881 returned to Wood- 
hull. He is a farmer by occupation and owns seventy-nine acres of land. March 21, 
1881, he married Mary P., adopted daughter of Jeffrey Stroud, and they have five 
chilaren; Anna P., Forest J., Wayne A., Cassie C. , and Scott L. Mrs. Loper's own 
parents were Jesse Morey and Charlotte Fisher Morey. Jeffrey Stroud was born in 
^\■oodhull on the farm on which his father settled, where he lived until about 1870, 
when he purchased the Bethel Gurnsey farm, and resided where his widow now lives 
until his death, which occurred January 12, 1894. He was a son of Edward L. and 
Almira Gurnsey Stroud, who are mentioned in this work, was educated in the com- 
mon schools, and at his death owned 120 acres of land. In 1857 he married Damey 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 235 

P.. daughter of William and Parmelia Schoonover Morey. who came to Troupsburg 
at an early day and died at Rowlett, Pa., he in 1892, and his wife about 1878. 

June, William A., was born in Jasper, May .5, 1857, son of Elias and Louisa 
(Countryman) June, he a native of Jasper, and she of Herkimer county, N. Y. The 
grandfather, Alvah June, came to Steuben county from Connecticut in a very early 
day, and settled on the farm now owned by William A., where he died. He had 
lived some years in MeKean county. Pa., where his wife was burned to death. 
Klias June, father of William A., died in Jasper, in December, 1891. His wife still 
resides in Jasper. William A. was reared on a farm aiul educated in the common 
schools. He followed farming and now owns the homestead farm of 100 acres. 
October 19, 1881, he married Jessie A. Perry, a native of Wondhull, and daughter of 
Levi and Hulda H. (Lyon) Perry, he of Woodhull, whose father. Wooster Perry, was 
one of the first settlers. Mr. and Mrs. June have one daughter, Lois M., born Novem- 
ber 27, 1891. William A. June bought the first lever hay press used in Jasper, and 
has been engaged in the business eleven years. His father, Elias June, was always 
ready to assist any one in need, and was among the first to encourage any public en- 
terprise. He assisted largely in laying out grounds, planting trees, building fence, 
etc., to the beautilful cemetery of Jasper. He died without an enemy. 

Smith, Elmon D., was born in North Haven, Conn., November 5, 1817. In 18;i5 
his father, Deacon Hervey Smith, moved with his family to Newark Valley, Tioga 
county, N. Y., where the subject of this notice continued to live until 1847, when he 
went to Dansville and resided there one year. Then he went to Portage and car- 
ried on the tanning business until 1853, when he moved to Hornellsville. Here he 
engaged in the insurance business, also dealt in leather, and for a time conducted 
a shoe store. He also engaged in the manufacture of brick. He built much and 
handled much property, having owned about thirty ;icres here. Wlien he bought 
the site of his present residence on Genesee street in 185;! and built there, his neigh- 
bors thought it strange that he should go so far out to build. In 1851 that section of 
the town was sowed to wheat. He has\ been a trustee of the Presbyterian church 
since 18.54, has been a choir singer for over fifty years, and was leader of a choir 
for forty years. He married Sarah Marsh Waldo, who died in 1879. 

Krause, Frederick William Richard, was born in Berlin, (lerraany, in 18t5.. He 
took a preparatory course at the Sophia (iymuasium at Berlin and studied theology" 
and history at the University of Berlin. For 1880 he emigrated to the United States 
and settled at Albany, where he was pastor of the German Lutheran church, also 
at New Orleans, St. Louis and Princeton. In December, 1885, he moved to Perkins- 
viUe, where he assumed the pastorate of the German Lutheran congregation 
(the largest of Steuben county) of that place and also of the Lutheran church of 
Dansville. Mr. Krause has contributed .scientific articles, exegetical and historical, 
for the St. Louis Theologica and is working now at a "Philologica veteris et novi 
testamenti Clavis." At Princeton, Ind.. June, 18h:!, he married Marv .Schaible, who 
was born at that place in 1856. She was graduated at Princeton Iligli School, and 
took a special course at Terre Haute College and afterwards taught in the graded 
schools for nine year.s. They had four children: William, who was born at Neshan- 
nock. Pa., April 24, 1885; Lizzie, born in June, 1887, and died June 8. 1891; Her- 
mann, born April 23, 1891 ; and Albert, born May 5. 1894, died February 26, 1895. 



236 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Gee, Edward, was born in Steuben county, N. Y., April 25, 1840, son of John T. 
and Margaret (Betis) Gee, natives of New York, who came to Steuben county where 
she died at twenty-eight years of age, and he at eighty-fours years of age. He was 
a hatter by trade, and was also proprietor of a hotel at Woodhull for over four years. 
He was a member of the F. & A. M. Edward Gee was reared in the village of 
Woodhull. He is a farmer and owns 128 acres of land. In ISGo he married Amanda, 
daughter of Peter Harder, of Woodhull, by whom he had three children . Dora, 
Rush, and Edith G. In 1864 Mr. Gee enlisted in Co. G, 141st N. Y. Vols., and 
served eleven months. He was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and 
was at the battles of Averysborough and Smith's Farm. He was a charter member 
of J. N. Warner Post, No. 56.5, G. A. R. 

Wood. Augu-stus H., was born in the town of Corning in July, 1842, son of Barry 
C. and Mary Ann Wood. He married Lillian H. Palmer, and they have one daugh- 
ter, Lillian. Mr. Wood is adjutant of the G. A. R. Post, No. 611, and past com- 
mander. He enlisted in August, 1861, in Co. L, 6th Regiment, New York Cavalry, 
and re-enlisted in the same regiment and was finally discharged August 23, 1865. 
He first served as bugler, then as corporal, and afterwards as sergeant. He has held 
the office of town clerk and was U. S. census enumerator two terms, 

Sanford, John, was born in Urbana, N. Y., in 1823, son of Thomas and Matilda 
(Miller) Sanford, both natives of New Jersey, who came to Urbana at an early day, 
where he cleared a farm and followed sawing and farming. He died in 1864 and his 
wife in 1860. He was a Whig in politics, and aftervi'ard a Republican. The grand- 
father, Thomas Sanford, came from New Jersey and settled m Urbana, where he 
engaged in farming. John Sanford engaged in sawing in early life, which he fol- 
lowed about forty years. In 1875 he bought the farm in Bradford where he has 
since been located. In 1847 he married Mary H. Bartholomev?, by whom he had two 
children: Alonzo, who is a farmer in Michigan; and Mary A., wife of N. French, a 
mason and bricklayer. 

Walling, Daniel L., was born in the town of Bradford, January 9, 1847, the third 
of six children born to Asa and Sarah (Wilson) Walling. Asa Walling was born in 
New Jersey, July 7, 1810, and Mrs. Walling was born in Starkey, N. Y., August 21, 
1811. In 1820 the parents of Asa Walling, Samuel and Susana (Swarts) Walling, 
•came from New Jersey and settled in Starkey, N. Y. , and had nine children, and 
Samuel Walling died in 1869, and his wife died in 1847. Asa Walling was a success- 
ful farmer and owned a large farm in Bradford, where he died April 25, 1894. Mrs. 
Walling died February 7, 1888. Daniel L. was reared on a farm and has always 
been engaged in that line, commencing on the farm where _he now resides, which 
consists of 100 acres, in 1881. He then spent nine years on the homestead, caring 
for the old people, returning to his present home in 1895. January 9, 1881, Mr. Wall- 
ing married Sarah E., daughter of James M. and Maria (Dennis) Gillmore, and they 
have one son, Asa J., who was born March 30, 1885. Mr. Walling is a member of the 
Grange and Farmers' Alliance. 

Wood, Israel, was born in the town of Wayne, March 30, 1831, and is the ninth of 
thirteen children born to Israel R. and Anna (Fleet) Wood, he a native of Orange 
county, N. Y. , and she of Tynme, N. Y. The maternal grandfather, Abram Fleet, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 237 

was a pioneer of Tyrone, where he cleared a farm and reared a large family. The 
paternal grandfather, Jonathan Wood, lived and died in Orange county, N. V. At 
four years of age Ira R. Wood, father of Israel, was left an orphan, and he lived 
with relatives until he was si.Kteen years of age, when he bound himself out to Joel 
Thorpe of Groton, Tompkins county. In 1815 he settled in Wayne, where he cleared 
a large farm and spent his days. He died November 9, ISliS, and Mrs. Wood died 
October 9, 1S64. Israel Wood helped to clear the homestead farm, and still resides 
there and makes farming his occupation. In \Hr>'> he married Orrilla, daughter of 
Henry and Catherine (McDowell) Cronkrite, by whom he had these children: Jona- 
than, who died in 1863, aged six years; Laura M., who died in 1863, aged four years; 
Kittle C. , wife of William S. Murray, a teacher by profession and graduate of Syra- 
cuse University; Fred H., who died in 1869, aged seven years; Olin W., a graduate 
of Syracuse University, and a teacher by profession; William M., of Wyoming 
county. Pa., and a teacher b)- profession ; and Anna O., who is a student at Albany 
State Normal College. Mr. Wood is a member of No. 4.")9, F. & A. M., of Ilam- 
mondsport. 

McAdam, Henry. — William McAdam was born March 18, 1827, in Ireland and 
came to the United States when a small child. His father, James, settled in the 
town of Howard, near where William now resides, in 1830, where he cleared a farm 
of 101 acres. He died in 18.59, and his wife in March, 1864. They had a family of 
three children: John, Thomas, and William, all of whom were born in Ireland. 
William was educated in the districts schools of Howard, and December 3, 18.51, he 
married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Pawling, .son of Henry Pawling, who fought 
for his country in 1776, was taken prisoner and confined on the PrLson Ship. Henry 
Pawling, the father of Mrs. McAdam, was drafted in the war of 1812. At that time 
the population was limited and his wife, Catherine, was compelled to live alone in a 
log cabin in the woods, and had to keep bright fires burning in order to frighten 
away the wild animals. Mr. and Mrs. McAdam were the parents of five children : 
Eva, Henry, Herbert, Hattie. who married W. J. .Stewart and resides in North 
Carolina, and Clayton. Henry McAdam is a prosjicrous farmer in the town of 
Howard, owning a farm of 118 acres, mostly all cleared. February 24, 1886, he mar- 
ried Emma A., daughter of Andrew Sharp, one of the first farmers of the town. 
They have one daughter. Bertha. Mr. and Mrs. McAdam are members of the Pres- 
byterian church. 

Williams, Miles, was born in Tioga county. X. V., February 21, 1825, son of Juliii 
A., and Nancy Thompson Williams, she a native of Tioga county, and he of Con- 
necticut. They came. to WoodhuU in 1830, where he died October 9, 1870, and she 
September 13, 1867. Miles's grandfather, Thomas Williams, died in Tioga county. 
May 15, 1828, and his wife, Elizabeth, died May 24, 1864, aged eighty-six years. The 
maternal grandfather was Moses Thompson, who was born September 2, 1771, and 
died October 26, 1854. Miles Williams was brought up on a farm and educated in 
the common schools, and now owns 192 acres of land. In 1850 he married Catherine, 
daughter of Joseph D. , son of Samuel Stroud, who is mentioned in this work. Mr. 
and Mrs. Williams arc the parents of two children : Joseph, who married Ida Marvin, 
and they have one child. Leon, born March 5, 1863, and by a previous marriage to 
Nelhe Burch, they have one child, Wallace, born May 2(1, 1882. Mrs. Williams's 



238 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

father, Joseph D. Strond. was born in New Jersey in 1792, and came to Woodhull. His 
wife was Elizabeth Merring, by whom he had nine children. He died February 28, 
1870, and his wife November 19, 1883. He was one of the leading farmers of the 
town and owned about 600 acres of land. 

Lang, John H.. son of John Lang, first vice-president of the Fall Brook Coal and 
Fall Brook Railway Co.'s, was born at Covington, Pa., September 8, 1850. He be- 
gan his business life as a telegraph operator and mail boy for the Fall Brook Coal 
Co. in December. 1863, from which duties he was promoted to bookkeeper, and later 
held the positions of auditor, paymaster, and assistant treasurer, and is now secre- 
tary of that corporation. In the reorganization of the railway department, July 1, 
1893, he was made treasurer of the Fall Brook Railway Co. He has resided in Corn- 
ing since March, 1880. 

Foster, William A., was born in Vermont in 1835. When seventeen years of age 
he began railroad work as fireman and afterwards learned the machinist trade, and 
then ran an engine for several years, after which he was engaged as foreman of the 
shops at Fitchburg, Mass., for two years. In 1873 he was appointed assistant super- 
intendent of motive power for the Fitchburg Railroad, acting as superintendent from 
1882 to 1884, and in 1885 accepted his present position of superintendent of machin- 
ery for the Fall Brook Railroad. 

Donnelly, Mrs. E. B. — James Donnelly was born in New York city, March 29, 
1843. His family moved to Georgetown, D. C. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. I, 34lh 
New York Infantry, and after his discharge he went to Hammondsport and enlisted 
in Co. G, 22d Cavalry, and served two years, and received an honorable discharge 
at the close of the war. In 1871 he married Ellen Benner, and they are the parents 
of two children: Henry J. and Ellen M. In 1889 he moved to Kanona and kept pub- 
lic house until his death, which occurred January 39, 1894. ilr. Donnelly was an 
Odd Fellow and a prominent Mason ; also a member of the Knights of the Macca- 
bees. 

Hoagland, John C, was born on the farm where he now lives, October 27, 1839, 
son of Richard Hoagland, who was born in Montgomery county, and came to the 
town of Howard in 1830, settled on the farm now owned and occupied by John C. 
Their ancestry is traced back to the settlement of New Amsterdam, in 1565. Richard 
was a farmer and lived to be ninety years of age. He married Tabitha Clark, of 
Montgomery county, formerly of Rhode Island, and they were the parents of eleven 
children, five of whom are still alive. John C. has always been a farmer, with the 
exception of three years spent in the army. He enlisted in 1861, and was in the 
battles of Port Hudson, and the Red River Campaign. He was married three times, 
first to Tabitha Powell, and three children were born to them: Holand, Clark, and 
Georgia; his second wife was Jennie Brockney, by whom he had one son, Sumner; 
third, to Ella Burd. Mr. Hoagland has filled the offices of overseer of the poor for 
two years, and supervisor for the same length of time. He is a member of the G. A. 
R., and a Granger. In politics he is an Independent. 

Stewart, William H., who was born in the town of Howard, April 2, 1843, is the 
ninth child of a family of eleven children of the late Andrew and Lydia Stewart, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 2.39 

who were among the pioneer settlers of this town, coming here in 1817. Andrew- 
Stewart was born October 31, 1805, in Washington county. He cleared a farm of 
eighty acres where he resided up to within three years of hi.s death, when he disposed 
of it to a son, E. L. Stewart, who is in possession of it at the present time. William 
H. Stewart began life poor, out through hard labor and frugality he is the owner of 
a 110 acre farm, mostly all improved land. He married Nancy J., daughter of Henry 
Stewart of Howard, and thev have one son, Don Stewart, who resides at home. 
They are members of the M. E. church of Towlesville. In politics Mr. .Stewart is 
Independent. 

Sin Clair, William A., was born April 10. 1832, on tlic homestead, which was settled 
by his father, John Sin Clair, who came from Vermont in 1820; at that time the pres- 
ent section was covered by a dense forest, and it was only through his laborious 
work that it was brought under cultivation and roads were laid out for the conven- 
ience of the incoming settlers; the one worthy of particular mention is the Turnpike 
which bounds the farm on the south. In 1823 he married Eltha Dickenson, by whom 
he had six children, three sons and three daughters, and through life was identified 
as a practical fanner, taking an active interest in school and church matters, dying 
in 18,11 at the age of si.\ty-three years. In 1857 William A. married Mary J., daugh- 
ter of William and Martha Abbott, by whom he had five children: Will A., F. Leo, 
F. Ueo, Mrs. A. J. Sin Clair, Mrs. F. B. Conine; and has always resided on the 
homestead, being one of the most prosperous and influential farmers of that locality. 

Hoaglin, Leroy, was born in Schuyler county, N. V,, September 24, 1839, son of 
John and F'annie (Redner) Hoaglin, who came to Pennsylvania in 18,52, and to Wood- 
hull in 18U3, where they still reside. Leroy Hoaglin began working by the month, 
and in 1803 he enlisted in Co. G, 2d N. Y. Vet. Vol. Cavalry, and served until No- 
vember, 1865. He was at the battles of Red River, Mobile, Blakely, and all other 
battles the regiment took part in. He now owns 110 acres of land. He is a Repub- 
lican in politics, and held the office of assessor four years, elected the second term. 
He is a member of Restoration Lodge, No. 777, F. & A. M., also a member of J. N. 
Warner Post, No. 56.5, G. A. R. In 1867 Mr. Hoaglin married Elsie Thompson, by 
whom he had four children: Olive, Gertrude, Etta, and Leroy. The grandfather, 
John Hoaglin, was a native of New Jersey, and came to Cayuga county, N.V., where 
he died. 

Carter, Erastus A., was born in Canisteo, April 23, 1848, son of John Carter, who 
was born in Lansing, Tompkins county. When John Carter first came to .Steuben 
county he settled in Greenwood, and was engaged in farming and lumbering quite 
extensively. He came to Canisteo village about twenty years ago and remodeled 
the old Canisteo House, it being the first brick house in the county. He run the 
hotel for about two years, afterwards disposing of the same. In about four years he 
again purchased the property, which he owned till his death in August, 1888. In 
1889 Erastus A. Carter purchased the hotel from the estate, and has since conducted 
the same. Mr. Carter was at one time engaged in farming and lumbering, but at 
present devotes his time to farming, the hotel, and his furniture busines.s. In De- 
cember, 1894, the furniture business was started under the name of E. A. Carter & 
Son, carrying a general line of furniture and funeral supplies. In July, 1809, Mr, 



240 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Carter married Katie A. Bailey, of Tompkins county, by whom he has two sons: 
William L. and John M. Mr. Carter is a member of Morning Star Lodge of Masons, 
No. 6.5. 

Cram, Duty S., eldest son of Isaiah and Phoebe (Dakin) Cram, was born in Che- 
nango county, N. Y., in 1837. Locating in the town of Lindley, two years later thej^ 
moved to Caton, which at that time was but a wilderne.ss, and commenced clearing 
up a farm where Mr. Cram now resides, and where the parents died several years 
ago. Besides D. S., there were six girls and three boys, viz. : Finetta, wife of Joel 
P. Cady of North Adams, Mass., both now deceased; Polly, wife of Robert Cook of 
Lindley, both living; Roby, wife of Henry L. Babcock of Caton, both deceased; 
Emeline, of Caton, deceased; Samantha, wife of John H. Laughhead of Elmira, both 
deceased; Sarah, wife of James Waldon of Caton, both living; Simeon B., of Caton, 
deceased; Henry D. of Glean, X. Y., decea.sed (killed by a falling tree): Robert W. , 
the youngest, now living in the town of Corning. In 1855 D. S. married Sarah A. 
Stamer, a native of Tompkins county, N. Y. They have at present four children 
living, viz. : Fred B. of Caton, who married Matie Thorp, and resides on a farm 
adjoining his father's; Nellie, wife of Eugene Cook, who resides in Elmira; Joel P., 
who married Estella Vandusen and resides on a farm near his father; Nettie, wife 
of ^V alter A. Davidson, and resides on a farm at Lindley. The eldest son, James, 
died when a boy. 

Wellman, John R., West Caton, Steuben county, N. Y., is a native of Otsego 
county, was born in 1819 and came to his present place, January 3. 1851. In 1842 he 
married his present wife, who was Anne Histed, a native of Schenectady county. 
August 14, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 141st N. Y. Vels., and served two years and 
ten months. His children are Sarah A., wife of William A. Johnston, Emma J., 
wife of M. W. Robbins, Silas E., L. M., Willie I., and Charles R., who died in 1861. 
Mr. Wellman is serving his second term as justice of peace. 

Granger, Leverett, was born in Springfield, Mass., April 2, 1809. John Granger, 
his father, owned a beautiful farm on the Connecticut, five miles from Springfield, 
Mass. Through signing notes for a friend, he was obliged to sell and when the sub- 
ject of this sketch was seven, we find them settled in Drj-den, N. Y. In 1822 they 
moved to Bennett's Creek, one mile west of Canisteo, where they cleared a large 
tract of land. AVhen but eighteen, Leverett lost his mother; he then started to 
" carve out his own fortune." Working for ten dollars a month, he laid up his §100 
a year; his life was was not all work, for many a time has he told his children about 
the New Years ball, how he took his girl, not in a carriage, but on behind him, both 
on the same horse. After accumulating sufficient fortune to support a wife, he 
married Weltha Chapman, by whom he had seven children: Harriet E., Weltha E., 
Francis G., William H., Horace A., Harrison D., and Daniel S. He married for his 
second wife Lydia A., daughter of John Rose of Greenwood, by whom he had seven 
children; Charles, Elisha, Sarah A., H. Lee, M. Ida, Lura B. and John. Death has 
claimed two of his children, Francis G. and M. Ida; the others we find scattered m 
the East and West, and some remaining on his beautiful farm one mile south of Can- 
isteo. When in the spring of 1894 death claimed his beloved wife, we find him still 
calm and serene, for his trust has been in Jesus for many a year. Tliough not a 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 241 

Prohibitionist, he is strongly temperate; do we need a better example than this — 
not one of his eight manly sons love the wine cup? As one has said, " "I'is only noble 
to be good;" then he must belong to the true nobility, for his life has always been 
free from quarrels and strife, loved and honored by all. 

Cook, Emmett A., was born in the town of Hartsville, March 22, 1854, son of 
James M. Cook, a native of this county, born in Canisteo, September 2S, 1825. He 
was a farmer and lumberman and the later years of his life were spent in Hornells- 
ville, where he died February 23, 1866. He was supervisor of the town of Hartsville 
for three terms and also held some of the minor officers. He was a member of the 
Methodist church the earlier part of his life. When twenty-si.x years old he married 
Harriet, daughter of Joseph Wallace, one of the pioneers of Hornellsville. Mrs. 
Cook died August 22, 1895, in her Hfty-ninth year. They were the parents of three 
children: Emmett. as above, Eva, the wife of Scott H. Van Benkirk, a farmer of 
Hartsville and postmaster, and Fanny, who died in 1863. Emmett was educated 
in Hornellsville schools and Canisteo Academy, and was for one year employed in 
the grocery of D. C. Corbett of Canisteo. In 1875 he moved on to a farm of 120 
acres on lot 6, town of Hornellsville, which he inherited from his father, and r)n which 
he now lives, making a specialty of dairy products and potatoes. For a great many 
years he has raised sheep. In 1891 and 1892 he served as highway commissioner of 
the town. In 1877 Mr. Cook married Celestia Hendee of Hartsville. who died March 
4, 1887, 

Griswold, George W., was born in Avoca, Steuben county, N. Y., July 5, 1838, son 
of John D., who was a native of Spencertown, Albany county, born January 21, 1813. 
John I), removed to Steuben county about 1835, locating in Avoca, where he estab- 
lished a jewelry business, where he died March 10, 1893, He was postmaster of 
Avoca for several years, and a prominent Mason of Bath Lodge. The mother of our 
subject, Sarah Towner, was a native of this county, and a daughter of Gershom 
Towner, who was one of the earliest settlers. Mrs. Griswold is still living, being in 
her seventy-ninth year. Mr. and Mrs. Griswold are the parents of twelve children, 
ten of whom grew to maturity, and six of whom now survive. George, the eldest 
son, first engaged as a clerk in Oscar Smith's dry goods store at Avoca, where he 
remained two years, and at the age of .sixteen came to Hornellsville where he was 
employed in the same capacity with Smith & Young, and during his five years with 
them never lost a day's time. In 1869 he established himself in business, opening a 
general store, which he sold out in 1884, after which he followed farming for eight 
years. In 1891 he returned to Hornellsville and opened a shoe .store in his building 
on Main street, where he now has a fine trade. Mr. Griswold has served as highway 
commissioner, collector, and was enrolling officer at the time of the Rebellion. He 
has been a Mason for twenty eight years, and has twice been Master of his lodge, 
having held many other high offices in same. In 1861 he married Mary C, daughter 
of R. M. Traver of Painted Post. She died in I8HS, leaving one .son, Don C. The 
present Mrs. Griswold was Anna T. Regan, and their children are Raymond Leo 
and Wallace Elliot. 

Austin, Benjamin, was born in Fishkill, Dutchess county, February 13, 1825. At 
ten years of age he began work in a cotton factory in Matteawan, N. Y., and at thir- 



242 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN CODNTY. 

teen years of age he came to Prattsburg with his father where he learned the car- 
penter trade which he has followed for forty yeai-s. In 1868 he movedinto the village 
of Prattsburg, and was elected town tax-collector, which office he held six years, and 
nine consecutive years as constable. In ]8il() he returned to his farm where he has 
;.ince resided. Lockwood Austin his grandfather, was a drum major in the 1812 
war, and was a carjjenter by trade, and came to Pulteney, Steuben county, about 
1839, and later moved to Prattsburg where he spent his remaining days on a farm. 
He married Susan Meade, by whom he had seven children: William, Daniel, Mrs. 
Eliza Brewster, Mrs. Olive Adams. Mrs. Fannie Banker, Mrs. Charity Green, Mrs. 
Ann Burroughs. William Austin, father of Benjamin, was born in Putnam county, 
in 1801. He was a stone mason by trade, and was for many years a foreman in the 
cotton factory at Matteawan. N. Y. In 18S9 he came to Prattsburg, Steuben county, 
where he engaged in farming. He married Sally Ann Watkins of Dutchess county, 
by whom he had five children: Benjamin B., Mrs. Fannie Smith of Prattsburg, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Trenchard of Hornellsville, Lockwood, who enlisted in 107th Regt., and 
fought in several battles, died in a hospital and was buried in Nashville, Tenn., 
and Mrs. Margaret Earley of Prattsburg. He died in 1890, and his wife in July, 
1889. In 1849 Benjamin Austin married Johannah E. A., daughter of Alexander 
Parker of Pulteney, by whom he had three children: James A., born March, 1850, 
who is engaged in farming and .grape growing, was married to Martha Hulls of 
Pulteney, May 2, 187.^; Wm. K., born November, 18-')7, printer and carpenter by 
trade, was married to Amy R. Stanhope of Wayne. January 26, 1882; and Benjamin 
P., born August 15, 1867; is a mechanic and musician, director of Prattsburg band, 
and a composer of music, and was married to Chenej- Brown of Prattsburg in 1886. 
B. B. Austin has two grandchildren, Lola L. , daughter of W. K. and Verie Marie, 
daughter of B. P. Mrs. Austin died in March, 1878, aged fifty-two years. In 1880 
Mr. Austin married for his second wife, Mrs. Betsey E. (Northrup) Smith, who has 
two children: Miranda E., deceased, and Lsrael A. 

Woodbury. Joseph B. , was born in the town of Exeter, Otsego county, N. Y., Oc- 
tober 21, 1826. When about two years of age his parents removed to New Hartford, 
Oneida county, where they resided until 1830, when they took up their residence in 
Winfield, Herkimer county, and continued to reside there until 1841. While living 
there, the subject of this sketch attended common school, where he evinced a talent 
for learning far in advance of his years, and was always at the head of his classes. 
On February 3, 1841, the family commenced a journey to the then comparatively 
new town of Jasper, in this county, and reached their destination after six days' 
travel. He attended school until nineteen years of age, a portion of the time at a 
select school in Addison, under the tutor.ship of Col. John W. Dininny. His school 
days ended, Mr. Woodbury engaged in lumbering until twenty-five years of age, 
when he became interested in farming. He also took took up the trade of mason 
and worked at it for eight years. Having purchased a farm in the town of Jasper, 
he continued to reside upon it until April 9, 1862. when he moved to the village of 
Greenwood to engage in the milling business, having previously bought the Stephens 
mill in that village. He remained here twelve years, managing in connection with 
his mill, large lumbering and farming interests. He then retired from these pur- 
suits, built a house in the village of Greenwood, and invested largely in oil lands, 



FA.\in,Y SKETCHES. 243 

' owning at one time 153 acres in the oil bell in Pennsylvania, and an interest in 
thirty-six oil wells. Seeing the rapid emigration to the Western States after the 
close of the war, and conscious of the increase in the value of western lands which 
must necessarily follow the settlement of that section, he began to place some of his 
capital there. Among his earlist speculations was one in land in the State of Iowa, 
where he purchased two thousand and one hundred acres in Woodbury county. 
(On an investment of §2,000 he realized within a few years, upwards of §6,000.) Mr. 
Woodbury in company with Hon. John Uavis of Creenwood, \. Y., then bought two 
thousand acres of pine timber land in the Stale of Michigan which he held fortwelve 
vears, this costing them about $4,.500 and was sold for §4(1,(100. He is now in pos- 
session of one thousand acres of land in one of the most fruitful sections of the Slate 
of Nebraska, and the owner of a large flouring mill at Old, in that State. He is also 
interested in the First National Bank of Ord, of which institution he was one of the 
originators. On December 31, 1886, Mr. Woodbury took up his residence in Horn- 
ellsville. He is a director and one of the executive board of the Citizens' National 
Hank of Hornellsville. He never aspired to hold political office, though often 
urged by his townsmen to accept. He married first, Mary M., daughter of the late 
Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, of Greenwood, on November 11, 18.51. Of this 
union two sons were born, viz.: Merritt A., now deceased, and Martin F., of Sauk 
Centre, Minn, ^trs Woodbury died May 28, 1883. His present wife was Mary M., 
daughter of the late Hon. Redmond S. Davis, also of Greenwood. Merrill A. moved 
with his family, consisting of wife and one son, to Ord, Nebraska, in September, 
1891, and died December 0, 1894 

Dartt, Burton. — His grandfather, Joshua, was born in Vermont, and came with his 
father to Pennsylvania, and from there to Steuben county, locating on the old turn- 
pike road between Bath and Hornellsville, where he lived to an old age. Franklin 
Dartt, father of Burton, was bom in Pennsylvania, near Blossburg, Tioga county, 
in 1809, and came to Howard at the age of about twelve years, where he learned the 
trade of cloth dressing and carding, which business he followed all his life. He 
married Louisa Dort, who died five years later. For his second wife he married 
Lidda Clisba, who was bom in June 1805, and died in Michigan in 1807. From this 
union there were four children: Byron H., born Decemher 10, 1836; Burton, born 
August 18, 1838; Phebe Jane, bom in 1842; and Esther Ann, born July 1, 1848. 
Burton Dartt received a good common school education, and worked in a steam mill 
for a time, and has since followed farming, having a farm of 141 acres which is 
located on Windom Hill. He has been inspector of election four years, and also 
held the office of assessor of the town of Fremont for four years. November 17, 
1862. he married Helen M. Deraery, who was born May 24 1839, and they have one 
child, Esther Jane Gray, who was born October 2, 1867, and married March 29, 1885, 
and has one child, Doras B. Gray, who was born August 28, 1889. 

Hulbert, Freeman, was born December 20, 1840. His grandfather, Moses Hul- 
bert, w'as born in Hampshire county, Mass., August 7, 1770. In 1816 he came to 
Dansville and bought a farm on Oak Hill where he followed the cooper's trade, and 
where he died. Justus Hulbert, father of Freeman, was born at Fort Ann, Wash- 
ington county, November 12, 1810, and came to Dansville with his father, where he 
followed farming. The first fifty acres he purchased on Oak Hill, at eighteen shil- 



244 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

lings per acre, and he owned about seventy-five acres when he died at forty-six years 
of age. In 1838, he married Catherine Flickinger, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., 
May 5, 1819, by whom he had four children: Freeman, as above; Diana, who mar- 
ried Daniel Sager; Amelia, who married John Scherer; and Charles Hulbert. Free- 
man Hulbert has always followed farming, and he purchased the farm in Fremont, 
on which he now lives, thirty years ago. November 1, 1865, he married Mary A. 
Cridler, who was born in Dansville, March 20, 1840, daughter of Daniel Cridler, by 
whom he had one child, Ira Justus, who was bom September 25, 1866, and who was 
educated at Rogersville Union Seminary. March 5, 1890, he married May L. 
Kriedler, who was born December 6, 1870, and died October 28, 1890. 

Stewart, Edmond, was born m the town of Cameron, N. Y., November 2, 1848, son 
of John S. and Sarah (Chase) Stewart, natives of Harrington. Yates county, and 
eastern New York, respectively. The grandparents were among the first settlers of 
Cameron, where they died. John S. Stewart was reared on a farm in Cameron, 
where he lived and died. Edmond was educated in the common schools, then en- 
gaged in farming on the homestead. In 1866 he married Lovina, daughter of Wash- 
ington and Mary (.Smith) Dawley, by whom he has seven children: Albert, Carrie, 
Nelson, Lizzie, George, Louise, and Minnie. In 1879 Mr. Stewart came to Rathbone 
and rented a farm owned by Dea. William Allen ; in 1889 he bought 108 acres and 
made a specialty of sheep raising. The family are Baptists. September 23, 1895, 
Edmond Stewart died. 

Rosenkrans, A. D., was born in Avoca, November 12, 1845. Joseph Rosenkrans, his 
father, was born in Steuben county, and settled in Avoca in about 1836, on the farm 
of which his son is now part owner. He married Mary Austin of Wayland, by whom 
he had three children: Mary H., George B., and A. D., who was educated in Avoca 
and Naples Academy, after which he engaged in farming which he followed until 1881, 
at which time until 1887 he spent at milling. He married Annetta, daughter of Will- 
iam R. Head, by whom he had three children: George M., Mertie M., and William 
K. Mrs. Rosenkrans died October 1, 1889, and he married for his second wife, Rhoda 
A., daughter of Martin H. Cooley of Wayland. Mr. Rosenkrans was justice of the 
peace for some time, and is a member of Avoca Lodge of Masons, No. 673. 

Hofstetter, Louis, was born in the town of Hornellsville, February 6, 1854. Casper 
Hofstetter, the father of our subject, is a native of Germany, who came to this coun- 
try about 1849, and settled at what is now Webb's Crossing on nineteen acres of 
land. He afterwards in 1873 moved to the farm of 133 acres where he now resides, 
and has ever since been engaged in farming in this section. He is seventy-si.x years 
old. His wife, Elizabeth Knetl, was also a native of Germany. They have four 
children, of which Louis is the youngest son. He was educated in the common 
schools and made his home on his father's farm until of age. In 1877 he started for 
himself by the purchase of thirty-five acres in the northern part of Hornellsville, and 
added to that by the purchase in 1883 of thirty-five acres, and eighty-five acres of the 
old Ashbel Ward farm. He makes his home on seven acres purchased of his father 
in Hornellsville. He has become one of the leading farmers of this section. He 
makes a specialty of the cultivation of potatoes, and in 1894 raised 4,000 bushels, and 
also 800 bushels of grain, besides hay for stock. He was married April 28, 1883, to 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 245 

Miss Amanda Colgrove of Arkport. They have three children. Pearl in her eleventh 
vear, May in her tenth year and Ida ten months old. 

Paddock, John N., was born in Sussex county. N. J., July 12,1844, and is the eighth of 
nine children born to James and \ancy (I'tler) Paddock, both natives of New Jersey 
where she died in 1849, aged thirty-eight years James Paddock was born April 3, 
1803, and came to Wayne, Steuben county, in 1806, and died in Cameron, Steuben 
county, in 1887. James Paddock, grandfather of John N., was a farmer and lived 
and died in New Jersey. The maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tionary war. John N. Paddock was reared on the farm, and first bought a grape 
vineyard in Ilammondsport, which he sold in 1879 and came to Troupsburg in April, 
1880, where he located in the southwestern corner of the town, where he has smce 
resided. He has eighty acres of land with fine buildings, and was once burned out 
soon after locating on the farm. He married Hannah E., daughter of Barrett B., 
and Eliza A. (Collier) Henderson, by whom he had two sons: Lewis S., born April 
10, 1869, and Frank J., born September 24. 1871. Mr. Henderson was born in Wash- 
ington county, N. Y., January 22, 1822, and was a farmer and miller at Avoca, and 
died in Avoca, September 2o. 185.5. Mrs. Henderson was born in Avoca, December 
1, 1825, and died July 29, 1888. She was the daughter of John and Huldah (Towner) 
Collier of Avoca, and married for her second husband James M. Brandage. In Au- 
gust, 1862, Mr. Paddock enlisted in Co. G, 107th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably dis- 
charged in June, 1865. He was at Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Getty.sburg, after 
which all of 11th and 12th Corps were transferred and called the 20th Corps, and 
were sent to Rosenkrans at Chickamauga. They were at Milledgevillc, and Savan- 
nah, and Mr. Paddock had a sun stroke July 5, 1803, on the march from Gettysburg 
to Falling Water, and has never recovered from the effects. He is a mem1)cr of 
Westfield Grange. 

Weaver, Daniel, was born in Germany in May, 1842, sou of Jacob and Mary 
(Ringeisen) Weaver, who came to the United States in 1851, and located on a farm 
in Southport, Chemung county, N. Y. , where they lived till 1883, then retired and 
moved to Elmira, where Mr. Weaver still resides. In 1890 Mrs. Weaver died and 
was buried at Webb's Mills Cemetery. Daniel Weaver was reared on the farm and 
educated in the district school ; in 1863 he enlisted in Co. L, 24th N. Y. Cavalry and 
served two years, and was in twenty-two engagements ; he was at the Wilderness, 
Cold Harbor, South Side R. R., the Weldon Road, etc. Mr. Weaver is a Republican 
and has been commissioner of highways one term ; he is a member of the G. A. R. 
Post No. 469, also a member of the Merchanlville Grange in which he is treasurer 
since it was organized in 1888. In 1808 he was married to Miss Bertha S. Oelschlae- 
ger, by whom he has three children: Charles F., Lottie I., Henry G. In July, 1894, 
his brother Peter's son. Leroy G. Weaver, came to live with them. Mr. Weaver has 
185 acres of land, has good barns and in 1884 he built a fine residence. 

Carlton, James L., was born in the town of Jerusalem, Yates county, September 
22, 1820. James Carlton, his father, was a native of England, and came to the 
United States in 1812. He was a shoemaker by trade, which business he followed 
for many years. He settled in Yates county where he bought a farm. He married 
Sarah Wilkinson, a native of Broome county, N. Y. , by whom he had one son, James 



246 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

L., who worked several years for one man. of whom he bought a farm of 180 acres in 
the town of Bath. He cleared hi-s laud with his own hands, and is still the owner. 
In 1874 he came to Campbell and bought a farm of ten acres, where he is now living. 
He married Margaret M. Markell of Seneca, by whom he had five children ; Sarah 
A., Ellanor C, George H., J. D., and Milton D. For his second wife he married 
Mrs. Martha W. Gardner, by whom he had one .son, Fred W. For his third wife he 
married Mrs. Malinda Taylor. For his fourth wife he married Mrs. Emily Chambers, 
daughter of Barny Brown. He is a member of the M. E. church, also a member of 
the K. of H., and in politics he is a Prohibitionist. 

Smith, Ira, was born in the town of Howard, January 5, 1845, son of Andrew 
Smith, who was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., April 23, 1816, and was the son of 
the late Thomas Smith, who was born in the same county, and came to the town of 
Howard, Steuben county, when Andrew was sixteen years of age, and first settled 
where the cemetery is now located, and afterward acquired a far of seventy acres ; he 
married Betsey, daughter of Jesse Brown of Howard, and they were the parents of 
five children: Orrin, who died at an early age, Ira, Charles, Anna, and Hannah. Mr. 
Smith was educated in the di.strict schools, but his advantages were somewhat lim- 
ited. Ira Smith was educated in the school district No. 14, in the town of Howard, 
and is a farmer by occupation, and is now the owner of one of the best farms in the 
town of Howard, which was settled and cleared by his father and sons. He married 
Jeneatte, daughter of John Lauder of Hartsville, and they have three children: 
Eugene R., Howard L., and Ernest C. Mrs. Smith received her education at the 
State Normal School at Albany, and is a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Smith is 
a member of Big Creek Grange. 

Clin, Frederick Marshall, was born in Hornellsville, October 26. 1839, son of Dr. 
Samuel Olin, a native of Bainbridge, Chenango county, N. Y. , who was born July 1, 
1799, and came to Hornellsville. He was first located in Greenw-ood, where he mar- 
ried Parmelia, daughter of Col. John Stephens, and moved to Ossian and then to 
Hornellsville, where he continued to practice until 1850 when he returned to Green- 
wood and was engaged in mercantile business for two years. He had bought a farm 
of 108 acres on lot 11 in the town of Hornellsville while in practice, and also fifty 
acres on lot 1 and in 1852 he located on this farm, which he occupied until his death, 
which occurred March 30, 1869. He was a member of the Board of Education and 
superintendent of schools, also a member of the Ma,sonic fraternity and the first mas. 
ter of Hornellsville Lodge, No. 831, and a Knight Templar. He was the father of 
four children, two of whom are now living- Mrs. Ann Vernett Baker of Dakota, and 
Marshall, w-ho was educated in the common schools and has always followed farm- 
ing, succeeding his father on the old homestead. He has been trustee of schools, 
and a member of Hornellsville Lodge, No. 331, F. & A. M, In 1862 he married 
Mary, daughter of Abram Stephens, and they have one child, F. M. Olin, jr., who is 
engaged with his father on the farm. He was a student of Hornellsville Academy. 

\ Tuttle. Martin A., was born in the town of Columbus, Chenango county, March 2, 
1842, a son of Harley Tuttle. Uri Tuttle, the grandfather, was a native of Connecti- 
cut and a pioneer of Chenango county, where he resided for many years on the farm 
which he cleared from the wilderness. The father was au active and prominent man 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 247 

in his native town. The mother of our subject was Alma M. Adsit ; she died in 1843, 
aged thirty-three. Of their six children, five survive. Martin, the youngest w>n, 
was educated in the pubhc schools of Chenango county ; he followed farming till 1K04. 
He then removed to Hornellsville and entered the store of M. Adsit & Co. as a clerk ; 
in 18<!8 he became a member of the firm of Adsit & Tuttle. The firm existed till 
1874, then Mr. Tuttle withdrew to attend to his real estate business ; five years later the 
firm of M. A. Tuttle & Co. was formed, L. W. Rockwell being the Co. In 1883 Mr. 
Rockwell withdrew and Mr. Tuttle conducted the business alone until 1889, when 
the firm uf Tuttle & Rockwell Brothers was formed. A year later H. II. Rockwell 
dropped out and the firm is now Tuttle & Rockwell. Mr. Tuttle has been actively 
interested in Hornellsville's growth and business, also has large real estate interests in 
the city and owns several farms as well as other property. In 18(i!» he married 
Malene, daughter of Charles N. Hart, and their children are Alma, Madelia. Gertrude, 
Charles X., Marion, Abbie, Edith, and Ruth, of whom Alma is a student at Vassar, 
Madeha at Emerson College, Boston, and Gertrude at Granger Place, Canandaigua. 

Buvinger, H. Edward, was born in Hanover, York coui:ty. Pa., August 8. 1825. 
In 1835 his parents removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 
1847, when he left the parental home and came to the State of New York, residing 
at Rochester and New York city. In September, 1800, he came to Hornellsville, and 
subsequently became superintendent of the Thos. Snell Shoe Mfg. Co., where he re- 
mained until 18.")3; and then entered the employ of the Erie Railway Company in 
the machine shop, where he remained until 1856, when he was appointed ticket agent 
for the same company, which he held until May, 18()2. when he was transferred to 
the freight department as chief clerk and ca.shier, which position he has now held for 
thirty-three years, and a continuous service of forty-two years at this station. Mr. 
Buvinger was married July 22, 1851, to Susan Kress, of Dundee, Yates county, N. Y., 
by whom he had three sons: Darwin C, of New York city; Ernest, who died March 
23, 1874, aged nineteen years; and Mark H., who is now residing with him. Mr. 
Buvinger has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for forty-nine years. He was 
initiated in St. John's Lodge No. 13 in Dayton, Ohio, in 184G, and in 185(» affiliated 
with Evening Star Lodge No. 44, of Hornellsville, N. Y. In 1852 Evening Star 
Lodge surrendered its charter, and in 1853 organized Hornellsville Lodge No. 331, of 
which he was a charter member, and senior warden, and master in 1855 and 1858. 
In 181)8 Evening Star Lodge was reorganized, of which he was master three years. 
He was high priest of Steuben Chapter, R. A. M., No. 101, in 1861, and in 1856 he 
joined De Molay Commandery No. 22, of Knights Templar, and was eminent com- 
mander in 1800 and 1861. He was married to Miss Susan Kress of Dundee, N. Y., 
on the 22d day of July, 1851. Three sons were born to them; Darwin C, who now 
resides in New York city; Emmet, who died on his nineteenth birthday; and Mark 
H., who is married and resides at home. 

Collins, Clayton Naham, was born on a farm in the north part of Hornellsville 
December 4, 1850. The first of this family to come to this country was George Col- 
lins, the grandfather of Clayton, who emigrated to the country previous to 1830, as 
William Collins was born that year in Otsego county. A few years later he removed 
to Steuben county and bought a farm in the town of Kremont. He next removed to 
the town of Hornellsville where he bought 160 acres and lots 35, 30, 37 and 38. 



248 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Seventy acres of the original purchase is still the property of the family, owned by 
Clayton. William Collins followed farming all his life. He removed to Jasper in 
1854 wheie he made his home until the fall of ISfil when he returned to Pennsylvania 
Hill, and the following March, ]S(i2, George Collins, the father of William Collins, 
died. William Collins died in Arkport April 3, 1889. The mother of Clayton was 
Electa McMichael, daughter of James McMichael of Hornellsville; she is still living 
at sixty-eight years of age. Clayton was educated in the common schools and his 
boyhood was spent on the farm in Jasper, and his first farming for himself was two 
years on the homestead and was three years on the Ferry farm. He also spent one 
year on a farm in Fremont. In 1877 he bought forty-five and one-half acres, and in 
1881 he bought forty additional, which farm he sold in the spring of 1888 and bought 
the old homestead farm of 110 acres, where he is now located. He has made many 
valuable improvements to this property, clearing twenty-six acres of stumps, and has 
also cleared two acres of rough land. Has also erected new outbuildings and re- 
roofed the house. Mr. Collins has dealt in real estate quite extensively and has had 
some valuable city property. He was married June 24, 1871, to Miss Jennie Gates of 
Fremont, who died in February, 1880. 

Davis, Lewis A., was born in Fremont, N. Y., April 25, 1851. His father, James 
Davis, was born in 1815. in the east, of English stock, and came to South Dansville, 
where he lived until about seventy-five years of age. He was a mason by trade, but 
followed farming and coopering some. He married Phoebe, daughter of William 
Osborn of Dansville, who was born in 1821, and died in 1864, by whom he had seven 
children; Thomas, Anson, Urvilla, Charles, Clarinda, Moses, and Lewis A. His 
second wife was Sarah Haines, who is still living, and in the west. Lewis A Davis 
Has always followed farming. He is a member of Stephens Mills Grange, No. 308, 
and has held the office of collector for two years for the town of Fremont. Septem- 
ber 7, 1867, he married Jennie E. Mack, who was born December 17, 1852, daughter 
of Elisha Mack, who was a railroad man and was killed by lightning. They have 
two children; Elisha Fay, who was born February 5, 1870, and married Minnie 
Schaumberg, and is living in Hornellsville where he is clerkingin a store ; and Horace 
Mack, who was born May 19, 1881. 

Jones, Emanuel, was born in Prattsburg, June 8, 1822, son of Samuel, who was 
born in New Burlington, N. J., and came to the State of New York in 1812. Samuel 
Jones was a soldier in the war of 1812. He settled first in Chemung count)', then 
came to Prattsburg in 1816, remaining three years, then going to Bath, where he 
re.sided for four years. In 1845 he came to Howard, where he lived up to the time 
of his death in 1873, at the age of eighty-four years. He had acquired quite a prop- 
erty. He married Anna, daughter of Alexander Annis, by whom he had five chil- 
dren: Emanuel, Alexander, Lucy. James and Mary. The first has been engaged in 
farming, having lived on his pre.sent place consisting of 133 acres for over fifty years. 
Mr. Jones married Marion, daughter of Dewitt Ilalsey, one of the first settlers of 
Howard. 

Sanderson, Robert, was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1846. James Sander- 
son, father of Robert, owned a farm in Ireland, which he conducted. He married 
Mary Ann Williams, by whom he had eight children: Margaret, of Pulteney: John, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 249 

of Yates county; \Villiam, deceased; Robert, as above; George, of Seneca county; 
James, of Ireland: Joseph of Yates county; and Edward, of Scotland. Robert re- 
ceived a common school education, and in 1862, when sixteen years of age, he came 
to the United States, coming direct to Hath, N. Y., where he engaged in farming for 
a year, and the following four years was spent in a woolen factory in Bath. He then 
engaged in vineyard work in Yates county, and two years later, in partnership with 
his brother, purchased a vineyard. He later sold his interest to his brother and pur- 
chased two other places, and in 187.T he purchased a half interest of the Rev. J. W. 
Brown twelve acre fruit farm in Pulteney. Mr. Brown having died, in 188!) Mr. 
Sanderson purchased the balance of the fruit farm, and in addition to this farm he 
owns twenty-three acres of fruit, principally grapes, in Yates county. Mr. Sander- 
son began in America a poor boy, and. being endowed with thorough business prin- 
ciples, he has developed himself into one of the leading and most thorough fruit 
culturists in Steuben county, and established for himself an enviable reputation in 
Buffalo and New York, where his product always commands advanced prices, and 
which is often sold before it leaves his packing house. Mr. Sanderson is a member 
of the I. O. O. F., Pulteney Lodge, No. 573. In 1870 he married Ann Hadden, who 
was born in Mitchellville, N. Y., daughter of G. P. and Hettie (Brown) Hadden, by 
whom he had one child, Walter, who is now a student in Lima College, preparing 
for the ministry. Mrs. Sanderson died in 188!), and he married for his second wife, 
Mrs. Eva (Bailey) Brush. 

Sly, Robert J., was born in what is now the. ")th ward. Corning, in 1817, son of John and 
Betsey (Jennings) Slj*. John Sly was a native of Yirginia, and came to Chemung 
county when nineteen years of age. He married there and in 1813-13 located within 
the present limits of the Fifth ward. He was a farmer and lumberman, and filled 
various local official positions and died in 18(ii), aged seventy-nine years. Mrs. Sly 
died in 1864, aged seventy-live years. They were the parents of two sons: Robert 
J., and George, who died in 1887, aged seventy-two years. Robert J. Sly has been 
a farmer and lumberman all his life, and is interested in Fifth ward real estate. In 
1848 he married Mary C. Creamer of Monroe county, who died in 1886, aged fifty- 
nine years, by whom he had two sons: George S., a resident of the Fifth ward, and 
Amariah II. of Hornellsville. His brother George left two children : Cynthia, wife 
of Lyman Ferenbaugh, and Robert ()., both of the town of Hornby. 

Skinner, Dr. G. M., was born in Richmond, Ontario county, N. Y., December 7, 
1853. His grandfather, Nelson Skinner, was a native of North Ireland. William A. 
Skinner, father of G. M., was born in Massachusetts, and died in Canadice, N. Y., 
February 11, 1895, aged seventy-one years. He was well-known as a music teacher 
in Ontario county, also as a veterinary surgeon. He married Mary Morgan, of 
French descent, who was born in Vermont, by whom he had eight children, three 
boys and five girls: Frank, who was born in Richmond, and died in infancy; IClihu, 
who was born in Richmond, and died at nineteen years of age; G. M., as above; 
Emma, who married Jackson Bray, and resides in Richmond. They have three 
children: Bertha, Fanny and Kitty; Mary, who married George Branch, and resides 
in Canadice, N. Y. ; Eva, who married ICdward Nobles, and resides in Indian Terri- 
tory. They have one child, Everett; Hattie, who married Samuel Noble, and resides 
in Indian Territory; and Alta, wh<i married Wirt Cole, and resides in Conesus. N. Y. 
f( 



250 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

The five sisters were all teachers and were educated at Lima and Geneseo, N. Y. 
G. M. Skinner finished a primary course of instruction with D. B. Wait, a lawyer of 
Canadice, who advised him to study medicine, which he did with Dr. I. J. Worden, 
at Springwater, N. Y., for two years, after whicli he attended the College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md. , one j-ear. In 1884 he attended the University 
of Buffalo, after which on the recommendations of Doctors Connor, Bigelow and 
Boon, he returned to Baltimore where he took special degrees on surgery with Dr. 
Coskerey, diseases of women with Dr. Errick, clinical diseases of throat and lungs, 
and the general practice of medicine, and was graduated from that institution. He 
sent his diploma to the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York city, accord- 
ing to the laws of New York State, where it was endorsed by Austin Flint. The 
diploma is recorded in Ontario county. He is now practicing m Wayland, where he 
has been since 1888. Mr. Skinner is a member of Eagle Lodge, No. 619, F. & A. M. 
He was appointed health officer of Wayland in 1894 and reappointed in 1895. At 
Wayland in 1890. he married Henrietta Bill, born in Dansville, N. Y., in 1871, by 
whom he has one child, Hallie W., born May 29, 1891. 

Pratt, Jared, was born in the town of Campbell in 1839, came to Corning in 1800, 
and entered the employ of the Erie Railroad as brakeman, and after two years took 
charge of a train and continued as conductor on the road until 1883. In 1886 he 
opened a livery stable on Market street and in 1890 built his present barn on Chest- 
nut street, which is of brick, si.xty-two by eighty-four, and has a capacity for thirty- 
two horses. He was deputy sheriff for two years, under Stratton. His father was 
Aden J. Pratt of Campbelltown, and was one of the early settlers. He was po.st- 
master and town clerk of the town for twenty-five or more years. He married 
Permiley Stevens; she died in 1844 and he lived until the year 1865. Both lived in 
Campbell on the same farm until they died. 

Brasted, Dr. Charles M., was born in Howard, Steuben county, N. Y., January 13, 
1850. He was the tenth in a family of eleven children born to Edmund and Rebecca 
Allen Brasted. His father was a farmer.with whom he remained until his majority. 
His primary education was obtained in the common sohools of his native town, aca- 
demic at Woodhull and Canisteo Academies and at the Brockport State Normal. 
He engaged in teaching during several years in Canisteo and Avoca graded schools. 
He began the study of medicine with Dr. Riddell of Canisteo, continuing with Dr. 
Baker of Hornellsville. He was graduated from the medical department of the Uni- 
versity of Buft'alo in 1881, remaining with Dr. Baker till June, 1, 1883, when he en- 
gaged in practice alone in this city. Dr. Brasted is a member of the County Medical 
Society, of which he was president in 1891, and delegate to the State Medical Society 
in 1895. He is also a member of the Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Association 
and of the Erie Railway Medical Association and physician for the company. He is 
a member of the First Presbyterian church of Hornellsville, also of Hornellsville 
Lodge No. 331, F. & A. M., and George Washington Lodge No. 132, A. O. U. W. of 
this city. He was married, December 10, 18S4, to Alida L. Beebe of Canisteo, by 
whom he has one son, Howard Spencer, now in his eighth year. His office and res- 
idence is No. 11 Church street, this city. 

Withey, Sylvester, was born in the town of Bradford, Pa., September 0, 1820. He 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 251 

was educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming, which has 
been his hfe work. He was employed with other farmers until he was twenty-four 
years of age, about that time buying a small farm in Almond, where he remained 
for three years. In 1S48 he bought a small i)lace of twelve acres near his present 
residence, cleared the land of wood and stumps, and added to it by different purchases, 
until now he has sixty acres of as nice a farm as may be found in this part of the 
town. His home residence he erected in 1861, and all the improvements are the work 
of his hands. He is also the owner of a fine farm of fifty-three acres in the town of 
Ward. Mr. Withey has never taken any mterest in politics, but is prominently iden- 
tified with religious work, was twenty-eight years with the Methodist Protestant, 
eleven vears as a class leader, and seven years a delegate to ministerial conference. 
He is a member of Arkport Grange, No. 179. June 18, 184."), he married Naomi, 
daughter of Silas Moore, of Pennsylvania, by, whom he had three children: Judson, 
born March 9, 1846, and died July M), 1894, who was a farmer, and gave promise of 
being one of the good men of the town ; Alanson, born May 12, 1850, who was also 
a farmer, and died January 25, 1894, leaving two sons, Ray and Sylvester; and Al- 
phenus, born January 8, 1855, who assists in the management of the farm, is married 
and has two children, Mabel and Edith. 

Boardman, Louis S., was bjrn at Canoga, iu the town of town of Fayette, Seneca 
county, N. Y., January 27, 1838. Thegreat-grandfather of Louis, Benajah Boardman, 
was the first of the family to locate in New York State, coming from Weatherslield, 
Conn., about 1795, and bought a large tract of land in the vicinity of Canoga, where 
three generations were born. Samuel, the grandfather wasaLso a farmer, and Levi, 
the father of Louis, was a carriage maker. He died at Oakland, Cal., in 1891. He 
was educated in the common school and also at Cayuga village and at Seneca Falls 
Academy. At fifteen years of age he went south and was engaged in oyster trade 
at St. Louis where he spent two years, and his next employment was with his father, 
at carriage making. In 1860 he went to Auburn .and was engaged in carriage 
painting. In 1863 he entered the employ of Henry Loomis at Bath and three years 
later went to the oil country to remain but a short time, and April 20, 1865, he located 
in Hornellsville with Conderman Brothers and was employed with Caleb Conderman 
until 1878 and that year entered the employ of the Erie R. R. Company, and has been 
most of the time since engaged with that company. He was for seven years fore- 
man of the shop. Mr. Boardman was for two years in mercantile business on Can- 
isteo street. He was married December 6, 1885. to Elizabeth L. Read of Bath, 
daughter of Judge Lazarus Read. They have been the parents of eight children, 
four now living; Anna, the wife of Lester Rice, a farmer of Hornellsville; Florence, 
now in her twelfth year: Frances, now in her ninth year; and James Albert Board- 
man, five years old. Mrs. Boardman died November 26, 1894, and a family of true 
loving ones are left to mourn her loss. 

Brown, Joseph B., was born in Springfield, Bradford county, Pa., July 8, 1840, son 
of Benjamin and Didamia Crandall, natives of New Hampshire, who went to Penn- 
sylvania in 1840, settling in Springfield, where they died, the father April 10, 1885, 
and the mother May 10, 1888. He was a cooper by trade, and also a farmer. He 
was a Republican and held several town offices. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members 
of the Methodist church. Joseph B. was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 



ii6i LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

mon schools. He engaged in farming and resided in Springfield, Pa., until 1876, 
when he came to Woodhull and settled on a farm of 100 acres, which he now owns. 
In 1885 he came to the village of of Woodhull where he has lived a retired life. In 
politics he is a Republican and was commissioner of highways two years, and in 1889 
was appointed postmaster, which office he held four and one-half years. He is a 
member of Restoration Lodge, No, 777, F. & A. M. October 11, 1861, he enlisted in 
Co. C, U. S. Sarp Shooters, and served until July 11, 1865. In November, 1861, he 
was promoted to eighth corporal, and in August, 1862, to sergeant and detailed to 
carrv the colors until October. 1863, when he was promoted to orderly sergeant, and 
Jan. 1, 1864, was made first lieutenant and apppointed adjutant of the regiment, and 
Oct. 26, 1864, was promoted to captain and served in that capacity until the close 
of the war. February 18, 1865, the regiment disbanded and consolidated with the 
State troops, putting Mr. Brown in the 105th Pa. Vol. Infantry. He was in the fol- 
lowing battles; Falmouth, Va.. Rappahannock, Gainesville, Bull Run, South Moun- 
tain. Little Antietam, Fredericksburg, ChancellorsviUe, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights, 
Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania. North 
Ann River, Petersburg. Weldon Road, capture of picket line at Jerusalem Plank 
Road, Boydton Pland Road, Raidon Weldon Railroad, and Lee's Surrender. Jo.seph 
B. Brown organized the J. N. Warner Post No. 565, G. A. R.. of which he has been 
commander six years. February 7. 1864, he married Rosetta, daughter of Moses 
and Jane Rumsey Soper.of Columbia Flats, Pa., and they have five children; Ray- 
mand E., who was educated in Alfred, and Albany Normal School, and is now prin- 
cipal of Granville schools; Rupert, agraduateof Lima Seminary, who isalumberman 
in Pennsylvania; Lillie, educated m Woodhull Union School, wife of Mervin Locy, a 
student of Albany Law School, and they have one child, Marguerite; Ora B., edu- 
cated at Alford, who is a teacher at Adrian, N. Y. ; and Earnest W., who died at the 
age si.'c months. Mrs. Brown died January 10, 1885. For his second wife he mar- 
ried Susie A., daughter of John J. and Julia A. Van Wee, natives of Montgomery 
county, who came to Howard in 1847. In 1855 they went to Illinois, and thence to 
Wisconsin, and now reside at Elgin, 111. Mrs. Brown's first husband was John W. 
Thomas, a soldier in the late war, by whom one child was born, Carrie B., wife of 
R. W. Sweatland, principal of Cook Academy, and they have one child, Mark W. 
Mr. Thomas died May 8, 1885. 

Barton, Jeremiah C, was born September 5, 1851, on the homestead farm, which 
was settled by his grandfather, Jeremiah Barton, in 1810 who came from Vermont, 
and who married Eleanor Sinclair. He died in 1848, leaving a family of eight chil- 
dren. Leonard, the father of Jeremiah C, married Carolme, daughter of Samuel 
M. Bateman, by whom he had eleven children, eight of whom are now living: Mrs. 
Ida M. Davis, Samuel F., Jeremiah C, Harlow S., William J., Allen H., Albert W.. 
and Andrew J., and through life was identified as a farmer, dying in 1874, aged fifty- 
eight years. Jeremiah C. married Caroline, daughter of Samuel and Lucy Foster, 
in 1874, and is one of the practical and successful farmers of his town. 

Tomer, Charles J., was born in Bath, January 2, 1864. His father, P. A. Tomer, 
and grandfather, John, was born in the town of Pulteney, and his great-grandfather, 
Joel, was a native of New Jersey. The family were of German descent and took an 
active part in the Revolutionary war. John Tomer married Ro.\y, daughter of Al- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 253 

exander Parker. He was a farmer and lumberman and took an active part in relijj- 
lous matters. He died in 1884 in his seventy-third year. P. A. Tomer married Jen- 
nett. daughter of Robert Townsend. Charles J. was educated at Watkins and Ilav- 
erling academies and was graduated from the Medical Deiiartment of the I'niversity 
of the City of New York in 1887, locating at Cooper's Plains, and in 1890 came to 
Savona and engaged in general practice. In 1887 he married Mary E., daughter of 
George Feagles, and are the parents of one son, John W. 

Aldrich, Stephen, was born in Rhode Island, January 32, 1812. son ot Stephen 
Aldrich, sr., who was a native of the same State. The family were of Welsh de- 
scent, and emigrated to the United States in IGoO. Stephen Aldrich, sr., married 
Mercy, daughter of Moses Smith, and came to Steuben county in 1825 and settled in 
the town of Cameron, buying ten thousand acres of land. He was a prominent man 
of that town, and died in 1846, in his sixty-seventh year. Stephen was educated in 
the common schools. In 1839 he married Elizabeth L., daughter of Samuel Pugsley, 
and they are the parents of six children: Samuel, Stephen, Jerome, Elizabeth M. 
Royce, Lavina A. Wilson, Jane C. Owen, and Esther A. Jloore. In 1888 Mr. Aldrich 
came to the town of Bath and is one of the representative men of the town, and has 
held several positions of honor and trust. His life has ever proven his word as good 
as his bond. 

Pixley, Dr. Emery C, was born in Howard, June 22, 1862. He was educated at 
Canisteo Academy and was graduated from the Medical Department University of 
Buffalo in 1891 and began practice in Steuben Sanitarium. In the spring of 1.^92 he 
was appointed assistant surgeon at the Soldier's Home in Bath. He is one of the 
progressive men of his profession, and is a member of Steuben County Medical As- 
sociation. 

Bowlby, John A., was born in Tompkins county, February 6, 1829. James Bowlbv. 
his father, was a native of New Jersey, and married Catherine, daughter of Thomas 
Maybury, and they came to Steuben county in 1839. He was a self-made and self- 
educated man, of good judgment and sterling nitegrity, and died September 14, 
1862. His wife died September H, 1867. John A. Bowlby was educated in the com- 
mon school and in 1854 married Lydia R., daughter of P. Hunter, by whom he had 
four children: Frank H., John H., Helen C, and Carrie L. Mr. Bowlby is one of 
the representative fanners of his town, living on the homestead, which has been in 
the family nearly sixty years, and serving his town as assessor for twelve years 

Bacon, Rev. John S., the eldest child of Rev. Iliram and Marv Stebbins Bacon, 
deceased, was born in the town of Potter, Yates county, N. Y., July 12, 1833. The 
seminary at Lima and the old Dundee Academy were the .schools wherein his pre- 
paratory training was obtained. He spent several years in teaching, for two years 
having charge of the village school in Pulleney. In 1858 he was married to Sarah 
H., daughter of the late John A. and Thankful H. Prentiss of Pulteney. In 1859 
he entered Auburn Theological Seminary as a student for the Presbyterian ministry, 
graduating in 1862. He was licensed to jireach April 10, 1861, by the Presbytery of 
Lyons, and ordained to the full work of the gi/siiel ministry September 10, 1862. bv 
the same Presbytery. Mr. Bacon's first parish was Amboy, Onondaga county, N. Y., 
near Syracuse, where he spent eight years, from IH62 to 1870. In 1870 he was called 



254 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

to Syracuse, where he organized the Fourth Presbyterian church of that city, and 
which he served as pastor for six years, from 1870 to 1876. He preached the sermon 
on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the church, on 
the first Sunday of February, 1895. In !876 he accepted a call from the First Pres- 
byterian church at Niagara Falls, N. Y. This pastorate extended from 1876 to 1883. 
His last parish was Corning, N. Y. He ministered to the First Presbyterian church 
of that city from February, 1883, to May, 1893. After continuous service as pastor, 
for more than thirty years, he now felt that the time for him to take a rest had come, 
and so at the close of his Corning pastorate he retired to his pleasant Pulteney home 
where he now resides. Though retired from the pastoral care of a congregation, 
still as a preacher his service is in active demand, and he is unable to answer all the 
calls which he receives. Mr. Bacon has been exceptionally happy in his ministerial 
life. He insists that he has had the best parishes in the State of New York. Certain 
it is that whenever he visits any one of his four parishes his welcome is unmistak- 
ably cordial. He received the degree of A.M. from Hamilton College in 1875. He 
is a Free and Accepted Mason of the thirty-second degree, and he has been for sev- 
eral terms grand chaplain of the (irand Lodge of Masons in the State of New York. 

Harrison, J. S., who ably represents in the county legislature the important town 
of Addison, was first elected to that office in 1893, and is now hlHng his second term. 
Salmon Harrison, his father, was born in Otsego county, and removed to Woodhull 
in 1848, where he continued to reside until his death in 1892, aged eighty-two years. 
He was a justice of the peace for twelve years, and during his residence in Otsego 
county he married Amy E. Haight, by whom he had four children: James S. , Adelia, 
deceased, and Howard B., the well-known school commissioner of District No. 2, 
and a resident of Woodhull. James Harrison was educated at Alfred University, 
completing his course in 1871, being then twenty years of age. Purchasing and en- 
larging the plant at the eastern suburb of the village, he at once began his business 
career as a manufacturer of agricultural woodwork, makmg a specialty of steam 
bent handles and sled woods. In the fall of 1895, while this book is in press, he 
received the nomination for member of assembly from the First District of Steuben 
county; as his nommation is almost equivalent to his election, it may not be pre- 
sumptuous to say that his record at Albany will equal his home reputation. June 5, 
1883, he married Carrie E. Griswold, of Addison, by whom he had two children: 
Howard B. and Celestia G. 

Holden, Joseph. — His grandfather, Stephen Holden, born in Bedford, Vt., in 1774, 
came from the East and was one of the first settlers in Steuben county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Holden had three sons and three daughters, namely: James, born October 10, 
1800, in Pulteney, Vt. ; Polly, born in 1802; Amie, born in 1804; Stephen, born in 
1806; Nancy, born in 1810; and Jediah, born in Greenwich, Washington county, 
N. Y., in 1819. The latter came with his father, Stephen, to Dansville (now Fre- 
mont), where he purchased a farm on Windsor Hill. He married Polly Mariah, 
daughter of Jesse Wheeler, of the town of Dansville, and the following children were 
born to them: Joseph, the subject of this sketch, born October 27, 1837; Laura (Mrs. 
Andrew Harrison), deceased: Eveline (Mrs. George Davis), born February 26, 1843, 
deceased; and Franklin, born March 21, 1854, a farmer of Howard. Mrs. Polly M. 
Holden, born March 20, 1840, died March 16, 1883, and Jediah, her husband, died 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 255 

October "20, 1880, aged sixty-two years. Joseph Holden has followed farming as his 
principal occupation, also dealing in stock. He owned and occupied the old home- 
stead of 110 acres until 1893, when he sold it and purchased what is called the Cole 
farm of 103 acres, which he now owns, together with five houses and lots in Hor- 
nellsville. He enlisted in Co. I, l.'jth N. Y. Engineers, and served about ten months, 
building hospitals, bridges, docks, etc., in various parts of the South, and serving in 
the engagement at Fort Fisher, January !■"), 1865. He is a member of G. A. R Post 
No. 226 of Hornellsville. He married Fanny, daughter of Melancton Barber, who 
was a soldier in the Rebellion and died in a field hospital. Mrs. Joseph Holden 
attended school at Rogersville Seminary, and taught school four terms, Four chil- 
dren were born to them: Fay E., born June 36, 1866, married Corj' M. Flint, daugh- 
ter of James Flint, a farmer of Howard; Frederick M., born February 19, 1871, 
deceased; Scott J., born January 1. 1877, deceased; and Agnes M., born March 20, 
1881. 

Allen, Alvah J., is a son of George and Louisa (June) Allen, who had eight chil- 
dren: Alvah J., Isaac, Sarah M. Wood, Flora A. Dillenbeck, Moses M., Aaron T., 
Nancy Rowen, and Mary Orton, who were all born on the old homestead in the town 
of Cameron. Alvah J. married Abbie A., a daughter of James H. and Charity 
France, by whom he has one child, Ethel M. Mr. Allen has been a member of the 
East Cameron Baptist church for thirty-three years and is active in the Sunday 
school. He is engaged in farming on the Allen homestead of 210 acres, where he 
lived for twenty years. George was a son of Thomas and Margaret Allen, who set- 
tled in this county in 1826. Their children were George, William, Nancy Northrup, 
Joseph, who were born in New Jersey, and T. Alfred, who was born on the Allen 
homestead in the town of Cameron. 

Didas, jr., Peter, was born May 24, 1844. His father, Peter Didas, was born in 
Prussia, Germany, November 29, 1810. In 1838, in the old country, he married 
Elizabeth Grim, born February 20, 1815, and died in Wayland, N. Y., July 1.") 18.56, 
by whom he had these children; Angeline, born September 2, 1839, and died in 1883; 
Mary, born January 9, 1842, and resides in Rochester; Peter, as above; and Louisa, 
born April 24, 1849. He married for his second wife, Wilhelmina Vonbose, born 
in 1828, by whom he had erne child. Sabina, born June 1, 1864. Mr. Didas was 
a tanner by trade, and worked in the Patchinsville tannery, which was owned 
by Augustus Whitman. Peter Didas, jr., was educated in the public schools of 
Wayland, and at the German School at Perkinsville, after which he learned the 
tanner's trade of his father, and worked in the Patchinsville tannery. In 1865 he, 
with his father, erected a tannery one and one-half miles south of Patchinsville, 
which they run until 1894. Peter Didas, jr., is now engaged in farming, and in the 
manufacture of feed. He has held the offices of town collector, commissioner of 
highways, and has been elected justice of the peace three terms of four years each. 
He enlisted in Co. E. I88th N. Y. Vols., served until the close of the war, and was 
discharged June 5, 186.5. He took part in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Warren's 
Raid, Wcldon Railroad, Five Forks, and Ajipomattox. At Wayland, N. Y., Novem- 
ber l.j, 1866, he married Elizabeth Hemmer, born June IH, 184!), and died August 19, 
1887, by whom he had these childre;i: Mary Ann, born January 21, 1868; Peter J., 
born Jnne 5, 1869; John, born February 7, 1871; Catherine, born October 1, 1873; 



256 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Urban, born Septembers, 1874; Frank J., born June 4, 1876; Elizabeth S., born Feb- 
ruary 12, 1879; Nicholas, born March 13, 1882; and William, born August 7, 1887, 
and died January :30, 1888. 

Huy, Abram D., was born on the farm where he has always resided in 1830. His 
paternal grandfather purchased and his father located on this place about 1808. 
John Huy, his father, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and is of German descent. He 
died in 1854, aged si.xty-four years. He married Susan Minier, a native of Ulster, 
Bradford county. Pa., and died in 1861, aged sixty-six. In 1865 Abram D. Huy mar- 
ried Emma Minier, a native of Big Flats, Chemung county, by whom he had four 
children: John M., a resident of Butte, Mont., Abram W., Charles F., and Will- 
iam F. 

Wilber, Murray, was born in Bath, November 28, 1838, son of John Wilber, and 
grandson of Samuel Wilber, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. John was a 
carpenter and farmer, and resides in Bath. His first wife was Luna A. Gleason, and 
they were the parents of three children : Alanson D. , deceased, Murray, as above, 
and Sarah M., wife of James Holliday, of Thurston, N. Y. Mrs. Wilber died May 
10. 1875. For his second wife Mr. Wilber married Harriet Squires who died, and he 
married for his third wife, Eliza BiUington. Murray Wilber was reared on a farm 
and learned the carpenter's trade, but his principal occupation is farming, and he 
owns a farm of 170 acres. November 28, 1862, he married Lucinda Grant of Bath, 
by whom he had one child, Cora, wife of Mahlon Walker of Bath. Mrs. Wilber died 
September 18, 1865. November 28, 1868, he married Hattie Buck, daughter of Will- 
iam and AdeliaRichtmyer Buck, and they had two children, both of whom died in 
infancy. Mrs. Wilber died September 15, 1895. Mr. Wilber is a member of Bath 
Grange. 

Day. Ira G., was born May 17, 1841. His grandfather, Chauncey Day, was born 
in Vermont, and was one of the pioneer .settlers of Dansville, where he settled about 
1811. He bought the Mint farm and afterward owned the Pine farm and built the 
saw mill on Stony Brook. He afterward settled m Hillsdale, Mich., where he died. 
He was drum major in the Revolutionary war. Chauncey Day, father of IraG. , was 
bom in Dansville, N. Y., in 1811, and died in 1885. He started a lime kiln in Rog- 
ersville and burnt lime for twenty years, when he bought a farm of 234 acres in 
Rogersville and built a commodious hotel which he run for twenty -live years. Octo- 
ber 18, 1837, he married Almeda, daughter of Charles Oliver, one of the pioneers of 
the town. She was born in Rogersville, N. Y. , and died March 25. 1895, aged 
seventy-seven years. They had ten children: Phoebe C, bom September 4, 1838, 
and died May 15, 1860; Ira G., as above; Charles D., who was born August 3, 1843, 
and died November 27, 1845; Charles O., who was born April 13, 1846, and died No- 
vember 19, 1891; Chauncey D., who was born April 27, 1848, and died June 29, 
1849; De Ayllon, who was born January 13, 1851, and died January 19, 1892; Adah 
I., who was born December 20, 1854, and died March 27, 1858; Ida B. , who was born 
February 14, 1859, and died June 5, 1885; and Mary and Sarah, twins, born Novem- 
ber 16, 1860; Mary died February 15, 1863, and Sarah died July 15, 1885. IraG. 
Day was educated in the Rogersville Seminary, and has always followed farming 
and produce buying. He has held the offices of supervisor, commissioner of high- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 257 

ways, and superintendent of the poor of Steuben county one term. He is a member 
of Dansville Lodge, No. 478, F. & A. M., and Chapter Xo, 101 of Hornellsville. At 
Canisteo, January 1, 1803, he married Martha A. Jamison, who was born in Canisteo, 
March 6, 1841. 

Prentiss, Anson A., was born in the town of Tyrone, now a part of Schuyler 
county, February 11, 1840. The y<)\in,£;est son of Watson and Susannah (Price) 
Prentiss, he was given a good common school education and his first occupation was 
with the Eric Railway when he was fifteen years of age. Starting as a water boy he 
went as brakeman until the breaking out of the war. May Hi, ISGl, when he enlisted 
in the 23d N. Y. Inf. as a private and served with this regiment two years. He was 
at Rapahannock Station, the second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and many 
minor engagements, and honorably discharged under general orders May 23, 1863. 
Returning to Hornellsville he was for a short time on the farm and then returned to 
his former employment on the railroad as foreman on the construction of what is now 
the N. Y., P. and (). R. R. He went from there to ButTalo and Oil Creek Cross Cut 
and returned to the Erie in 1868 and has ever since been in their employ, and for 
over twenty years filling the position of conductor. Thanksgiving day, 1877, he be- 
came the victim of an accident by which he lost his right leg, but with the persist- 
ence of his race he still follows his calling. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. , the 
Order of the World, the G. A. R., and the Conductors' Brotherhood. He is a mem- 
ber of the M. E. church, and his family also. In 1865 he married Susan McCill, 
by whom he had two children: Evangeline K., wife of James B. Kinne, a conductor 
on the Erie, and Albert A. Prentiss, an operator for the Erie, and located at Depew, 
N. Y. 

Van Vliet, Levern H., was born in Tuscarora, N. Y. , on the farm he now owns, 
December 11, 1861, son of Asa, native of Chenango county, N. Y., and Electa (Hig- 
gins) Van Vliet. He came to Tuscarora m 1831, and she, in 1833, where they were 
married and where he died March 12, 1884, and his wife in 1871. He was a farmer 
by occupation. They had eleven children: Caroline, Isaac, Julia, Electa, Delos, 
Wilson, Albert, Ellis, Simeon, Elsie, and Levern H., who was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools and Wellsboro Academy of Pennsylvania. He has 
followed lumbering and is now engaged in farming and owns 135 acres, the old 
homestead. In 1894 he married Kate, daughter of Edmond Whitcomb of Bath. 

Land, Fred, was born in Prussia, in 1841, son of Michael and Caroline (Shurger) 
Land. Fred Land came to America in 1867 and settled in Cohocton, where he was 
for eighteen years employed in the mills of the late Thomas Warner. In 1880 he en- 
gaged in the wholesale beer business. He is a member of Zion Lutheran church of 
Cohocton, Liberty Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M., and Cohocton Council, E. K. R. O. 
In 1870 Mr. Land married Helen Stein, by whom he had seven children: Julia, 
Charles, Katie, Mary, Helen, Fred, and Frank. 

Perkins, Samuel O., was born in Canada, August 28, 1826, son of John and Rebecca 
(Webster) Perkins, natives of New Hampshire, and he died m Canada, She is a 
niece of Daniel Webster. Samuel O. was reared on a farm and educated in the 
common schools. In 1850 he came to Tuscarora, where he has since resided, with 
the exception of one year in Illinois. He has always followed farming, and owns 110 



258 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

acres of land. In Vermont, September 37, 1849, he married Mariette Brown, a 
native of Vermont, born June 20, 1824, and daughter of Philip and Maria (Lewis) 
Brown, he born in Poultney, Vt. , and she, in Fair Haven, Vt. They went to Illinois 
where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins had seven children: Sarah S. , born August 
24, 1831, and resides in Osceola, Pa. ; Samuel L., born August 27, 1853, and married 
Jennie Fuller of Elkland, by whom he had seven children: Walter, Samuel, Roy, 
Lena, Cora, Raymond, and an infant; Elma M., born July 7, 1855, and resides in 
Centerville, South Dakota. She graduated from Oswego Normal School; Elva A., 
born July 7, 1855, twin sister of Elma E., and died when seven years of age; Jennie 
A., born September 26, 1857, and died at one year of age; Jennie M., bom August 
6, 1859, and resides in Osceola, Pa.; and Ella G., born September 12, 1862, is a 
teacher and makes her home with her parents. 

Scherer, John P., was born in Dansville, N. Y. , September 14, 1852. His father, 
John P., was born in Germany and died in Cumminsville, N. Y., in 1883, aged 
.seventy-three years. He married Mary Elizabeth Schnyder, who was bom in Ger- 
many, and died in Dansville, in 1854, aged forty-four years. They had twelve chil- 
dren ; Elizabeth Raich, deceased; Catherine Raich; Mary Flickner; Harriet White; 
Effie Philips; Flora Wildey, deceased; Cordelia Dimick; Louisa White; Conrad, 
who resides in Louisiana; Endress, deceased; John P., as above; and Henry, who 
was born October 14, 1854. Mr. Scherer worked the Russel Day farm from 1841 to 
1881. John P. Sherer received his education in the common schools of the town of 
Dansville, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns ninety-four acres of 
land. In 1887 he took the agency for the Sweet Manufacturing Co., of Dansville, 
dealers in reapers, mowers, spring tooth harrows, and spring tooth cultivators, and 
has also sold binders and mowers for the McCormick Co. for five yeans. He is a 
member of South Dansville Lodge, No. 478, F. & A. M., and Oak Hill Grange Xo. 
574 of Dansville. At Dansville, N. Y., in January. 1875, he married Amelia Hul- 
bert, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., May 6, 1851, daughter of Justice Hulbert, by 
whom he had two children; Floyd J., who was born October 20, 1880; and Clifford, 
who was born February 8, 1887. 

Richtjiiyer, J. H., was born in Tompkins county, N. Y,, January 4, 1843, son of 
John and Harriet (Head) Richtmyer, natives of Schoharie county, N. Y. John Richt- 
myer was a farmer and came to Risingville, Steuben county, N. Y., about 1848, and 
settled on a farm, where he died March 15, 1878, and his widow lives with the son, 
and is ninety-two years of age. J. H. Richtmyer was reared on a farm and educated 
in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming and lumbering, and now 
owns 124 acres of land, known as the Edmunds farm. He is a member of Camei'on 
Lodge, F. & A. M. April 13, 1864, he married Azalia Niles, of Bath, N. Y., by 
whom he had three children: Lottie, wife of James Crawford, of Cameron Mills, and 
they have two children: William and Ruth; Arthur, who was educated in the com- 
mon schools and Addison L'nion School. August 2, 1891, he married Mrs. Mary W. 
Graves, of Greene, Chenango county, N. Y. ; and Ellery, who was educated in Cam- 
eron Mills, and married Ernie Smith, by whom he has one child, Beatrice ; they also 
have an adopted daughter, Ada K. 

Merriman, La Frone, was born at Richburg, Allegany county, N. Y., in 1859, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 259 

has resided in Hornellsville since he was three years of age. He comes of a musical 
family; his father taught singing school anc^ also music at Alfred University, and his 
mother was a singer and played the organ in church. His own first musical study 
began at an early age, and was continued in Buffalo in 1874 under J. Kuhn and 
Albert Poppenberg in violin playing, and L. (1. ChafHn in organ and harmony. In 
1876 he went to Boston, where he .studied for some years under Julius Eichberg, 
Eugene Thayer, Bernhard Listemann, J. W. Tufts, Ixiuis Mass, and J. Harry 
Wheeler. While in Boston he was a member of the Philharmonic Orchestra under 
Listemann, playing violin. He also played in the Harvard Orchestra under Zerrahn 
and under Maas, Henschel and B. J. Lange. In ]88(! he accompanied a party of 
eighteen pupils and friends to Berlin for study, and while there studied counterpoint, 
fugue, musical form and composition under Philiipi) Scharweaka, and violin under 
Heinrich de Ahna, having access to the rehearsals of the Joachim yuartet at Hoch- 
schule, and where one of his vocal pupils was granted a free entrance and orchestra 
chair at the Imperial Opera as long as she remained in Berlin. Mr. Merriman, who 
is a Mus. Doc, is director of a flourishing Conservatory of Music, which, together 
with Merriman Bros.' music store, occupies one-half of the P. O. building. This 
Conservatory, which attracts pupils from all sections of the country, is finely fitted 
up and has a handsome large music hall, where concerts are given by the pupils and 
by celebrated artists. There are instruments for practice, including a large, modern 
and complete two-manual pipe organ, and also one of the celebrated Brackett pedal 
pianos. All branches are taught, including composition and orchestration (Mr. Mer- 
riman being a successful composer, whose compositions are well known throughout 
this country and Canada), and it is unnecessary to say that the best methods are used. 
He is assisted by a corps of competent teachers, and has always had success in assist- 
ing pupils to seaure good position, and many of them hold high and lucrative posi- 
tions in New York, Brooklyn, and other cities in this section, and in Southern and 
Western schools and cities. He is an active member of the State Music Teachers' 
Association, representing Steuben county in that organization. He at present has 
charge of three church choirs. 

Clarkson, Uavid, was born in the town of Ovid, Seneca county, N. Y., April 15, 
1843, and is the oldest of seven children born to Abraham P. and Matilda Combs 
Clarkson. The grandjiarents, Philip and Sarah Palwell.son Clarkson, came to Seneca 
county, where she died in March, 18'24. For his second wife he married Jane Sebring, 
who was born in 1793, and died in 184'2. He died August '>. 1830. Abraham P. was 
bound out to learn the trades of wagonmaker and blacksmith, and in 18.")4 he came to 
Rathbone, N. Y. , and worked at his trade and farming, and in 1862 he located in 
Troupsburg, where he died in 1866. Mrs. Clarkson died in 1872. Politically, he was 
a Republican, and was assessor at the time of his death. David has always followed 
farming with the exception of the time spent in the war, three years. In 1864 he 
bought a farm in Squat Hollow, which, in 1869, he sold and came to the Jordan set- 
tlement and bought a farm consisting of about seventy-eight acres, making a spe- 
cialty of hay and sheep. In 1867 he married Irene E., daughter of Alanson and Sarah 
Bowman Cady, of Brookfield, Pa., by whom he has had six children: Halzey A., de- 
ceased, Harry \\'., a farmer of Washington, Sarah B., wife of Fred Briggs, of Knox- 
ville, Louisa M., Lena M., and Ina D. Mr. Clarkson enlisted August 17, 1861. in 



2G0 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

in Co. K, 86th New York Volunteers, and was honorably discharged September 
14, 1864. He was in the battles of 2d Bull Run. Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, 
Beverley's Ford, and Gettysburg, and was taken sick but remained until September 
14, 1864. He has been constable three or four years, and is a member of S. A. Baily 
Post No. 351, G. A. R., of Troupsburg. 

Pierce, Henry C, was born in the town of Naples, Ontario county, August 27, 
1842, son of Jerry W., whose father, Jonathan Pierce, was the pioneer of the family 
in Western New York, and came from Connecticut as early as 1800, and settled in 
Naples, where he was a shoemaker by trade. He had three sons: Jerry, Jonathan 
and Otis, the two latter of whom were soldiers in the war of 1812. Jerry W. Pierce 
was a millwright and mechanic. He built the Covel mill in Naples, and many other 
buildings in that and surrounding towns. In 1856 he moved to North Cohocton, and 
purchased the farm now owned by S. Cort)y, where he lived for fifteen years. He 
soon after purchased a farm and mill site at Bloods, now Atlanta, and completed the 
grist mill then under construction, built a saw mill, and carried on that business until 
his death, which occurred in 1866. In 1860, with his eldest son, he engaged in the 
mercantile trade at Bloods, which they conducted for several years. Mr. Pierce mar- 
ried Mrs. Eliza Watkins, widow of C. \V. Watkins, of Naples, and a daughter of Dr. 
Newcomb, the first physician in Naples. Their children were Harvey, who married 
Hannah, daughter of William Wait, of Cohocton, and settled in Michigan; Jonathan, 
who enlisted in 1861, in Co. C, Uth N. Y. Inft., as lieutenant, rose to the rank of 
major, and was killed at Morton's Ford October 22, 1863; Silas N., who enlisted in 
the same company as private, rising to the rank of captain, and .served until the close 
of the war. He married Rhoda Welch, and settled in Shiawassee county, Mich. ; 
Jerry W., who also settled in the same county; and Eliza L. (Mrs. W. A. Woodward) 
deceased, of Owassa, Mich. Henry C. has spent his life in Cohocton, and upon the 
death of his father he carried on the store and milling business for several years. 
Since 188.5 he has given his attention to farming and dairying. In 1866 he married 
Libbie Layton, by whom he had four children: Nellie JL, Alice E., Charles W. , and 
William J. 

O'Connor, William, was born in the town of Andes, Delaware county, August 27, 
1827. James, the father, was a blacksmith by trade, and also a native of Delaware 
county, and William was nine years of age when the family removed to Steuben 
county. They remained in Hornellsville but a year, then moved to Mt. Morris, Liv- 
ingston county, where he died August 7, 1847. The mother of our subject was also 
of Delaware county, and died in 1880, aged sixty-six. Of their three children, two 
survive: James, a tanner, and William. The latter was educated in the public 
schools, and at the age of eighteen engaged in tanning, which trade he learned in 
Mt. Morris, and which he has ever since continued. In 1850 he bought a small tan- 
nery at Almond, which was burned in 1864, and he then removed to Hornellsville 
and bought the Rose & Benton tannery on Seneca street, which has become noted as 
the O'Connor Tannery. The output has always been of rough leather, but he is now 
changing it to sole leather, with an outjjut of about 90,000 sides per year. In 1879 
he took his son, George W., as partner, until September 29, 1894, when the latter 
died. Mr. O'Connor has made a fine success of his business to which he has given 
most of his attention, excluding all outside matters. For over thirty years he has 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 261 

been a member and trustee of the Park Methodist church. In 1850 he married Julia 
M. Childs of Leroy, who died June 1, 18S9. Their two children were George W. 
and Mrs. Dr. Samuel Mitchell. 

Od.son, Mrs. Lobelia. — Thomas Odsou was born in Elmira N. Y., April 29, 1837, 
a .son of Daniel and Margaret (Dates) Odson. They lived in Elmira, where he died 
when Thomas was a mere child. His wife died in Rathbone about 1865. Thomas 
Odson started in life for himself at the age of nine years. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. 
II, 161st N. Y., Vols, and ser\ed three years. He was under General Banks 
and was at Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Mobile, and the Red River Campaign. 
In 1800 Mr. Odson married Lobelia Demarnville, daughter of David and Susan 
(Edwards) Demarnville, natives of the Eastern States and Cortland county, N. Y., 
respectively. Mr. Demarnville came to Woodhull in 1852 and was killed by the fall- 
ing of a tree in ISflS. His wife died the same year. Two brothers of Mrs. Odsou, 
David of the 109th and William of the 86th, died in the late war. Another brother, 
Asa, was in the late war and was at Lee's Surrender. Mr. and Mrs. Odson had four 
children: Willie (deceased), Carrie, Jerome and Merton. Thomas Odson died April 
3, 1880. 

Ba.xter, Amelia, — Charles F. Baxter was born in Yates county, N. Y., son of Seth 
and Orpha Baxter, early settlers of Woodhull, where they lived and died. Charles 
F. Baxter was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He was a 
farmer, and came on the farm Mrs. Baxter now owns, in 184T, where he lived until 
his death in 1879. In 1846 he married Amelia Jacobs, a native of Chautauqua county, 
N. Y. , daughter of Leonard and and Roxana (Butler) Jacobs, both natives of Otsego 
county, N. Y., who came to Woodhull in 1842, but spent the last thirty years of their 
life in Jasper, where he died January 3, ISHH, aged eighty-three years, and she, De- 
cember 28, 1882, aged eighty-one years. He was a farmer and carpenter by occu- 
pation. 

Bebout, Stephen, was born in Woodhull on the farm he now owns May 30, 1828, 
son of Samuel Hazon Bebout, who came from New Jersey to Yates county in 1825, 
the next year removing to Woodhull and settling on the farm which is now owned 
by Stephen, where he died September 26, 1871, aged eighty years, and Mrs. Bebout 
died September 4, 1863, aged sixty-two years. Stephen was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools, and is a farmer by occupation. In May, 1855, 
he married Mary J. Taft, daughter of Fenner and Joanna Tobias Taft, he a 
native of Rhode Island, and she of Chenango county. Both came to Addison 
when young, and he died in May, 1875, and she in November, 1863. Mr. and 
Mrs. Stephen Bebout have had four children: Samuel, who died March 20, 1875; 
Emma A., who died September 1, 1870; Charles H., who married Fannie E. Brink, 
of Addison, N. Y , and they have five children: (jeorge H., Emily A., Maljel S., 
Fred S., and Jessie E., and Myron, who married Mary J. Lathrop, of Woodhull, by 
whom he had two children: Clarence J. and Cassie M. The grandfather of our sub 
ject .spent his life in New Jersey. The maternal grandfather was Ezekiel Hazen, 
who died in New Jersey. Mrs. Bebout's paternal grandfather was Benedict Taft, 
who died in Addison. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Bebout was Jonathan 
Tobias, son of John Tobias, both of whom died in Addison, N. Y. 



262 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Schenck, Charles, was born in Jasper, N. Y. , May 3, 1830, a son of Jonathan and 
Sarah A. (Broadnex) Schenck. He was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 
mon schools. He owns a farm of ninety-five acres and carries on general farming. 
In 1855 he married Samantha J., daughter of Samuel Punches, of Cameron, who 
came to that town about fifty years ago. They have one daughter, Arlie, who was 
educated in the Hornellsville Park schools, then engaged in teaching for a short time. 
She is now a dressmaker. 

Brundage, Smith, was born in Bath, September 16, 1869, son of Frank, grandson 
of Jesse, and great-grandson of Capt. Abraham Brundage, who settled in Bath in 
1794, and who in 1812 recruited a rifle company and took part in the war of that date. 
Frank Brundage married Fannie, a daughter of John J. Smith, who was a descend- 
ant of Muckle Andrew Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Brundage had five children: Jennie, 
Jessie. Smith, Frank, and Ruby. Mr. Brundage died in 1890, aged fifty-eight years. 
Smith Brundage now resides on the Marengo place, so named by Captain Williamson, 
with his mother, brother and two sisters. 

Creveling, William V., was bom in Thurston, N. Y.. on the farm he now owns, 
December 10, 1856, son of Nelson and Almira (Emerson) Creveling, he born in New 
Jersey in 1808, and .she in Bath in 1817, her father, Charles Emerson, being one of 
the first settlers of Bath, coming from Connecticut, and he once returned to his 
native State on foot. Mr. Creveling was a farmer and came to Babcock Hollow, in 
the town of Bath, with his parents, John and Elinore (Carr) Creveling, in 1816, and 
he died July 28, 1886, and his widow lives with her son, our subject. William V. was 
educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns 
a farm of eighty acres of land. He is a Republican, and has been overseer of the 
poor about four terms, and commissioner three year.s. January 1, 1881, he married 
Alzora Fort, who was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., Januarj' 4, 1860, daughter of 
Isaac and Matilda Fort, who came to Thurston in 1869. where he died in 1880, and 
his widow resides with our subject. Mr. Creveling is a member of Savonia Lodge 
No. 755, F. & A. M. 

Hoover, David E., was born in Tyrone, N. Y., March 3, 1884, son of Joseph and 
Julia (Taylor) Hoover, a native of Tyrone, and she of Steuben county. The grand- 
father, Abram Hoover, came from New Jersey to Tyrone, where he was one of the 
pioneer settlers, and served in the war of 1812. Jo.seph Hoover was reared in 
Tyrone, but went to Michigan in 1855, where he was one of the pioneers of Ionia 
county, traveling by o.x team and helping build the first railroad to lona. He w^as a 
Democrat up to Lincoln's time and is now a Republican. He owns a farm of 240 
acres, and is engaged in stock raising. His wife died in 1875. David E. was reared 
in Michigan and educated at lona High School. He took a course of civil engineer- 
ing at Ann Arbor, was graduated in 1881, after which he went to Pullman, Chicago, 
in the sanitary department as civil engineer, where he remained six months, and 
then went West, acro.ss Mexico from Yera Cruz to San Bias in the interest of the 
Me.xican Central Railroad, and in 1883 he located in Keuka. In 1883 he married 
Alice, daughter of Lewis and Prudence Houck, by whom he had four children: Clyde 
J., Ruby, Thomas V., and D. Maxwell. Mr. Hoover has 255 acres of land in Tyrone, 
where he carries on general farming, also ten acres at Keuka, of vineyard and other 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 263 

fruit, he also does surveying. He is a Republican in politics, and has been justice of 
the peace for ten or twelve years. 

Clark, Eugene K., was bom in Erie county. Pa., in 1S41, son of Thomas E. Clark, 
who was born in Amsterdam, N. Y., in 18()it, one of nine children born to Nathaniel 
Clark, who was a farmer near Amsterdam, and who removed to the town of Bath, 
where he died in 1851. Thomas R. Clark, father of Eugene K., was reared on the 
farm, after which he was a student of Hamilton College, where he was prepared for 
the Baptist ministry. He preached until his health was impaired, from an injury 
received by a horse running against him, and returned to the town of Bath about 
18-1!). but later sold his home and removed to Cameron, where he died in ISSit. He 
married Harriett Ann, daughter of Philip ^Vardner of Andover, Steuben county, by 
whom he had these children; Adonirani J., Eugene K., Newel W.,Dana B., William 
K.. Harriett W., Angelia A. His wife survives him and resides in Cameron. 
Eugene K. was educated in Bath, and at twenty-one years of age began life as a 
teacher, which business he followed for nine years, after which he engaged in farm- 
ing in the town of Prattsburg. In 1869 he removed to the town of Wheeler, on his 
present farm of 140 acres, where he raised sheep for many years, and in 1888 inter- 
ested himself in the breeding of fine grade Jersey cattle and the dairy business, 
ably assisted by his wife, who as a first-class butter-maker, has established a wide 
reputation. Mr. Clark was twice nominated for supervisor, served as justice of the 
peace one term, etc., and for some years he and his wife were members of the 
Grange, but withdrew from the order. In 1863 he married Fannie Adelia, daughter 
of Israel D. (iraves of Prattsburg, by whom he had eight children ; Lily, wife of 
H. H. Brested, of Howard; Laverne D.. Mrs. Vida U., wife of M. J. Lewis, of 
Wheeler; Eri W., Eda E., Fannie A., Olive C, and Velma A. 

Whiting, Leslie D., was born in Jasper, October 26, 1859. Oliver M. Whiting, his 
father, was also a native of the same town, and his grandfather settled in Jasper in 
1826, coming from Lyndenboro, Hillsboro county, N. H., and the family have 
always been identified as farmers. Oliver M. Whiting married Martha, daughter of 
William Prentiss. Leslie D. was educated at Jasper, and in 1881 established his 
business of hay, grain and produce at Canisteo, and in 1887 added a coal yard to it. 
In 1879 he married Brunette, daughter of Enoch Ordway, by whom he had two chil- 
dren, Oliver M., and Carrie. Mr. Whiting is one of the representative business men 
of this town, and in 1894 was elected sheriff of Steuben county. 

Mathewson, Russell, was born in Otsego county in 1821. He began busine.ss life 
as a school teacher and afterwards learned the carpenter trade, and lived in Corning 
from 1842 to 1850, locating on his present farm of ninetj'-six acres in 1850. He makes 
milk dairying a specialty, keeping about twenty-five cows. In 1848 he married 
Emma C. Jolinson, a native of Chenango county, and daughter of Dr. P. A. and 
Marilla L. (Burdick) Johnson, who came to Corning in 1844. Dr. Johnson practiced 
here till early in the sixties, and then moved to Waverly, where he still resides. In 
the fall of 1804 Mr. Mathewson enlisted in the 1st N. Y. Cavalry, being principally 
on guard duty near Charleston, W. Va.. until the close of hostilities. 

Swarts, Ross H., was born in the town of Starkey, Yates county, N. Y., Septem- 
ber 17, 1825, son of Daniel Swarts, a native of New Jersey, who was a millwright, 



264 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and in later years lived on a farm in Canadice, Ontario county. He died December 
31, 1859. The mother of Ross H. was also a native of Wantage, Sussex county, 
N. J. She died in the fall of 18G7. Of their nine children Ross was the third son. 
He was educated in the common schools and remained on the farm -with his parents 
until twenty years of age. At that time he had a sister living in the town of Hor- 
nellsville who was left a widow with a family of five small children and Ross came 
here, remained with her for twenty years conducting the farm and managing her 
business. In 1871 he married Mrs. Thirza Dent, daughter of Robert Sutherby, and 
the year following he bought the Deacon Tryon Cross farm of 130 acres on lot No. 11 
in Hornellsville, where he has since made his home. He makes a specialty of dairy- 
ing, keeping twenty-five head of cattle and twelve horses. Mr. Swarts is a member of 
the Methodist church and has been one of its officers, also has been trustee of schools 
of District No. o. Mrs. Swarts died July 15, 1883. Mr. Swarts bought a part of her 
property consisting of 100 acres on lot No. 13, which he conducts in connection with 
this farm. He was again married April 30, 1888, to Rose, daughter of Joshua Swan, 
of Canadice, Ontario county, and they have two children: Ross H., jr., born April 
15, 1890, and Edwin Devillo, born May 15, 1891. In politics Mr. Swarts is a Demo- 
crat and in 1890 served as town .auditor and has also held some of the minor offices. 

.Stickney. Wilson, was born on the farm which he now owns in Rathbone, May 2, 
1826, son of Edmond Stickney, inventor of the Stickney reacting water wheel, and 
is said to be the best mechanic in the State when applied to steam and water power. 
He was born in New Hampshire, July 15. 1805, and came to Rathbone in 1824 and 
settled on the farm which is now owned by Wilson and built a mill which he contin- 
ued to run for forty-five years. He also had a small grist mill attached. He mar- 
ried Margaret Wilson, born January 18, 1815, a native of Scotland, who came to 
Binghamton with her parents when eight years old. Mr. and Jlrs. Stickney cele- 
brated their golden wedding December 8, 1882. He died December 20, 1884, and 
she, April 13, 1892. Wilson Stickney was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 
mon school and Alfred and Franklin Academies. He has spent the most of bis life in 
the lumbering business and was seventeen years in Michigan. He owns the home- 
stead, where he resides, also largely interested in Michigan pine lands and a block 
in Big Rapids, now owned by him which he built at a cost $30,000, known as the 
Stickney Block. June 28, 1873, Mr. Stickney married Laura M. Miles, daughter of 
John Miles, one of the early settlers of Rathbone, and ime daughter has been born 
to them, Laura M., who resides in Big Rapids, Mich. Mrs. Stickney died at Big 
Rapids March 28, 1881, aged thirty-four years. Wilson Stickney had two brothers 
and one sister- Mrs. C. H. Rodgers of Hornellsville, who died at that place July 6, 
1889; James W. Stickney, who was an engineer on the Erie and was killed at Adrian, 
November 11, 1891 ; and Isaac M., who was assistant superintendent of the Morris 
Run Coal Company, of Morris Run, Pa. He died November 30, 1870. 

Walker, Frank E., was born in Springwater, N. Y., May 20, 185G. His grand- 
father, Ezra Walker, was a native of Vermont. William Walker, father of Frank 
E., was born in Vermont, in 1819, and at two years of age came with his parents to 
Springwater, where he died in 1876, aged fifty-five years. He was a farmer all his 
life. He married Mercy Gates, who was born in Gaines, Orleans county, N. Y., in 
1824, by whom he had these children: Erwin C, who was born September 15, 1843, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 265 

and (lied June 3. 1864; Maria L., who was born March 23, 1845, and married Oscar 
Rogers; Hattie E., who was born February 1, 1847, and died March 9, 1857; John 
C. , who was born July 22, 1849, and married Sarah Brown; Emma A., who was born 
June 3, 1851; William W., who was born July 11, 1853, and married Alice Snyder; 
Frank E., as above; Lillian E., who was born May 21, 1838, and married (ilen 
Abrams; Mark G., who was born June 1, 18(i(l, and married Maggie Staley ; Judson 
E., who was born June 29, 1S63, and married Julia Hill; and Edwin L., who was 
born August 14, ISCo, and died February 25, 1866. Frank E. has always followed 
farming. He is a member of the Wayland Ledge, No. 176, L O. O. F. At Dans- 
ville, N. Y., May 20, 1877, he married Ella Hayward, who was born in Wayland, in 
1825, and resides in South Dansville. He married Margaret Campbell, who was 
born in Scotland, by whom he had four children; Anna, deceased, marrried John 
Avery of Wayland, N. Y. : Alma, who married Wallace Wagoner, and resides in 
Cohocton; Ella, as above; and JIurray, who married Lunette McFarland, and re- 
sides in Wayland. 

McNett, Dr. George C, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., July 11, 1867. Gen. A. J. 
McNett, his father, was a native of Sackett's Harbor, and a prominent lawyer of 
Buffalo, who took a prominent part through the war. Was retired as colonel U. S. 
A. in 1892, died March 8, 1895. His grandfather was in charge of Sackett's Harbor 
defenses and lighthouses in the war of 1812. Dr. George C. McNett was educated 
at Belmont, St. Joseph's College, Buffalo, Alfred I'niversity, and University of the 
City of New York, and then began his practice at Belmont. In 1886 he was ap- 
pointed as surgeon to the Soldiers' Home, and came to Bath, remaining until 1889, 
since which time he has been engaged in private practice, and is one of the leading 
men of his profession, making a specialty of surgery. In 1882 he married Agnes, 
daughter of E. S. Stewart, by whom he had one child, Celia. 

Ellison, Curtis B., was born at Homer, N. Y., in 1831, and at nine years of age 
came to Tioga county with his parents, Samuel and Susan Ellison, who died in 1885 
and 1S91 respectively. When eighteen years of age Mr. Ellison came to Corning 
and has since been more or less engaged in the lumber business, spending four years 
in Michigan. He has 200 acres of land where he lives which he has owned since 
1856, and makes a specialty of milk dairying. In 1852 he married Mary Jane Coun- 
terman of Tompkins county. 

Cole, John S. , was born in Rathbone, August 25, 1825, son of C. H. and Fhebe (Sellick) 
Cole, he born in Columbia county, N. Y. , October 2, 1808, and she in Howard, N.Y., 
in 1814, daughter of Zeno Sellick. The grandfather of John S. was Jacob Cole, who 
was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., a son of Jacob Cole, who died in Columbia 
county, at the age of one hundred and twenty-si.\ years. He came to Big Flats in 
1814, and to Rathbone in 1816, where he died in 18.52. '1 he father of John S. was a 
farmer and lumberman. He was a Whig and Republican, and the second supervisor 
of the town of Rathbone, and justice of the peace twenty-eight years. He died No- 
vember 27, 1886. John S. Cole was educated in Alfred Universijy, and was a farmer 
and lumberman by occupation, and owns 176 acres of land. He was in the Rocky 
Mountains three years. In 1862 he enlisted in the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry and 
served three months. In January, 1867, he married Alice Burlingame of Belfast, 
hli 



266 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Allegany county, N. Y., and they have four children: Guy, born September 3, 1869, 
who has been engaged in lumbering with his father ; Clyde, boon February 3, 1871 ; 
Roy, born August 9, 1872 ; and Ray, born December 25, 1880. 

Stamp, B. F., was born in Reading, Schuyler county, N. Y., November 22, 1830, 
son of Abner and Betsey (Caandall) Stamp, who was born in Orange county and 
Waterloo. Mr. Stamp went to Reading at an early date, and in 1857 went West, re- 
turning in 1861 and locating m Thurston, and two years later removing to Schuyler 
county, where they lived until a few months before his death, which occurred Febru- 
ary 28, 1886. Mrs. Stamp died in 1852. The grandfather of our subject, John 
Stamp, was born in Holland, came to this country and participated in the war of 
1812, and died in Kentucky. B. F. Stamp was educated in the common schools, and 
engaged in farming and lumbering, now owning a farm of sixty-six acres. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican and has been collector. December 19, 1863, he enlisted in 
Co. K, 3d N. Y. Light Artillery, and was in the battles during the campaign of 1864 
and '65, from City Point to Petersburg and Richmond. He is a member of the Loga 
Post, No. 469, G. A. R., of which he is, at present, commander. August 30, 1856, 
he married Elizabeth Benham of Schuyler county, by whom he has had ten children: 
A. Farley, Nettie L., deceased, George E., B. Frank, Charles E. .William A., Marion 
E , E. Ida, John A., and Grace E. Mr. Stamp bad seven brothers in the late war, 
one of whom was killed at South Mountain. 

Chapell, F. S., born in Prattsburg, N. Y., July 5, 1828, is the first son of seven chil 
dren born to Lyman and Elnia S. Chapell. He was a native of Chenango, and came 
to Prattsburg in 1812 with Neamiah Noble, being then a boy about twelve years of 
age, with whom he lived until he married. He followed farming as an occupation. 
Francis Sweet, father of Mrs. Chapell, was a pioneer of North Prattsburg, where he 
lived and died. Francis S. Chapell learned the shoemaker's trade when a young 
man. In 1848 he went to Branchport, Yates county, where he remained until 1868, 
when he located in Rathbone on the farm he now owns. In 1851 he married Emily 
Donaldson, by whom he had five children: Elizabeth, William, Frederick O., Frank 
H., and Collin P. In politics Mr. Chapell is a Republican and has been assessor for 
five years in succession. 

Clark, Eleazer, was born in Elkland, Tioga county. Pa., October 2, 1824, son of 
Eleazer and Abigail (Armstrong) Clark, both natives of Rhode Island, born about 
1788, who came to Tioga county. Pa., where they lived and died. The grandfather, 
Eleazer Clark, was born in England and died in Rhode Island. Eleazer Clark, our 
subject, Hved in Tioga county, Pa., until 1863, when he came on the farm of 113 acres 
which he now owns. December 1, 1852, he married Julia A. Johnson, who was born 
in Elkland, Pa., January 10, 183], daughter of Asaph and Polly (Mack) Johnson. 
Mr. Johnson was killed in Elkland in 1839 by the falHng of a tree, and his wife died 
in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have five children: Prudence, who was born June 23, 
1854, wife of Herman Tubbs ; Charles F. , who was born September 14, 185G, a farmer, 
and a graduate of Allen's Business College. He died November 29, 1893; William 
H., who was born February 14, 1864, a farmer of Tioga county. Pa.; and Erastus 
E., who was born May 15, 1866, a graduate from Baltimore Medical College, also of 
Starkey College, and is now a successful physician of Osceola, Pa. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 267 

Labour, Jacob, was born in Northumberland county, Pa., July 8, 1806. The fir-st 
of the family to come to this country was the grandfather of Jacob. He was from 
Germany and settled in Pennsylvania. His son, Peter Labour, was born in Penn- 
sylvania and was one of the first settlers of Pennsylvania Hill, coming here in 18^8, 
buying a farm on lot 28. Jacob was educated in the common schools and moved to 
Living.ston county, where he married Zada, daughter of George H. Jones, March 18, 
].*il. He returned to Steuben county in April, 1863, and bought a farm of ninety- 
seven acres on lot 27, and there spent the balance of his days. He died March 20, 
1880. Mrs. Labour died March Vi, 1885. The beautiful house was erected in 1878. 
Of his eight children Catherine Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Cox, a farmer of Alle- 
gany county; Mary C. is the widow of James P. Emery, and lives in Arkport; Jane 
X. died January (i, 187.5, at thirty-nine years of age, wife of William Burt; 'VVilliam 
J. Labour was a soldier of the 3d Ills. Cavalry, died in Arkansas June 9, 1862, an 
officer of the Cavalry; George W. died November 5, 1894. in Grand Rapids, Mich. ; 
Julia S. is the wife of Miles L. Forsyth, a machinist of Syracuse, N. Y. ; Miss Sarah 
E. conducts the old homestead farm, and James Watson died September 16, 1866, 
eighteen years of age. 

Husted, Jerome C, was born in Woodhull, August 27, 1857, son of William and 
Caroline (Covel!) Husted. Mr. Husted was born in Chenango county, N.Y., in 1825, 
and Mrs. Hu.sted was born in Bradford county. Pa., April 9, 1828. Abraham, grand- 
father of Jerome C, was a native of Chenango county, but his father came from 
England at a very early date and was in the Revolutionary war. Abraham was a 
farmer and carpenter and came to Woodhull at an early date, settling on a farm. 
He spent the last ten years of his life in the village of Woodhull. He and his wife. 
Amy Rathbone, were members of the Bapti.st church, of which he was a clerk, also 
deacon for a number of years. Mr. Husted, father of Jerome C, is now engaged in 
farming in that town. Jerome C. was reared on the farm and educated in the Wood- 
hull Academy and followed teaching several years. In 1884, he engaged in the drug 
business and has since conducted a successful business. His building is 20 by 60 
feet, ard he carries a line of drugs, books, stationery, paints, oils, etc. He was town 
clerk in 1892-H and elected supervisor in 1894. He is a member of Restoration Lodge 
N'o. 777, F. & A. M., also Addison Chapter No. 146, R. A. M. He is also a member 
of Woodhull Tent No. 174, K. () T. M. September 29, 1887, he married Lydia, 
daughter of William and Marion (Pease) Carpenter, a native of Woodhull. They 
have one son: Carl born March 11, 1894. 

Strong, Munson J., was born in Tioga county, N. Y., November 9, 18;i9, a son of 
Joel C. Strong. His native home was Schenectady, N. Y., and came to Tioga when 
a young man; married Olive Lake, settled on a new farm, where he lived and died. 
The grandfather was in the war of 1812, and was wounded in the leg; he died in 
Schenectady. Joel C. Strong died November 14, 1880, and his wife Olive in 1844. 
Munson J. Strong was reared on a farm and educated, in the common schools at 
Candor, Tioga county, N. Y. In 1864 he came to Thurston, Steuben county, and 
settled on a farm of fifty acres he now owns, and erected good buildings. January 
5, 1864. he married Mary Coston, who was born in Bath, September 29. 1841, daugh- 
ter of Christopher C. Coston. by whom he had five children; Charles C, who was 
born December 28, 1864, was educated in the common schools, and is a druggist of 



268 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Owego, N.Y. ; Nancy C, who was born July 14. 1866, wife of Burrett Woodward of 
Broome county, K. Y., and have one child. Iva; Fred Jay, born May IT, 1866, and 
works on a fruit farm in Yates county, N. Y. ; Christopher W. , born August 15, 1871, 
was educated in the common school, and is engaged in farming at home ; and Inez I. , 
who lives at home. In August. 1861, Munson Strong enlisted in Co. A. 89th N. Y. 
Vols., and served two years. He was at Roanoke Island, Newbem, Frederick City, 
South Mountain, and Antietam, where he was wounded in the left leg. 

Xorthrup, James, was born in Sussex county, X. J., September 12, 1819, son of 
Benjamin D. Xorthrup, who is mentioned in this work. James came to Rathbone in 
1835 and at the age of twenty six years came into possession of 100 acres of the old 
homestead, and afterwards bought 114 acres of land, and later fifty-four acres. He 
followed farming until 1883, at which time he retired. He is a Democrat and has 
served as supervisor one year, and assessor one year. In January, 1846, he married 
Eliza, daughter of Isaac Bowyer, one of the early settlers of Jasper, where he lived 
and died. Mr. and Mrs. Xorthrup had seven children; Sarah, deceased; Watson T., 
■who resides at Cameron Mills; Isaac, deceased; M. Electa, deceased; Amanda H., 
deceased; Ella E., wife of Frank L. Johnson, who was born in Penn Yan, Yates 
county, X. Y. , son of Samuel and Ann Perry Johnson, who came to Howard about 
1835, where Mr. Johnson died in 1892, and his wife in Rathbone in 1879. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Johnson have been born three children: Royal J., Charley B., and Watson 
F. The seventh child of James Xorthrup is Carrie, wife of John McWilliaras of 
Rathbone. 

Rutherford, Mrs. T. R. —Thomas R. Rutherford was a native of County Cavan, 
Ireland, and came to Bath, Steuben county, in 1852. He received an excellent edu- 
cation from private tutors, and then gave his attention to teaching school for some 
years, and in 1854 he entered the county clerk's office, remaining through Major 
Campbell's term. He afterwards learned the photographer" s business and located in 
Seneca Falls and Rochester. In 1870 he again entered the county clerk's office, 
where he remained until the time of his death. In 1868 he married Sarah, daughter 
of John R. Smith, by whom he had two children, Kathenne and Mabel. He died 
August 11, 1890. 

Wheeler, Andrew Jackson, was born in Bath, November 26, 1824. His father, 
George, was a native of Rhode Island and came with his parents, Jeremiah and Marj- 
(Joselyn) Wheeler, to Bath in 1805. George Wheeler married Grace, a daughter of 
Xathaniel Stearns, of Hinsdale, N. H. He was one of the prominent men of early 
times, serving as justice of the peace, postmaster of Kanona, etc. He died in 1870 
at the age of eighty-six years, leaving three children: Andrew J., Elizabeth S. , and 
Mrs. Dr. Jones, of Danville, 111. Mr. Andrew J. Wheeler is one of the practical and 
successful farmers of the town, taking an intelligent interest in educational and 
religious affairs. 

Smith. O. H., was born in Bath, March 12, 1840, son of Charles A. Smith, who was 
born in Bath in 1797, and grandson of Andrew, who came to Bath with Colonel 
Williamson m 1793, and purchased a tract of woodland, in 1794, of the Pulteney 
estate, which still remains in the family. He acted as foreman and agent for Colonel 
Williamson. Charles A. Smith married Azilla, daughter of Stephen Morgan. He 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 269 

was a prominent and successful farmer, and died in 1865, in his sixty-eighth year. 
O. H. Smith was educated in Bath, and Franklin Academy, and in 1802 enlisted in 
Co. D, 161st N. Y. Vols., and took part in the battle of Port Hudson, and receiving a 
severe wound at Cox's Plantation, La., in 1863, and afterward took part in the Red 
River campaign, the siege and capture of Mobile, and received an honorable dis- 
charge at the close of the war in 186.5, with the rank of first lieutenant, Co. B, and 
then returned to Bath. In 1866 he went to Hornellsvilleand engaged in the mercan- 
tile business, and in 1872 went to Waterloo, from there to Syracuse, and Elmira, re- 
turning to Bath in 1877. In 188;i he was elected police justice, serving five years, and 
in 1889 established his present business, carrying a full hue of of insurance policies. 
In 1868 he married Elizabeth, daughter of David Sherwood, and they are the parents 
of two children: William J., and Maud E. Mr. Smith was commander of the 
G. A. R. Lodge for three years, and at the present time is a trustee of the New York 
State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, and secretary of the board. 

Beecher. Fary B., was born in Fremont, Steuben county, N.V., June 2, 1856, a son 
of Randall F. Beecher, deceased. The family is of English descent, the ancestors 
having come to America in the Mayflower in 1620. Of the next generation there 
were three brothers: Hezikiah, Linus, and Lyman. Among the direct descendants 
of Lyman Beecher were the Rev. Henry Ward, Thomas K. Beecher, and Mrs. 
Harriet Beecher Stowe. From Hezekiah Beecher is descended Fary B. Beecher. 
Randall F. Beecher came from Madison county, N. V., to the town of Fremont in 
1840, where he engaged in farming, and was also a licensed veterinary surgeon. He 
was born in Madison county, N. Y., June 2, 1814, and died November 12, 1876. He 
was three times married, first to Serepta Cass, by whom he had three children : 
Andalusia, Nason, and William Henry. For his second wife Mr. Beecher married 
Weltha Donahe, by whom he had one son, John D. He then married Statira San- 
ford and they had eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity: Weltha, Orin H., 
Eunice C, now Mrs. Lewis B. Ward; Mark H., Fary B., Luke A., Menzer J., Murray 
C, Scott M., and Gertrude C. Fary B. Beecher received his education in the com- 
mon schools and Rogersville Union Seminary, following which he taught for several 
years. He studied law with the late O. S. Searl of Cohocton, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1891, settling at Atlanta, where he has since practiced in his profession. 
He is a staunch Democrat and is an active member of the party. He is a member of 
Kanawha Lodge, I. O. O. F. , of Atlanta, and has held nearly every office in the 
lodge. He has taken the past official degree in the district Grand Commandery and 
the Grand Lodge degree at Buffalo in 1893. In 1881 Mr. Beecher married Miss 
Emma E. Johnson of North Cohocton, N. Y., to whom has been born four children, 
two sons, Don L. , and Dana C and two daughters, Una M. and Marion. 

Oliver, Gale, was born October 18, 1853. His grandfather, Charles Oliver, was 
born in Athol, Mass., June 8, 1789, and moved to Shoreham, Vt., where he learned 
the trade of blacksmith. He settled in Dansville in 1816, and bought 200 acres of 
land and built a blacksmith shop near Loon Lake, where he remained about six 
years, when he built a shop at Rogersville and carried on the same business there 
until his death, February 20. 18()6, aged seventy-six years. He married Phoebe Wil- 
son, who was born in Vermont, December 11, 1795, by whom he had these children: 
Charles, who was born in Shoreham, Vt., August 22, 1815, and died August 19, 1887; 



270 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Almeda, who was born September 9, 1817; Lois, who was born September 26, 1819; 
Serach, who was born November 3, 1831 ; Sally W., who was born January 5, 1824; 
Phoebe, who was born June 11, 1826; Amory G., who was born December 26, 1828; 
and Mary P., who was born June 27, 1832. Charles Oliver, father of Gale, was a 
man of affairs, having held the offices of assessor sixteen years, justice of the peace 
and supervisor four years ; he was a surveyor. He married Clarissa Griswold, who 
was born January 10, 1817, on Lake Champlain, by whom he had these children: 
John Tyler, who was born March 31, 1840, and died August 29, 1840; Phoebe A., who 
was born October 16, 1841; Daniel H., who was born March 19, 1843; Charles, who 
was born December 18, 1845; Woodruff, who was born October 8, 18o2, and died 
April 21. 1888; and Gale, as above, who received a common school education and 
took a course in the Rogersville Seminary. He has always followed farming, and 
now owns a farm of 200 acres. He has held the office of assessor nine years. 

Bailey, Charles L., was born on the farm now occupied by his brother, Adsit, in 
the town of Urbana, August 7, 1830. In 1808 David Bailey, the grandfather of 
Charles L. , who was a native of Ovid, came to Steuben county bringing a family of 
three sons and one daughter, and took up a tract of one hundred and seventy acres 
on lot 9 in the town of Urbana, and his first residence was a log house, where he 
made his home until about 1839. David, the father of C. L., was the youngest of a 
family of eight children, and was born in February, 1805, in Ovid, and when a boy 
learned the tanner and currier's trade in the town of Pulteney, which trade he fol- 
lowed for twenty-five or thirty years, building a tannery on the old homestead, a 
part of which still stands in a tenement house belonging to Mrs. John Argus. He 
died August 19, 1872. In politics he was a Whig, and one of the town officers, and 
also a school officer of this district. David Bailey married Sabrona Stone who was 
born August 29, 1808, daughter of Capt. Amos Stone, who settled m Pleasant Valley 
in 1793. She died February 26, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey were the parents of seven 
children : Lewis, a farmer who died February 22, 1868 ; Charles L. , Christina, Elzina, 
Edna, Adsit and Ida, who died at the age of sixteen years. Charles was educated 
in the common school, and select school at Hammond sport. He taught for five win- 
ters in different districts and worked his father's farm for two years In 1857 he re- 
moved to Savona and conducted a farm for ten years, and then took charge of a farm 
of one hundred acres, where he now lives, and where he has a vineyard of thirty 
acres, and has also increased the farm to one hundred and thirty-four acres, which is 
devoted to the cultivation of gram and stock products. In politics Mr. Bailey was in 
early life a Henry Clay Whig, but is now a Republican, and in 1877 and 1878 he rep- 
resented his town on the board of supervisors, and served four terms as justice of the 
peace of this town and in Bath. July 3, 1854, he?narried Amanda Ide of Post Creek, 
who died in 1866 leaving two children: Layfayette, who is a farmer with his father 
on the homestead; and Sabrina, who is the wife of LeRoy McCorn of Hammonds- 
port. Mr. Bailey married for his second wife, in 1S68, Mrs. Lydia Backus. 

Holliday, Franklin E. and Amos O. — The family are of New England .stock. The 
grandfather, Amos Holliday, was a native of New England and settled on the place 
where Franklin E. and Amos O. now reside, about 1815, purchasing 200 acres and 
building a log house. His wife was Azubah Brewer, of Hartford, Conn. He died 
April 9, 1853, aged 106 years, and she died August 3, 184.>-', aged eighty-four years. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 271 

They had the following children: Jonathan, Amos, Enoch, Peter, Osni, Sylvester, 
Clorina and Lucy. Sylvester HoUiday was educated at Pompey Hill Academy, On- 
ondaga county, X. V. and taught school for several years in Uansville, Sparta, and 
other places. He was also justice of the peace for many years. He married Hannah 
Townsend, who died December 23, 1887, aged eighty-six years. He died April ."), 
1870, aged seventy-seven years. Their family consisted of live children: Rachel, 
born February 26, 1819, married Daniel Ward, of Spring Water, and had two chil- 
dren, Minerva, born November 14, 1822, died March IG, 1890, married twice, first to 
John Pettis, afterwards to James G. Huff; Miranda, who married James Wood; 
AmosO., born December 31, 1829; and Franklin E., born April 23, 1837. Rachel 
attended Dansville Academy, Amos attended the Alfred Seminary, and Franklin, 
the Rogersville Union Seminary. The family are well to do and respected citizens 
of the town. Amos Holliday was in the War for Independence, was at Yorktown, 
Va., when the British surrendered to Gen. Washington, and Sylvester Holliday was 
in the war of 1812. 

Swink, Nelson H , was born in Dansville, Livingston county, N Y., in 1845. He 
received a common school education, and attended Rogersville Seminary six months 
but has improved his scanty opportunities when a boy by a thorough course of read- 
ing and is well posted on many subjects. He is a farmer by occupation and owns a 
tine farm on Oak Hill. His father, Henry Swink, was a native of Pennsylvania, and 
died in Dansville, N. Y., March 10, 18SG, aged seventy-two years. He married Sarah 
Miller, who was born in Dansville, in 1825, by whom he had three children: Nelson 
H., as above; Jennie, who was born in 1849; and Charles, who was born in 1852. 
In 1876 Nelson H. Swink married Amanda M. Kreidler, who was born in Dansville, 
April 29, 1844, daughter of Edward Kreidler, by whom he had three children: Edna 
S. , who was born April 30, 1877; Essie M., who was born September 9, 1878; and 
Edward H., who was born March 28, 1887. 

Crance, Jules, was born in the Province of Champagne, France, March 7, 1854. 
He was given a good educution in his native land, and being reared in a wine coun- 
try, naturally took to that as an occupation. In January, 1872, hecameto the United 
States and spent one year with an uncle in Tioga, Pa., and one year in Ohio. In 
1874 he came to Pleasant Valley and engaged with the wine company of that name, 
and in April, 1877, became associated with the Urbana Wine Company, the first and 
third years as foreman of the champagne department, and in 1880 he became gen- 
eral superintendent of wine making, which position he still holds. He has been a 
faithful and efficient employee of this company, and a great portion of their success 
has been due to his ever zealous and watchful care. In connection to his other duties 
lie owns and manages a vineyard of fourteen acres. In 1877 he married Eugenie 
.Masson, of Dayton, Ohio, by whom he had four children: Charles T., Eugene Jules, 
Josephine, and Albert Morris. 

Barrett, Samuel H., was born in Farmer's Valley, McKean county, Pa., March 22, 
1S60, sou of Henry and Julia (Maynard) Barrett. Henry Barrett spent his life in 
Farmer's Valley, where he died in 1864. His widow married Thomas Utter, a native 
of Allegany county, where he lived and died. Mrs. Utter now lives in WoodhuU. 
Samuel H. was reared in Chicago, 111., and Olean, N. V. He was educated in the 



272 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

common schools and at the age of fourteen started in life for himself by working out 
by the month. He was then in a saw mill for four years. He afterward learned the 
barber's trade and in 1884 opened a shop in Woodhull, where he now has an exten- 
sive and successful business. In 1895 Mr. Barrett was elected town clerk. He is a 
member of the Restoration Lodge, No. 777, F. & A. M., Elkland Lodge, No. 800, 
I. O. O. F., and Woodhull Tent, No. 174, K- O. T. M. January 12, 1878, Mr. Barrett 
married Alice Applebee, a native of Friendship, Allegany county, by whem he had 
three children: Bertha, died at the age of seven years; Christina, died at the age of 
two years ; and Ethel, who died at the age of four years. 

Sebring, James Oscar, was born in the town of Pulteney, November 4, 1860, the 
third son of Charles W. Sebring, a farmer and resident of that town. James Oscar 
Sebring received his primary education in the common schools of his native town, 
supplemented by a course of study m the famous Franklin Academy of Prattsburg. 
After completmg his education he decided to become a lawyer, and to acquire the 
necessary means to fit himself for his chosen profession of the law, followed teaching 
for seven years and at the same time devoting all his spare time to the reading of 
in the law office of Jay K. Smith of Prattsburg and Hon. L W. Near of Hornellsville. 
He completed his law studies in the law office of Hon. John F. Little of Bath, and 
was admitted to the bar in June, 1885, standing first in a class of twenty-five. The 
September following he began the practice of law in Haramondsport, where he con- 
tinued to practice until in September, 1895, when, desiring a larger field in which to 
carry on his large and increasing practice, he opened an office in the city of Corning, 
where he has since been. Of the younger members of the bar of this county he 
ranks with the best of them. He is active in politics and is a Democrat. He has 
been a member of the County Committee and of the County Executive Committee for 
a number of years, and has once or twice accepted nominations from his party. By 
industry and thrift he has accumulated considerable property, the most of which is 
located in and about Hammondsport. August 21, 1889, he married Mary Arnold, 
daughter of the late Watts Bushnell, formerly a prominent merchant of Bath. Mr. 
Sebring is a member of Hammondsport Lodge, L O. O. F. , No. 584 

Wheeler, Graham H., was born in the town of Wheeler, N. Y., January 1, 1845. 
He was educated in the common schools, Lima Seminarj', and Poughkeepsie College, 
and his first occupation was in the coal trade with the Ohio River Coal Company, 
near Wheeling, W. Va., from 1866 to 1869; the latter year he returned and married 
and went to Nashville, Tenn., where he engaged in the Life Insurance business un- 
til 1872. He has since been engaged in the wine business at Haramondsport, being 
one of the organizers of the Hammondsport Wine Company, of which he is the sec- 
retary and business manager, and was also one of the directors, and organizers of 
the Lake Keuka Wine Company. He has been interested m local politics, and is at 
present president of the Board of Water Commissioners, and has also been president 
of the village board several terms. He has been president of the Board of Education 
for a number of years, and is president of the board of trustees of the Presbyterian 
church. In 1869 he maiTied Florence M., daughter of the late Solomon Clark, a na- 
tive of New Jersey and a resident of Hammondsport for over sixty years. They have 
three children: Harriet M., Faunv C, and Grattan II. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 273 

Kilbury. Andrew, was born February 22, 1844. His grandfather, Robert Kilbury, 
was born in Vermont, and moved to South Dansville, then to Indiana, where he fol- 
lowed farming. Robert Kilbury, father of Andrew, was bom in Vermont, May 9, 
1796, and came to Dansville in 1814, and located on a farm one mile north of Fre- 
mont Center. He married Eunice Karington, who was born in Waahington county, 
N. Y., January 29, 1804, by whom he had ten children: Sarah Jane, who was born 
December 20, 1821 ; Eli C, who was born in 1823; Edwin R., who was born Septem- 
ber 2, 1825; Robert S., who was born June 9, 1827; Phebe A., who was born July 15, 
1829; Mary M., who was born December 9, 1832; Patience B., who was born Febru- 
ary 1, 1834; and died Febuary 6, 1841; Joel C. who was born September 13, 1838, 
Andrew, as above; and Lafayette, who was born August 21, 1846, and died January 
12, 1849. Mr. Kilbury died in 1884. Andrew Kilbury was reared on a farm, and 
has followed farming the most of his life. He enlisted in the 189th Regt., which 
served in the Army of the Potomac, Fifth Army Corps, and was discharged at the 
close of the war. He is a member of Doughty Post, G. A. R. , No. 226, also a mem- 
ber of the A. O. U. W. January 15, 1877, he married Harriet McNaughton, who 
was born in Howard, March 20, 1847, by whom he had two children: Dee, who was 
born August 30, 1874, and Camilla, who was born February 11, 1884. 

Conine, Gamaliel T., was born in Bath, February 7, 1854. His father, Lorenzo, 
was a native of Greene county, who came to Steuben county in 1851, and through 
life was identified as a farmer. He married Abbie, daughter of Jacob Townsend. 
He has held various positions of honor and trust, and has taken an active interest in 
the M. E. Church of Bath. Gamaliel T. Conine was educated at Haverling Acad- 
emy, and in 1869 entered the post-office at Bath. In 1873 he engaged in the wall 
paper business, which he continued in for four years, then engaged in the clothing 
business at Dundee from 1877 to 1882. In 1882 he went to Prattsburg and engaged 
in the clothing business at that place, where he was one of the founders of the 
Prattsburg Agricultural Society. In 1878 Mr. Conine married Estella, daughter of 
George Shults, by whom he his two children: Leon and Fannie. Mr. Conine is one 
of the leading men of the town, and was elected county treasurer in 1894. He has 
also served as postmaster for four years under Benjamin Harrison. He is a member 
of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. Lodges. 

Friedell, Joseph Conrad, was born in the village of Hammondsport, N. V., Au- 
gust 17, 1862. His father, Matthew Friedell, is a native of Germany, and a grape 
grower of this town. Joseph Conrad is the oldest son of a family of four children. 
He was educated in the Hammondsport Union School, and his first occupation was 
in his father's vineyard. At fifteen years of age he engaged as clerk in the store 
now conducted by George H. Keeler, where he remained for eleven years. In 1888 
he formed a copartnership with L. I). Masson, and established a hardware store on 
Water street, where we now find him located. In 1893 he married Laura L. Brown, 
of Penn Yan. 

Boult, Charles E., was born in the town of Mason ville, Delaware county, N. Y., 
March 31, 1862, and is the son of J. M. and Harriet (Thompson) Boult, both natives 
of Delaware county, he born June 12, 1834. she born February 21, 1834. The grand- 
parents, John and Phebe (Teed) Boult, were both natives of Delaware county, he 



274 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

born in 1808, and she in 1818. The great-grandfather of Charles E., Williatn J. 
Boult, came from France to Delaware count}' at an early day and was owner of a 
large tract of land and engaged in farming and lumbering. He was a soldier in the 
War of 1812. John Boult is a farmer and carpenter, and still lives on the farm in 
Delaware county. His wife, Phebe, died in 1870. J. M. Boult was a boot and shoe 
merchant at Nelson, Pa., but gave up the business on account of poor health, and 
spent his last days on a farm in Tuscarora, Steuben county, where he died in 1885. 
Mrs. Boult still survives and resides in the village of Troupsburg. Charles E. was 
educated in the village of Nelson, Pa., and at the Cortland State Normal School. He 
was then for eight years engaged in teaching, after which he attended the medical 
department of Buffalo University, from which he was graduated in May, 1892, and 
located in the village of Troupsburg, where he has established a good practice. He 
is a member of Grange Lodge No. 374, of Troupsburg Tent, No. 339, K. O. T. M , 
and McClellan Lodge, No. 649, F. & A. M. 

Shafer, Jacob, was born in Wayland, February 12, 1852, son of John Shafer, who 
was born in Germany, in 1822, emigrated to this country and settled in Wayland in 
1845, where he has since been engaged in farming. He married Barbara Nice, -who 
was born in Germany in 1832, by whom he had ten children: Jacob, born February 
12, 1852; Fred, born February 20, 1854; Lizzie, born April 1, 185fi; Mary, born Au- 
gust 15, 1858; Helen, born February 25, 1861; Kate, born April 8, 1863; George, 
born September 9, 1865; John, born October 27, 1867; Frank, born June 10, 1870; and 
Amelia, born October 11, 1877. Jacob Shafer started in life for himself by working 
at the carpenter trade, which he followed for thirteen years, as contractor and 
builder. He built three stores, school house, and one church, the Catholic church of 
Wayland. In 1886 he formed a partner.ship with Anthony Wolf, in the lumber, 
shingle, lath, brick and cement business, also run a saw mill under the firm name of 
Shafer & Wolf. He is a member of the C. M. B. A., of Wayland. In 1879 he mar- 
ried Mary Shubmehl, who was born in South Dansville, January 22, 1856. They 
have two sons: William, bom October 22, 1880, and Herman, born July 9, 1883. 

Rumsey, Adson J., was born in Delaware county, N. Y., December 15, 1847, son 
of Simeon K. and Miranda (Bogart) Rumsey, who settled in that county about 1856. 
They had ten children: Emily Davison, Charles W., Anna E. Cleveland, Frances 
H., deceased, Harriet C. Aldrich, Peter B., Adson J., George V., Edward A., and 
Sarah E. Simeon K. followed blacksmithing and farming. He was active in the 
Thurston M. E. church. Adson J. married Henrietta L., daughter of Lewis and 
Henrietta (Dean) Ha.seltine, of Cameron. Mr. Rumsey is a charter member and 
first master of Hedgesville Subordinate Grange No. 697. He has also been chaplain. 
In early life Mr. Rumsey followed lumbering, but in 1879 he commenced farming 
and now owns 100 acres of land. 

Sedam, Henry S. , was born in the town of Hornby, Steuben county, in 1833. 
Charles Sedam, his grandfather, was a native of Holland, and a pioneer settler in 
the town of Charlestown, Herkimer county, in whose honor the town was named, 
and where he spent his remaining days as a farmer, and reared four sons and one 
daughter. He was a .soldier in the Revolutionary war. Cornelius. Henry's father, 
was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1793, where his brother, Henry, owned and conducted a 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 275 

nail factory. He began work in this factory, first as grinder of the knives, and later 
as foreman, which position he held five years. In 1817 he settled in Benton Center, 
where he did farm work for three years, and then removed to the town of Hornby, 
where with two other men he purchased 300 acres of heavily timbered land for five 
dollars per acre. He cleared his portion of the land, which he tilled, and becoming 
a prosperous farmer he added sixty acres more to his farm, where he spent the bal- 
ance of his days. In politics he was a Whig, and held many of the town offices. His 
wife was Deborah, a native of Troy, N. V., and daughter of Isaiah Marble, and their 
children were Fannie, Charles, Isaiah, William, Amanda, Henry S., Phcbc, Jane, 
and Mary. He died in 1854, and his wife in 1887. Henry remamed at home until 
twenty-one years of age, and conducted the farm for a time after his father's death, 
about which time he had the misfortune of having his leg crushed in a horse power 
of a thrashing machine. He then learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed 
until 1866, when he and his brother Isaiah came to Wheeler and purchased his pres- 
ent farm of 170 acres, on nearly all of which stood a heavy forest, but which with 
energetic toil he has cleared, and now has an excellent and well equipped farm. For 
many years he was a breeder of large numbers of thoroughbred merino sheep. In 
1857 he married Irene, daughter of Peter and Polly Ostrander, and who was born in 
Post Creek, Chemung county, N. Y , and their children are Maud, wife of Sumner 
Sedam, of lona, Mich., Emma, wife of William Dildine, and Martin S. 

Hubbs, J. Seymour, was born in the town of Charleston, Montgomery countv. 
February 25, 1862, and came to this town with his parents in 1881. He was educated 
at Painted Post Academy, and at twenty-three years of age took up the study of 
medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, from which insti- 
tution he was graduated in the spring of 1887. He engaged in the practice of his 
profession one year in Hammondsport, and in 1888 traveled on the road for the Ger- 
mania Wine Cellars. In 1889, in company with Henry Frey, he purchased what is 
now the Columbia Wine Company. He is a member of the B. & P. Order of Elks, 
with the Syracuse branch. 

Taylor, Walter, was born in the Halsey Valley, Tioga county, N. Y., January 25, 
1858, the only son of George Taylor, a native of Tioga county. Walter was educated 
in the common schools, and his first occupation was with his father on the farm, and 
he also conducted a cooper snop in Tioga Center, until 1880. In April of the same 
year he removed to Urbana, where he bought a vineyard of seven acres of B. R. 
Streeter. He devoted his attention to this industry for two years, when he bought a 
farm of seventy acres of Charles Baily, and set out twenty acres to grapes. He has 
made a specialty of Delawares, and has about the largest vineyard of this variety. 
He makes still wines, which business he is prepared to increase the coming .season. 
The balance of his farm is devoted to peaches and the cultivation of grain and vege- 
tables. In 1879 he married Addie M. Chapman, of Tioga Center, by whom he had 
four children: Flora J., Lucy M., Fred C, and Clarence W. Mr. Taylor is a mem- 
ber of Pleasant Valley Grange. 

Myrtle, Rebecca — Clarence Myrtle was born in Urbana, September 20, 185^, sou 
of Henry C, a native of the town of Wheeler, and grandson of Philip, who came 
there in 1797. Henry C. married Rebecca, daughter of Ebenezer Brundage, and en- 



276 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

gaged in lumbering and farming. It was through his aid the Methodist church of 
Mitchelville was built. He died March 27, 1895, in his seventy-seventh year. 
Clarence married Olive A., daughter of Col. N. B. Stanton, of Hornby. He has suc- 
ceeded his father as one of the largest farmers in Steuben county, serving as vice- 
president of the Steuben County Agricultural Society for two vears, and ready to aid 
any enterprise intended to benefit that town. 

Goff, \V. Blake, was born in the town of Howard, May 21, 1838. Job Goff, the 
father of Blake, was a native of Otsego county, born in 1804, and was only eight 
years of age when his father. William Goff, a native of Vermont, moved to Steuben 
county, and located on a farm and was the founder of what was known as GofFs 
Mills. Job Goff conducted a farm all of his life and was engaged in lumbering. 
Many of the mills of Steuben county were erected and run by members of the Goff 
family. Job Goff died in the town of Hornellsville in 1887. Of his five children 
Blake was the second son. He was given a good comrrion school education and has 
always been engaged in farming. In 1864 he was engaged in the liverj' business and 
dealt in live stock, and was also one of the village officers. In 1865 he took up the 
Driven Well Patent-right and was the first to introduce it in Allegany county. With 
his father he patented a farm gate that was considered one of the best of the times. 
In 1864 Mr. Goff made a very important arrest m Hornellsville of an escaped convict 
by the name of Collier. He was married July 8, 1871, to Miss Sarah E. Horton, daugh- 
ter of Alfred Horton. Three of their children are Marietta, who lives at home; Amy 
Louisiannaisa student of Hornellsville Academy: and George B. is now in his fourth 
year. 

French, J. W., was born in Campbell, N. Y., September 7, 1844, son of Lewis T. 
and Nancy (Lewis) French, he born in New Jersey, and she in Dryden, N. Y., who 
came to Bath a very small boy at an early day and his father, Samuel, settled three 
and one-half miles east of Bath, and lived and died in this county. The grandfather 
of our subject, Samuel French, was a native of New Jersey, and came to Bath where 
he died. Lewis T. French, father of J. W., was a farmer and lumberman, and built 
a saw mill on Smith's Run, three and one-half miles east of Bath. In 1863 he moved 
into this town where he died in 1877, and his wife in 1866. J. W. French was reared 
on a farm and educated in the common schools. He followed lumbering in Pennsyl- 
vania and this State, and now owns 160 acres of land, on which he located in 1864, 
which he has cleared and erected good buildings. He is a Democrat in politics, and 
is now serving his second term as a.ssessor of this town. He is a member of K. of H. 
In May, 1867, he married Mary, daughter of Hugh and Jane Beaton, by whom he 
had nine children: John E., who lives in Washington, D. C, and is twenty-si.x years 
of age; Nellie R., who lives in Washington, D. C. ; Vina J., who is also in Wash- 
ington, D. C. ; Margaret E., who is now attending school at Haverling; Benjamin, 
who died in 1881; Jay W., who lives at home; Raymond B., who is also at home; 
Ernest, deceased; and Irwin D., who fives at home. 

Drew, Walter Schuyler, was born in Hammondsport, N. Y., July 3, 1868. His 
father, Benjamin F. Drew, was also a native of Hammondsport, bom February 28, 
1831. He was a student with Judge Jacob Larrowe, and was admitted to the bar, 
and practiced his profession successfully for many years at Hammondsport. He was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 277 

a Democrat in politics, and occupied some of the political offices of the town, was 
supervisor for a number of terms. He married Susan Maudeville Garey, by whom 
he had two children; Julia Edith, who died in 1879, and Walter Schuyler, as above. 
Mr. Drew died June 25, 1882. Walter S. was educated in the Hammondsport Union 
School, and at eighteen years of age entered the University of Michigan, from which 
he was graduated in June, 1890. He took up the study of law in the office of J. O. 
Sebring of Hammondsport and later with Clark Bell, of New York city, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in October. 1891. He was associated with Mr. Sebring until the 
fall of 1893, when he opened an ofKce for himself in Hammondsport, and is now en- 
gaged in the general practice of the profession at that place. Mr. Drew is chairman 
of the Democratic Town Committee and a member of the Regular Democratic County 
Organization. 

Hewlett, Emery T., was born in Cortland county, N. Y., April 1, 1829. Samuel 
Hewlett, his father, was a native of Long Island, and married Catherine Gee. He 
was a blacksmith and farmer, and died in 1876, aged seventy-five years, and his 
widow died in 1893, aged ninety-two years. E. T. Hewlett came to Bath in 1847, 
and in 1852 he married Caroline, daughter of John Moore of Savona, by whom he 
had six children; Samuel M., John M., Ambrose W., Catherine (Mrs. S. D. Aulls), 
Maggie, living, and Emery, who died in childhood. Palmer B. Hewlett, a brother 
of E. T., now of San Francisco, California, was a lieutenant in Shannon's Company 
that went to Mexico from Bath in 1846. Mr. Hewlett is an enterprising and pros- 
perous farmer, and also with his sons is conducting a flourishing furniture and under- 
taking business at Bath under the firm name of S. M. Hewlett & Co. 

Schraoker, Fred, was born in Switzerland, June 22, 1855, son of Casper and Mar- 
garet (Rychen) Schmoker, who came to America in 1881 and settled at Keuka, where 
they have their winter residence, and they also have a residence on Bluff Point, 
where they spend their summers. Casper Schmoker was a government detective in 
Switzerland, but now lives a retired life. He is sixty-nine years of age and his wife 
is sixty-seven years of age. The grandfathers, Jacob Schmoker and Peter Rychen, 
lived and died in Switzerland. In 1874. Fred Schmoker came to America and for a 
time lived in Hammondsport, and in ISHO located at Keuka, where he now resides. 
In 1885 he married Clara, daughter of William G. and Sallie (Simms) Paddock of 
Yates county, N. Y., by whom he had four children. Charley, who died at the age of 
two months, Frederick A., Karl W. , Walter A. Mr. Schmoker received his early edu- 
cation in Switzerland and also attended school at Hammondsport. He now has 
forty acres of land of which seventeen acres is vineyard. He is a member of Tent 
71, K. O. T. M., at Bath. Adolph Schmoker, born in Switzerland, came to this 
country in 1880 and settled at Keuka where he now resides and owns extensive vine- 
yard property, wine cellars and hotel. He belongs to Lamoka Lodge, No. 4(i3, F. & 
A. M., and Hammondsport Lodge, No. 584, I. O. O. F. 

Hunter, George, was born on the homestead farm, March 5, 1833, son of Peter, 
who came to Bath in 1827 from Orange county, N. Y. The family trace their descent 
from Archibal Hunter, who came from Ireland about 1750 and settled in Orange 
county, N. Y. Peter married Lucinda. daughter of .Samuel Dimmick. He was a 
farmer, and served as assessor for a time. He died in IHOO, in his sixtv-seventh 



278 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

year. In 1855 George Hunter married Catherine A., daughter of James Little, and 
they are the parents of one daughter, Mrs. Hattie Klock. 

Stanhope, John G., was born in Warwickshire, England, son of John and Char- 
lotte Edwards Stanhope, who went from Warwick to Northampton, where they spent 
most of their Hves. He was sheriff thirty-two years and then retired, residing in 
Paris, France, drawing an annuity of $2,000 per year till his death from the English 
government. John G. Stanhope, jr., married Helen L., daughter of Thomas and 
Marriam Vaughn Spencer, a native of Ludlow, Shropshire, England. Mr. and Mrs. 
Stanhope came to America and settled in Wayne in 1857 He engaged in propagat- 
ing fruit for about ten years at Keuka. To them have been born two children : 
Herbert G., a farmer of Yates county, and who married Helen Gasper and has two 
children; and Amy R., wife of W. K. Austin, builder and vineyardist, and has one 
daughter. John G. Stanhope is now engaged in growing grapes and other fruits, 
having vineyard and land of twenty acres. 

Poole, James, was born m Scotland, July 16, 1825, and came to the United States 
in 1838 with his parents, John A. and Elizabeth, who settled at Seneca Falls. James 
was educated in Scotland and Seneca county, N. Y. , to which he has added through 
life by reading and close observation, and in early life learned the malting business, 
which he has followed for fifty years. In 1849 he came to Bath and formed a part- 
nership with William Andrew, at whose death he came into possession of his estate. 
In 1866 he married Ehzabeth, daughter of Allison Scott, by whom he had three chil- 
dren: James A., Mrs. James D. Hill, and Elizabeth. Mr. Poole is one of the repre- 
sentative business men of the town, and has always taken an intelligent interest in 
educational and religious institutions. 

Frey, John J., was born in Rochester, N.Y., December 17, 1855, and came with his 
father to this town in 1864. He has been identified with his father, first as an 
assistant, in 1878 became a partner, and then one of the proprietors of the Germania 
Wine Company, of which he is now the head. In October, 1894, in company with 
A. G. Pratt, they bought the Bank of Hammondsport, of which he is now the presi- 
dent. He IS the treasurer of the Hammondsport Building and Improvement Com- 
pany, and one of the leading business men of the town, commanding the respect of 
all who know him. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

Lamont, Henry C , was born April 27, 1847. His parents were both born in Eng- 
land. His father, James Lamont, died in Rochester in 1898, aged eighty-two years. 
He purchased the farm where his son now resides about 1837. He married Eliza 
Pratt, who was born in 1813, and died May 11, 1878, by whom he had ten children: 
William, Charlotte Traxler, James P., Charles (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Thomas, 
a soldier of the civil war, who died in Anderson ville prison; Henry C, as above; 
Eliza P., Ida Bushman, and Rosa Birchara. James Lamont was a tanner by trade 
and worked in the tannery which was erected in 1835 by a Mr. Kyser. He studied 
medicine in England, and finally resumed his studies and was graduated from the 
Eclectic College of New York city, and practiced his profession until his death. 
Henry C. received a common school education, and has always followed farming. 
At Hornellsville, N. Y., August 29, 1872. he married Maggie Dernbacher, who was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 279 

born in 1854. and died May 29. 1891, by whom he had two children: Charles W,, who 
was born June 21. 1873; and Raymond J., who was born March 15, 1876. 

Fairchild, Henry ().. was born in New Lisbon, Otsego county, X. V., August 5. 
1836. His father, Charles S. Fairchild. was born in the same place and in the same 
house in 1812, a son of Benajah Fairchild, a native of Connecticut, who came to this 
State in 1797, and died in 1855, aged eighty-two years. Charles S. Fairchild died 
March 25, 1883, in Bath, where he removed in 1873. He was a farmer. Henry O. 
was the oldest of a family of four children, and was given an academic education in 
his native county. His first occupation was farming and dairying. He came to 
Hammondsport in the fall of 1858 and bought the vineyard property where he now 
lives, in 1862 erecting the residence. He has now sixty acres of vineyard and .seventy 
acres devoted to general farming, and is the largest individual grower in this section. 
The property is known as the Sunny Side vineyard and wine cellar. Mr. Fairchild 
has always been a Democrat in politics, and has held some of the minor town offices, 
and in June, 1893, was appointed postmaster of Hammondsport, which position he 
now holds. In 1859 he married Helen E. Benjamin, of New Lisbon, N.Y., by whom 
he had four daughters; Sarah M., assistant postmaster; Louisa M., wife of Thomas 
L. Henritzen, an attorney of West Virginia; Lucy S. , who lives at home; and E. 
Adelia, a graduate of Buffalo Normal School, at present a teacher of Hammondsport 
Union School. 

Northrup, Moses, was born in Sussex county, N. J., November 10, 1817, and when 
eighteen years of age came to Rathbone with his parents, where he has spent the 
most of his life. He was in Addison the last three years of his life, where he died 
June 22, 1894. He married Nancy M. Allen, a native of New Jersey, by whom he 
had five children: William J., who now lives in New York city; Adelia, wile of 
William Crawford, of Cameron Mills; Dewitt, who was born February 22, 1849, edu- 
cated in the common schools and WoodhuU Academy, and October 22, 1878, married 
Martha Crawford of Rathbone, by whom he had three children : Grace, Alta, and 
Dewitt C. He is a Democrat and has been collector two terms. He owns 100 acres 
of the old homestead; Allen, who was born November 27, 1852, educated in the 
common schools, and in 1876 married Maggie, daughter of James France, of Jasper, 
by whom he has one daughter, Mabel A. He owns 100 acres of the old homestead. 
His wife died July 3, 1894; and Moses P., who died at thirty years of age. He mar- 
ried Eva Reynolds, of Rathbone, by whom he had three children; Mary L., Jessie 
M., and Lizzie. Moses Northrup was one of the wealthiest men of Rathbone, owned 
500 acres of land, and was also prominent politically, being supervisor one vear, and 
highway commissioner two terms. His .second wife was Amy, daughter of Joseph 
Stroud, of Woodhull, N. Y.. by whom he had two children: Lizzie, wife of Henry 
I'axton, of Addison, N. Y. ; and John M. 

Sedgwick, William P., was born in Hammondsport, March 20, 1837. His father, 
Datus E. Sedgwick, was a native of Tompkins county, N. Y., and the family trace 
their descent from Robert Sedgwick, a general in the English army under Oliver 
Cromwell. Datus E. Sedgwick married Mary A., daughter of the Rev. Caleb Ken- 
dall of Ithaca, N. Y. Mr. Kendall's name was familiar in the early history of 
Western and Southern New York, he having been one of the Methodist Episcopal 



280 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

circuit riders early in the present century, riding the country on horseback and 
preaching wherever a congregation could be gathered. Datus E. Sedgwick learned 
the jeweler's business in Ithaca, N. Y., moving to Hammondsport about 1833, and 
some years later returned to Tompkins county. William P. Sedgwick was educated 
in the common schools and at Lima Seminary, and on leaving school applied himself 
to the same line of busmess as his father, and in 1857, before becoming of age, he 
came to Bath and engaged in the business of his choice, and for thirty-eight years 
has been the leading jeweler of this section of the State. In 1862 he married Fannie 
E., daughter of Conrad Shults, by whom he had four children : William P., Mrs. 
Catherine Ruggles, Charlotte and Florence. Mr. Sedgwick is one of the oldest mer- 
chants in Bath, holding the office of trustee of Bath, and member of the Board of 
Education for fifteen years, and is also a member of Steuben Lodge No. 112, and 
Bath Chapter No. 95, and nominated for member of assembly in 1887 by the Repub- 
lican party. 

Recktenwald, John, was born in Winterbach, Germany, March 3, 1853, emigrated 
to America in 1880 and settled at Perkinsville. Peter Recktenwald, his father, mar- 
ried Elizabeth Wagner, by whom he had eight children, of whom two came to this 
country, John and Jacob John Recktenwald worked on a farm for eight years, 
after which he purchased the Lackaw-ana House in Perkinsville in 1893. January 19, 
1891, he married Mrs. Mary (Simon) Gessner, born April 11, 1860, in Perkinsville. 
She had two children by Michael Gessner: Julia, born April 1, 1882; and William, 
born April 30, 1885. Mr. Gessner died in March, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Recktenwald 
have one child, Walter, born November 18, 1894. 

Beeman, Herbert, was born in La Fayette, McKean county. Pa., May 1, 1848, son 
of Albert and Harriett A. (Davis) Beeman, he a native of Connecticut, born in 1811, 
and she of Broome county, N. Y. He was a blacksmith and farmer, and came from 
Connecticut to McKean county, Pa., and bought a farm, where he died in 1880. His 
wife still lives and is seventy years of age. The grandfather, Rufus Beeman, came 
from Connecticut to Pennsylvania. He was orderly sergeant in the war of 1812. 
The maternal grandfather, Luther Davis, lived in L^nion, Broome county, and after- 
ward went to Pennsylvania, where he remained for twenty years, but returned to 
Broome county, where he died in 1886. Herbert Beeman was reared on a farm, and 
was for three years engaged in a saw mill in Pennsylvania. He now owns sixty 
acres of land, and works 100 acres in Wayne, belonging to his mother. 

Plaisted, R. Frank, was born in Jerusalem, N. Y., October 6, 1842, and is the fourth 
and only survivor of five children born to Richard and Ann Eliza (Miles) Plaisted, 
he is a native of Hertfordshire, Eng., and she of Yates county, N. Y. John Plaisted, 
father of Richard, came from England and settled in Yates county and followed 
farming. Richard Plaisted now resides at Dundee and is seventy-nine years 
of age. He has been a farmer, stock dealer and dealer in real estate, having 
owned and sold twenty-three farms. He married Elizabeth (Pinney) Witherill, 
widow of Willis Witherill. R. Frank Plaisted commenced his business career as a 
merchant at Tyrone, where he remained for five years. In 1875 he purchased 150 
acres of land in Wayne and engaged in farming. He is a dealer in wool, in part- 
nership with J. A. Stanton, and also deals in sheep. He is a Republican in politics, 



FAMILY SKETCnES. 281 

and lias been assessor for seven years, also one of the committeemen for several 
years. In 1870 he married Harriet, daughtcfr of Chauncey and Catherine (Dunham) 
Kendall, farmers and fruit growers of Starkey, by whom he had seven children; 
George C, Cora K., Ruth N , Lula B.. S. Leola, died December 17, 1894; Jennie B., 
and Kred K. 

Foster, Albert B., was born in Prattsburg, N. Y. , August 35, 1854, a son of Alonzo 
H. and Catherine M. (Simons) Foster, natives of Barringtou and Prattsburg, N. Y., 
respectively. The great-grandfather, Stephen Foster, was a native of Orange 
county, N. Y., but he died in Prattsburg, where he settled in the early days. Alonzo 
n. came to Woodhull, where he died May 8, 188!). He was assessor of Woodhull for 
two terms. His wife is a member of the Freewill Baptist church, of Borden. Al- 
bert B. Foster was reared on the farm and educated at Woodhull Academy. He is 
engaged in farming and owns a farm of ninety-eight acres. He has been inspector 
of elections for two terms and is a member of Borden Tent, No. 25!), K. O. T. M. 
In 1877 Mr. Foster married Adella Aldrich, who was born in Tuscarora, Steuben 
county, N. Y., by whom he has three children; Carrie B., Alonzo A., and Lillian M. 

Howard, George C, born in 1842, was the second son of Nathan Howard, a farmer 
of Barre, Vt., who was a typical Yankee, shrewd, and practical. He was a staunch 
Whig and Freesoiler, and was twice sent to the State Legislature where his great 
strength of character was manifest. George C.'s boyhood was spent at Barre until 
the outbreak of the Civil war, when at Lincoln's first call for men, April, 1861, he 
quickly responded to the call by enlisting as a private in Company E, 3d Regiment 
of Vermont Volunteers. After one year's service and while yet not twenty-one 
years of age, he earned a commission as lieutenant, and remained three years in this 
regiment, then received a civil aiipointment in the ([uartcrmaster's department of 
the regular army, which office he filled acceptably until A])ril, 1806. After spending 
two years in Chicago in a dry goods store he travelled for a wholesale drug house, 
which route took him all over the United States. In 1874 he accompanied a pro- 
specting party from Georgetown, traveling over the present sites of Leadville and 
Pueblo, having no conception of the future prospect and development of silver in 
that country. Mr. Howard came to Addison in 1882, and was a member of the dry 
goods firm of Jennings & Howard for two years. Since that time he has been a 
dealer in china, glass, and sporting goods, making a specialty of tea and coffee. 
He is a Democrat and a mgmber of the Board of Education. In 1878 he married 
Jennie Hutchins, of Jersey City, and they are the parents of one son: William H., 
born in 1879. 

Bander, De Witt C, was born in the town of Palatine, Montgomery county, July 
17, lyACt. His father, James Bander, was also a nattve of Montgomery county, and 
was a farmer. De Witt was educated in the common schools and Canajoharie 
Academy, and his first occupation was as a clerk in a general store at St. Johnsville, 
where he remained for five years and was then employed as a foreman and pay- 
master on the enlargement of the Eric Canal for one year. In October, 1862, he 
came to Steuben county, and his first engagement was as bookkeeper for the Bath 
Woolen Mills. The following August he came to Hammondsport and engaged as 
bookkeeper with J. W. Davis, which jjosition he held until in February, 1808, when 
)i 



282 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

he accepted a similar position with the Pleasant Valley Wine Company. He became 
a stockholder in 1871, and soon after was made a director. After the death of C. D. 
Champlin in 1875, he succeeded to the office of secretary and general manager, 
which position he still holds, and in 1885 was also made treasurer, and has probably 
done more to popularize American champagne than any man now living. In politics 
Mr. Bauder has always been a Republican, and was town clerk for three terras, and 
trustee of the village for four years. November 17, 1858, he married Susan F. Stick- 
ney, who died April .30, 1875, by whom he had three sons: George S. , a businessman 
of Illinois; Arthur D., a clerk in Champlin's store in this village; and Charles C. 
W., a student of Lehigh University, class of '96. Mr. Bauder was again married 
June 14, 1877, to Kate B., daughter of C. D. Champlin, by whom he had one child, 
James C, a student of Curtis School, Brookfield Center, Conn. 

Huguanir, David A., was born January 12, 1827. His grandfather was born at 
Kinderhook, Columbia county, N. Y. , and his father was one of the Huguenot 
French stock. He lived ar.d died in Montgomery county, N. Y., at eighty-six years 
of age. Adam Huguanir, father of David A., was born at Kinderhook, Columbia 
county, N. Y. , and came to Montgomery county, where he lived for about forty-seven 
years and followed general farming. He came to the town of Howard (now Fre- 
mont) and purchased the Brayton farm, northeast of Fremont Center, where he died 
in September, 1884, aged eighty-six \'ears. In 1826 he married a daughter of Adam 
Voorhees, who died two days after her husband, in September, 1884. They had ten 
children: David A., as above; Jane Ann, who was born November 18, 1829; Lewis 
Voorhees, who was born August 4, 1831 ; Barbara, who was born July 6, 1833 ; Maria, 
who was bom June 9, 1835; Hannah, who was born in April, 1837; Elizabeth, who 
was born in April, 1839; Leonard, who was born September 3, 1843; Pnmila, who 
■was born in June, 1844; and Charles, who was born in April, 1846. David A. Hu- 
guanir, attended school in Montgomery county, N. Y., and when twenty-two years 
of age came to Howard and engaged in farming. In 1856 he purchased the farm 
where he now lives, and now has 140 acres of land. He is a member of Grange No. 
308, Stephens Mills, N. Y. June 1, 1854, he married Ellen, daughter of Abram Van 
Evra, of Lockport, who was born in Montgomery county, N. Y. , December 31, 1833, 
by whom he had two children: Amenzo D., who was born March 9, 1856. He mar- 
ried Ella Cook, daughter of Henry Cook, of Avoca; and Adelbert, who was born 
June 13, 1859. He married Ida Jones, daughter of Seymour Jones, of Fremont, 
X. Y., and he is now assessor of the town of Fremont. 

Stephens, J. D., was born November 9, 1843. His grandfather, Joshua Stephens, 
was born in Canisteo, N. Y., and was killed by the Indians while hunting for his 
oxen, at thirty-two years of age. D. C. Stephens, father of J. D., was born in Can- 
isteo, N. Y., April 25, 1817, and has always followed farming, and now owns a farm 
of 120 acres. He is a member of the F. & A. M., at Canisteo. He married Amanda, 
daughter of John Hamilton of Howard, by whom he had five children: J. D., as 
above; Joshua B. ; Emmett L. ; Anna, who died at twenty-four years of age; and 
Henry L. J. D. Stephens was educated in the common schools, after which he en- 
gaged in the music business and was an agent on the road for about seven years, 
but farming has been his principal occupation, and he now owns a farm of 125 acres. 
He has been assessor two years, and is a member of the F. & A. M., No. 65, Can- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 2 83 

isteo, also a member of Stephens Mills Grange, No. 308. He married Sarah E. 
AUice, who was born in 1843, and died at forty years of age. He married for his 
second wife. Rose C, daughter of William White, by whom he had three children: 
Anna M., who was born March 19, 1887; Lois, who was born March 13, 1888; and 
Mary, who was born April 11, 1891, and died in infancy. 

Taylor, Thomas, was born in the town of Ossian, Wyoming county, N. Y., July 
12, 1840. His father, Thomas Taylor, sr., was a native of England and died in 1841. 
Thomas was the youngest of twelve children. He obtained his education in the 
common schools, and at the age of twelve years went to work on a farm. He worked 
as farm hand until twenty-five years of age, when he married Charity, daughter of 
John Dildane. That year he bought the John Dildane farm of seventy-five acres on 
Penn Hill where he has since made his home. Mr. Taylor is an ardent supporter of 
the Democratic party, and in 1890 was elected highway commissioner, which office 
he filled very satisfactorily. He has si.\ children: George, one of the firm of Taylor 
Brothers; John (see biog.); Anna, a dressmaker in Arkport; Myra, who is a teacher 
in the common schools; Jennie, a clerk in Taylor Brothers store, and Mary, a student. 

Young, Robard W., was born in Greene, Chenango county. N. Y., June 10, 1821, 
son of Xorthrup and Olive (Bly) Young, natives of Rhode Island, who came to Che- 
nango county, N. Y., thence to Pennsylvania, where they lived and died. The 
grandfather, Elias Young, lived and died in Rhode Island. Robard W. was edu- 
cated in the common schools. In 1832 he came to Woodhull, where he now owns 300 
acres of land. June 15, 1842. at Greene, N. Y. ,he married Polly Gould, of Coventry, 
N. Y. , a daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Salisbury) Gould, natives of Vermont. 
He died in Woodhull, and she, in Greene county, N. Y. The grandfather, Benja- 
min Gould, died in Coventry, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Young have one child, Elias, 
who married H. Christiana Putnam, by whom he had six children, who have been 
reared by our subject. Mrs. Young having died when the children were very young: 
Polly M., Ella, Helen, Robert W., Frank, and Nathan T. 

Fulkerson, Dr. William Morgan, was born in Aurora, Cayuga county, N. Y. Joseph 
H. Fulkerson, his father, was born in Cayuga county. He was a carpenter by trade, 
but followed farming most of his life. He married Elizabeth S. Fritts, a native of 
Oneonta, Otsego county, and five children brighten their home. In 1802 they moved 
to Woodhull and later, in 1880, to Ingleside, making their home with Dr. William 
M., where Mrs. Fulkerson died March 2, 1888. Dr. Fulkerson's preliminary educa- 
tion was secured at Woodhull Academy, where he became acquainted and afterward 
married his wife, to whom he is proud to say he owes very much of his success. He 
courageously battled his way through school unaided, teaching for three years, after 
which he spent four years as traveling salesman in the nursery business, taking his 
medical books with him, studying most of his spare time. He registered with R. P. 
Brown, sr. , of Addison, with whom he studied. In 1876 he married Sarah E. Hopper, 
who was horn in Prattsburg. a daughter of John and Nancy M. (Clark) Hopper, who, 
during her infancy, removed to Woodhull. The result of this union was three boys; 
Wm. Terry and Archie (;ienn,who died at the age of nineteen months; and Lynn Lyle. 
Wm. Terry and Lynn Lyleare at present students in Naples academy, where their mother 
accompanied them to assist them, she being a graduate of Genesee Wesleyan Semi- 



284 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

nary, Lima, N. Y., her former vocation having been teaching, which she began in 
her fourteenth year in Troupsburg. In 1876 the Doctor entered the University Med- 
ical College, New York city, and in 1878 came to Ingleside and began practice. In 
1880 he returned to the' University, from which institution he was graduated in 1881, 
returning to Inglside he resumed his practice which has increased so as to greatly 
exceed his fondest anticipations. Dr. William M. is also well linown in politics, and 
is now serving his fourth term as Democratic supervisor of his town. Dr. Fulkersim 
and his wife are both well known in home charities, Mrs. Fulkerson having been a 
member of the M. E. church since childhood. She delights in music, flowers and 
picturesque surroundings, has executed some good portraits and landscapes in crayon 
and oil. She is the eldest of nine children, and, her father dying early in life (1861), 
she became a self-reliant woman, educating herself. They are admirably adopted to 
each other, being very energetic and accomplishing whatever they undertake. 

Van Housen, Israel A., was born in Howard November 6, 1838. John Van Housen, 
his father, was a native of Montgomery county and came to Steuben county in 1831. 
and was identified through life as a farmer. Israel A. was educated at Franklin Acad- 
emy. Prattsburg, and Wesleyan Seminary, Lima. At the breaking out of the war he 
enhsted, October 12, 1861, in Co. E, lOlst N. Y. Vols., and took part in the battles of 
Williamsburg, Seven Pines. Fair Oaks, Seven Days' retreat, Malvern Hill, Second 
Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and many others. In the winter of 1862 
and 1863 his strong constitution gave way under the strain and exposure of active 
army life. March 14, 1863, he received an honorable discharge aud returned to his 
father's home in Prattsburg, where he remained until 1866. He then engaged with 
his brother-in-law, W. Stewart, in the grocery business in Bath, remaining two 
years, when he returned to Prattsburg and took up farming. November 17. 1809, he 
was united in marriage to Lillian M., daughter of George W. Morgan, by whom he 
had eight children, Mary W., Charles A., Austin C, George M., John H., Catherine 
S., Eloise Azalea, and Caroline C. In the spring of 1871 he engaged in the milling 
business at Savona which he followed for twenty years, when he traded his milling 
interest with E. C. Allen for the Goodsell farm in Eagle Valley, making a specialty 
of growing tobacco and sheep. 

Wager, Michael, was bom in Wurtemburg, Germany, December 6, 1842, and is a 
son of Frank Joseph Wager who came to America in 1846, and worked in Roches- 
ter, N. Y., and returned to his native country in 1849. In 1867 Michael Wager came 
to Cohocton village, where he was employed by the Erie Railroad till 1879; then he 
purchased a farm in the southwestern part of Cohocton, called Porter Hill, and has 
since followed that business. He is a member of St. Pius R. C. church of Cohocton 
and a charter member of C. M. B. A., Branch 102. He married in 1868. Margaret 
Schults, and they are the parents of seven children: Clara, Frank, George, Lizzie, 
John, Joseph and Eleonora. 

Watkins, James Edward, was born in the town of Prattsburg in 1861, son of 
Charles Watkins, who is a prosperous farmer in Pulteney. He was born in South 
Wales, England, in 1824, and is one of si.\ sons and one daughter born to George 
and Eleanor Williams Watkins. He learned the blacksmith's trade and in 1851 came 
to America. In 1867 he settled in Pulteney on his present farm of ninety-three acres. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 286 

His wife was Eliza Heden, born in Cayuga, a daughter of Absalom Heden, and their 
children are Lucy A.. Maje E., deceased, Charles W., James Edward, George G., 
Jeanette, deceased, and Victoria, Mrs. Watkins died in 1886. She was a member 
of the Methodist church, and he has been class leader in the same church over forty 
vears. James Edward was educated in the district schools and has devoted his time 
to farming. In 1S8,") he married Avis Ludencia, the youngest of six children born to 
Samuel and Julia Ann CovoU Depew of Pulteney. She is the only surviving member 
of her family. Her father was prosperous and left her three hundred acres of land. 
Her grandfather, Joseph Covell. came to Urbana from Connecticut in 1812, and set- 
tled in the northwestern part of the town on the farm now owned by his daughter, 
O. A. Covell, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was born in Thompson, 
Windham county. Conn., in 178ti. He was the son of Ebenezer and Sabrina Childs 
Covell. He had five brothers and five sisters, William, Willis, Ebenezer, Cyrus and 
Amasa, Cynthia Covell Partridge of Norwich, Betsy Covell Convas, Theodocia, 
Sabrina of Thoni])son, Conn., and Nancy Covell Rider of New York city. Joseph 
Covell was married in 1810 to Susanna Chamberlain, daughter of Harvey and Betsey 
Warren Chamberlain, and granddaughter of Dr. Peter Chamberlain of Pomfret, 
Conn., and grandniece of Genera! Warren who was killed at Bunker Hill, in 1775. 
She had five brothers and three sisters, Warren, Schuiler, Harvy, George and 
Charles; Lucinda Chamberlain Smith of Pennsylvania, Lucy Chamberlain Brewster 
and Betsey Reckord of Danielsonville, Conn. They had ten children, two of whom 
died in infancy, William H., (leorge C, Julia A., Emeline, M. D. La Fayette, Ocia 
A., George D. and Joseph E. Her grandfather, Joseph Covell, came to Urbana from 
Connecticut in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins are members of the Methodist church 
and the Y. P. S. C. E. He is a member of K. O. T. M. Hammondsport Lodge, of 
which he has been Chaplain. 

Adams, Hon. William W. . was born in Otsego county, August 14, 1843, and came 
to Cornmg with his parent in 1850. He received his education in the public schools 
of Corning. He entered the employ of the Fall Brook Railway Company in 1861, 
continuing m their service since, now filling the position of general storekeeper and 
chief motive power accountant. He is also vice-president of the Hood Furnace and 
Supply Company. He was elected maj'or in 1894, the third mayor elected under the 
city charter. He married Francis E. De Wolf, only daughter of Hiram De Wolf, an 
old resident of Steuben county. 

Lloyd, George M., was born in Rathbone, N. Y., April 6, 1853, son of George C. 
and Margaret (Selleck) Lloyd, natives of Jefferson county and Erie, Pa., respectively. 
The paternal grandfather, James Lloyd, was a native of Connecticut, removing from 
Hartford to Watertown, N. Y. George C. Lloyd came from Jefferson county to 
Cameron, where he engaged in lumbering, but soon moved to Rathbone, where he 
pursued the safne calling in connection with farming. He was one of the first set- 
tlers of the town, and owned 2.')0 acres of land, clearing a large farm in the dense 
forest, enduring many hardships and privations while engaged in clearing land, lum- 
bering and rafting lumber down the Canisteo. He was one of the leading men of 
the town up to the time of his death, which occurred May 31, 1890. He held Learly 
all of the town ottices and was supervisor for three years during the late war. Mrs. 
Lloyd still lives, aged seventy-five years. She lives with her daughter Phoebe on 



286 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

part of the old homestead. George M. was reared on the farm which he now occu- 
pies, owning 100 acres of land. In 1878 Mr. Lloyd married Lucinda, daughter of 
John and Harriet Miles, both deceased, pioneers of Rathbune. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd 
have three children ; Leroy, Archie and Edna. He and his wife are members of the 
M. E. church. 

Gee, Theodore was born in Tioga county. Pa., in 1843, son of William Gee. Upon 
the death of his father he came to Tuscarora, and was thrown upon his own re- 
sources when quite young. During the first three years of his business career he 
engaged in lumbering at Emporium, Pa., and later he carried on a thriving market 
business in Addison. Fifteen years ago he purchased a farm of 140 acres near Good- 
hue Lake, where he still resides. In 1864 he married Sarah, daughter of John B. 
Swon, and they were the parents of six children, of whom three are still living- 
Annie, wife of George W. Gray; John; and Grace. In politics Mr. Gee is a Demo- 
crat. 

Collson, J. W. . was born in Chemung county, X. V., February 20, 1832, son of 
Anthony and Eunice (Mudge) Collson, she born in Worcester, N. Y. , and he in Rut- 
land, Vt., and in 1845 came to Thurston and located on a tract of land situated one 
mile south of Merchantsville, where they died. He was a local preacher for several 
years. He had four sons and two daughters; three of his sons were in the L'nion 
army, namely: Daniel M., in the 50th Engineers, Paul, lieutenant and acting cap- 
tain in the 107th N. Y. Vols., and Ezra, a private in the 12th Artillery. J. W. Coll- 
son was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He began life as an 
insurance agent, which business he has always followed, and he has also been in the 
mercantile business in Merchantsville for about ten years. He is a Republican in 
politics, and has been justice of the peace for eight years and notary public two 
years. He is a member of Cameron Mills Lodge, F. & A. M., also a member of the 
I. O. G. T. In 1855 he married Susan Ranger, of Howard, N. Y., by whom he has 
six children: Emma C, Eunice A., Corelia L., Anthony, a conductor on the electric 
railroad in Elmira; J. M., lumber and coal dealer at Genesee, N. Y., Alva C, super- 
intendent of the House of Refuge, Randall's Island, New York, 

Wheaton, J. Henry, was born in Hornby in 1867, son of Samuel A. and Eleanor J. 
Covenhoven Wheaton ; the mother is a daughter of Henry Covenhoven, and the 
father a son of Peter S. Wheaton, representatives of the oldest families in the 
county. The mother resides in Hornby with her son; the father died in 1875; he 
twice enlisted in the war of the Rebellion and was twice honorably discharged. Mr. 
Wheaton has one brother. Grant Wheaton, younger than himself, who resides at 
Painted Post; he owns the leading meat market of the place and 103 acres of land in 
Hornby. Mr. Wheaton has 150 acres of land in Hornby and follows general farming, 
lumbering and sheep busbandry. 

Helm, Henry M., was born in Thurston, N. Y., June 15, 1840, son of John P. and 
Sallie (Dare) Helm, both natives of New Jersey, who came to Bath where they resided 
for about ten years, and in April. 1840, they came to Thurston where they died. 
Henry M. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, after which he 
engaged in farming and lumbering, which he followed for eighteen years, and now 
owns ninety-two acres of land. He is a Republican in politics, and has been com- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 287 

missioner of highways one term. In 186.5 he married Mary J. Youmans, of Bath, 
N. Y.. by whom he had three children: Nina, Leroy, and Nellie. Januarys. 1864, 
Mr. Helm enlisted in Co. E, 50th N. Y. Vol. Engineers, and served until the close of 
the war. He is a member of Knox Post, G. A. R., of Savona, N. Y., also a member 
of Savona Grange. 

Armsted, Charles H., was born in Avon, Livingston county, N. Y., June 27, 1859. 
Cyrus A. Armsted, the father of Charles, was also a native of that county, and the 
landlord of the Newman House. Charles is the only son: he wa.s educated in the 
Avon Academy, and has always been engaged in the dealing in real estate and loans. 
He came to Hornellsville in 1883 and in 1887 he opened an office in the Ossosski 
block on Main street, where he remained a few years, then haij an office in the Mc- 
Dougall block, Broad street, until 1892, when he went in jjartnership with James H. 
Clancy, esq., in the Ojiera House block where we now find him. Mr. Armsted was 
married in 1882, to Miss Carrie Burnham, daughter of Joseph I. Burnham, one of the 
pioneers of this town. They have no children. 

Chapman, James W., was born in New Ipswich, Hillsboro county. New Hampshire, 
June 17. 18;i9. He was educated in the common schools and Appleton Academv and 
his first occupation after leaving school was in the mercantile line. In December, 
1862, when twenty-three years of age, he took to railroading, starting as a fireman 
on the N. Y. & Erie R. R., at that time removing to Dunkirk, N. Y. His brother- 
in-law, Charles W. Tufte, was an engineer on this road and Mr. Chapman began 
service with him. He was promoted April, 1865, by H. D. Brooks, to the position of 
engineer, remaining as an extra at Dunkirk until 1868, when in April he was again 
promoted to night engineer dispatcher at Hornellsville, and occupied that position 
until November 1, 1871, when he was made assistant day engineer dispatcher, con- 
tinuing in that position until April 10, 1872, when he was promoted to engineer dis- 
patcher in full charge, by E. O, Hill, superintendent of motive power. Februarv 
14, 1874, he was promoted to general foreman of Hornellsville machine shop, by 
Howard Ery, superintendent of motive power, which he held until September 4, 
1874, and was then promoted to master mechanic of the Western Division, by the 
same superintendent. He was master mechanic until June 15, 1878, at which time 
he resigned and resumed the position of engine dispatcher, a duty he had performed 
while master mechanic, and has ever since continued in this position. Mr. Chapman 
has been a member fif tbe Masonic fraternity for twenty-five years. Evening Star 
Lodge. No. 44. He is a Republican in politics and served as trustee of Hornellsville 
for seven years. He is one of the trustees of the Y. M. C. A., and a member of the 
Presbyterian church. August 27, 1850, he married Harriet M. Tufte, of New Hamp- 
shire, who died in 1863, by whom he had one child, Mrs. B. I. Blackmer of Hornells- 
ville. The present Mrs. Chapman is Carrie E., daughter of Harvey Cooper of 
Hornellsville. 

Banter, John M., was born in Wheeler, Steuben county, N. Y., in 1843, oldest son 
of Marcus and Sarah (Ells) Bautcr of Wheeler. He was educated in the common 
schools, and later while yet a young man taught school for a number of terms. In 
1867 he married Mercy J. Thompson, who died in 1870, and his second wife was 
Minerva C. Shults of of Wheeler, by whom he had four children: Burdett, Marion, 



288 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Dewitt and May. He now owns and operates a fine farm of 105 acres on which he 
has erected large and commodious buildings. 

Bauter, Marcus, now of the village of Avoca, but formerly an old and prominent 
resident in Wheeler, was born in Herkimer county, in 1814, and there received a good 
education". His grandfather, Uriah Bauter, was a native of Germany, born in lT.j4. 
He, with two brothers, came to America while young men, and he and one brother 
engaged in farming, while the other brother became a blacksmith, and became 
wealthy and died a bachelor. Uriah also became prosperous and owned a large 
tract of land. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and during his absence 
from home his wife and five children were taken prisoners by the Indians and tories; 
the wife and four children were released, but the oldest son a boy of nine years, was 
taken to Canada and held for twelve j^ears, when he was escorted back to his own 
home by a tory, who was one of the capturing party, and who returned before his 
identity became known. The young man was accidentally killed at a raising soon 
after his return home. Adam Bauter, father of Marcus, was born in Montgomery- 
county, in 1779. He went to the town of Stark, N. Y., where he .spent his life at 
farming. He married Catherine Wagoner, a native of Herkimer county, by whom 
he had ten children. When twelve years of age Marcus Bauter engaged as clerk in 
a store, and in 1835 he came to Wheeler and purchased a tract of timber land, on 
which he devoted most of his time. His first twelve winters and three summers were 
spent in teaching, beginning with ten dollars per month, and with money thus earned 
he hired his land cleared of the timber, and added from time to time until he owned 
500 acres. In politics he was first a Democrat, but changed to the Republican party 
when his party endeavored to force slavery into Kansas. In early days he was school 
commissioner in Wheeler, and was later elected town superintendent of the schools 
for several years, and was commissioner of highways, inspector of election, etc. In 
1885 he retired to the village of Avoca, where he purchased a residence, but retains 
UIO acres of his farm for his own use. He married Sarah, daughter of Pittkin Eells, 
of Wheeler, by whom he had seven children: John M.. Mrs. Hannah Webb, Dewitt 
C. Mrs. Margeia Shaut, Sarah, deceased, Nettie and George W. His wife diedm 
December, 1888, and he is now an active, well-preserved old gentleman of eighty- 
one years. 

Wixson, Solomon R., was born in 1835 on the farm he now owns in Wayne, and 
which was settled when a wilderness, in 1791, by his grandparents, Solomon and 
Mary Randall Wixson ; there they lived and died. The father of Solomon R., Elijah 
Wixson, was born on the homestead December, 1800. He married Martha Hastinges 
by whom he had seven children, of whom Solomon R. is the youngest. He was a 
farmer by occupation, and died m 1878. Mrs. Wixson, died in 1878. Solomon R. 
has always resided on the homestead and carried on farming, and in 1875 he built a 
saw mill on the farm and in 1888 commenced manufacturing baskets and grape 
packages of various kinds. They also have a vineyard. In 1856 he married Matilda 
J. Conklin of Tyrone, and they are the parents of four children; Elijah, who died at 
the age of ten years; Martha, deceased; Nellie, who died in infancy; and Edgar 
M., born in 1874, who now resides at home. Mr. Wixson is a Republican, and has 
served two terms as supervisor, and a number of terms as road commissioner. 

Younglove. O. H. — Timothy Meggs Younglove was born on a farm in the town of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 289 

Urbana, March 5, 1814. The first record we have of this family was Rev. John 
Younglove, a Presbyterian minister, who came from Enjjland and settled in Suffield, 
Conn., where he died in 1690. Now follows Joseph Younglove, and his son was 
Isaiah, who was born in 1717, and when a young man emigrated to New Jersey, 
where Joseph who was the father of Cornelius, was born. Cornelius was born in 
New Jersey, in 1772, and came to Vermont, where he was occupied in stone cutting 
and farming until 1807. In June of that year he removed to Steuben county and 
settled on the farm, where his descendants now reside. He married Hannah Bart- 
lett of Sunderland, Vt., and they were the parents of eight children, of whom only 
one, Cornelius S. of California, is now living. Timothy, the fifth son, was given a 
good common school education, and at the age of nineteen years took up surveying, 
which he followed until 1889. He lived with his parents uniil their death occurred, 
when he inherited the farm which his father deeded to him while living. The father's 
business was farming in a general way with wool growing a specialty, which Timothy 
continued until grape growing became an important business, when he embarked in 
that and reduced the number of sheep until in 1882 when he disposed of the last of 
them. In 1880 he began raising tobacco. In 1859 he built the fine residence where 
he lived until his death, which occurred March 10, 1892. In politics he was a Dem- 
ocrat, and in religion, an Episcopalian, and at the time of his death was warden of 
St. James church. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity — Urbana Lodge and 
Bath Chapter. He was one of the founders of the Pleasant Valley Wine Company. 
September 29. 1839, he married Matilda Hoyt of Reading, Schuyler county, daughter 
of Oliver Hoyt, and they had three daughters and one son: Myra, who is the wife of 
L. I. Rose of Hammondsport; Ellen and Emma, twins; and OUver Hoyt. Ellen 
died in infancy, and Emma is the wife of H. R. Ain.sworth, a physician of Addison. 
Oliver Hoyt was born November 29, 1846, and is the successor to the old homestead 
and the business, which his father established. September 13, 1868, he married 
Margaret, daughter of Benjamin Myrtle, and they have three children : Belle Myrtle, 
Margaret May, and Charles Myrtle, who is a student of Cornell University, Class of 
'90. The last born, Timothy Knox, died January .5, 1895, aged eight years. Mr. 
Younglove's farm consists of 160 acres, on fifty acres of which is a grape vineyard, 
and he is also engaged in the manufacture of baskets, and the output in 1894 was 
six hundred thousand. He employs about thirty women and sixteen men during the 
season. From 1882 to 1888 he was in partnership with George H. Keeler in the 
hardware business. 

Curran, Michael C, is a native of Prattsburg, born in 1854, son of John Curran, 
a native of County Kerry, Ireland, who was born in 1827, and came to the United 
States in 1853, locating in Elmira, then moving to the town of Wheeler, Steuben 
county, and three years later to the town of Prattsburg, where he devoted his time 
to farming. His wife was Honorah Rohen of the same county in Ireland, and their 
children were Thomas, who died in Cleveland, O., when twenty-two years of age, 
Mary, Michael C, Catherine, l''Ila, Julia, Honorah, Edwin, James, Daniel and Anna, 
(lecea.sed. His wife died in 1893, and he now resides in Prattsburg with his children. 
Michael C. began working out on a farm, when but thirteen years old, which occu- 
pation he followed until 1879, when he engaged in the meat business in Prattsburg, 
and tor several years conducted the only meat market in the village doing a large 
kk 



290 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

and prosperous business. He also furnished by contract a large amount of meat for 
Sailor's and Soldier's Home at Bath. N. Y. In 1864 he sold out and the following 
two years he spent as clerk in the Park Hotel and one year in the Relyea House, 
and in 188T purchased his present site and opened a restaurant which he has run 
successfully up to the present time. He has erected a fine residence in the village, 
and owns several tenant houses. In 1886 he married Johanna, daughter of Michael 
Fl)*nn, and three children have been born to them: Loretta, Leo. and Mary Imogene, 
Mrs. Curran formerly conducted a millinery business in Auburn and Geneva and 
later opened an establishment in Prattsburg where she had a large and popular 
trade. 

Myrtle, Benjamin, was born on a farm in the town of Wheeler, December 29, 1814. 
His father, Philip Myrtle, was a nati%'e of Bucks county. Pa., and came to this county 
about 1795. They first located in Bath, coming up the river in a canoe, were six 
weeks coming from Harrisburg. They spent three years in Bath and then moved 
into what is now the town of Wheeler. He bought forty acres of land at $2.50 per 
acre, and it took him seven years to pay for it, but he increased his possessions by 
industr\- and perseverance, until at the time of his death he owned over 500 acres. 
He married Rebecca Walters, who was also a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he 
had twelve children who grew to maturity. Benjamin was the oldest son. His edu- 
cation was limited to the common schools, and he remained with his father on the 
farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he married and became an inde- 
pendent farmer of this town. He was elected supervisor of the town before he was 
thirty years of age, and re-elected to a second term. In 1857 he sold his property in 
the town of Wheeler and removed to the town of Urbana, where he engaged in the 
cultivation of grapes, but is now retired from all active business. He served six 
years as supervisor of the town of Urbana and was known as the war super\'isor, 
serving his constituents with great credit to himself and their interests. It can be 
said of Mr. Mj-rtle what cannot be said of any other resident, that he has voted at 
sixty general elections and has never missed but one town meeting. He was always 
a strong and reliable Democrat, always active from fifteen to eighty years of age. 
He was elected a number of times a delegate to the State conventions from Steuben 
county. In religion he attended and supported the Methodist church. He married 
Arabella Smith, a native of Putnam county, by whom he had three children : Van 
Buren, who died in 1888, aged forty j'ears; Margaret, wife of O. H. Vounglove of 
Hammondsport ; and Arabella, wife of Dr. Charles Stoddard, of San Bernardino, 
Cal. Mrs. Myrtle died in 1882. 

Masson, Jules, was bom in the Burgondy district of France, September 22, 1833, 
and came to this country in 1852, the place of his birth being a large wine district 
where every vine grower make his own wine, and for this reason Mr. Masson had a 
thorough knowledge of the making of wine. He located in Cincinnnati where he en- 
gaged in that business, being connected with the house of M. Werk & Son, and later 
with t)ie old house of Nicholas LongAvorlli, the oldest and first native wine house in 
the United States, and long before there was any grapes grown on the lake shores. 
California or Western New York ; he came to Hammond.sport in 1809 and purchased 
an interest in the Pleasant Valley Wine Co., in connection with his cousin, J. D. 
Masson, who was superintendent of the company, which position lie retained about 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 291 

one and one-half years after Jules came, when the latter became the superintendent 
and has held the position from 1871 until the present time. In politics he is a Re- 
publican ; he has always taken an interest in St. Gabriel church ; he was a member 
of the Board of Education for three years, also a trustee of the village for the .same 
period. November 6, 186(1. he married Catherine Reinhardt of New York, and they 
are the parents of eight children: Victor and Charles, who are both college students 
at present; Leon, a bookkeeper of the Pleasant Valley Wine Co.; Arthur, an engi- 
neer by trade, who died in 1^92, aged twenty-.seven years; Julia, a singer and musi- 
cian; Emma, a music teacher; Matilda aud Josephine, both school teachers. 

Travis, Leroy. — His grandfather Travis was born in Pennsylvania, and moved 
from there to Sparta, Livingston county, N. V. Leroy's father, James Travis, was 
born in the town of Hornellsville (now Fremont), and died at the age of forty-nine 
years. He was a farmer by occupation and owned a farm of lit) acres one mile south 
of Fremont Center. He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Leroy Travis 
received a common school education, and owns his father's farm, where he w^asborn. 
He has been town auditor and inspector for a number of years, and is a member of 
Stephen's Mill Grange, No. 308. For his first wife he married Clara Langs of Hor- 
nells%'ille, who died at the age of thirty-eight years. Five children were born to 
them: Arthur, born July 19, 1871, died March 21, 1876; Minnie, born February 9, 
1876, wife of Elah Armstrong; Byron, born September 5, 1878; George, born Sep- 
tember 15, 1882; and John, born March 29, 1884. October 1, 1885, he married 
Wealthy, daughter of Benjamin Wise, who was a soldier in the Rebellion. She was 
born June 10, 1856, and for her first husband married Don Gardner of Yates county, 
N.Y., and two children were born to them; Mary, born July 5, 1879, and James, born 
February 18, 1882. Mr. Travis is agent for the Syracuse Chilled Plow Co. 

Cruttenden, Dr. Alexis H., was born in Otsego county, N. Y. , February 22, 1822. 
His father, Lyman, was a nativeof Kinderhook, N.Y., born in 1793, son of Jeremiah 
Cruttenden, born in New Haven in 1767, who with his family in 1796 removed to 
Otsego county, as one of the first settlers of the old town of Butternuts, now known 
as Morris, where the subject of this notice was born. Lyman Cruttenden through life 
was identified as a farmer and mechanic, as was his father before him. He married 
Harriett Noble, daughter of Elnathan and Johannah Bostic Noble, a like pioneer 
from Connecticut. The family trace their descent through eight generations to 
Goodman (so called) Abram Cruttenden, the emigrant father of the Cruttenden family 
in this country, being one of the colonists (twenty-five in number as heads of families) 
who signed the famous Guilford Covenant, under the leadership of Rev. Henry 
Whitfield, from the town of Cranbrook, County of Kent, England, who purchased the 
site and settled the old town of Guilford, Conn., in 1639. Dr. A. H. Cruttenden 
graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, in 1852, and 
practiced in Brooklyn for four years. In 1856 he came to Bath and established his 
present practice of medicine, covering a period of forty years in Steuben county. 
He early took rank as a surgeon, made the first ovariotomy in the county, and serv- 
ing as pension examining surgeon twenty-eight years. In 1853 he married Julia M. 
Stephenson, by whom he had four children, two of whom are living: Frank E., a 
practicing physician in Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. Mary A. Percy of New York 
city. Mr. Cruttenden is a lover of the beautiful in nature and art, spends a large 



292 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

share of his leisure time in the culture of fruit and flowers at his home residence, and 
is one of the progressive men of his county, identified in advancing its best interests 
and in the leading events of the day. 

Walther, Fred C, was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 6, 1828, son of Fred Wal- 
ther. Fred C. came to America in 1850 and first settled at Rochester, and a year 
later settled in the southwestern part of Cohocton, where he run a saw mill for over 
twenty years. In 1858 he purchased a tract of timber lajid, which he cleared up and 
brought under cultivation, and is now one of the substantial farmers of this town. 
In 1857 he married Miss Dorothea Elflein, by whom he had ten children, namely, 
Fred, Martin, Emma, Frankie, Clara, Willie, John, Scott, Louisa, and Carl. Frankie 
and Willie died m infancy, and Martin died in 1886, a young man. Fred married 
Miss Libbie Neu of Wayland, and settled in Cohocton. Miss Clara married John R. 
Dallas, of Belvidere, III., where the}' now live. In 1859 Fred Walther, father of 
Fred C. and four brothers, George, John, Bernard and Martin, came to this countr)-, 
the father settling in Cohocton, where he died in 1854. George settled in Cohocton, 
and later in South Dansville, where he died. John served through the Civil war, 
and soon after Bernard and Martin settled in Middlesex, Yates county, where the}' 
now live. 

Tambling, Benjamin W. , was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., January 23, 
1828. The family is of English descent. His grandfather, Shepard Tambling, was 
a Revolutionary soldier, and his father, Harvey Tambling, served in the war of 1812. 
Benjamin W. settled in Cohocton in 1860 and engaged in farming, which has been 
his life work, but was for several years engaged in the drover business, and, with 
the exception of twenty-three years spent in the West, he has lived in Cohocton. In 
1864 he enlisted in Co. A, 164th N. Y. Inft., and served until the close of the war. 
He is a charter member of R. E. Harris Post, G. A. R., and is a member of Liberty 
Lodge, No. 510, F. & A M., also of Bath Chapter. He was three times married. 
His first wife was Eliza Miller, daughter of Isaac Miller, of Belvidere, 111. ; she died 
in 1858. He married second Fanny Weld, who died in 1875. His third wife was 
Mrs. Amanda Larrowe. 

Rommel, Rev. W. E., was born in Grebenstein, Hessen, Germany, March 24, 1862. 
He was educated in his 'native country and prepared for the ministry, and 
was ordained a minister of the Lutheran denomination in 1883, and .spent a 
year in Asia and Africa engaged in mission work. In 1886 he came to America 
and settled at Buffalo, where he was assistant pastor of St. Jacob's church for 
one year, and following this he was stationed at Le Roy for a few months, 
when he accepted a pastorate at Salamanca, where he remained for a year and a 
half. He then returned for a time to his native land, and upon his return was pas- 
tor of the Lutheran church at West Henrietta, N. Y., for two years, and from there 
he was called to Rochester, from where, after a pastorate of three years, he accepted 
a call from Zion Lutheran church of Cohocton, where he has since been stationed. 
In 1886 he married Mary Michel, and they have three children: Emil, Carl, and 
Mary. He published the New Ev. Lutheran Catechism, and a number of other 
books. 

Schubmehl, Nicholas, was born in St. Wendel, Prussia, June 19, 1S43, and is a son 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 293 

of Jacob and Mary Schwan Schubmehl, who came to America in 1851 and settled at 
Dansville. X. Y., where he lived until his death, which occurred March 6, 1890. He 
was a stone cutter by trade. Nicholas Schubmehl learned the cigarmaker's trade 
and in 1867 settled at VYellsville, X. Y. , where he was engaged in the manufacture of 
cigars until 1879 when he came to Cohocton and entered the employ of S. H. Leavitt, 
cigar manufacturer, and upon the formation of the T. R. Harris Cigar Company, be- 
came its superintendent and manager, continuing in that capacity until 1885, when 
he removed to Binghamton, where he engaged in manufacturing cigars until 1890. 
He then returned to Cohocton, and became superintendent of the Cohocton Cigar 
Company, Ltd., continuing in this capacity until the failure of the company in No- 
vember, 1894, when he purchased the stock of the company and engaged in the same 
business, under the firm name of the Schubmehl Cigar Company. Mr. Schubmehl 
is a member of St. Pius R. C. church and the C. M. B. A. He married Elizabeth 
Stein of Wayland, and they are the parents of nine children: Jacob H., Elizabeth, 
Mary, Henry, Rosa, Catherine, Charles, Theodore, and Edward L., all of whom are 
living. 

Danioth, George, was born on a farm in the town of Bath, November 14, 1841. 
His father, Joseph Damoth, was a resident of Tyrone previous to his coming to 
Bath, but is now a resident of Campbelltown. He is now eighty-seven years of age, 
and has followed farming all his life. He married Clarinda Austin, who was born in 
Delaware county, and died in Bradford in 1884, by whom he had seven children 
George was the oldest of the family, and received but a hniited education. From the 
time he was thirteen years of age he began to assist his father, driving the team 
while lumbering, and remained on the homestead until he was twenty-one years of 
age, when he started for himself, first working by the month, then engaged in lum- 
bering, and from that owned a threshing machine. In 1869 he bought a farm of 
1494 acres in the town of Urbana, where he has smce made his home. In 1892 he 
bought the old Ketchum farm of eighty-six acres. On the old farm he has four acres 
of vineyard and his son has fourteen acres on the same farm. Mr. Damoth is an 
ardent Democrat, and was for five years commissioner of highways of this town. 
He is a member of Pleasant Valley Grange, and has been one of its officers. March 
29, 1.H65, he married Eliza Frances, daughter of James Dildine, by wliom he had 
seven children: John F. , a vineyardist; Carrie E. ; Roy G., a farmer of this town ; M. 
Frances; Harry M. ; Emma Frederika; and Bertha E. 

Thompson, Murray, was born in Wheeler, on the homestead farm, in 1866. Daniel 
Thompson, his great-grandfather, was a native of Rensselaer county, and his last 
days were spent in the town of Wheeler. He was twice married, and by his first 
wife he had nine children. Jacob Thompson, his grandfather, was the oldest son, 
and was born in Rensselaer county in 1792. He .served for a short time in the war 
of 1812, and in 1815 came to Wheeler and settled in the forest, where he cleared a 
farm of 250 acres, and did much lumbering, manufacturing large quantities of lum- 
ber to pay the passage for himself and family from Troy to Canandaigua. He drove 
a team from the former place to Buffalo with a load of goojls, and walked back to 
Canandaigua, and came to Wheeler from there with his family. He served as 
assessor, collector and commissioner of highways for many years, and laid out many 
of the new roads through the town. His first wife was Susan Wheeler, by whom he 



294 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

had three children: William N., Elenore J., and George. His second wife was 
Hannah, davighter of Joel Raymond, a pioneer of Wheeler, by whom he had six 
children: Lydia, Calvin L. , Orville, Joel, JohnW., and Catherine. He died in 1868, 
and his wife in 1873. Orville, father of Murray, was born in the town of Wheeler in 
1830, where he spent his whole life. He began for himself when a young man as day 
worker at various occupations, later purchased the homestead, and for twenty-five 
years conducted a threshing machine. He served as collector and commissioner of 
highways, and was often chosen as juryman. His first wife was Laura, daughter of 
Hiram Rose of Wheeler, by whom he had one son, Murray. His wife died in 1870, 
and his second wife was Alvina Strong. He married for his third wife Eliza Brewer 
of Wheeler, who survives him and still resides on the farm. He died in April, 1895. 
Murray Thompson, when twenty-one years of age, bought of his father 100 acres of 
the farm, but has continued residing with his parents up to the present time and 
assumes full charge of both farms, and is an extensive and successful potato grower. 

Zimmerman Bros. — The firm of Zimmerman Brothers, the leading business house 
of Bradford, consists of John C. and H. P. Zimmerman, both natives of Bradford, 
the former born June 29, 1850, and the latter August 24, 1854. They are sons of 
Jacob and Catherine Hedges Zimmerman, and grandsons of John Zimmerman, a 
native of Austria, who is mentioned elsewhere. November 28. 1880, John C. mar- 
ried Alma Read, stepdaughter of Rev. George Shearer. Her father, Joseph Read, 
died in the Civil war. He commenced business as a clerk when about sixteen years 
of age in Bradford, and also clerked for a number of years in Bath. In May, 1882, 
he and his brother, H. P., established the firm, as above, and in 1886 took their 
brother, Mortimer W. Zimmerman, in company with them, who died Octobers. 1891, 
leaving a wife and two sons, John and Austin. In 1893 they erected a two-story 
building 30x80 feet, which they now occupy. They carry a complete line of general 
merchandise and agricultural implements, and conduct a large business. In 1869 
H. P. Zimmerman married Annie M. Givens, daughter of James H. Givens of Brad- 
ford, and they have two childi'en: George, born May 18, 1881; and Harvey, born 
March 17, 1889. He was educated in Bradford and followed farming until he went 
into business with his brother. The Messrs. Zimmerman are Democrats and have 
had the post-office during Cleveland's administration. 

Gray, William S., was born in the town of Palatine, Montgomery county. May 5, 
1856, son of Ambrose Gray, a native of the same county, who came to Steuben 
in 1860 and settled in Avoca. He married Catherine, daughter of Lewis Rickard, 
and they were the parents of nine children: Alpha R., Archibald, Charles A., Will- 
iam S., Mrs. Caroline Lyke, Mrs. Nancy E. Clemens, Mrs. Ann J. Ileinaman, Mrs. 
Mary E. Shults, and Mrs. Kate Lee. He died in 1882, in his sixty-first year. Will- 
iam was educated in the common schools and in 1880 married Ida, daughter of 
of James Francis. In 1884 he came to Kanona and established his present business, 
as dealer in fresh and salted meats. Mr. Gray served as deputy for six years. 

Adair, W. E. — The first of the Adair family to settle in Steuben county was John 
Adair, who was born in Ireland, April 19, 1828, .son of William Adair, and came 
to America about 1844 and settled in Cohocton. He was a carpenter and wagon- 
maker by trade, at which he worked until his death in 1883. In 1861 he enlisted in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 2r5 

Co. I, lfi4th New York Infantry a.s private, and was promoted first lieutenant. In 
politics he was a Republican. He was a member and trustee, also local preacher 
of the Methodist church, and was a strong temperance man. He was a charter 
member of Liberty Lodge Xo. 510, F. & A. M. Mr. Adair married Catherine De 
Revere of Westchester county, N. Y., and they were the parents of three children; 
John, William E., and Emma V., now Mrs. F. A. Tobias, all of Cohocton. William 
E. was born in Cohocton, January 13, 1800. After completing his schooling he was 
employed in the Cohocton Times office for several years. Having early manifested 
a taste for music, in 1830 he went to Xew York city and entered the Conservatory, 
and after a course of study there he returned to Cohocton, where he has since been 
engaged in teaching music, and in the sale of musical instruments. He has com- 
posed and arranged considerable music for piano, bands, etc. In 1888 he, with 
others, engaged in the milling business, and in 1894 he became sole owner and pro- 
prietor of the Model Roller Mills at Cohocton, and was an extensive manufacturer of 
buckwheat flour, etc., selling out in July, 1895. He is an active member of the 
Republican party, was elected town clerk in 1883, and was president of the village 
two terms, in 1894-96. He is a member of Liberty Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M., and 
has been a member ol the Cohocton Band since 18T(i, and for the greater part of the 
time leader of Adair's Band, a well-known amateur organization, which has filled 
engagements all over Central and Western New York. 

Lawrence, Mrs. May. — George Lawrence was born in Livingston county, N. Y. , 
April 13, 1838, a son of John and Maria Lawrence, he a native of Onondaga county, 
N. Y. George Lawrence was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools 
and Lima .Seminary. He was a farmer by occupation and in 1860 came to Wood- 
hull, first living three miles from the village, then in Hedgesville, coming to the farm 
he occupied at his death in 1883. Mr. Lawrence's first wife was Annette Lyon, bv 
whom he had one son, E. Henry, now of Binghamton, N. Y, a bookkeeper for the 
W. P. Holbert Lumber Company, also having an interest in the company. Mr. 
Lawrence afterward married May Z. Chatfield, a native of Sodus Point, Wayne 
county, N. Y., by whom he had three children; Josephine, Loren and ^lary. Mr. 
Chatfield wa.s from England, and Mrs. Chatfield from Pulteney, Steuben county. 
Ezra Chatfield was a Baptist minister in his early days. He died in Jasper, N. Y. , 
January T, 1882, and his wife died in October, 1887. 

Barnard, G. F. — The late George A. Barnard was born in the town of Corning, 
February '21, 1837. He was a son of Frederick Barnard, who came from Otsego 
county, in October, 1832, locating in the town of Corning, just across the line from 
Caton. Frederick Barnard was born in Milford, Otsego county, in 1802, and married 
Lucy Wilcox, a native of Canaan, Litchfield county. Conn., in 1824. He kept a 
country store at Jacksonville, Otsego county, before removing to Corning. He was 
ihe father of .seven children, viz. ; Mary, ICdwin W., Charles D., Mcli.ssa A., Gershom 
W. , (Jeorgc A., and ICgbert I'. George A. was raised on the old homestead, and in 
18,59 was married to Mary Westcott, who was born at Oxford, Chenango county, in 
1834. She was a daughter of George Westcott, a native of Windham county. Conn., 
who removed from Chenango county to Caton about 1838. In 1862 Mr. Barnard 
located on the farm where he lived until his death, and where Mrs. Barnard still re- 
sides. He was a prominent and infiuential fanner and lumbcrnuiu. He died in 



296 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1886, leaving four children : Dora, George F. , Guv, and Alfie, a son, Delos W. , having 
died in 1804, and a daughter, Edna L., in 1876. They have eighty-seven acres of the 

home place, and follcnv general farming. 

Longwell, David, was born on the old homestead farm in the town of Urbana, 
August 14. 1882. James Longwell, his father, was born in the town of Cannel. Put- 
nam county, N. J., and was one of the first settlers of this town, settling on North 
Hill, near Hammondsport, where he remained a few years, when he located on the 
third division of district No. 6, where he owned over 300 acres at the time of his 
death. He married Sarah Carver, a descendant of Judge Carver, of Massachusetts, 
by whom he had thirteen children, five of whom are now living. Mr. Longwell died 
April 10, 1871, and his wife January 18, 1840. David was the youngest son and was 
educated in the common schools and Starkey Semmary, and made his home with his 
parents until he was twenty-five years of age, when he took 110 acres of the home- 
stead farm, erected a residence, and set out seven acres of vineyard. He also has a 
farm of fifty-four acres, a part of the John Brundage estate. Mr. Longwell is an 
ardent Democrat in politics, and was for six consecutive years highway commis- 
sioner, and is now serving his third year as magistrate. He has also frequently 
been delegate to the district convention. In 1856 he married Mary E. , daughter of 
George S. Brundage, by whom he had four children : Florence, wife of William B. 
Townsend, a grape grower and box manufacturer of Yates county; Theron B., who 
lives on an adjoining farm; Lizzie, who lives at home; and Mariah. who died at the 
age of eighteen months. 

Colvin, E. & D., dealers in general merchandise, with a building 28 by 80 feet and 
freight house 24 by 54. They began business in 1870 with a capital of §217, but are 
now and have been for several years the leading firm in Woodhull. The firm is 
composed of Emmett and Delancy Colvin, sons of Stephen Colvin, whose father was 
Caleb Colvin, who came to Woodhull in 1804. He afterwards removed to Knoxville. 
Pa., where he died. Stephen kept a hotel at Knoxville for a number of years, but in 
1847 removed to Woodhull, wjiere he died in 1872. His wife, who was Roxana Mad- 
ison, died the same j-ear. She was for years a member of the M. E. church. Emmett 
Colvin was born July 14, 1845, in Knoxville, Pa., and was educated in Troupsburg 
Academy. April 13, 1872, he married Ladora Spencer, of Chenango county, by 
whom he had three children: Merton, aged twenty; Clarence, aged sixteen; and 
Leonard deceased. Delancy was born in Woodhull, April 14, 1847, and was edu- 
cated in the common and select schools of Woodhull. He married Marj' Brooks, 
formerly of Hornellsville, by whom he had seven children: Park D., aged twenty- 
seven; William R., aged twenty-four; Carrie, aged twenty; Minnie, deceased; 
Archie, deceased; Nelson, who died in infancy; and Florence, aged eight j-ears. 
Emmett and Delancy have been in partnership for thirty years and have never kept 
any books between them, each taking for his family what he desired. They first 
bought a farm of sixty-five acres and paid for it by working by the month and with 
what Emmett made in one year in the oil regions at Pilhole Oil Fields, Pa., and also 
working the farm. They afterwards engaged in the mercantile business, in which 
they have been very successful, owning their buildings and a large stock of goods. 
They are both members of Restoration Lodge, No. 777, F. & A. M., Emmett being 
a charter member. Delancy has been supervisor of Woodhull two years, deputy 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 297 

sheriff and constable, and president of the Hoard of Education, which position he 
now holds. 

Bailey, Adsit, life long resident of the town of I'rbana, was born January H, 
1S42. He is a son of the late David Bailey, who with his parents came from the 
Seneca Lake region to the town of LTrbanain 1808. The present home of Mr. Bailey 
is on the same premises owned and occupied by David Bailey in the early part of 
the century, and has been in continuous possession of the Bailey family. The farm 
consisted of over 200 acres, its location is on the west side of Lake Keuka, about two 
miles from Hammondsport. In 1886 Mr. Bailey erected one of the most beautiful 
residences on that side of the lake. His maternal grandfather was Amos Stone, a 
Revolutionary soldier, who came to the town in 17!W and was one of the first white 
settlers. Adsit Bailey received a common .school and academic education. March 
9, 1872, he married Edna, daughter of Peter Depew. They have two adopted 
daughters, Fannie and Geneva Bailey. In 1862 Mr. Bailey became interested in 
grape culture and set thirty acres of the farm to grapes. In 1886 the grape industrj- 
gave place to more general farming. He is now making a specialty of sheep raising, 
having 160 head of fine Merinos of the Standard Delaine breed. Success has crowned 
the enterprises in which he has engaged. He has held offices of trust and responsi- 
bility at various tmies. He has been commissioner of highways, assessor, and was 
the representative of his town on the Board of Supervisors for five successive terms, 
from 1881 to 1886 inclusive, being chairman of the board in 1885. At the building of 
the county jail he was one of the building committee. In politics Mr. Bailey has 
always been a Republican. 

Casson, Mordecai, was born in Otsego county, N. V.. August 37, 1839, son of 
Mordecai and Sarah Strongitharm Cas.son, he a native of Thorne, Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, born in October, 1802, and she of Butternuts, Otsego county, N.Y. The grand- 
father of the subject was Mordecai, who was a native of Thorne, Yorkshire, England, 
and a minister among the Friends, and his father was Mordecai, also a native of York. 
The family were of Welsh descent, and several generations lived in Yorkshire. Mor- 
decai, the father of our subject, came to Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1832, and 
then removed to Otsego county, and in 1854 came to Tuscarora, where he died May 
2, 1882. Mrs. Casson died in October, 1878. He was a farmer and owned 300 acres 
of land. He was always a member of the Friends. Mordecai was fourteen years 
old when his parents came to Steuben county, N. Y., where he has since resided. 
July 21. 1863, he enlisted in Co. G, 2d New York Volunteer Cavalry, under Captain 
Sanford, and served until October 8, 1865. He was in the Red River Expedition 
with Banks, and was in a battle near Alexander, Pleasant Hill, La., Cane River 
Crossing, Grandecore, and was engaged in the Mississippi raid under General David- 
son, which started from Baton Rouge, La , and terminated at Pascagoula Bay, Miss. 
In the spring of 1865 he was in the expedition against Mobile from Pensacola, Fla. 
At the close of the war Mr. Casson returned to Tuscarora and he and his brother 
William took up 160 acres of land, and in 1882 the latter sold his share to Mordecai- 
In 1880 Mr. Casson and his brother John engaged in the lumber business, and at the 
present time they own 410 acres, and are also in the lumber business. Mr. Casson is 
a Re]>ub1ican and in 1875 was supervisor. He was educated at Price's Academy and 
Alfred University, and taught school several years. May 2, 1883. he married Helen 
II 



298 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

Griswold of Southport, Chemung county. Her father was James Griswold, who 
married Cynthia Tozer, and Mr. Griswold was buried on his ninety-first birthday. 
He was a member of the State militia, and was justice of the peace for fifty years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Casson are the parents of two children: James G. and Mordecai. Mr. 
Casson is a breeder of registered Shropshire sheep. 

Adams, Asa, was born in the town of Boston, Erie county, N. Y., February 6, 
1815, and is a son of Aaron, whose father, Aaron Adams, sr., was a native of Ver- 
mont and one of the first settlers of Utica, N. Y., and was captain of a company in 
the Revolutionary war. Aaron Adams, jr., came from Vermont in 1808 and settled 
in Erie county, N. Y. He served in the war of 1812. He married Sylvia Cary. Asa 
Adams attended the common schools and in 1841 entered the Western Reserve Col- 
lege at Hudson, Ohio, where he spent his freshman and sophomore years, and then 
entered Union College at Schenectady, N. Y., graduating in 1843. The following 
year he entered the Auburn Theological Seminary, from which he was graduated in 
1847. He was licensed by the Presbytery and was called to Cohocton, where he was 
pastor of the Presbyterian church for three years, during which period he read law 
with C. J. McDowell of Cohocton, and in 1850 was admitted to the bar. In 1851 he 
removed to North Cohocton and began the practice of law, and in 1869 he settled at 
Bloods (now Atlanta), and engaged in the mercantile trade, selling out in 1876, and 
engaged in the drug business for about eight years, and then retired. He has been 
largely interested m real estate, and has erected many buildings in Atlanta and 
North Cohocton. He is a Republican, and was appointed postmaster at North Co- 
hocton in 1853 under President Pierce, which office he held until 1871, when through 
his efforts the post-office at Bloods was established, and he was appointed postmaster 
there, holding that office until 1875. Under the old school system he was town 
superintendent several years ago. He was elected justice of the peace in 1858, and 
held that office for twenty years, and was one of the charter members of Liberty 
Lodge, No. 510, F. & A. M., and the I. O. O. F. In 1814 he married Margaret 
Lindsley, who died in 1850. In 1851 he married Mary Raymond, and they are the 
parents of three children: Lindsley; Maria (Mrs. George Fowler) of Cohocton; and 
Luella (Mrs. Arthur Symonds) of Curtis, N. Y. 

Halsey, Charles R., was born in the town of Ulysses, Tompkins county, March 23, 
1817, the second son of a family of ten (seven sons, three daughters) children of Isaac 
Halsey, a farmer. Charles E. was educated in the common schools and made his 
home on the farm with his father until 1844, when he removed to Bath, Steuben 
county, and after spending one year in the hotel business, he entered the employ of 
D. H. Davis, where he remained one year. He was then one year in Prattsburg, 
and in 1847 located in Hammondsport and entered the employ of Delos Rose, where 
he remained for five years, later was in Carolina, and then spent twelve years with 
McGee in charge of the mercantile department at the mmes in Fall Brook. In Octo. 
ber, 1876, he returned to Hammondsjjort and established a grocery and provision 
store, which he conducted until 18!)5, when he sold, and is now living retired in the 
village of Hammondsport. Mr. Halsey has always been a warm supporter of the 
Democrat party, and has twice been president of the village, also for one term was 
town clerk-. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for over forty years, 
with Urbana Lodge, No. 469, and a member of St. Omer's Commandery. May 6, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. -'99 

1847, he married Mary Elizabeth Wheaton, a native of Geneva, then a resident of 
Prattsburg, by whom he had two children: Minnie, who died December 1."), 1862, 
aged five years; and William \V., manager of the Western New York Car Associa- 
tion now located at Buffalo. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Association of 
Railway Superintendents. 

.Smith, Edwin F.. was born in Woodhull, November 28, 1835, son of Col. Jeffery 
and Mary A. (Farwell) Smith. Jeffery came to Woodhull with his parents, Caleb 
and Hannah (Drake) Smith, in 1806. In 1861 Edwin enlisted m Co. E, 34th N. V. 
Vols. Inft., served eighteen months and was honorably discharged for general dis- 
ability, caused by sun-stroke, which in the end caused his death. He was in thirteen 
prominent engagements; Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Seven Days retreat before Rich- 
mond, Malvern Hill, etc. ; he was promoted from second to first lieutenant in the fall 
of 1861. In 1863 was united in marriage to Elizabeth Alcott, daughter of Aca and 
Clarissa (Owen) Alcott. natives of Otsego and Chenango counties, N. Y. Mr. Alcott 
died in Hornby December 2, 1843, and his wife m Corning in 1886. There were born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Edwin F. Smith four children; Walter A., born May 20, 186.5; Ar- 
thur F., born June 29, 1870; Mabel C, born May 6, 1873; Edwin F., born August 15, 
1878. Mr. Smith died October 12, 1894, after an illness of five years. He was con- 
fined to his bed the whole time during his illness of that period. 

Dunning, Marcus E., was born in Allegany county, town of Almond, August 2, 
18,50. S. L. Dunning, his father, was a native of Tompkins county and moved to 
Allegany county when a young man, where he followed farming until 1861, when he 
removed to Hornellsville, where he conducted a hotel. He now lives retired, aged 
sixty-eight years. Marcus was educated in the city schools, then engaged as a clerk 
in a clothing store In 1871 he engaged as clerk in the insurance office of J. B. 
Mandeville, with whom he remained four j-ears. He was then for a short time with 
F. M. Crookita, after which he spent seven years in the office of Coye & Young. In 
1883 he entered into partnership with George Holland, which partnership existed 
until December, 1891, when Mr. Dunning bought out the interest of Mr. Holland and 
IS now conducting the business alone. He represents .some of the best foreign and 
American fire insurance companies, also a representative of life, accident, and all 
classes of insurance. Mr. Dunning has held the office of town collector in Hornells- 
ville. He is financier of the A. O. U. W., an office he has held for eleven years. He 
is steward of the Methodist church. In August, 1873, he married Maggie, daughter 
of C. F. Fairbanks, of Hornellsville. They have five children: Jessie, Herbert, Grace, 
Walter and Margery. 

Kellogg, Silas, was born in Grove, Allegany county, N. Y. , December 8, 1844, only 
son of James H. and Sarah (Wilson) Kellogg, he is a native of Geneseo, Livingston 
county, N. Y., and she of Rupert, Vt. The paternal grandparents. Whiting and 
Lorinda (Burr) Kellogg, came from Connecticut to Geneseo, afterwards settling at 
Grove, where he died in 1851. Mrs. Kellogg then lived at Greenwood with her son 
JamesH.,anddiedat I'ortageville, N. Y.,inl864. The great-grandfather, Eleazer, was 
a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandparents were Otis and Alice 
(Anderson) Wilson of Vermont. James H. Kellogg Jearned the miller's trade when 
young, and was partner of R. S. Davis in a mill at Rough and Ready. Mrs. Kellogg 



300 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

died in 1861, and Mr. Kellogg in January, 1892. He was a member of Sentinel 
Lodge, No. 151, F. & A. M. Silas Kellogg was educated at Alfred University, stud- 
ied law with Allen Burrell, esq., and was for a while in the office of Judge Robinson 
of Canisteo. He has been principally engaged in speculating and looking after his 
landed interests, owning about 600 acres which he rents. In June, 1894, he opened 
a law office in Greenwood. In 1864 he married Gertrude, daughter of Redmond S.. 
and Jane (Porter) Davis, of Greenwood. R. S. Davis was a descendant- of Samuel 
D. , who settled in Massachusetts about 1642. His father, Levis Davis, was born at 
Oxford, January 8, 1782, and was one of the first settlers of Greenwood. The father 
of Levis Davis, was a captam in the Revolutionary war, and was at the battle of 
Lexington. Mrs. Silas Kellogg died in 1865. In 1868 Silas married for his second 
wife, Lizzie, a sister of his former wife, by whom he has had nine children ; William 
G., born February 4, 1870, a graduate of Cornell University, Sarah W., and Grace 
D., students at Oswego; James H.. Bertha J., George D., Clara Louisa, Gertrude 
and ilabel, bom November 24, 1888. Mr. Kellogg enlisted in Company B, 86th 
N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged February, 1863. He was detailed on 
provost duty at city of Washington, and is a member of William C. White Post, No. 
73, G. A. R. 

Jackson, William W., was born in the town of Avoca, April 23, 1835. His father, 
Joseph Jackson, came from the town of Seneca, Ontario county, about tlie year 1820, 
where he became a prosperous farmer : he was a native of Cranbrook, England, and 
came to America in the year 1799 with his father, William J. Jackson, who settled in 
Ontario county, N. Y. Joseph Jackson was a member and one of the founders of the 
Lyons Hollow Baptist church. He married Annis Holcomb, by whom he had seven 
children, all of whom lived to maturity; the first death occurred in the family when 
the youngest was fifty years of age. Alice, who married Rouse Hubbard and settled 
in the town of Prattsburg and later at Livonia, N. Y. ; Margaret, who married Albert 
H. Hubbard, and settled at Galesburg, Mich. ; Catherine, who married William Ber- 
ner, and settled at Oxford Junction, Iowa; Ebenezer L. Jackson married Mary 
Ketch and settled in Battle Creek, Mich. ; Hiram A. Jackson, who married Safronia 
Hatch; and George C Jackson, who married Alice Lillie, who also settled in Oxford 
Junction, Iowa. William W. Jackson on arriving at manhood settled in the town of 
Cohocton where, with the exception of one year spent in the west, he has since lived, 
being one of the successful farmers of the town. In 1888 he settled in the village of 
Cohocton. He is a strong Democrat and takes an active part in party affairs. He 
was assessor for nine j-ears, being elected to that office for three terms of three years 
each, and in 1890 was elected justice of the peace. In 1860 he married Nancy Ferris, 
by whom he had four children: Frank E. married Lottie Stanton; William F., mar- 
ried Mar}' Fairbrothers ; Annis J. married John E. Miller; and Cora B. married 
Lewis Northrup, all being-successful farmers and residing in the town of Cohocton, 
N. Y. 

Layton, Abram, was born on the homestead farm, November 18, 1838, the second 
son of Isaac and Maria (Retan) Layton. Abram was given a good education and 
made his home with his father until thirty-three years of age, remaining at home 
and working for his father until 1870, when he bought a farm of 148 acres of his 
father on lot 12, in the town of Urbana, where he has since made his home. Since 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 301 

cominjj here Mr. Layton has made many valuable improvements to the property, in 
1891 building one of the most .beautiful residences of this section. He has devoted 
his life to the farming industry, and while a staunch Republican in politics, we would 
record him as a plain, honest, upright farmer, rather than a politician. The princi- 
pal products are grain, hay and wool, never keeping less than 100 .sheep. In 1870 he 
married Amanda, daughter of Samuel Drew, and they have one adopted daughter, 
Mabel lone Layton. 

Gleason. Ezra, was born in the town of Luzerne, Warren county. June II, 18:53. 
His father, David Gleason, was a native of this State, and also a farmer. He died 
April 8. 1836. Ezra was given a common school education, and remained at the 
homestead farm with his mother until he was fourteen years of age, when he started 
for himself and came to Steuben county m 1848. He was employed in a saw mill 
in Campbelltown and Thurston for about eight years, and was then engaged in 
farming and lumbering until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. G, of the 107th Regt. 
N. Y. Vols., as lieutenant of the company, and served until the battle of Antietam, 
when he was wounded in both legs by a shell. He was discharged November 20, of 
the same year. He returned to Thurston and spent three years in lumbering, when 
he located near Watkins, Schuyler county, and bought a farm which he conducted 
fourteen years. April 1, 1878, he bought the Chapman farm of 315 acres, in the 
town of Urbana, where he still resides. Mr. Gleason was formerly a Democrat, but 
is now a warm supporter of Republican principles. He was for three years superin- 
tendent of the poor, elected on the Democratic ticket by over 800 majority. He has 
also held some of the minor offices of the town. He is one of the directors of the 
Erie & Niagara Land Company, which position he has held since its organization. 
In 1857 he married Sarah T., daughter of II. P. Clark, of Thurston, by whom he had 
six children: Ezra C, vineyardist of this town; Carrie E., who resides at home; 
Eber F., a farmer and vineyardist of this town ; Agnes M., who is a teacher, a grad- 
uate of Haverling Academy; Kate, also a graduate of class of '95; and Donald, a 
student at Haverling Academy. Mr. Gleason is a member of l^rbana Lodge, No. 
459, and Cohocton Chapter, R. A. M. 

Duck, Rev. Thomas, M.A., was born in Somerset-sbire, England, September 4, 
1851, and came with his parents to this country in 1854, locating in Cayuga county, 
N. Y., where his father, John Duck, afterwards conducted a farm. Thomas was 
educated at Cayuga Lake Academy at Aurora, and entered Hobart College on his 
twenty-second birthday, graduating in 1878. From February, 1876, to June, '77, he 
was a teacher in St. John's Military Academy at Manliu.s. He entered college with 
the intention of studying for the ministry and he at once began missionary work at 
Willowdale in Seneca county. During the latter half of his senior year he carried 
on work at Dresden in Yates county as a lay reader, and continued there until 1879. 
(luring which year he taught school at May's Mills. September 10, 1879, he entered the 
General Theological Seminary at New York, and June 12, 1881, he was ordained dea- 
con by Bishop Seymour in St. Matthew's church, Jersey City. He spent one year as min- 
ister in charge of the church of St. John the Evangelist, near Thiells, Rockland county, 
N. Y. May 25, 1882, he was graduated from the seminary, and June 4, 1882. was 
ordained to the priesthood by Hishoj) Horatio Potter, D. D. He determined to take 
up work in Colorado. June 15, 1882. he married Clara Mabel Badger of Penn Yan, 



302 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and June 28 he passed through Hammondsport on his way to his western home. 
He located in Gunnison, Col., where he was rector of the Church of the Good Samar- 
itan a little more than two years, during which time he founded missions at Salida, 
Crested Butte, and Aspen, removing to the latter place in September, 1884, where 
he remained one year. In September, 1885, he returned to Havana, Schuyler 
county, founding the mission at St. Mark's at Millport, Januarys, 1886. January 15, 
1887, he became assistant to the Rev. Charles H. Smith of Buffalo, with a special 
field at St. Thomas parish and St. Matthew's mission. In October, 1889, he accepted 
a call from Bishop Huntington to locate at Horseheads, having charge also of Mill- 
port and Big Flats, and remained there until May 1, 1892, when he resigned. In 
June, 1892, he became rector of St. James church, Hammondsport. From June till 
December, 1893, he held mission services at North Urbana. and in May, 1893, he 
took charge of St. John's church, 'Wayne, continuing till the fall of 1894, making 
meantime many improvements to the property. In F'ebruary, 1895, he began hold- 
ing services at Grange Hall, Pleasant Valley. He thoroughly enjoys missionary 
work, and for two and one-half years while at Horseheads, was secretary of the Si.xth 
Missionary District of Central New York. Mr. Duck is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, belonging to Urbana Lodge, No. 459, of Hammondsport and of Bath, 
Chapter No. 95, R. A. M. He is also a member of the Royal Templars of Temper- 
ance, and was presiding ofhcer of his council in Buffalo, and Grand Chaplain of the 
State two years. Mr. and Mrs. Duck are the parents of three daughters: Leila, 
Bertha, and Dora. 

Ketch, Cyrus, was born in the the west part of the town of Prattsburg, June 25, 
1831, son of Hiram Ketch, who was a native of Vermont, and served as fife majfir in 
the War of 1813. He came from Vermont in 1818 and settled first at Italy, Yates 
county, N. Y., and the following year came to Steuben county and settled on Lent 
Hill, where, beginning empty handed, by his industry and frugal habits he acquired 
a competence. He was one of the founders of the Lent Hill M. E. church, and was 
for many years one of the trustees. Later in life he became a 'Wcsleyan Methodist. 
He married Sally Peck, who died in 1892. by whom he had seven children: Harriet, 
wife of Joseph Billison ; Aurelia, wife of Benjamin D. Wells; Cyrus; Lewis A., who 
married Caroline Phillips, 'and settled in Naples, where he was a farmer and carpen- 
ter, and where he died; Nancy J., who married Ebenezer Keeler, and settled in 
Avoca; Fanny L., who married Augustus Weld, and settled in Prattsburg; and 
Eleanor L., who married George A. Pox, and settled in Avoca. Mr. Ketch died in 
1875. Cyrus Ketch settled on the homestead, where he has always lived, and is one 
of the prosperous farmers of his town. In 1864 he enlisted in Company A, 1st N. Y. 
Dragoons, and served until the close of the war. He married Mary Van Housen, by 
whom he had seven children: Stephen H., who enlisted in 18''2 in the 148th N Y. 
Vols., and died in the service in 1863; l^ouisa J., who died in 1867; Marcia L., who 
died in 1852; Buell. who died in 1851 ; Margaret E.. who died in 1854; Julia E. (Mrs. 
Haskell Wilkinson); Hiram, who married Ada Lyke and settled in Howard. For his 
second wife he married Rosanna Wilkinson, by whom he had three children : Burton 
E. , who married Emma Hatch and settled in Cohocton ; Mary (Mrs. Seth Keeler); 
and Cyrus J., who married Ella Lake, and settled in Cohocton. 

Fritz, Clark C. and Alice C. Fritz were born August 11, 1870, and October 5, 1852, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 303 

respectively. Their grandfather, George Fritz, was born in Columbia county, Pa., 
September 4, 1793, and settled on the place now occupied by G. \V. Fritz, in 1826. 
Me married Catherine Kile, who was born at the same place, by whom he had ten 
children. Wesley Fritz, father of Clark and Alice, was the eldest son, and was born 
in Columbia county. Pa., Sugar Loaf townshij), March 6, 1819, and died April 11, 
1889. He owned 175 acres of land situated at Doty's Corners. He was a man of 
retiring diposition, honest and upright, and was known as one of the model farmers 
of Dansville. June 20, 18.51, he married Jane E. Clark, who was born March 0, 
1828 and died Xovember 14, 1880, by whom he had four children: Alice C, as 
above; George T., who was born January 11, 1856; Wesley W., who was born March 
3, 1858, and died February 18, 1875; and Clark, as above. Alice, George, and Wes- 
ley attended the Rogersville Seminary, and Clark C. attended the Canaseraga High 
Schoi)l. George married Mary E. , daughter of Spencer Jones, by whom he had two 
children; Spencer, who was born March 10, 1887, and Carl, who was born in Febru- 
ary, 1889. 

Casterline, Phineas H., was born in Deckertown, Susse.x county, N. J., October 28. 
1826. He came to Steuben county in December, 1835, with his parents and settled 
in Pulteney. He worked with his father at the tanning and currying trade until his 
father's death, which occurred in 1854. He then carried on the business until 1860. 
when he went to Prattsburg and run a meat market for one year, when he came to 
I'rbana and purchased some land and set vineyards. In 1872 he bought a farm in 
Pulteney and set twenty acres to grapes. In the fall of 1884 he leased the farm and 
vineyard on shares, and bought some property in Hammondsport and moved there, 
where he has since lived a retired life. December 31, 1867, he was married to Clarissa 
Drew, the daughter of Samuel Drew of Urbana. They have had three children : 
Nettie B., who is a milliner in Hammondsport; Genevieve E., who married Herman 
L. Oben.share, of Mount Washington, December 31, 1894; and Charlotte M., who is 
a student at Geneseo State Normal School. 

Chrisler, William, was born in Harrington, Yates county, N.Y., Septembers, 1818, 
the oldest of three children born to Frederick and Charity (Rerrick) Chrisler, natives 
of New York and the town of Wayne, N. Y. , respectivelj'. The grandfather, Will- 
iam H. Chrisler, was a farmer of Harrington, where he died. Frederick Chrisler 
came to Bradford and engaged in farming and lumbering. He died, leaving 173 
acres to William and his brother and sister, Elias and Eliza. Mrs, Chrisler died in 
1825. Mr. Chrisler .sent a substitute to the war of 1812. 

Braeunlich, Albert E., was born in Sa.\ony, Germany, December 17, 1834, and came 
to this country in 1851. He was educated in the colleges of his native country, and 
on his arrival here engaged in the drug business in New York city. The year 1853 
he spent in the same business in Philadelphia, in 1854 returning to New York, and in 
18.5f) he went into business for himselfin Brooklyn. In 18.58 he engaged as clerk in 
the wholesale business, which he followed until 1868, when he became a partner \n 
the firm of E. Kane & Co., dealers in foreign wines, severing his connection in 1870, 
and from that time until 1879 traveled for foreign champagne manufacturers. That 
year he engaged with the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, and has been their repre- 
sentative ever since, traveling all over the United States. He has been a member of 



304 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the Masonic fraternity since 1866. In 1857 he married Minna Bleidom of New York 
cit\». by whom he had four children ; Mrs. Gustavus Peters, of San Francisco ; Mrs. 
Marie Merganthaler, Albany, N. Y. : Mrs. Rosalia Masson, widow of Otto Masson ; 
and Florence, who lives at home. 

Croyzier, George H., was born in Howard, March 28, 1864, son of William, who 
was born in Ireland and came to this country at the age of seventeen years, settling 
in Howard, where he lived for forty years. William Croyzier lived to be seventy-six 
years old. He married Mrs. Rose Ann O'Brien, of Manchester, England. George 
H. was educated in the district schools of Howard, then was employed in a chair 
factory for ten years. After this the firm of Davis & Croyzier was formed, carrving 
the largest line of clothing and gents' furnishing goods in the village of Canisteo. 
Mr. Croyzier is a member of the Good Templars, the Royal Templars, the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the Presbyterian church. 

Cornish, Thomas J., was born in the town of Bingham, Pa., June 24, 1833, son of 
Francis, whose father, Joseph Cornish, came from England to America and settled 
at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and later in Potter county. Pa. Francis Cornish, born in 
1810, learned the hatter's trade at Delhi, N. Y., when a young man. He settled in 
Potter county, where he lived until 1847, at which time he removed to Steuben 
county, settling in the town of Wheeler, and soon after to Prattsburg, where the re- 
mainder of his life was spent. He married Hannah Monroe, by whom he had ten 
children; Jane, Thomas J., Louise, James. Albert, Mary, Elisha, Sarah F., Coleman, 
Joseph. Thomas J. was educated in the district schools and Franklin Academy, of 
Prattsburg, after which he taught school for three terms. In 1866 he engaged in the 
mercantile trade at Italy Hollow, and three years later settled at Atlanta and en- 
gaged in the dry goods and grocerj^ trade, being at this time the only merchant in 
the place. From small beginnings, by untiring industry and honorable business 
methods, he has built up an enviable reputation as a business man. In 1858 Mr. 
Cornish married Olive N. Bardeen, of Ital^-, N. Y., by whom he had four children: 
Hattie (Mrs. E. N. Jenks) of Black River, N. Y. ; William T., who is in the mercan- 
tile trade at Atlanta, and was appointed postmaster at Atlanta, under Harrison. 
which office he held for five years; Collins C, deceased; and Satie. 

Armstrong, Joseph P., was bom in Bath, Steuben county, N. Y., June 21, 1842, 
son of Leonard and Margaret Rutherford Armstrong, both natives of Northumber- 
land, England. They came to America in 1819 and settled in Eagle Valley, town of 
Bath, where he died in 1876. and she in 1871. In religion they were Episcopalians. 
The paternal grandfather, Joseph Armstrong, lived and died in England. The 
maternal grandfather, Edward Rutherford, came from England and .settled in Bath. 
He removed to North Kanona, but returned to Bath, where he died. In 1872 J. P. 
Armstrong married Elizabeth, daughter of O. P. Alderman of Thurston, and ihey 
were the parents of six children: Ethel, born July 26. 1880; Leonard, born Augiist 
28, 1882; James, born in August, 1884; Stanley, born February 22, 1887; and Ben- 
jamin and Florence, born July 27, 1890. Mr. Armstrong has always been a farmer 
by occupation, commencing in Bath, then removing to Thurston, where he remained 
four vears, and in 1891 bought the farm of 180 acres, which he now owns in Brad- 
ford. He is a member of Savona Lodge No. 755, F. & A. M. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 305 

Davison, M., was born in County Cavan, Ireland, October 17, 1845, and came to 
the United States in 1846 with his parents, William and Margaret Davison, who 
settled in Bath with their three children. Moses Davison was educated at Haver- 
ling Union School and in 1801 entered the employ of J. & L. Buhler as a clerk in 
their dry goods store. When this firm retired from business he became connected 
with the general store of W. W. Wilson, in which jjosition he remained until 1864, 
when he enlisted in Co. H. 18i)th N.Y.Vols., and took part in all the engagements in 
which that regiment participated up to and including the surrender of General Lee 
at Appomatto.x Court House. After the close of the war he received an honorable 
discharge on May 30. 18(i.5, when he returned to Bath and entered the employ of H. 
W. Ferine, with whom, and two others, in IHSa he formed a partnership under the 
style of H. W. Perine & Co. After the dissolution of this firm in 1884 he remained 
with the establishment until in 1890 the present firm was formed, under the firm 
name of Perine & Davison, carrying on a general business in dry goods, carpets, 
boots and shoes, groceries, etc. In 1873 he married Eva, daughter of Alexander 
Hall of Bath, by whom he has two children ; William and Anna B. Mr. Davison is 
one of the representative business men of the town ; director of the Bath Savings and 
Loan Association ; a member and past master of Steuben Lodge No. 112, V. & A. M., 
Bath Chapter No. 95, R. A. M., and De Molay Commandery \o. 22, K. T., Ilornclls- 
ville. 

Ix)ngwell, Hosea, was born in Sussex county, N. J., in August, 1811, and is the 
oldest of thirteen children born to James and Sarah Carver Longwell, both natives 
of Putnam, N. Y. They moved to New Jersey, where they remaine<l about twelve 
years, and then came back to New York, locating at Urbana, Steuben county, where 
they lived and died, he in 1871, aged eighty-one years, and she in 1848, aged fifty- 
seven years. He was a farmer by occupation. The father of James Longwell was 
David L. , who was born in 1737, and followed farming in Putnam county, and he 
was the son of John Longwell, who came from the North of Ireland, being of Scotch- 
Irish descent, and settled in Stonington, Conn., where he died. The Carver family 
came from Cape Cod. In 183i Ilosea married Harriet Brundage, daughter of John 
Brundage, and they were the parents of eight children; Eliza, born July 36, 1834; 
Azariah, born December 22, 1835, died December 1, 1873; Franklin, born October 
24, 1837; Phebe. born January 25, 1839; Hosea, born May 8, 1841 ; Rachel, born May 
18. 1843; Carver, born March 4, 1847; Eugene, born July 4, 1856, is on the old home- 
stead. He resided about six years in Wheeler and while there was supervisor for 
two years. He came to his present location in Bradford in 1841, where he owns 235 
acres, and has made a specialty of sheep husbandry. He is a Democrat and was 
candidate for member of assembly in 1850. He has been supervisor of Bradford, 
also justice of the peace. Mrs. Longwell died February 18, 1887. Mr. Longwell 
died November 8, 1895, aged eighty-four years, since the above was put in type. 

Kniffen, John, was born in the town of Roxbury, Delaware, October 11, 1838, 
son of Andrew KniflFen, who came to Steuben county in 1860. He married Lucy, 
daughter of Gideon Wickham, and in early life was a carpenter and joiner, but in 
later years devoted his attention to farming. He died in 1861, in his fifty-first year, 
two weeks after settling in the town of Bath. In 1862 John married Julia, daughter 
of Harlow Smith, and they are the parents of five sous: William A., Harlow S., 
ram 



306 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

John M., Gideon W., and George W. In 1K64 he enhsted in Co. C, 189th Regiment 
U. S. Vols., and took part in the battle of Hatcher's Run, the capture of Richmond 
and the surrender of General Lee, which clo.sed the rebellion. 

Babcock, Dr. Moses Treat, was born in Fort Ann, Washington county, N.Y., April 
30, 1825, the oldest son of a family of eight children of Oliver (a stone cutter, who 
died in 1859), and Chloe Babcock. Moses T. was educated in the common schools and 
Franklin Academy, at Prattsburg, where his parents had removed in 1830. In 1848 
he took up the study of medicine with Dr P. K. Stoddard, in Prattsburg, continuing 
with him for three years, and was graduated from Geneva Medical College June 16, 
1852. He began the practice of his profession in Hammondsport, and in December, 
1854, he entered the Buffalo Medical College, where he attended lectures one term, 
and again in 1857-58. In September, 1862, he was appointed assistant surgeon to 
the 141st Regt. N. Y. Vols., and was with that regiment until the close of the war; 
he is in possession of testimonials from his superior officers in the Medical Depart- 
ment of the Twentieth Army Corps, certifying in the highest terms to his character 
as a man and his efficiency as an officer in that department. Dr. Baccock has been 
a member of the Steuben County Medical Society since 1870, and of the New York 
State Medical Society since 1885 ; he has also been a member of the Republican party 
since its organization, and was trustee of the village for a number of years. He has 
been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1858, and held the office of treasurer 
of Urbana Lodge, No. 469, for twenty-seven years. He has also been a member of 
the I. O. (). F. for si.\ years. In 1893 he married Josephine Sherwood, of Penn Van, 
N. Y. 

Wixom, Albert, was born in the town of Carmel Putnam county, N. Y., June 16, 
1824. His father, Stephen Wixom, was also a native of Putnam county, born in 1801, 
and always followed farming. He brought his family with him to this county in 
1831, and was for four years in Pulteney, then came to Urbana and bought a farm in 
the northern part where he lived until his death, which occurred in Januarv, 1879. 
He married Hester Badeau, who died in April, 1870, by whom he had si.x children. 
Albert was the oldest son. He was educated in the common schools and remained 
with his father until he was seventeen years of age, and then spent two years help- 
ing a relative on a farm. When nineteen years of age he went into lumbering and 
boating from Hammondsport to Albany, for George D. Mitchell, where he remained 
for seven years. In 1850 he bought his first farm of seventy-seven acres in the town, 
and two years later sold and went to Illinois, where he owned a farm for two years. 
Returning, he bought in the town of Cameron, where he lived two vears and then 
returned to Urbana for a number of years. After one year in both Pulteney and 
Wayne, he was for two years in the employ of the Urbana Wine Company, as fore- 
man of the farm. In 1868 he bought a farm of 150 acres on lot 3, where we now find 
him engaged in the production of grain, hay and wool. He has a flock of about 120 
sheep. Mr. Wixom has always been a Republican since the time of the Rebellion, 
but has never aspired to public office, although he has frequently been requested to 
accept it. In February, 1849, he married Elizabeth, daughter of John Brown, of 
L^rbana. She died May 1, 1S82, leaving one son, Fred, who assists in conducting 
the homestead farm. 

Driesbach. Henry, a successful and progressive farmer, born in the town of Sparta, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 307 

Livingston county. X. Y., August 7, 1826, now re.sides on the old Driesbach home- 
stead on Sandy Hill near the Rogersville station, C. N. Y. & W. Railroad. He mar- 
ried Eunice, daughter of William Faulkner, December 24, 18(i2. They have two 
children, namely: Fred R. Driesbach, born May 31, 1805; he received a thorough 
medical education and graduated from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons 
of New York city, is a practicing physician and surgeon in Dansville, Livingston 
county. He married Lora E. Bastian, May 7, 1890. Mary Driesbach, born May 5, 
1809. was married to O. H. Humphrey, December 11, 1894, a hardware merchant in 
Manchester, Ontario county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Driesbach are charter members of 
Dansville Grange, No. 178, organized at Stone's Falls, April 14, 1874, and were lib- 
eral contributors to the building of the fine Grange hall. Henry's father, Michiel 
Driesbach, was born in Lehigh township, Northumberland county, Pa., May ITi, 1795, 
and came to the town of Sparta, Livingston county, with his parents in 1806, and 
learned the blacksmith trade. He married Nancy Covert, October 21, 1824. She 
was born in the town of Ossian, May 14, 1802. They had six children, nanielv: Fred- 
erick, born in Sparta, July 4, 1825; he married Esther Wood, March 16, 1869; died 
December 24, 1893. Henry, born August 7, 1826. Catherine, born Aguust 7, 1828; 
died January 17, 1875. Elizabeth, born August 14, 1832; died July 26, 1851. Ann 
Marie, born June 22, 1834; died Decembers, 1875; she was married to William H. 
Hall. March 22, 1871. and had two children, namely; Bertha May, born Aprils, 1873, 
died November 9. 1892, and William, born July 17, 1875. Nancy Amelia, born April 
1, 1838, was married to B. S. Stone, January 18, 1871, and have two children, namely: 
William P., born February 7, 1872. and Fannie D., bora June 7, 1876. In 1830 Michiel 
moved with his family to Sandy Hill in the town of South Dansville, Steuben county. 
His was the usual experience of hard work and privation of the pioneer farmer, but 
having a strong and determined character, he cleared up his farm from an almost 
unbroken forest and made a good home for himself and family. To illustrate his 
firm Christian philanthropy, in 1834 many German emigrants settled in his vicinity; 
an epidemic of cholera broke out among them and nearly depopulated the whole of 
Sandy Hill. He was one of the very few' who did not shrink from caring for the sick 
and burying the dead, working and watching night and day for weeks; and helped 
a trio of others bury eighteen of the victims. Mrs. Driesbach died April 3, 1838, 
leaving him with a large family of children. He married Maria Draper, April 11, 
\H'A9. He died with malignant erysipelas, January 28, 1845, followed by his second 
wife, Maria, May 4, 1890. Michiel's father and mother, Henry and Catherine Dries- 
bach, with their family of ten children, came from Pennsylvania to the town of 
Sparta. Livingston county, in 1806, where he bought and located on a large tract of 
land about two miles below Dansville, was one of the pioneers who helped crowd the 
forest and Indians back to make room for a more advanced civilization, and was one 
of the first to open a tavern or public house on the road to Genesee ; the old house 
was known for many years as the Driesbach stand; it is now occupied by one of his 
descendants, William Driesbach. 

Stanton, C. W., was born near Smethport, McKean county, Pa., A])ril 25, 1846, a 
son of Abel M.. who was one of the sixth generation from Thomas Stanton, a pio- 
neer of the family in America, who left England, January 2, 1035, and settled in 
Yirginia, and in 1637 removed to Ma.ssachusetts. Abel Stanton was a survevor. He 



308 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

married Sarah Scott, a lineal descendant of the two Governors Winslow of Massachu- 
setts in colonial days. In 1861 C. W. Stanton enlisted in Co. E, 104th New York Inf. 
and served a year, then was transferred to the 3d U. S. Cav. and served until Jan., 1865. 
He was wounded in the Gettysburg campaign; he was in Sheridan's campaign in 
1864, and participated in the battles of Beverly Ford, Spottsylvania, the Wilderness, 
Cold Harbor, and several others, and was again wounded at Trevillian Station in 
June, 1864. After the war closed Mr. Stanton taught school for a time, and in 1868 
entered Cornell University, taking a scientific and literary course, concluding in 1870. 
In 1871 he entered the law office of Ruggles & Little of Bath, where he read law for 
a year and a half. He afterward finished his legal course in the office of Spencer &• 
Mills of Corning. He was admitted to the bar in 1874, and in 1875 opened an office 
in Cohocton, where he has since practiced. He is active in temperance matters, and 
is a member and past commander of R. E. Harris Post, G. A. R., and a member and 
several times past master of Liberty Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M. of Cohocton, Bath 
Chapter, Elmira Coramandery, and has often been a member of the Grand Lodge. 
He is one of the stockholders of the Larrowe Milling Co. He has been a member of 
the Board of Education for several years, and has been for some years and now is its 
secretary. In 1875 Mr. Stanton married Emilie, daughter of Valentine Van \Vormer 
of Cohocton, by whom he had four children: Cornell Dickens, Wilbor Dickens, Rob- 
ert, and Daisy. Valentine Van Wormer was born in Mohawk valley, October 32, 
1812, a son of Lawrence Van Wormer. His parental ancestors were Hollanders, and 
his maternal ancestors German, and ali came to America at an early date and settled 
in New Jersey, and prior to the Revolutionary war settled on the Hudson. Law- 
rence Van Wormer came to Steuben county in 1816 and settled in the Cohocton val- 
ley about two miles south of Cohocton village, purchasing a tract of 2,000 acres on 
the west side of the Cohocton River, which extended west as far as Loon Lake; he 
also purchased from the land office 350 acres on the river, where he took up his resi- 
dence. The land was heavily timbered, and for many years he was extensively en- 
gaged in lumbering. He was one of the enterprising, energetic men of the day, and 
was the founder of Cohocton M. B. church. He married Ann Staley, by whom he 
had fourteen children, toirteen of whom grew to maturity. Valentine Van Wormer 
has always lived in Cohocton and during his earlier years was an extensive farmer. 
He has been a member of the M. E. church for nearly seventy years, and was one of 
the stewards for many years, and has always been a leading temperance man. He 
had six children, viz. : Zilpha, wife of W. H. Mattison of lona, Mich. ; Mary E., wife 
of Dr. E. M. White of Cohocton; Emilie, wife of C. W. Stanton; Eugenie, wife of 
G. E. Ackerman, D.D., of U. S. Grant University, Chattanooga, Tenn. ; Emery L., 
of Canandaigua, N. Y. ; Eugene of Cohocton ; and Fayette, who died in the Union 
army during the war. His wife is Anna Cleveland of Naples, N. Y. The golden 
wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Van Wormer was celebrated November 22, 1888. 

Thompson, E. H., was born in Tyrone, Schuyler county, N. Y., October 14, 1857, 
Son of Hector and Mary (Mingus) Thompson, he a native of Wayne, born September 
11, 1833, and she a native of Wayne, born October 12, 1828, daughter of Peter and 
Susan Mingus. He is a carpenter by trade, and commenced teaching when young, 
but has spent most of his life at the carpenter's trade. In 1860 he located at Weston, 
where he still resides. The grandparents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Templer) 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 309 

Thompson, he a native of New Jersey, and she of Wayne. Me came to Iloiseheads, 
thence to Wayne, being a pioneer of that town. He was a blacksmith at Wayne, 
and died in Tyrone. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. E. H. Thompson was 
educated at Tyrone and Starkey Seminary, and has followed farming. He com- 
menced work on the farm he now owns in 1888 and purchased it in 1893, and he now 
has 130 acres. In 1890 he married Mary E. Wortnian, widow of William Wortman. 
Mrs. Thompson has two children by her first husband: Annie and Hattie Wortman. 

Dimon, John, was born in Brooklyn, N Y., December 9, 1831. The ancestors of 
this family in this country emigated from France, and records show that in 1060 they 
moved form Connecticut to Easthampton, Long Island, where the family are still to 
be found. The father of the subject, John Dimon, was a mechanic and a shipbuilder 
of earlv days. John Dimon, the subject, was educated in select schools, and in 1860 
became a resident of Steuben county, where he engaged in the cultivation of grapes. 
He has a vineyard of about fourteen acres on the west side of the lake. His maternal 
grandfather, Teunis Joralemon (whose ancestors emigrated to the New Netherlands 
from Holland in the ITth century), soon after the Revolution purchased the old manor 
house and a portion of the Livingston estate, situated on Brooklyn Heights, opposite 
New York city, and resided there until his death about 1840. The old manor house 
was said to have been the headquarters of General Washington about the time of the 
battle of Long Island. John Dimon married Harriet E. Church at Hammondsport, 
her native place, in 186.5. Her grandfather, Hon. Hezekiah Ripley, moved from 
New York city to Hammondsport about 1835. He was at one time associated with 
George P. Morris and N. P. Willis in the publication of the New Y'ork Mirror. Their 
children were John, born in Michigan in 1866, and died the same year; Catherine 
Joralemon, who married Harry T. Hamlin of Chicago in 1888 and died there in 1892; 
Theodore H., and Grace Ripley. 

Lyon, Kitchell, was born in Morris county, N. J., June 23, 1825. son of .Samuel and 
Mary A. (Teacham) Lyon, natives of New Jersey. The grandfather, John Lyon, 
lived and died in New Jersey. Samuel Lyon came to Tompkins county, town of 
Dryden, in 1825, and in 1838 came to Bath, Steuben county, where he died. He was 
a silversmith by trade and also followed farming. Kitchell was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools. He lived in Bath thirty years, having purchased 
the old homestead of 120 acres. In 1868 he came to Rathbone, where he is engaged 
in farming, owning 400 acres. He has been assessor for nine years, trustee for years, 
and pathmaster for twenty-seven years. February 28, 1858, he married Catherine, 
a daughter of John H. Loper, one of the first settlers of the town of Rathbone. They 
have had three children: Horace G., James K., both at home, one who died in in- 
fancy, and are also guardians for Emogene Young, who resides with them. 

Schenck, J. E., was born in Jasper, May 30, 1861. son of William and Sarah 
(Whiting) Schenck, natives of Jasper, N. \'. , where they now live on a farm of fifty 
acres. The grardfather, Jonathan Schenck, was a native of New Brunswick, N. J., 
and came to Jasper in 1825, thence went to Michigan, where he died in 1875; he was 
a descendant of Colonel Martin Schenck of Holland, whose sons John and Roeloff 
emigrated to New Jersey in 1650, whose descendants still own and keep the old 
buildings in repair where they first settled. J. E. Schenck was reared on a farm and 



310 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

educated in the common schools. He owns 150 acres of land and is also engaged in 
threshing, pressing and buying hay. He has been constable, and is now serving his 
second term as collector. January 3, 18S.5, he married Mittie A. Powers of Troups- 
burg, by whom he had one son, Clifford, born February 14, 1891. Harvey B. Schenck, 
brother of J. E., was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He 
owns 1(10 acres of land and follows general farming. He is also engaged in thresh- 
ing and -pressing hay. In 1887 he married Hattie, daughter of Nicholas and Francis 
A. (Walrath) Johnson. Mrs. Schenck's grandfather. Jabish Johnson, was one of the 
early settlers of WoodhuU, and now lives in Greenwood. 

Hatch, Hii-am W., was born in the town of Cohocton, January 9, 1846. His father 
was Sylvanus Hatch, who was a son of Matthew Hatch, the pioneer of the family in 
Steuben county. Matthew Hatch came from Whitehall, N. Y., in 1812, settled in 
Bath, and the following year took up a tract of land on Lent Hill (then in the town 
of Prattsburg), to which place he removed, his being the third family to settle in that 
section. He married a daughter of Abram Lent who was the first settler on Lent 
Hill and from whom it took the name. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Hatch were the pa- 
rents of five sons andone daughter; Sylvanus, Philip, BarnabasC, Matthew, Hiram, 
and Cerissa (Mrs. William Hyatt). Barnabas C. Hatch settled in Michigan, where 
he was a man of considerable note, holding the ofiice of county judge and member of 
assembly. The other sons settled on Lent Hill and were respected and thrifty farm- 
ers. Sylvanus Hatch married Emily A. Peck, by whom he had one child, Hiram W. 
Hiram W. Hatch was engaged in farming until 1870, and duringthat year he settled 
at Atlanta (then Bloods), and engaged in the hardware trade, in which business he 
continued until 1881. In 1871 he engaged in the produce business which he has car- 
ried on until the present time. He is also extensively engaged in farming. In pol- 
itics he is a staunch Republican, and has held numerous offices in the town, among 
which was supervisor for two terms. December 31, 1866, he married Celestia E. 
Bush, of Naples, by whom he had three children; Hyatt C, Minnie L. (Mrs. C. 
Gilbert Lyon), and Mary E. Hyatt C. Hatch is an active member of the Republican 
party, and was elected supervi.sor in 18913, and re-elected in 1H94 for two terms of two 
years. In 1893 he became a partner with his father in the produce business, under 
the firm name of H. W. Hatch & Son. This firm is known as one of the most exten- 
sive dealers in produce in Western New York. 

Davenport, George, was born in Spencertown, Columbia county, N. Y., October 
15, 1814. William Davenport , his father, was a native of Columbia county. Noah 
Davenport, the grandfather of George, and of Quaker descent, was a native of Rhode 
Island and married his wife in that State. He was born in 1758 and came to Col- 
umbia county in 1784 where a family of nine children were born. William was the 
oldest son and second child, and was born January 7, 1789. Noah Davenport and 
his family came to Delaware county in 1812, locating at Harpersfield, and William 
remained in his native county and died on the old homestead September 5, 1871. 
Lovina Davis, the mother of George, was also a native of Columbia county, born 
September 10, 1793, and died November 18, 1850. They were the parents of three 
children: Lucinda, who married John Olmstead and died Decembers, 1851, George, 
and Charles. George was educated in the common schools which he attended until 
old enough to work on the farm, and took up that occupation and has always followed 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 311 

it. In 1840 he married Caroline Mead of Westlake county, and ten years later came 
to Steuben county and bought a farm of 200 acres near the village of Arkport. He 
increased the acreage here to over 3(10 acres and this land is now occupied bv 
his sons, Henry and .Stephen. He continued farming until 1885 when he removed to 
the city of Hornellsville and has since lived a retired life. He has always taken an 
active interest in church and school work and was one of the trustees and founders 
of Spencertown Academy. By his first marriage he had six children : Williain, who 
is in the lumber business in northern Michigan ; Bessie, who is the wife of Charles 
Alley of Auburn ; Georgianna, who is the wife of Albert Rider of Wellsville ; Stephen, 
who is on the farm; Henry L., and Carrie, who is the wife of Daniel Curry of Ark- 
port. His present wife is Anna, daughter of Eli Best, of Columbia county. 

Hubbs, George W., was born in the town of Root, Montgomery county, N. Y., 
September H, 1834. His father, David C. Hubbs, was a native of Saratoga county, 
who came to Montgomery county in an early day, and spent his days in the town of 
Root. He was the second supervisor of that town. He died January 2, 1861. His 
wife was Hannah Montanye, who died July 13, 1800. They had eleven children, of 
which George AV. was the ninth ; he was educated in the common schools and Starkey 
Academy, after which he engaged in farming in Montgomeiy county, where he re- 
mained until 1862. April 17, 1861, he married Maria Van Valkenbcrg, of Sharon, 
and the next year he came to Steuben county, where he bought a farm of 175 acres 
in the town of Hornby, with his residence in Schuyler county, across the road. In 
1873 he moved to the town of Campbell, where he made his home until 1881, when he 
removed to Hammondsport, and has since been interested in the grape industry. He 
has always been a Democrat in politics, and in February, 1893, he was elected justice 
of the peace to fill vacancy, and in the spring of 1894 was elected for a full term. He 
has been a member of Urbana Lodge No. 459, F. & A. M., since 1891. He is village 
clerk, now serving his second year, and also registrar of vita! statistics. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hubbs had five children, four of whom are now living: Seymour, of the Col- 
umbia Wine Company ; Eloise, wife of W. E. Ballou, of Columbia, Ga. ; Clara and 
Catherine, of Rochester, both bookkeepers. 

Maichle, Henry, was born in -Syracuse, N. Y., September 10, 1859, son of Jacob 
Maichle, a native of (iermany, who came to America in 18.')4 and settled in New York 
city, and a year later at Syracuse. He came to Steuben county in 1861 and settled 
at Cohocton. He is a carpenter by trade, which busine.ss he has always followed. 
He married Christine Klink, who died in 1868, by whom he had two sons, Jacob and 
Henry. Mr. Maichle married for his second wife Pauline Hutte, of Rochester, by 
whom he had one daughter, Anna (Mrs. J. C. Miller), of Scranton, Pa. Jacob and 
Henry settled in Cohocton. In the sprjng of 1880 Henry Maichle, in companv with 
(>. A. Drake, engaged in the grocery and crockery trade at Cohocton; a few months 
later Henry Finch purchased Drake's interest, and the firm existed until 1889, when 
Mr. Maichle purchased his partner's interest and has since continued the business. 
He is a staunch Democrat, and takes an active part in party affairs. He was town 
clerk one year, and in 1888 was elected justice of the peace. He is a member of St. 
Pius R. C. church. December 21, 1881, he married Sybillia, daughter of William 
Becker, by whom he had five children; William H., Robert J., Clarence E., Francis 
IC, Ida A. 



312 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Alden, Dr. Philo L., was born in the village of Howard, August 27, 1856. His 
father, George Alden. was also a native of Steuben county, born in Milo in 1824. He 
was a millwright and lumberman by trade, and it is said of him that he built almost all 
of the mills in Cohocton valley. He died in 1887. He married Ann C. Chapman, of 
Fremont, who died in Hammondsport, February 7, 1895, by whom he had eight chil- 
dren. Philo L. was the ne.xt to the youngest, and was educated in the High School 
of Howard, and at seventeen years of age entered Alfred University, teaching school 
in the winter, until 187G. He remained in Howard until 1879, in the mercantile busi- 
ness, and then removed to Buffalo, making his home in that city four years, the latter 
two years being engaged as traveling salesman. In 1835 he came to Keuka Lake on 
his vacation, and took up the study of medicine with Drs. Burleson and Nichols, at 
Pulteney. The years 1885 and 1886 he spent in the medical department of the Uni- 
versity of Buffalo, and was graduated March 1, 1887. He located in Wayne, Steu- 
ben county, where he remained until October, 1889, when he came to Hammonds- 
port, where he has since been engaged in regular practice. He is president of the 
Board of Pension Examiners, located at Bath, appointed by President Cleveland 
July 20, 1893, and is also a member of Steuben County Medical Society. September 
17, 1885, he married M. Emma, daughter of Dr. L. M. Nichols, of Pulteney, by whom 
he had two children: George Lyman, now in his eighth year, and Edna May, who 
died at nine months of age in April, 1892. 

Christie, Amelia A., youngest of ten children, was born January 11, 1838, in 
Middlesex, Yates county, N.Y. James Christie, her father, was a well educated man, 
of Scotch-Irish descent. He settled on a large farm in Middlesex, and died there in 
1881 at ninety years of age. Her mother, Lydia Southerland Adams, was of English 
stock. Both grandfathers served in the war of the Revolution. Chester Adams, 
her grandfather, through much hardship, brought into Middlesex the first wheat 
sowed there near the year 1793. James Christie served as a soldier in the latter 
part of the war of 1812. Amelia received a part of her education at the Genesee 
Wesleyan Seminary, but graduated in Albany at the State Normal School, July 12, 
1855. She taught a few years at Rushville, Yates county, and at Lyons, Wayne 
county. She turned her atttentionin 1868 to the study of medicine. She graduated 
in March, 1872, at The Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, located in Phila- 
delphia, opposite Girard College. She practiced medicine at Rushville, her home, 
for eight years, but in December, 1881, came to Hornellsville, where she has since 
been located. She married Frederick R. Perry, February 1, 1886. Irederick R. 
Perry was born in Rushville, Ontario county, and is of English stuck. He served 
in the late Civil war, enlisting from Iowa, at that time his home, and had the proud 
privilege of "marching with Sherman to the sea." He came to Hornellsville in 
1881, and is at present an employee of the L. E. & W. R. R. 

Schmoker, Adolphus, was born in Switzerland, April 16, 1856, son of C. and Mar- 
garet Schmoker of Keuka. Mr. Schmoker came to America in 1880, settled at Ham- 
mondsport, and was with his uncle in a hotel for a time. In 1881 he married Louise 
M., daughter of John Bergine of Switzerland. Mr. Schmoker came to Keuka, where 
he engaged in the vineyard business, and in 1895 he erected the Helvetia House, and 
is also engaged in the wine business. He is a member of Lamoka Lodge, No. 463, 
F. & A. M., and Hammondsport Lodge, No. 584, I. O. O. F. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 313 

Thompson, George, was born in North Stonington, Conn., May 10, 1821, and is 
the oldest of twelve children born to Robert and Esther (Slocum) Thompson, of 
North Stonington, Conn., who came to Chenango county, thence to Steuben county, 
and settled in Tuscarora about 1833. He died May 20, 1874, and his wife in 1827. 
George Thompson was reared on a farm and has since followed farming, bridge 
building aud lumbering. In 1S6,'5 he went to Illinois, where he remained three years. 
In 1870 he bought a farm in Tuscarora and in 1802 sold it to his brother, but still 
oversees it. In 1869 he married Lucy, daughter of Allen and Sally (Hickey) Beards- 
ley, by whom he had two children : Sylvester, who was born February 14, 1872 ; and 
Nellie, who was born August i), 1875. His father, Robert Thompson, was married 
three times; he had two children by his first wife, five by his second and five by the 
third. 

Barnard, F. K., of Corning, Steuben county, N. Y., son of C. D. Barnard, whose 
sketch is given elsewhere, was born in the town of Caton in 1857. and resides on the 
old home place. He has followed lumbering and farming all his life. In 1880 he 
married Libbie Cass, a native of Troy, Pa., who died in 1894. He has two children : 
Ray and Claire. 

Brace, William H., was born in Tompkins county in 1820. When eight years old 
he moved to Tioga county. Pa., and from there to Chemung county two years later. 
In 1843 he married Lucretia Whitney, al.so a native of Tompkins county, and they 
moved to Steuben county in 1850. In 1852 they came to their present farm in Caton. 
which consists of 112 acres. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. D, 141st New York Vols., 
serving six months, being confined in the hospital most of the time. They have two 
sons: James W., and Augustus J. He has filled the offices of constable, collector, 
and poormaster. 

Barnard, C. D., was born in Otsego county, in 1828, son of Frederick Barnard, 
and a brother of the late George A. Barnard. He remained on the home farm till he 
was married in 1855 to Mary Jane Gorton, a native of the town of Corning, and a 
sister of Rufus Gorton. He moved to his present place about five years later, and 
has been engaged in the saw mill and lumbering business connected with farming 
ever since. He has a farm of 200 acres, and makes a specialty of dairying. He has 
five children; F. E., who resides on the old Barnard homestead, Alice, wife of John 
Wellman, Emma, wife of John Griswold, Edgar, and Lewis. 

Bowen, Juliza C, was born f)ctober 1, 1839. Her father, Henry Cotton, was born 
in Washington county, N. Y., June 20, 1798. He owned 168 acres of land, and dealt 
in stock, but his principal business was farming, and to such men is due the credit 
of making Steuben county what it is to-day. He died in 1885. He married Almira, 
daughter of Daniel Martin, who was born in Hartford, Washington county, by whom 
he had five children: Silas, who was born January 7, 1822; Lydia Ann, who was 
born November 8, 1827; Samuel S., who was born September 20, 1831 : Daniel, who 
was born August 16, 1837; and Juliza, as above, who was educated in the Rogers- 
ville Seminary, and has taught school for a number of terms. February 17, 1859, she 
married William H. Bowen, who was born in South Dansville, Steuben county, De- 
cember 14, 1838, and died October 7, 1884. He purchased a farm of 1.50 acres where 
his wife now resides, and was supervisor of the town of Fremont two years, also as- 



314 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

sessor for a number of terms. They had eleven children : Alice E., born January 5, 
I860: Elsie R., born October 2. 18f>2: Ira C, born April 26, 1864; James H., born 
January 17, 1866; William M., born September 27, 1868, and died December 14, 
1884; May J., born May 11, 1870, and died April 11, 1880; Zina C, born June 1, 
1871; Frank, deceased; Elroy, born August 22, 1874; Fred J., born March 22, 1887; 
and Glen I., born April 26, 1882. James H. is the pastor of the Wesleyan Methodist 
church of which his mother is a member. He married Philinda Sprague July 20, 
1892. Elsie R. married George Silsbury, May 12, 1886. Four of the children are 
teachers, and the rest are going to school and attending to the farm. 

Buck, Charles Albert. — His grandfather, John A. Buck, was one of the first set- 
tlers of Fremont, coming there about 1812, and died at Hornellsville, N. Y., at the 
age of ninety-two j-ears. Charles E. Buck was born in Fremont in 1818, being the 
first male child born in that town, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Sarah 
Patchin. who was born in the town of Wayland in 1807, and three children were 
born to them: Walter, Charles Albert as above, and . Mrs. Buck was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist church, and died at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. Buck died 
in the town of Fremont, March 23, 1863. Charles Albert was born March 20, 1851, 
educated at the Rogersville Union Seminary, and was a carpenter by trade for about 
five years, but has since followed farming, owning a farm of 300 acres about one half 
mile from Big Creek. He is master of the Big Creek Grange, No. 324. December 
80, 1874, Mr. Buck married Chloe M., daughter of George M. Franklin, of the town 
of Howard. She was born September 2, 1854, and has a good common school edu- 
cation, is a doctress in Hornellsville. Call C. M. Buck, Faith Medium Healer, office 
No. 5 Bennett street, Hornellsville. Mr. and Mrs. Buck are the parents of three 
children: Dora May, born October 24, 1879; George A., born August 30, 1882, died 
September 23, 1886; and Murtil, born February 2, 1892, who died in infancy. They 
have adopted two children: Ida May Johnson, born February 2, 1878, and Clare Earl 
Johnson, born June 16, 1881. 

Babcock Stanton C, was born January 4, 1858. I lis grandfather was of English 
stock, and was born in Rhode Island, and died in Buffalo, N. Y. The father of our 
subject was born July 20, 1817. He had a good common school education, and was 
a farmer and carpenter by occupation. He has held the office of highway commis- 
sioner, also of collector of the town of Hornellsville. He is a member of Stephens 
Mills Grange, No. 308. In 1837 he married Ruth Phillips, who was born in Cohocton 
Valley, August 18, 1819, by whom he had si,\ children: Ester Jane, who died in in- 
fancy; Maryette Kelle5^ who was born November 27, 1841 ; Harriet Lowell, who was 
born April 5, 1844; William W. , who was born May 21, 1849; Edwin P., who was 
born August 12, 1851 ; and Stanton, as above, who was educated at Painted Post. 
He has been selling machinery' on the road, and has alwaj'S been engagid in farm- 
ing, and owns a farm of 155 acres. He has been pathmaster and trustee of district 
No. 8, town of Fremont, and clerk of the same distjict. He is a member of the F. & 
A. M., No. 478, of Dansville, N. Y. , also a member of Stephens Mills Grange, No. 
308. At Canisteo, N. Y., November 24, 1881, he married Mary M. Acomb, who was 
born in South Dansville, December 27. 1855, by whom he had one child : Harrison 
Lee, who was born September 20, 1887. Mrs. Babcock's father, Thomas Acomb, 
was born in England, and came to this country when five years of age. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 316 

Blades. Dr. John W., was born in Xaples, Ontario county, N. Y. , September 14, 
1855, son of Rev. J. H. and Ellen (Woodin) Blades, he a native of Yorkshire. Eng- 
land, and she of Dutchess county. M- Y. Her father came from England in an early 
day and lived and died in Dutchess county, N. Y. J. H. Blades, father of John W., 
was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, after which he entered the Methodist ministry 
and preached three years in England. In 18.58 he came to Wayne county, N. Y. , 
and entered the East Genesee Conference, and remained in the ministry until his 
death, which occurred April 11, 1891. His wife died in January, 1863. John W. 
Blades was educated in the common .schools and Addison Academy, after which he 
read medicine with Dr. John Mitchell, of Addison, and was graduated from the 
medical department of the University of New York in 1881, and began the practice 
of his profession in Canisteo, N. Y. He was in Greenwood for six years, and Janu- 
ary 1, 1894, came to Cameron Mills, where he had a very successful practice. He is 
a member of the Hornellsville Medical Association and Tioga Coimty Medical Asso- 
ciation, and was elected State Board of Health ofiicer for Rathbone and Thurston, 
Steuben county, N. \'. He is a member of Cameron Mills Lodge, No. 547, F. & A. 
M. April 14, 1880, he married Emma M. Merritt, of Lindley, Steuben county, N. Y., 
by whom he had two children: Katie G., and Glenn M. In 1880 he received a di- 
ploma from Prof. J. W. Wright, as operative surgeon, and in 1881 he also received 
a diploma from William H. Thompson, on semeiology and physical diagnosis of 
diseases. 

Beckwith, James T., was born in Bath, Steuben county, N. Y. , June 28, 1841, son 
of Amasa B. and Martha C. (Thomson) Beckwith, he a native of Connecticut, born 
March 17, 1808, and she born January 28, 1815. The grandfather, Araasa Beckwith, 
was born in Connecticut and came to Pennsylvania, thence to Bath about 1814, 
where he died in 1833. He married Fanny Simonds, who died December fi, 1851, 
by whom he had these children: Elijah, who died in Hornellsville, April 1, 1881; 
Amasa B., father of James T. ; George W., who died in Bath, December 23. 1835; 
Philance T., who died in Bath October 5, 1850; Azilla J., who died in Prattsburg, 
Decembers, 1831; Caroline M., who was born in Bath, February 18, 1825, wife of 
James Webster, of Tioga county, N. Y., and had two children: Gilbert E. and Fan- 
nie D. Mr. Webster died October 1, 1851, aged thirty-four years, and Mrs. Webster 
married Merritt Island, who died in March, 1892; and Samuel S., who was born in 
Steuben county, m 1811, and died in St. Lawrence county, September 22, 1857. 
Amasa B. Beckwith was a miller, and built the Eagle Mills of Bath, which he sold in 
1866, and came to Cameron Mills where he engaged in the milling business, and 
where he died June 11, 1874. His widow now lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., and is 
eighty years of age. James T. Beckwith was reared a miller and educated in the 
common schools, after which he engaged in farming and milling, and owns 110 acres 
of land and the Cameron Mills. He is a member of Bath Lodge, No. 112, F. &A. M., 
Bath Chapter, No. !)5, R. A. M., and Commandery of Hornellsville. He is also a 
member of the I. O. R. M., of Cameron Mills, No. 5(i, and the Farmers' Alliance. Oc- 
tober 20, 1864, he married Mary Island, a native of Tioga county, X. Y., and daugh- 
ter of Merritt and Mary (Ingersoll) Island, by whom he had seven children : Guy, 
who was born December 21, 1865, and resides at Cameron Mills; Charles M., who 
was born November 25, 1867, and resides at Grand Rapids; one who died in infancy; 



3 16 LANDMARKS OP STBtJBEN COUNTY. 

Xaud, who was born September 19, 1871 ; James, who was born July 19, 1873. and 
died April 16, 1875; Harry, who was born November 1, 1874, and died April 16, 1875; 
and Helen C, who was born September 15, 1883, and died August 21, 1885. June 
18, 1886, Guy Beckwith married Grace Brady, of Cameron, and they had one child, 
Leroy, born in 1887, who was drowned in Canisteo River August 13, 1892. 

Ainsworth, H. R., M.D., was born in Erieville, Madison county. N. Y., September 
29, 1841. Soranus Ainsworth, his father, was born at Cazenovia, and the ancestry 
of this noted family may be traced back to England and to as early date as the thir- 
teenth century. The great-great-grandfather, whose sons were active participants 
in the Revolution, was a pioneer of the famous old town of Woodstock, Conn. Abial 
Ainsworth, grandfather of H. R. Ainsworth, was a posthumous child, his father. 
Colonel Nathan Ainsworth, having died a prisoner in the hands of the British previous 
to Abial's birth. He was one of the founders of New Woodstock, N. Y., in 1804. 
naming the settlement from the dear old place they had left behind. After a year 
had passed, he was filled with a desire to visit the old home, and, as railroad facilities 
and steamboat navigation were then unknown luxuries, the journey was accomplished 
on foot, through forests, across streams, and amid perilous surroundings, made more 
dangerous still by the ever lurking savage, but all of which is indicative of the strong 
physique and energy of the man. Mrs. Ainsworth. mother of H. R., was Caroline 
Hawkins of Virgil, Cortland county, and was also a descendant of an old Connecticut 
family near New Haven. Soranus Ainsworth, a Baptist minister, died in 1888, his 
death being earned by exposure to the cold weather of January of the same year, at 
which time he was called to Truxton, N. Y., to officiate at the marriage of a lady 
whose father and mother he had married, also the grandfather and grandmother, 
making three generations he had united in wedlock. Dr. Ainsworth began his edu- 
cation at Erieville, Madison county, and his study of medicine was begun in 1862 at 
Truxton, Cortland county, in Drs. Newcome's and Nelson's office. In 1866 he grad- 
uated from the University of the City of New York, and although a general practi- 
tioner, he has a leaning toward specialism in ocularcomplaints. His career has been 
one of steady advancement, and he has the confidence, not only of the citizens of his 
own town, but of adjoining towns as well. 

Aldrich, Loren B., was born in 1834, at Plymouth, Chenango county, N. Y., son of 
E. A. Aldrich, who was a farmer of Rhode Island birth, and at his death in 1883 left 
nine children, of whom four are now deceased. At an early age Mr. Aldrich en- 
gaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, and blinds, which was for a long time the 
leading industry of Addison, and with which he has been connected for forty years, 
as an expert mechanic and contractor. Among the Masonic fraternity he holds the 
highest rank, being a member of Corning Consistory, St. Omer's Comraandery, and 
a knight of the Mystic Shrine He is also an Odd Fellow, and a member of various 
other benevolent and social organizations. In local government Mr. Aldrich has 
long taken a leading part, being village trustee for eight years, president for two 
years, and a member of the Board of Education for twenty years. He married Hul- 
dah Houghtaling, who died in 1893, leaving one daughter, Erminie, the wife of Jacob 
Bochnewetch, of Silver Creek, N. Y. , who has one son Harry, who is six years of 
age. Another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich, named Carmitia, died when four 
years old. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 317 

Barron, Dr. William E. was born in Addison, Steuben county, in 1800. William 
P. Barron, his father, was a native of New Hampshire, and came to Addison m 1840, 
He was a farmer and river pilot, and married Matilda Jennings, a member of the 
well-known pioneer family. William E. Barron began the study of medicine at Bal- 
timore, Md., and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1891, 
and began practice in his native town, where he has won high esteem and honor. 
December 24, 1892, he married Julia Blakeslee, whose father, the well-known edu- 
cator, was at that time a professor m Alfred University, and now principal of Addi- 
son Academy. They have one daughter, Dorothy, who was born in 1893. 

Bliss, Frank, is of English ancestry, and the sole survivor of live children of Will- 
ard A. Bliss, who was born in Leyden, Mass., in 1817. His father moved to Truxton 
in 1822, and to Addison in 1847. Willard Bliss was a sash and blind manufacturer, 
but on account of ill-health, spent his last years as a farmer and real estate dealer. 
He married Sarah A. Space, who now survives hira at the advanced age of eighty- 
three years. Frank Bliss has always been a sash, blind and door manufacturer, and 
has large business interests in Buffalo, where he lived for ten years. Here he is 
attending large real estate and farming intere.sts, owning 200 acres of choice land 
east of the village, where he makes a specialty of tobacco. In 1873 he married Delia 
A. Slater of Dunkirk, N. Y. Mr. Bliss was in early years an adherent of the Demo- 
cratic party, but has recently declared allegiance to Republican principles, and is 
now on the Board of E.xcise. He is a supporter of the Presbyterian church, and 
helps sustain the Y. M. C. A. 

Bartlett, James, was born in Yates county, August 4, 1845, sou of Silas, who was 
born in the same county. Silas Bartlett followed farming the most of his life. He 
married Hannah Barton, of Livingston county, by whom he had four children: Mor- 
ris, James, Clinton, and Warren. James was educated in the district schools of 
Yates county, then removed to Steuben county, settling first in Prattsburg, where 
he lived about si.xteen years, then came to Avoca, where he has since resided. He 
is engaged in farming and owns a farm of 179 acres, about two-thirds of which is im- 
proved Mr. Bartlett's first wife was Martha, daughter of Henry Barker, of Yates 
county, by whom he had five children: Morris, Frank, William, Came, and Nettie. 
His present wife was Helen, daughter of Luther Wheeler, one of the early settlers of 
Prattsburg. They have one son, Charles. Mr. Bartlett has held the office of high- 
way commissioner in Avoca. January 18, 1804, he enlisted in the 22d New York 
Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He is a member of Morey Post G. 
A. R. No. 507. and of the Masonic Lodge No. 673. 

Billings, Oscar, was born in Wheeler, September 7, 18o8. Albert Billings, his 
father, was born in Washington county, N. Y., and came to Wheeler about 1854, 
where he engaged in farming. He married Elmira Clop of Washington county, by 
whom he had nine children. Oscar Billings was educated in Wheeler, after which 
he engaged in farming which he followed up to 1889, and since that time has devoted 
his time to milling, under the firm name of Billings, Beale & Co., running a grist mill 
in Avoca, and which business he still follows. He married Emma, daughter of 
Harry Fox, by whom he had five children: Walter S. , Lulu E., Warren E., Lillie, 
and Ora. Mr. Billings is at present trustee of the village, and member of Avoca 
Lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 538. 



318 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Andrus. Jacob S., was born in Woodhull, N. Y., December 31, 1850, son of Lewis 
and Rebecca J. (Stuart) Andrus, he born October 25, 1S19, and she born in Barring- 
ton, N. Y., December 24, 1823, and were married November 10, 1843. Mr. Andrus 
came to Woodhull when a boy with his parents, where he still resides. His wife died 
September 28, 1893. Jacob S. was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools, and has since followed farming. In 18T3 he came to Tuscarora, and in 1879 
settled on the farm of 123 acres which he now owns. In 1874 he married Annie M., 
daughter of James and Mar\' (Merring) Moore, who settled in Rathbone in 1855, 
where he died in 1884 and his wife in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Andrus have one daughter, 
Edith M., who was born November 20, 1879. Mr. Andrus is a member of Freeman 
Tent, K. O. T. M. 

Baxter, Harr)-, was born in Tuscarora, N. Y., October 28, 1844, son of Calvin and 
Phoebe (Williams) Baxter, natives of Smithville, and Oxford. N. Y., respectively, he 
born June 13, 1832, and she August 14, 1834. Mr. Baxter came to Tuscarora when 
about two years of age, where he has since resided, with the exception of about 
eighteen years which he spent m Nelson, Tioga county. Pa. He was a Republican 
in politics and was assessor and highway commissioner. He died February 17, 1886, 
and bis wife, November 18, 1877. Harry Baxter was reared on a farm and educated 
in the common schools and graded schools of Nelson, Pa. He followed farming 
until in April, 1872, when he went to Nelson and engaged in buying and shipping 
grain and produce, and in selling agricultui-al implements, where he remained until 
1881. He was also in the grocery business one year and was postmaster one year. 
He was constable and collector for about three years, and October 11, 1881, was ap- 
pointed deputy sheriff and also had charge of the jail. January 1, 1883, he was 
elected sheriff of the county by the Republican party, and served one term. He then 
returned to Nelson and continued in business until 1891, when he returned to the 
farm where he now resides. He is a member of Nelson Lodge, No. 434, I. O. O. F., 
which he jomed when it was organized. He married Maria Smith of Nelson, by 
whom he had four children: Portus, Ernest C, May and Dewitt, who died at eleven 
months of age. The grandfather, Ira Baxter, was born in Connecticut and came to 
Tuscarora about 1823. He married Betsey Manley, who was born in Connecticut, 
daughter of George and Elizabeth (Davenport) Manley, who came to Tuscarora about 
1827, where they died. 

Beers, George G., was born in Tuscarora, N. Y., February 20, 1854, son of Dennis 
and Nancy (Sprague) Beers, natives of Tuscarora, he born August 6, 1829, and she, 
July 16, 1832. Dennis Beers sold the homestead and then bought the farm where he 
died June 11, 1892, and where his son now resides. He was a farmer and owned 
168 acres of land. George G. was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools and Woodhull Academy. He was in the mercantile busmess at Addison Hill 
for two years, but is now engaged in farming, and owns fifty acres of land. He is a 
Prohibitionist in politics, and has been assessor two years. In 1874 he married Anice 
L., daughter of Philip Perkins, of Tuscarora, N. Y., by whom he had two children: 
Coral, who was born September 18, 1880; and Raymond, who was born August 15, 
1883. The mother of George G. was a daughter of Amos and Polly (Getman) 
Sprague, he born in Vermont in 1801, and she, in Chenango county, N. Y., in 1806. 
They came to Tuscarora in an early day where they died, he April 14, 1882, and she, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 319 

October 15, 1861. Philip Perkins, father of Mrs. Beers, was born in Canada, March 
12, 1820, and in 18.52 he came to Tuscarora, where he now resides. In 1846 he mar- 
ried Susan A., daughter of Samuel and Jane (Vronian) Rathbone, early settlers of 
Tioga county, Pa., by whom he had twelve children: Wallace. Lovina A., John G., 
Naucy I., Anice L., Mary A., Susan A.. Sarah E., Philip E., Nellie J., liclia A., 
and Samuel R. 

Beers, Christopher S.. was born in Tuscarora, N.Y., May 13, 1850, son of Asel and 
Betsey (Homorcker) Beers, he a native of Connecticut, who came to Tuscarora about 
182(i, thence to Indiana in 1858, where they died. Christopher S. was reared on a 
farm and educated in the common schools, and has since followed farming, and now 
owns a farm of 129 acres. He returned to New York when twenty-seven years of 
age, where he has since lived. He is a Republican in politics. He is a member of 
Addison Lodge, I. O. O. F. In 1876 he married Susan, daughter Philip Perkins of 
Tuscarora, by whom he had four children: Arthur, Loren, Howard, and Gilbert. 

Bates, Daniel, was born in the Province of Quebec, September 19, 1817, son of 
Cyrus and Hannah (Webster) Bates, natives of Connecticut and New Hampshire, re- 
spectively. He died in Otsego county in 1840, and she in WoodhuU, N. Y. Daniel 
Bates was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and has since fol- 
lowed farming and coopering. In 1853 he came to Steuben county, where he owns 
119 acres of land. In 1843 he married Amy Northrup, by whom he had eight chil- 
dren, six of whom grew to maturity. His second wife was Harriet Church, by whom 
he had three children. The great-grandfather was born on the ocean and lived to be 
104 years of age. 

Brown. Perry, was born in the town of Westfield, Pa., August 23, 1850. George 
S. Brown, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and came to Pennsylvania at an 
early date where he purchased and cleared 100 acres of land and worked as a farmer. 
He married Fannie Atwood, by whom he had si.\ children: Emily, Orcelia, Dell, 
Perry, Willie, and Milo. Perry Brown is a farmer, owning a farm of 270 acres, and 
deals largely in cattle, sheep, etc., he also owns another farm of 131 acres, and is a 
man of great business ability and high standing in the community where he resides. 
He married Almo, daughter of Robert Gunderman, by whom he had two children, 
Kva and I-illian. He is a member of Mountain Lodge, No. 503, I. O. O. F. 

Howies, Thomas W., was born in Norfolk, England. August 29, 1835. George 
Bowles, his father, came to the United States in 1845, and first settled in Seneca 
county, where he remained for two years and then went to Clyde for three years, 
and from there to Rose Valley, Wayne county, where he remained twenty years, 
and engaged in farming- He came to Steuben county where he carried on the lum- 
ber business, and died in 1885, aged seventy-four years. He married Alice , 

by whom he had thirteen children. Thomas W. was educated in the district schools 
in Seneca county, and is one of the leading lumbermen of the town. He married 
Mary J., daughter of Samuel and Eliza Rodman, by whom he had two children, 
Jennie F. and Frederick L. Mr. Bowles runs two steam saw mills turning out one 
million feet of lumber per year. 

Bertron, F. M., was born in Canisteo, June 3, 1856. He began his education in 
the district schools and finished at the Ontario Veterinary College, from which he 



320 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

graduated. He served three years with his father learning the blacksmith's trade, 
which busines he has conducted in the village since 1883. In 1883 Mr. Bertron mar- 
ried Hannah M. Dickmire. 

Bardeen, Charles E., was born in Fremont, March 18, 1855. Ezra Bardeen, his 
father, is also a native of this State, bom in Yates county, and married Marj' Madison 
of the same county by whom he had three children. Charles was educated in the 
common schools and has improved it by study and reading. He remained with his 
father on the farm until November, 1892, when he located in this city, establishing 
a lumber yard at the east end and the next season built a planing mill and box 
factory, employing about ten men, and did a very successful business until the 23d 
of April, 18!'o, when it was destroyed by fire. January 15, 1894, Mr. Bardeen estab- 
lished a coal and wood yard and it has proved a great success. The spring of 1895, 
the firm of Smedly, Bardeen & Smedley was established as a stock company, with a 
capital of $12,000 for the purpose of manufacturing silk gloves and mitts. He has 
also two saw mills, a portable mill and one at his timber lot near Canisteo station, 
which supplies his lumber and also wood for the year. Mr. Bardeen is a member of 
the Knights of the Maccabees. May 3, 1878, he married Cora Belle, daughter of John 
Shattuck, a farmer of Fremont. 

Bennett, Omer, was born in the town of Howard, November 22, 1838. Benjamin, 
his father, came with his father, Jacob Bennett, from Vermont in 1809, when he was 
nine years of age, who took up a tract'df 160 acres north of Howard. This land was 
in the normal condition and the timber land was cleared by Mr. Bennett and his sons. 
Mr. Bennett was married three times and had four sons and four daughters. Benjamin 
always followed farming, and late in life bought the old homestead and died there 
in 1865. He was a Democrat until the foundation of the Know Nothing party and 
afterward a Republican. The mother of Omer, Mary A. Armstrong, was a daughter 
of a Cayuga county family, who trace their ancestry to Vermont, and a descendant 
of Ethan Allen, three generations removed. Mrs. Bennett died in May, 1894. eighty- 
five j'earsof age. They were the parents of seven children, all living but one. Omer, 
the youngest son, waseducated in the common schools and Prattsburg Academy, and 
followed farming from his twentieth year until the fall of 1864. September of that 
year he enlisted as a private in the 142d Regiment, New York Volunteers, was 
wounded at Fort Fisher, January 15, 1865. and was discharged the last of May, 1865. 
He returned to the farm and in 1868 he built the first cheese factory at Like's Cor- 
ners in partnership with Lewis and Hiram Spaulding. The next year he sold his in- 
terest in the company and built a factory south of the village which he conducted for 
eight years. In the meantime, he and Van Parsons erected what was called Bennett 
& Parsons factory near the village and also one at Fowlgrville and then was the 
proprietor of a factory and creamery at Big Flats, conducting all of them at the 
same time. He also built a factory in the town of Dansville, in :887 he sold his in- 
terest and in 1878 took it back and in connection with it erected a saw mill, planing 
mill, and grist mill. In 1882 the property was destroyed by fire, but in sixty days 
had the whole machinery running again. He conducted it two years longer, and 
then let it to his nephews. He has always been the owner of farm lands and in 1886 
he bought a farm of 126 acres and later eighty-seven acres, and after selling a small 
piece he has now about two hundred acres which is conducted as a dairy farm with 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 321 

thirty-four head of cattle and five horses. He finds a market for the product in 
Uornellsville and Canisteo. In 1893 he bought a small place on the line of the elec- 
tric railroad and erected a fine home where he now resides. He was that year made 
trustee of school district Xo. 4, and was the builder of the model school building of 
that district. In December, 1858, he married Victoria, daughter of William Wallace, 
a farmer of Dansville. An adopted daughter, Blanche, is the wife of William Rowe, 
a farmer of Ilartsville. 

Berry, Alvin L., was born in the town of McDonough, Chenango county, N. Y., 
January (i, 1839, son of Elijah Berry, a native of Rhode Island, who came to New 
York State with his parents when only a lad. He always followed farming and in 
1850 came to Steuben county, first locating in the town of Erwin where he remained 
three years, and then located in Burns, Allegany county, for three years, lived in 
Ilartsville. and then settled in Almond. He died in 1888. Alvin L. 'smother, Eunice 
Lewis, was also of New England birth. She died in the spring of 1888. Mr. and 
Mrs. Berry were the parents of two'chiJdren ■ Ezra D. , a retired farmer and insurance 
agent of Almond, and Alvin, as above, who was given a good common school edu- 
cation, and became a farmer. At twenty-four years of age he was married, and 
until 1892 followed lumbering winters and farming summers. In 1869 he bought a 
part of the old Uyke farm on division 26 consisting of forty-four acres. He had pre- 
viously owned fifty acres in the town of Almond, which makes him one of the finest 
farms of this section, the principal products being potatoes and dairy products. In 
connection with his farming in 1888 Mr. Berry began the dealing in coal, and now 
has an output of four to five hundred tons per year. He was married in January, 1862, 
to Adelia, daughter of Elms Hopkins, and they have two children: Eva L. and 
Clinton D., a stenographer and typewriter with Arbuckle Bros., of New York city. 

Boylan, Harris Bert, was born in the town of Burns, Allegany county, N. Y. , No- 
vember 8, 1857. Benson Boylan, the father of Bert, was also a native of Allegany 
county, and his father, Isaac, was one of the earliest settlers of that county. Benson 
died in 1860 when Bert was only three years old. The latter was given a common 
school education, and for his occupation he chose that of his ancestors, farming. His 
first venture for himself was the purchase of twenty-nine and one-half acres on lot 
No. 16, town of Hornellsville. His mother had moved to this town in 1872 and lo- 
cated on a farm there. She died May 17, 1889. Mr. Boylan conducted the Groveland 
farm until the fall of 1894 when he sold and bought the Loveland farm of fifty acres 
on lot No. 13, on which he now conducts a dairy farm with twelve head of stock, 
finding a market for his product in the creamery at Hornellsville. He is a member 
of Arkport Grange, No. 179, and a supporter of church and school work, he and Mrs. 
Boylan being members of the Presbyterian church of Arkport. November 3, 1881, 
he married Mary, daughter of Michael Weber of South Dansville. and they have four 
children: William Llewelyn, bom September 9, 1886; Lillian Maria, born August 
14, 1888; Elbert Levergne, born December 31, 1889; and Edith .Margarite, born 
March 11, 1892, 

Castner, Charles A., was born in Woodull, N. Y., October 9, 1865, son of Isaac H. 
and Sarah (Stroud) Castner, he a native of Harrington, and she of WoodhuU. The 
paternal grandfather, John P. Castner, came from Canadice to Barrington, thence to 



322 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Milo about 1850, where he died. Isaac H. Castner learned the carpenter's trade, and 
worked at the wagonraaker's trade in Woodhull. In 1868 he went to Milo, and in 
1880 to Alta, where he still resides. He is a wagonmaker and an insurance agent. 
His brother, G. R. Castner, died in the rebel prison during the late war. Charles A. 
Castner was educated at Milo and Alta, and has always been a farmer. He now 
owns a farm of 148 acres, which he bought in 1889. He deals in fertilizers and Cort- 
land buggies. He is postmaster at Wayne Four Corners. In 1886 he married Clara, 
daughter of Henry and Sarah (Lake) Hoover of Tyrone, by whom he had three chil- 
dren: Eva, Clifford, and Clarence. 

Crean, James, was born in County Farry, Ireland, in March, 1850. Hugh Crean. 
his father, was born in the same place m 1824, one of six children born to James 
Crean. Hugh Crean was reared a farmer and came to Auburn. N.Y. , in 1874, and to 
Prattsburg the same year, where he has since resided. He married Margaret 
O'Donnell, by whom he had nine children: James, Kate (wife of Charles Kearns of 
Austin. Nev.), Martin, JIar,Ecaret (wife of Maurice Scanlan of Burlington, Mont.), 
Alex, Ellen, Mary, Richard, and Anna. His wife died in Ireland, and he now re- 
sides with his son James, who has always followed farming, and came to America 
and to Prattsburg in 1875, and in 1883 he purchased his present farm of 150 acres, 
where he, his father and brothers, Alex and Martin, now reside. Martin married 
Anna, daughter of Patrick Flaherty of Prattsburg. 

Caulkin, J. W., was born in Bradford county. Pa., in 1833, and, came to Corning, 
where he has since resided, in 1845. Friend Caulkin, his father, lived and died at 
Gibson, and was a merchant and contractor. J. W. Caulkin followed building and 
general contracting until 1892, since which time he has been engaged in farming. He 
is serving his third year as overseer of the poor. In 1866 he married Hannah Rowley 
of Corning. 

Cook, A. S., was born in Prattsburg, where he resided until 1884, being engaged a 
number of years in the general merchandise business. For six years after locating 
in Corning he clerked, and in January, 1889, the present firm of Fletcher & Cook, 
furniture dealers, was formed. At Prattsburg he was foreman of the Prattsburg 
Protectors, master of the Masonic Lodge, etc. Benjamin Cook, his father, was born 
at Palatine, Montgomery county, in 1807, and located at Prattsburg. where he was 
widely known, highly respected, and influential. He died July 11, 1894. 

Campbell, Martin B., was born in Warren county. Pa., November 5, 1863, son of 
Martin and Sarah (Lesh) Campbell, he a native of Kinrua, Warren county, Pa., born 
March 17, 1822, and she of Ontario county, N.Y., born August 13, 1830. The grand- 
father, John Campbell, was a native of Lycoming county. Pa., and spent most of 
his days in Warren county, Pa. The maternal grandfather, Jacob Lesh, was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and spent his days in Warren county. Pa., but died in Mc- 
Kean county, Pa. Martin Campbell, father of Martin B., came to Jasper in 1866, 
where he remained twelve years, thence to Pennsylvania, and in 1885 returned to 
Jasper where he has since resided. He sold the farm to his brother, Robert Camp- 
bell, who now lives in Kane, Pa. Martin B. was reared on a farm and educated in 
the common schools, after which he engaged in the milling trade, which business he 
followed in Bradford, Pa., for eight years, but is now engaged in farming, and he 



FAAIILY SKETCHES. 323 

and his father own 163 acres of land. He is a member of Jasper Tent, K. O. T. M., 
and is also a member of Jasper Grange. 

Chatfield, Ezra, was born in Sodus, Wayne county, N. Y. , September 18, 1845, sou 
of Kzra and Zippora (Orton) Chatfield, he a native of Madistone, Kent, England, 
born March 4, 1799, and she of Pulteney N. Y., born March 2, 1816. The grand- 
father, William Chatfield, who lived and died in England, was one of the aid de 
camps (if William the Conqueror, from whom this name descended. Ezra Chatfield, 
father of Ezra, jr., hid five children, and by a previous wife, Elizabeth Underwood, 
he had three children. He came to Sodus, N. Y., in 1828, thence to Jasper in 1855, 
where he located on the farm of Lemuel June, where he died January 17, 1882, and 
his wife September 15, 1886. He was a Baptist minister for many years. Ezra 
Chatfield was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and by home 
study. He was a lumberman and farmer for several years, was in partnership with 
D. C. Hunter four years in Jasper, and in 1886 moved on to the farm of li4 acres he 
now owns, where he follows general farming. He was assessor for three years, and 
inspector of election for a number of j-ears, and is now serving his first term as 
supervisor of the town. He is a member of E. A. U. of Ja.sper. October 16, 1872, 
he married Mary Wal wrath of Cameron, by whom he had seven children: K. L., de- 
ceased; Bertha, Ethel, Lynn, Pearl, Kurt, and Mabel. 

Cornell, Hamilton, was born in West Union, April 4, 1868, son of Egbert and Dor- 
leska (Morey) Cornell, both natives of West Union, where they now live. The grand- 
father, Hamilton Cornell, was a native of Chatham, and an early settler of West 
Union, who now resides in Jasper, and iseiglity years of age. Egbert Cornell, father 
of Hamilton, is a farmer by occupation, and Hamilton was reared on the farm, edu- 
cated in the common schools, after which he followed farming, and now owns 105 
acres of land. August 22, 1889 he married Maggie Kelley, a native of West Union, 
by whom he had one son, Lester. The family is related to the founder of Cornell 
University. 

Clayson, Robert H., was born March 12, 1842. His grandfather, Enoch Clayson, 
was born in Stamford, Conn, and died in Westchester county, town of Bedford, aged 
ninety-six years. He was a soldier of the Revolution, enlisted at si.xteen years of 
age. Lewis Clayson, father of Robert H., was born in Bedford, Westchester county, 
N. Y., in 1808. His brother Enoch settled at Bowles Corners in 1827, and bought 
the Captain Bowles farm. He also bought cattle in this locality and drove them to 
Westchester county, and on one of these trips was drowned in the Susquehanna River, 
at Smithboro, where he is buried. Lewis Clayson married Cordeha E. Halsted, who 
was born in Bedford, Westchester county, N. Y., April 8, 1816, and died in Decem- 
ber, 1893, and at his brother's death, which occurred in 1879, .settled on his farm, 
which he cleared and improved. Mr. and Mrs, Clayson had five children: Robert 
H , as above; Augustus, who was born December 31. 1844; Susan M., who was born 
in 1846, and died in 1862; Anna Miller, who was born in 1849; and Emily lone 
Oudekirk, who was born in 1863. Robert H. Clayson was educated in the common 
schools. In August, 1864, he enlisted in the 28th Ind. Battery, and was discharged 
in August, 1865. He is a pensioner. He is a member of Wayland Lodge, No. 176, 
L O. O. F. At Cohocton, in 1863 he married Lucia Jane Tyler, who was born in 



524 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1846, by whom he had two children: Edwin Tyler, who was born in 18G4, and mar- 
ried Julia Dudley, by whom he has had two children, Charles Aubert; and Luella, 
who was born in 186G, and who married Segal B. Dudle)-. 

Conrad, George, was born March 8, 1845, son of Philip Conrad, who was born in 
Prussia, Germany, emigrated to America about 1840, and settled in Rochester where 
he remained five years. He and his brother Charles purchased the farm of 113 acres 
where George Conrad now resides. In 1844 Philip married Elizabeth Schwingle, 
who was born in 1822, by whom he had five sons: George, born March 8, 1845; 
Philip, born May 20, 1848 ; Christian, born in February, 1851, died in 1861 ; Henry, 
born April 10, 1853; and Benjamin, born April 9, 1855. Mr. Conrad died March 10, 
1876, aged sixty-three years. George Conrad received a common school education 
after which he engaged m farming, which he has always followed. He has held the 
office of assessor three years. In 1864 he enlisted in the 188th Regt. N. Y. Vols., 
and served until the close of the war. He received a commission by Colonel McMann 
and Doolittle, and was in the battles of Weldon R. R., first and second Hatcher's 
Run, Five Forks, and all the battles until Lee's surrender. He was discharged July 
1, 1865. He is a member of Theodore Schlick Post, No. 314, G. A. R., also of Way- 
land Lodge, No. 176, I. O O. F. In 1870 he married Louisa Lander, who was born 
March 9, 1850, by whom he had four children: Ellen A. Roberts, born July 26, 1871 ; 
Elizabeth S., born November 27, 1875; George C, born May 6, 1878; and Lewis J., 
born October 6, 1881. 

Candy, George A., was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 1, 1840, a son of William 
and Eva (Smith) Candy, who both died in Hublersburg, Pa. The father was a mason 
and architect by trade, and served as justice of the peace. Our subject was educated 
in Hublersburg, Pa., and in 1869 came to Woodhull and worked in the tinshops for 
W. H. Brady three years. He was for two years with Robert Mason, and then en- 
gaged in business for himself, doing repair work and tin and hardware business. 
He is a member of the G. A. R., No. 565, and of Woodhull Tent No. 174, K. O. T. M. 
In 1894 he married Minna A. Tucker of Woodhull. Mr. Candy enlisted in 1861 in 
Co. F, 2d Pa. Cav. , serving three years and four months, and participated in all the 
chief battles of the Army of the Potomac. He was wounded at Warrenton Junction 
and at Cold Harbor. 

Cornell, Levi S., was born in the town of Chatham, Tioga county. Pa., October 30, 
1835, is the oldest of nine children born to Socrates and Fannie Cornell. In 1858 
Levi married Harriett, daughter of Joseph and Jane (Schoonover) Knowlton, he a 
native of Massachusetts and she of Deerfield, Tioga county, Pa., by whom he had 
these children : Burtus, who was a farmer of Troupsburg, and who was killed by 
lightning in September, 1893, in his thirty-second year; Edward N., who is a farmer 
on the homestead ; Levi and Joseph, who are farmers in partnership in Troupsburg ; 
Flora, wife of Daniel McNeal, a farmer of Troupsburg; and Frederick, who is a lab- 
orer. Mr. Cornell has a farm of 118 acres which he bought in 1865. He is a member 
of McClellan Lodge, No. 649, F. & A. M. 

Clark, William B., was born in Greenwood, September 8, 1839, and is the third son 
of Myron and Sally (Works) Clark, he a native of Geneva, born June 8, 1807, she of 
Connecticut, born in April, 1812. Myron Clark helped his father clear the home 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 325 

farm, and has always followed farming. He spent his last days with his son, Will- 
iam B., and died May 4, 1884. Mrs. Clark died March 17, 1892. William B. Clark 
has always followed farming, except one year at Canisteo and one at Andover, which 
he spent in milling, and has a farm of seventy-nine acres and makes a specialty of 
dairy farming. In 1868 he married Ruth S., sister of H. B. Hill, by whom he had 
these children: Frank A., Bertha L., and Leo C. Mr. Clark enlisted in Co. E, 8Uth 
Ohio Vet. \"ols., and was honorably discharged July 17, 186."). He was taken sick at 
Vicksburg and transferred to Co. B, 22d Regt. Vet. Reserve Corps. He is a member 
of Post Baily, No. 351, G. A. R. 

Cornell, Nathan, was born in Otsego county, N. V., March 22, 1814, son of Smith 
and Delilah Townsend Cornell, who came to Tioga county. Pa., in 1817, where Mrs. 
Cornell died in 1829. For his second wife he married Rebecca Hackett, of Middle- 
bury, Tioga county, and three children were born to them. In religion they were 
Free Will Baptists. He died June II-!, 1836. The parents of Smith were Edward 
and Jemima Hallock Cornell. Edward C, who was a farmer and physician, came 
to Otsego county at an early day, where he died about 1815. Mrs. Cornell came to 
Tioga county and spent her last days with her children, and died in 1827. The ma- 
ternal grandparents of Nathan were Charles and Hannah Hall Townsend. He was 
a tanner and currier by trade, and came from New Jersey to Sullivan county, N. Y., 
where he died. Nathan has always followed farming and lumbering, and in 1846 
bought a farm in West Union, which in 1859 he sold and came to Troupsburg where 
he bought 100 acres of land in the southwestern part of the town, and has made a 
specialty of dairying. In 1846 he married Harriet M., daughter of Samuel and Sallie 
Fitch, of Brookfield, Pa., by whom he had three children: Helen, deceased, Charles, 
deceased, and David, who resides at home. Mr. Cornell is radically Democratic. 

Cornish, Alvah Z., was born in Wheeler, Steuben county, February 22, 1846, and 
is the fourth of nine children born to Thomas and Elvina (Hulbcrt) Cornish, he a na- 
tive of Poughkeepsie, and she of Broome county, N. Y. The grandparents, Joseph 
and Mary Cornish, came from Poughkeepsie to Harrison, Potter county, Pa , where 
he died, and Mrs. Cornish died in Troupsburg. He was a farmer and soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. Thomas Cornish owned land in Potter county, but settled for a 
time in Wheeler, Steuben county, and in 1848 returned to Harrison, where he died in 
1862. Mrs. Cornish died in 1892. Alvah Z. Cornish was left at sixteen years of age 
with a large family to take care of, and has always been a hard working man and a 
good manager, and now owns a farm in Troupsburg of 138 acres, which he bought 
in 1K7S, and on which he has erected fine buildings. He carries <m general farming 
and dairying. In 1869 he married Mary E., daughter of Moses Mercal of Brookfield, 
by whom he had the.se children: Omer V., Metta, Alva, and Mary J. Mr. Cornish 
is a member of the Farmers' Alliance at Brookfield, Pa., and was a member of Co. K, 
99th Pennsylvania Vols., in the late war. 

Cornell Franklin, was born in Chatham, Tioga county Pa., July 1, 1844, and is 
the fifth of nine children born to Socrates and Fannie (Short) Cornell, he a native of 
Chatham, Pa., born September 24, 1809, and she of Schoharie county, N. Y. They 
came to Troupsburg about 1866 where they have always followed farming. Franklin 
Cornell was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools, was about two 



326 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

years in the oil regions, and has been principally engaged in farming. He has a 
farm of forty acres at South Troupsburg where he resides, and one of 140 acres in 
Brooks Settlement. In 1864 he married Martha, daughter of Alfred and Mary Cady 
of Troui'sburg. Mr. Cornell enlisted in Co. B, lT9th N. Y. Vols., March 4, 1864, and 
served until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Cold Harbor and siege of 
Petersburg, and at the latter place was wounded by a shell. He is a member of Post 
Baily, No. 351, G. A. R. 

Clarkson, Edgar, was born in Yates county, N. Y., Maj' 23, 1849. Abraham P. 
Clarkson, his father, was born January 22, 1815, and was a blacksmith and wagon- 
maker by trade, but soon abandoned it and took to farming, and came to WoodhuU, 
Steuben county (the town is now known as Rathbone), where he died in 1866, aged 

fifty-one years. He married Matilda , by whom he had eight children: David, 

Peter, deceased, Thadeus, M. Ellen, Mary, Anna, John. Nellie, and Edgar. Mary 
married Martin Whipple of Westfield, Pa., and died in 1880. Edgar (. larkson was 
agent for the Howe sewing machine, and in 1873 he married Eunice Armstrong of 
Jasper, who is one of the descendants of the Murphy family which is so widely known 
in that part of the county, and in the spring of 1874 he engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness, and later in the milHnery business in Rathbonville. and in 1880 he bought the 
business of Hile Savage of Jasper, and July 21, 1893, lost both building and stock, 
the loss of which was §3 000 above the insurance. February 21, 1894, he bought the 
real estate of C. C. Aber in Canisteo village, and established a similar business un- 
der the name of Clarkson Bros., the members of which firm are Edgar and Thadeus. 
Edgar Clarkson is a member of Troupsburg Lodge of Masons, No. 649. 

CoUer, B. M., was born in the town of Fremont, Steuben county, October 29, 1868. 
William Coller, his father, w-asa native of New York State, and was a machinist. 
He married Mary R. Lake of Steuben county, by whom he had two children, George 
C. and B. M. CoUer, who was clerk in a grocery store in Buffalo, and then brakeman 
on the N. Y., L. E. & W. R. R., Buffalo division, in 1888, and was promoted to con- 
ductor in 1891, and continued up to November 1, 1892. November 16, 1892, he estab- 
lished a wood and coal business in Canisteo, and also conducts a farm in Hartsville, 
and has an electric riding gallery at Glenwood for the summer. 1. Edward Lyon is 
a partner in the wood and coal business, and at that time they bought out C. M. & 
L. D. Whiting, and now run two establishments. September 21, 1892, he married 
Mary L. , daughter of John Carter. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge, No. 65, 
and is senior master of ceremonies, and was made a Mason in Buffalo, and officiated 
in the Morning Star Lodge in 1893. 

Calkins, Jefferson W., was born in Bath, June 4, 1851. Ira Calkins, his father, 
was born at Painted Post, where his grandfather, Frederick Calkins, settled in 1791. 
Frederick Calkins married Polly Mann, and through life was engaged in lumbei'ing 
and farming. Ira M. married Hannah, daughter of John and Nancy Whiting, and 
through life was engaged in mercantile and farming pursuits, serving as road com- 
missioner, and taking an active interest in the development of his town, and dying 
in 1885, in his eighty-second year. Jefferson W. married Jennie, daughter of Charles 
M. Brundage, by whom he had three children, Carrie, Hattie, and Ruth. 

Crum, W. G., was born in Norwich, Chenango county. October 13, 1851. Samuel 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 327 

Crum, his father, was a native of Chenango covinty, and the family trace their de- 
scent from the pioneer settlers of Connecticut. He married Jane Fargo, and through 
life was identified in farming and as buyer and shipper of produce, and came to Bath 
in 18(i".J, where he was an active business man, and died in 188<i in his sixty-second 
year. W. C. Crum was educated at Haverling Union School, after which he gave 
his attention to farming for eight years, and in 1894 was appointed postmaster of 
Bath. In 1877 he married Catherine Fogarty, by whom he had one child, Samuel H. 
Mr. Crum is one of the enterprising men of his county, and has given a great deal of 
attention to improving the breed of horses in his town. 

Clough, Winfield S. , was born in Athens, Greene county, February 14, 18y'2. J. ]. 
Clough, his father, was a native of the same county, also his father, J. J. Clough, sr., 
and the family came from Holland at an early date and settled in (Jreene county. 
J. J. Clough, jr., married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Whitbeck, and followed 
the carpenter trade through life. W. 'S. Clough was educated in Baldwinsville 
Academy, and then learned the carpenter trade. In 1878 he came to Bath and in the 
same year formed the partnership of Clough & McChesney, and are at the present 
time among the active contractors and builders in Steuben county. In 1874 he mar- 
ried Mary E., daughter of Rev. Joseph Strough, by whom he had four children: 
Frank, Rena, Myrtie, and Anna. 

Cushing, Adolphus W., was born in the town of Campbell, April 15, 1851, son of 
Warren G., who was al^o bofn in Campbell. His grandfather, Solomon Cushing, 
settled there in 1808, being one of the pioneers of that town, and married Sallie 
Wilden, and through life was identified as a farmer. Warren G. married Susan, 
daughter of Barnabas and Sallie Smith. He died in 1865 in his fiftieth year. Adol- 
phus W. was educated in the common schools, engaged in farming until 1878 when 
he began the insurance business and is now carrying a full line of fire, life, and other 
insurance policies. In 1889 he learned the undertaking business and in 1S9I opened 
his present furniture and vmdertaking establishment. In 1872 he married Agatha L. , 
daughter of Richard Lee, and they are the parents of one son, Warren G., and one 
daughter, Edith B. Mr. dishing served as assessor for six years and postmaster, 
also taking an active interest in church and school work. 

Cook, Charles C. was born in Wayne, Steuben county, August 24, 1854. Seely 
Cook, his father, was a native of Ulysses. Tompkins county, X. Y.. and the familj' 
came from New Jersey, and settled in Tompkins county, and in 1833 Jerry, the 
father of Seely Cook, settled in the town of Wayne, Steuben county. Seely Cook 
married Fannie, daughter of Robert Morris, and through life was identified as a 
farmer, dying in 1888, in his seventy-third year. Charles C. was educated in the 
common schools and Haverling Academy, and then entered the employ of J. O. 
Ruppert, and then learned telegraphy, and in 1883 was appointed agent of D., L. W. 
R. R., at Kanona, which position he now holds. lu 1885 he married Adell Ruchen. 

Collier, Richard A., was born in Bath, November 15, 1885. His father. Robert 
Collier, came to Bath in 1812 and entered the employ of Dugald Cameron. He mar- 
ried Polly Stockbridge, by whom he had twelve children, .six of whom are living. 
Mr. Collier was one of the leading men of Bath in the early days, buying and clear- 
ing wood lands. He died in 1865, aged seventy years. Richard A. married Mary, 



328 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

daughter of Seeley Crosby, by whom he has two sons: Morey S. and Daniel M. Mr. 
Collier has been engaged in lumbering and farming all his life, having cleared three 
farms He is one of the leading men of the town. 

Bennett, Robert M., was born in Clarion county. Pa., June 80, 1839, came to New 
York State in 1859 and remained in the county two years as a farmer. In 1863 he 
returned to Pennslyvania and was in that State until 1879, farming, lumbering, and 
staging. In 1878 he was a resident of Bradford, engaged in the hotel business, and 
being burned out he removed to Friendship and after one year took the Delevan 
House in Hornellsville. He was then .seven months in Richburg, and returning to 
Hornellsville bought the Park Hotel which he conducted for four years. He then 
conducted a sunmior resort at Loon Lake for five years. In 1888 he came to Almond 
and built the Bennett House and the foot bridge across to the depot. His hotel has 
accommodation for thirty-four guests. He is a Democrat and in 1893 he was elected 
commissioner of highways for Hornellsville. He was also sheriff of Elk county, Pa., 
for three years, and school director for nine years. In connection with his hotel he 
conducts a farm of ninety acres. He was married in 1861 to Elizabeth Bardine of 
Big Creek, who died February 17, 1891 His second wife was Mrs. Vina Yocom of 
Hornellsville. An adopted daughter, Jennie, is the wife of F. F. Woodruff, a com- 
mercial traveler of Kansas City, Mo. 

Butler, Ephraim Y., was born in the town of Charleston, Tioga county. Pa , Au- 
gust 7, 1843, the oldest son of Rufus E. Butler, a mechanic of that town, who died 
April 26, 1866, at sixty-eight years of age. Ephraim was given a good common 
school education and very early began the life work in which he has become a prom- 
inent actor. At fifteen, when he could just see the top of the work bench, he was taught 
how tu shove a plane and handle a saw. He stayed with his father until his death, 
coming to Hornellsville in 1869. His father was a contractor and they together 
would take contracts and part of their time has been at day work. He had charge of 
the carpenter work of Park school, Hornellsville Sanitarium, residences of F. G. 
Babcock, Charles Adsit and many other of the fine residences of the city. Mr. Butler 
was a Democrat. He was married February 3, 1875, to Sarah A. McKee, of Veteran, 
Chemung county, N. Y. : they have one child, Henry McKee, a student of Hornellst 
ville Academy. 

Armstrong, George, was born in Prattsburg, June, 1825. Josiah Armstrong, his 
father, was born in the town of Junius, Seneca county, in 1799. He was an only 
child, and his father died when he was quite young, but his mother lived to be 
ninety-five years of age. In 1820 he came to Prattsburg and built a log house, cleared 
a farm, and accumulated a large property. He married Lydia Redlield of Ontario 
county, by whom he had four children: George, Margaret L. , Lydia A., and Rhoda 
M. He died in 1891 and his wife in 1861. George remained with his father on the 
homestead, to which he has later added until he and his wife now own 650 acres. In 
1859 he married Catherine, daughter of Hachaliah and Elizabeth (Shultz) Carhart, 
by whom he had one child, Frank C, who conducts the farm and who married Helen 
M. Olmstead, by whom he had four children: Ermah L., Raymond O., Ednah C, 
and Florence E. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity, Avoca Lodge, No. 
538. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 329 

Bardeen, Henry B. , was bom in Prattsburg. November 17, 1838. Moses Hardeen, 
his father, was born in Massachusetts, in 1784, a .soldier in the war of 1812, and was 
one of nine sons born to Moses Bardeen, a farmer, who came to Steuben county 
about 1810 and spent his remaining days in Prattsburg. He was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. Moses, jr., settled in Prattsburg soon after the war of 1812, 
where by his integrity and zeal he accumulated a large property, and at his death 
possessed several hundred acres of land. He married Mrs. Margaret (Dedsen) Smith, 
a native of Vermont, by whom he had nine children: Edna. Mary A.. Catherine, 
Kdmund, Olive, Luther, Moses, Henry and Lutricia. He died in 1860, and his wife 
in 1807. Henry B. Bardeen enlisted in Co. C, 188th Regt., from the town of Naples, 
participating in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Five Forks, and Lee's surrender. 
After his return from the war he purchased his present farm of 200 acres, where^he 
has since devoted his attention to the breeding of high class sheep and Durham cat- 
tle. In 1860 he married Ellen Smith of Schoharie county, by whom he had eight 
children: Charles, who died while his father was in the army; Mrs. Emma Bush of 
Pulteney; Herbert, of Italy, Yates county; Elmer; Mrs. Ella M. Early of Pratts- 
burg; Orpha, Bertha, and Carrie. Mr. Bardeen is a member of the Gregory Post, 
G. A. R., of Prattsburg. 

Blodgett, William \) . was born in Prattsburg, on the farm he now owns, in 1845, 
where he has always lived, having purchased of the heirs their interest in the home- 
stead of si.xty-three acres, to which he has added fifty-five acres, and after years of 
hard toil and industry has cleared his farm of the timber and stumps, and developed 
it into a model farm, and in addition takes much pride and interest in the breeding 
of ler.sev cattle, and during his early life he dealt to some extent in lumber. In 
politics he is a Republican, and has served as overseer of the poor, assessor, and ju.s- 
tice of the peace, and is also a member of the Grand Lodge at Ingleside, of which 
he is secretary. Martin Blodgett, his grandfather, was a native of Massachusetts, a 
farmer and pioneer settler of Gorham, Ontario county, where he died in 186.5. He 
reared a family of seven children. Ansel Blodgett, father of William D., was born 
in Gorham, Ontario county, in 1812. He was a farmer, and also manufactured and 
dealt in lumber and shingles to considerable extent for many years. In 1846 he 
came to Prattsburg and settled on the farm now owned by William U. He married 
Harriett Lewis of Ontario county, by whom he had four children: Mrs. Emily Drake 
(deceased), Mrs. Catherine Gibson (deceased), William D. , and Mrs. Ellen T. Boggs 
of Prattsburg. He died in 1873, and his wife in 1892, aged eighty-seven years. In 
1865 William D. Blodgett married Phoebe, daughter of William and Polly Pressler 
of Prattsburg, by whom he had four children: Catherine, wife of Barton Olney of 
Naples, N. Y., Arba M., Alfa and Allen. Mrs. Blodgett is a member of the grange. 

Brown, Charles Stewart, was born in Northumberland, England, March 18, 1837. 
Sutherland Brown, his grandfather, was a veterinary surgeon in the English army 
for twenty-one years. He reared five sons and two daughters. Thomas Brown, the 
father of Charles S., was also a veterinary surgeon in the English army for over 
twenty years. He married Elizabeth Patterson, of England, by whom he had these 
children: Elizabeth, Charles, John, William, Thomas, Henry, James, Sarah, Jane, 
Beulah, Annetta and Georgiana. At the age of sixteen Charles S. enlisted as a 
volunteer in the Crimean War and was in the battles of Balaklava and Sebaslopol, 
PP 



330 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

being wounded in the latter one, he was sent home. At the age of seventeen he 
again left home and worked his way to America, going direct to Albany, where he 
was engaged in carriage making for two years. He then went to Seneca Falls on 
bridge work and in 1859 engaged in farming. April 29, 1861, he answered the first 
call for troops and enlisted in Co. I, 33d Regt, and served six months, when he was 
discharged on account of sickness. He was in the first Battle of Bull Run, where 
upon their retreat he was separated from the main army, cut across lots, picked up 
three muskets, swam the Potomac with these and his accoutrements on his back, and 
arrived safely in camp; and at Falls' Church, and Malvern Hill. After leaving the 
war he went to Branchport, where he engaged in farming and carpentry. From 
1867 to 1873 he spent his time in Michigan, then returned to Steuben county, where 
he resumed his trade. In 1883 he purchased a small tract of land to which he added 
sixty acres in 1890. Mr. Brown is a member of the Gregory G. A. R. Post of Pratts- 
burg. In 1863 he married Mary, daughter of William and Hannah (Wilson) Bogart, 
Italy, Yates county, by whom he has three children: Alfred, Alice, wife of William 
Monroe, of Lockhaven, Pa. ; and Frank C, who resides at home. 

Boon, Abram, was born in Ingleside, town of Prattsburg, November 8, 1845. Jacob 
Boon, was a native of Holland and came to the United States while a young man, 
coming direct to Prattsburg, and in 1805 located on a farm in the wilderness which 
he cleared and made for himself a home. He married Phebe Gee, by whom he had 
five children. He died at the age of seventy-two years. William Boon, father of 
Abram, was born, reared, and died on the homestead. He married Fannie Deo, who 
was born in Naples, Ontario county, a daughter of Abram Deo, by whom he had four 
children: Phcebe, Abram, Sarah, and Lewis. He died in 1877, and his wife survives 
him and resides on the farm near Ingleside. Abram Deo was a farmer and justice 
of the peace, and did much business for the public. He was a Democrat and politi- 
cal orator of unusual ability. Abram Boon was reared on the farm and followed 
farming for many years. He first purchased a small farm, and now owns 210 acres 
which he superintends, and since 1865 he has been extensively engaged in the buy- 
ing of produce. In 1893 he became the head of the Boon & Homenway Company, 
produce dealers in Naples, N. Y., and in the fall and winter of 1894-95 they did a 
§100,000 business. In 1883 he moved to the village of Ingleside, where he has since 
made his home. In 1862 he married Sophia, daughter of David and Sarah (Fisher) 
Morehouse, by whom he had three children: Eva, wife of Frank Harris, Irving and 
Grace. Mr. Boon died May 10, 1895, dropping dead suddenly while preparing for 
breakfast. 

AUerton, Dudley D., was born in Bath, May 13, 1857. Delanson Allerton, his father, 
was a native of Greene countv, N. Y. , and the family trace their descent from Isaac 
Allerton who came from England to the United States in the ship Mayflower, who 
landed at Plymouth Rock, and came to Steuben county with his parents and settled 
at Prattsburg. Delanson married Mary J., daughter of Moses Dudley, by whom he 
he had three children: Dudley, Mrs. Frank Parker, and Sarah. In 1835 he came to 
Bath, where he was a farmer, and died in 1894, in his seventy-ninth year. 

Aldrich, Dr. J. O., was born in the town of Thurston, December 16, 1848. Thomas 
Aldrich, his father, was a native of Rhode Island, and came to Steuben county, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 331 

was among the pioneers of that count)-. He married Julia A. Eddy for his first wife, 
and his second was Elizabeth, daughter of John Yost. He studied medicine in 
Rhode Island, and for years travelled over the surrounding country horseback, and 
he died in 1881, in his eighty-eighth year. J. O. Aldrich was educated at Woodhull 
Academy, and graduated from Eclectic College of Medicine at Cincinnati in 1883, 
and then came to Bath and established his practice. In 1882 he married Jennie F., 
daughter of Martin Browuell. Mr. Aldrich is one of the progressive men of his 
town, serving as trustee, and was also appointed as examining surgeon of the 
United States Pension Board, serving for four years. 

Averill, Gen. W. W., was born in the town of Cameron, Steuben county, Novem- 
ber 5, 1832, son of Iliram, a native of Delaware county, and a grandson of Ebe- 
nezer, who came from Harperfield, Conn., to Delaware county, and from thereto 
Black Rock. Among the laws of 18Uand 1815 may be found an act for his relief for 
furnishing supplies to General Scott's army. Hiram Averill came to Steuben county 
in 1806 and married Huldah, daughter of Thomas Hemingway. He filled various 
positions of honor and trust, serving as the first postmaster. W. W. Averill was 
educated at the Elmira Academy, and July. 1, 1851, entered the United States Mili- 
tary Academy at \Vest Point, being in the same class with Weilzel, Gregg, George 
Nichols, Alex. S. Webb, J. W. Turner, Ruggles. and Torbert, and was graduated in 
1855, receiving rank of second lieutenant in the Mounted Rifles in 185G, serving on 
the frontier up to 1858, when he was severely wounded in a night attack by the In- 
dians. Recovering from his wound, he served in the Civil war from 1861 to 1865, 
being promoted from .second lieutenant to brevet major-general of the United States 
Army, serving in successive grades. His promotion was entirely due to his bravery, 
and meritorious conduct in the field, being one of fifteen to receive commission for 
specific distinguished service. He was also given the rank of brigadier general. In 
1885 he married Kezia Hayward. For the past eight years has been on the retired 
list of the army, being on duty as assistant inspector general of Homes for disabled 
Soldiers and Sailors of the United States. 

Bowes, Martin, was born in Ireland, June 15, 1836, and came to the United States 
and settled in Bath in 1848. In 1857 he purchased a farm, remaining until 1859, and 
then came into the village of Bath and engaged in the passenger and freight busi- 
ness, and in 1870 he engaged in the coal business, which is still continued, also deal- 
ing largely, in connection with his sons, in oils, produce and grain. In 1856 he mar- 
ried Mary, daughter of Hugh McMahon, by whom he had five children; Henry W., 
Thomas F., a sanitary engineer of Boston, Mass , Ambrose, Mrs. W. W. Faulkner, 
and Catherine. Mr. Bowes is one of the enterprising men of his town, serving as 
trustee for six years, and taking an intelligent interest in educational and religious 
institutions. 

Bedell, J. D., was born in the town of Pulteney, October 5, 1844. His father, 
Calvin C, was a native of New Jersey and came to Pulteney with his father, Jacob, 
who settled there in 1828. Calvin C. married Elizabeth, daughter of John Van Ness, 
and was identified as a farmer through life. In 1854 he moved to the town of Bath, 
where he died in March, 1895, aged seventy-six years. Jacob E. Bedell was edu- 
cated in the common schools and by his thorough and judicious reading. In 1868 he 



332 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

married Emily, daughter of T. A. McDowell, by whom he has three children : Glenn 
C, May L. , and Martha. Mr. Bedell is one of the representative men of the town, 
taking an active interest in educational and religious institutions, 

Brundage, Mrs. Sarah. — Jesse Brundage was bom in Pennsylvania, May 23, 1801, 
son of Abraham Brnndage. who was one of the earliest settlers of Steuben county. 
Jesse married Sarah, daughter of Grattan H. Wheeler, in 1831, and they were the 
parents of four children: Franklin, Grattan, Monroe, and Mrs. Eliza Nellis, none of 
whom is now living. Monroe served in the war, going as a private, and was pro- 
moted for meritorious conduct and bravery in the field to the rank of captain. He 
was engaged in numerous battles, losing his right arm at the battle of Antietam. 
He suffered from exposure and the shock to his system was such that he never fully 
recovered. He died at Bath in 1875. Jesse Brundage was one of the leading men 
of the town. He died November 9, 1851. 

Barber, B. G., was bom in Cameron, February 7, 1864, and was educated in Bath, 
at Haverling Academy, and Rochester University, and for several years was con- 
nected with Ross & Hastings' machine shop. In 1892 he married Carrie Gray, 
daughter of G. H. Brundage, whose ancestors were among the pioneers of Steuben 
county, and who married Clara Gray, daughter of Daniel Gray, who was a very 
prominent farmer and stock raiser, serving as supervisor and elected to the State 
Legislature in 1890. He was taken with pneumonia while at Albany and died March 
29, 1891. 

Burleson, Dr. Ten Eyck O. , was born in Howard, Steuben county, July 21, 1854. 
Hiram B. Burleson, his father, was a native of the same town, and his grandfather, 
Russell Burleson, came to Steuben county in 1813, from Chenango county. The 
family were identified in Otsego county and were among the pioneers of that town. 
Hiram B. Burleson was born in Howard, February- 28, 1816, and he married Cather- 
ine, daughter of John Willis, and was identified as a farmer. T. O. Burleson was 
educated at Alfred University and graduated from Buffalo Medical University in 
1880, and began practice at Pulteney, N. Y., and in 1890 received the appointment 
as surgeon at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. In 1886 he married Lily M., a daugh- 
ter of George Bennett of Pulteney. Mr. Burleson is one of the leading men of his 
profession, elected president of the Steuben Medical Society, and member of the 
State Medical Society. 

Burt, Abram F. , was bom at Painted Post (now East Corning), June 15, 1838. His 
father, Benjamin Burt, was a native of Orange county and came to Steuben county 
in 1825. The family trace their descent back to Henry and Ulalia Burt, who came 
from England to Springfield, Mass., in 1640. Benjamin Burt married Dorcas Acker- 
man. Mr. Burt was engaged in farming up to the time of his death, which occurred 
in 1873 at the age of seventy-six years. Abram F., was educated at Corning and 
Alfred University. In 1855 he went to California, returning in 1863. In 1866 he 
came to Savona and engaged in farming. That same year he married Mary H., 
daughter of Samuel and Zilpha Kenyan, by whom he has one son, Samuel B. Burt. 
Mr, Burt is one of the leading men of the town, 

Bryan, Judson, was bom in Bath, June 24, 1843. Joshua W. Bryan, his father, 
was a native of Steuben county, where he came with his parents, George and Jane, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 333 

who settled in Sonora. He married Mary J., daughter of Isaac and Charlotte Aller- 
ton, and was identified through life in the farming and lumbering business, and was 
verj- prominent in the development of his town, twice elected as supervisor of the 
town of Savona, which was later incorporated in the town of Bath, and he died July 
26, 1891, aged seventy-four years. Judson Bryan was educated m the common 
schools and Sonora Academy, and in 18fiil married Anna, daughter of Hon. Charles 
S. Longwell, by whom he had five children, George J., Mary K., Julia M., Francis, 
and Alice J. 

Atwood, I'rial, was born at Homer, Cortland county, N. Y., April 24, 1828, and is 
the oldest of eleven children born to David and Mary Barry Atwood, and grandson 
of Moses and Mary Polmanteer Atwood. Moses was a native of Kingston, N. V., 
and a pioneer of German, Chenango county, N. Y., from where he removed to Tioga 
county, Pa., about 1835, being a farmer by occupation. He died in Charleston, 
Tioga county, in 1865, and his wife in 1849. The great-grandfather of Urial, Moses 
Atwood, came from England to Esopus, now Kingston, with three brothers, one of 
whom settled at Lima, Conn. , the other in Mjlssachusetts, and Moses bought a large 
tract of land in Wyoming Valley, Pa. During the Wyoming massacre in the Revo- 
lutionary war he escaped through the wilderness and was fourteen days reaching 
Bethlehem. He afterwards returned to Esopus, but the town was burned and he 
lost all of his property. David Atwood was a mason and bricklayer, and from 
Homer he went to Chatham, Tioga county, and thence in 1833 to Trumbull county, 
Ohio, where he engaged in farming. Three years later he came to Wellsville, N.Y. , 
thence to Troupsburg, and spent the latter part of his life at Horseheads in charge 
of the N. C. R. R. woodyards. Hi died in 1865, and Mrs. Atwood, at Wellsville, in 
1889. Urial was educated at Jamestown Academy and Academy Corners, and when 
fourteen yearsof age went to work in the lumber business, which occupation he followed 
until twenty one, and then engaged in farming for a time, and has since been em- 
ployed as a contractor and builder. In 1888 he went into the undertaking business 
at Troupsburg, where he is still located. In 1S4S he married Sarah H., daughter of 
Luke and Mary Darling, of Chatham, by whom he had three children: Clarence A., 
a stock dealer at Willianisport, Pa. ; Florence, wife of Perry Schoonover, of Troups- 
burg; and Emma, who is a proof writer for a law firm in Wichita, Kansas. Mrs. 
Atwood died in 1869. In 1872 Mr. Atwood married the second time to Ruth Baker, 
who died in 1893. In 1894 he married his present wife, Maria Hawley, of Jefferson 
county, N. Y. Mr. Atwood enlisted January 4, 1862, in Co. (J, 1st Regt. N. Y. Inft., 
and was honorably discharged February 28, 1863. He was in the battles of Merrimac 
and Monitor, capture of Norfolk, and Fair Oaks, and was taken prisoner at 2d Bull 
Run, paroled and sent to Annapolis. He has been po.stmaster at Troupsburg for a 
number of years, and justice eight years. He is a member of Post Baily, No. 351, 
G. A. R., and of the McClellan Lodge, No. 649, F. & A. M. 

Betts, Henry, was born in Dansville, Livingston county, May 26, 1820. John Betts, 
his father, was a native of Canada and a farmer. The mother of Henry, Polly 
Welsh, was a daughter of one of the first settlers of Dansville; they were the parents 
of seven children, of whom Henry was the second son. He was given a good com- 
mon school education and remained with his father on the farm until twenty-four 
years of age, when he was married and started for himself by the purchase of a farm 



334 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of 100 acres about a mile and a half east of the city. At that time (1844) the business 
of this city was very small. He made his home on the farm of his first purchase un- 
til 1875, and that year he bought his present residence, which had been partly built 
by George Holland, and has ever since made his home there. By industry and per- 
severance he increased his possessions until he owned 365 acres of some of the best 
farm land of the town. He has withdrawn from all farming and labor and is now 
living a retired life in his beautiful city home. He has always taken an active in- 
terest in church work, connected with the Presbyterian society. He was married in 
1844 to Olive, daughter of William Hall, a farmer at Dansville; they have been the 
parents of seven children: William, is a farmer of Hornellsville ; Mary, the wife of 
James K. Brush, a farmer of this town; Electa, the wife of Leonard Nicholson, a 
farmer of this town; Martha is now her father's constant companion, and Diana also 
lives at home ; Theodore is engaged as superintendent of one of the largest bicycle 
establishments of New York city; Charlie, the second son, was one of the most 
promising of our young men, died December 17, 1888, in his twenty-si.\th year. Mrs. 
Betts died November 9, 1889; her death was mourned by all who knew her. She 
was a lady of noble Christian character and a member of the Presbyterian church. 
The fourth child, Abby, became the wife of Charles V. Van Sickle ; she died May ti, 
1892. 

Bryan, Dr. E. W., was born in Steuben county in 1832, and graduated from the 
HomcEopathic Hospital College, Cleveland, O., in 1868. Prior to this he had prac- 
ticed in Marshall county, 111., from 1863 to 1866. In 1877 he came to Corning after 
practicing in Ovid for ten years. He is a member of the American Institute of 
Homoeopathy, State Homoeopathic Medical Society, and Steuben County Homeo- 
pathic Medical Society. In 1862 he married Lizzie Jessup. 

Talmadge, David H., was born in Greenville, Greene county, N Y. , May 4, 1854. 
His father, Charles Talmadge, is a farmer of that town, and is now sixty-three years 
age. David H. was given a good common school education, and made his home 
with his father until he was twenty j'ears of age. He was then for four years en- 
gaged in various employments, speculating ir. hay, grain, fruit, etc., in Greene 
county. In 1878 he came to Hammondsport, and after spending six months in gen- 
eral employment, he established a draying business, starting in a small way with 
only one horse, he has rapidly added to his business, and has now six horses which 
are constantly employed. He is the drayman for the American, Wells Fargo, and 
United States Express Companies, and also handles the mail for this town. He de- 
votes his time to his business and his only political position was a member of the vil- 
lage council. He is a member of the Natural Protective Legion of Waverly. In 
1881 he made his first purchase of a five acre vineyard, which he has increased by 
purchase to nineteen acres, divided between the lake shore and Pleasant Valley. In 
November, 1874, Mr. Talmadge married Emma, daughter of Lafayette Moore, of 
Durham, Greene county, by whom he had four children: Jesse Moore, a student of 
Cornell University, class of '97; Bessie J., of Hammondsport Union School; Mabel 
R.. also a student of Hammondsport Union School; and Fanny E. 

Boone, C. E. — Jacob Boone, the pioneer of the family in Steuben county, came 
from the Hudson River countrv about 1800 and settled at Rikers Hollow in the town 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 335 

of Prattsbuig. His sons were George, who settled in Quincy, Mich. ; Cornelius, 
William, and Charles, settled in the town of Prattsburg, where they engaged in 
farming; and James, who lived at Jackson, Mich., none of whom are living. Rodney 
Boone was born in 1H14, and until 1872 resided in the town of Prattsburg, where he 
was engaged in farming. In that year he settled at Bloods and engaged in the grain 
and produce business, which he carried on until 1883. He was a staunch Democrat, 
taking an active part in politics, and was a member of the board of assessors in both 
Prattsburg and Cohocton. Mr. Boone was twice married, and his first wife was 
Susan Brown, and their children were Henry, who settled in Michigan; Adelaide, 
wife of Burr Edmonds of Cohocton ; De Witt C. ; Edgar, who died in early manhood ; 
Charles E. : Nida, deceased; and Daniel, deceased. For his second wife Mr. Boone 
married Sarah M. Welch. He died in 1885. Charles Boone was born in 1853, and 
has always followed farming. He is an active member of the Democratic party, and 
is a member of Kanawah Lodge, I. O. O. P., of Atlanta, and the K. O. T. M. In 
1877 he married Florence, daughter of Herman Clark of Cohocton, and their chil- 
dren are Jesse, Harry, Grace, and Carlton. De Witt C. was educated at Naples 
Academy, and studied medicine with Doctors Patchin and A. L. Gilbert, and in 1870 
was graduated from the Buffalo Medical College. He immediately located in Wal- 
lace, where he remained until 1875, when he located in Springwater, where he prac- 
ticed his profession until 1892. He was a strong Democrat and took a very active 
part in political affairs, being twice elected supei-visor of Springwater. In 1892 he 
settled at Atlanta, where he resided until his death, which occurred June 39, 1.894. 
He married Jennie Parks, who survives him. 

Argue, Dr. Henry A., was born in Corning in 1861. He graduated from Corning 
Academy, and spent two years in McGill L^niversity, Montreal, and graduated from 
New York Medical University in 1881, and has since practiced in Corning. He is a 
member of the Steuben County Medical Society, Corning Academy of Medicine, and 
the State and National Associations of Railway Surgeons, being surgeon for the Erie 
railroad. 

Baker, Isaac, was born in Cameron, July 3, 1841, son of Urbane and Sarah K. 
(June) Baker, he a native of Putnam county, N. Y., and she of Hampshire. The 
grandfather, Samuel D. Baker, came to Steuben county, N. Y. , in 1807, thence to 
Cameron, N. Y. , and died in Rathbone. The maternal grandfather was a native of 
Wales, and died in Hampshire. Urbane Baker, father of Isaac, was a carpenter by 
trade, and afterwards engaged in farming. He died in Jasper in 1886, and his wife 
in 1851. Isaac Baker was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. 
He followed farming until 1861, when he enlisted in Co. K, 1st N. Y. Artillery, and 
served until July, 1862, when he lost his sight. He came to Jasper in 1870, where he 
now resides. He is a member of Moses Dennis Post, No. 83, G. A. R. July 2, 1878, 
he married Katie, daughter of James and Eliza (Pince) Reynolds, she of Long Island, 
and he of Connecticut ; they came to Broome county, thence to Jasper in 1845, where 
he died May 5, 187:!; his wife resides in Hedgesville, N. Y., at eighty years of age. 

Brown, L. L., was born in Troupsburg, N. Y., April 2, 1849, son of Henry and 
Martha (Everett) Brown, both natives of Madison county, N. Y., who came to Troups- 
burg at an early day, where they died, he in 1851, and she in 1861. L. L. Brown 



336 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and in 1870 came to Jasper 
and began working by the month for N. A. Prutsman, and now owns a farm of 106 
acres, having made his own way. In 1873 he married Laura, daughter of N. A. 
Prutsman, who was a son of Nicholas Prutsman, one of the very first settlers of 
Jasper. 

Brooks, Marion H., was born in Slaterville Springs, Tompkins county, N. Y., Oc- 
tober 29, 1847, son of William and Jane (Simmons) Brooks, natives of Orange county, 
and Tompkins county, respectively. The grandfather, James Brooks, a native of 
England, came to America during the Revolutionary war and spent several years in 
the war. He settled first in Berks county. Pa. ; but afterward moved to Orange 
county, N. Y., where he died. William Brooks came to Tompkins county when 
eighteen years old, from thence he moved to Hornellsville and from there enlisted in 
Co. E, 161st N. Y. Vols. Inft. and served two years, dying at Baton Rouge. He was 
a farmer and also run a saw mill. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Brooks 
resides at Woodhull and is sixty-.seven j'ears of age. Marion H. was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming and running 
a saw mill. He came to Woodhull in 1S63, purchasing a farm of eighty acres, and in 
1888 he bought another farm of forty acres, where he now resides. In 1864 Mr. 
Brooks enlisted in Co. F, 1st New York Lincoln Cavalry, and .served one year, and 
was in the Battle of Winchester. He has served as constable in Woodhull. Decem- 
ber 31, 1865, he married Eugenia, daughter of Stephen Colvin, by whom he has two 
children: Delia R., born November 15, 1867, educated in the common schools, wife 
of James Calhoun, a mill man of State Run, Pa. , and Winnie, born May 31, 1877, 
educated at Woodhull Academy, now at home. 

Abrams, Glen D. , was born November 13, 1858. His grandfather, Thomas Abrams, 
was born in Camillus, Onondaga county, and .settled on the Dwight Weld farm in 
1818 after which he moved to Patchensville. He married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Dennis Hess, by whom he had these children: Almond J., Ellen M., Thomas, Laur. 
etta, wife of Dr. Carpenter of North Cohocton, Truman E. and Sophia. Thomas 
Abrams, father of Glen D., was born in Patchensville, May 18, 1830. He married 
Harriet Rosenkrans, who was born in Wayland and died February 22, 1869, aged 
twenty-nine years. They had two children- Glen D. as above; and Mmnie, who 
was born August 24, 1860. In 1860 Mr. Abrams was a partner with Saul Hess in the 
mercantile business in Wayland, and was also a partner with Martin Kimmel in the 
same business. He was postmaster of Wayland for eight years. Glen D. Abrams 
was educated in the public schools of Wayland. He has traveled extensively, and 
has been in twenty-.seven different States of the Union. He is now excise commis- 
sioner for a term of three years. He is a member of Wayland Lodge No. 176, I. O. 
O. P., and Wayland Encampment. At Springwater, N. V., May 24, 1879, he married 
Lillian Walker, who was born May 21, 1858, by whom he had one son, Floyd, who 
was born October 7, 1880. Mr. Abrams was first engaged in farming, and in 1885 
he came to Wayland, where he started a grocery business which he continued for 
one year, after which he bought the building on Main street which he has since con- 
ducted as a barber shop and billiard parlor. 

Bigelow, Ell, was born in Tyrone, N. Y. , November 4, 1841. Rev. Samuel Bige- 
low, his grandfather, came to Milo, Yates county, N. Y., where he preached for about 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 337 

twenty years, and died in 1840. He had four sons and two daughters: John, Nathan, 
Samuel, James, Rachael and Betsej'. James Bigelow, father of Ell, was born in 
Milo, Vates county, N. Y. lie married Sarah Van Gorden, who was born in Orange 
county, N. Y., by whom he had these children: Oscar, James, L'rlenzo, Ell, Char- 
lotte, Ann, Maria and Melvina. He died in 1872, aged eighty-two years, and his 
wife in 1891, aged ninety-one years. Ell Bigelow attended the district .school of Ty- 
rone and was graduated from the Watkins Academy, N. Y., in 1864, after which he 
attended the Geneva Medical College for three years, where he was graduated in 
18G9. He studied medicine under G. M. Bennett. He went into ijarluership with 
Dr. L. B. Heeley, of Cohocton, N. Y., for two years, then removed to Wayland where 
he has practiced medicine constantly for twenty-three years. In 1883 he married 
Helen Weinhart, of Wayland, N. Y., who was born in 1853. 

Bross, Joseph E., was born in the town of Enfield, Tompkins county, January 11, 
1837. His father, James Bross, was a native of Rhode Island and came to Tompkins 
county at a very early age. He learned the trade of mill-wrighting which he followed 
all his life. He married Andalucia Rose. Joseph E. Bross is the fifth child of a 
family of seven, and in early life he was a carpenter and wagonmaker by trade, but 
of late has devoted his time to farming. For nearly forty years he has lived in the 
town of Howard, where he is the owner of a fine place of 137 acres located near 
Howard Flats. He married Emily, daughter of David Parsons, of Howard. Mr. 
Bross is at present postmaster of Howard Flats, and is a prominent member of the 
Lewis Lodge of Masons. He is master of the Lodge, also a member of Bath Chap- 
ter, No. 95. In politics he is a Democrat and has filled many minor offices. 

Barney, Alvin C, was born in Independence, Allegany county, N. Y., February 1, 
1833, son of Dr. Anthony and Roxy Chapiu Barney, who were from Swansea, Mass., 
and Herkimer county, N. Y. They came to Independence in 1824, where she died 
in 1838. The second time he married Henrietta Horton, and they were the parents 
of five children. She died in May, 1879, and Dr. Barney in 1886, aged eighty-five 
years. He was'educatcd at Fairfield Medical College, commenced practicing in 1834 
in Allegany county, and retired in 1880. He was an active Republican and for years 
supervisor of Independence, a member of Whiteville Lodge, F. & A. M., and in re- 
ligion a Universalist. The grandfather, Jonathan B., was a soldier in the Revolu- 
tion. He was a ship carpenter and lost his fortune in two vessels built about the time 
of the Embargo Act. Alvin C. Barney was educated at Alfred University, and 
married in 1857 to Mary, daughter of David and Minerva Sherman, who came from 
Herkimer county to West Union in 1840. Mr. Sherman was a farmer, dairyman, 
and manufacturer of cheese, keeping the largest dairy in West Union. He was sup- 
ervisor twelve years. His death occurred in 1885 and Mrs. Sherman's in 1867. Mr. 
and Mrs. Barney are the parents of five children: Charles S., a graduate of Alfred 
and of the Scientific Department of Harvard l^niversity; Herbert, a physician of Bel- 
mont who was educated at Ann Arbor, Mich., and the Long Island Hospital; Jennie, 
who died when twelve years of age; Emma S. ; and Sarah. They also have an 
adopted daughter, Louis, wife of Myron A. Kenyon, a draughtsman with Cottrell 
Bros., manufacturers of printing presses, of We.sterly, R. I. Mr. Barney taught 
school winters and worked on a farm during the summers for nine years, when he 
gave his entire attention to farming and dealing in lumber, having 520 acres of land. 



338 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

He has been supervisor of West Union and chairman of board two years, clerk for 
three years, and represented his district in the Assembly in 1871. He is a member 
of Wh'iteville Lodge. No. 51. K. O. T. M. 

Brennin, John, was born on the adjoining farm to where he now resides, Julv 7, 
1851, sou of Thomas and Mary Doyle Brennin, who settled here about 184?. They 
were the parents of nine children: Catherine Rose. James, John, William, Thomas, 
Abner, Man- Day, Ellen Wheeler, and Margaret Day. John married Mary Louisa, 
daughter of Charles and Catherine Ballard Perbasco, who resided in Pennsylvania, 
and they have nine children: Annie Louisa, James Fred, Henry. Abner, Erwin S., 
Arthur M., Ruby, Jessie, and Ellen. Annie Louisa married Frank Raplee. who re- 
sides in Addison; John is a tobacco and dairy farmer, his farm consisting of 150 
acres. He has been collector and is now highway commissioner, which office he has 
held five years. 

Bartholomew, John, was born in Bradford, October 20, 1824, the oldest of seven 
children born to Daniel and Marilla (Tobias) Bartholomew. Daniel came with his 
parents, Daniel and Catherine Bartholomew, from Lancaster, Pa., to Bradford 
among the early settlers. Daniel, the grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution- 
ary war and Daniel, his son, was in the war of 1812. Daniel Bartholomew, jr., was 
reared on a farm and always followed that line of work. John Bartholomew has 
always been engaged in farming in Bradford and owns a farm of 116 acres. He 
married Susan, daughter of William Baskins, and niece of Lawyer Baskins, of Wat- 
kins. They have two children: Daniel, a homoeopathic physician, of Holly, Mich.. 
who was educated at Savona Academy, and Philadelphia and Cleveland Medical 
Schools ; and has taken the highest degree in Masonry ; and Alice, the wife of Henry 
Conley (mentioned elsewhere). Mr. Bartholomew has been road commissioner of 
Bradford. He and his family attend the Methodist church. 

Briggs. Joseph I^., was born in Cohocton. N. Y.. in 1833. son of Stephen A. Briggs, 
who was born in the Mohawk Valley in 1796, one of seven children born to John and 
Elsie Briggs. Stephen devoted his whole life to farming, and came to Cohocton, 
Steuben county, in 1826: he later spent eleven years in Ontario county when he re- 
turned to Steuben county, and the last few years of his life were spent in Michigan, 
having gone there to visit his sons. His wife was Maria, daughter of David Putnam 
of Montgomery county, by whom he had these children: Annanias E., Sydney S., 
Mary J., and Joseph L. He died in 1876, and his wife in 1862. David Putnam was 
a noted scout and Indian fighter under General Van Rensselaer, and who after 
the war was killed and scalped by the Indians. Mr. Briggs received a limited edu- 
cation at the common schools and remained with his father until he was twenty- 
six years of age when he was assisted in a small way by his father, and began for 
himself as a farmer. In 1865 he purchased his present farm of 134 acres which he 
has cleared of stumps and stones, and forty acres of which he has cleared of entire 
forests and made many other necessary improvements. He married Maria, daugh- 
ter of William and Mary Boyd, by whom he had two children : Mary L. , and Joseph. 
who was educated in the Franklin Academy, and is now teaching. 

Adams, H. De Loss, son of George and Betsy Underwood Adams, was bom in 1855 
in Hornby. The father was a native of Montgomery county and canie to Hornby 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 339 

when five years old with his father, Isaac. The mother was a daughter of Jesse Un- 
derwood and a native of Hornby. The parents died in 1893 and 1873, aged seventy- 
five and fifty-one. H. De Loss and an older brother, Charles R., comprise the 
familv. In 1S78, Mr. Adams married Cora Dickinson, a native of the town of 
Hornby. They have since resided on his present place known as the Daniel Good- 
sell farm consisting of one hundred and fifty acres. 

Allen, T. Alfred, was born on the Allen homestead near the Woodhull town line. 
He is a son of Thomas and Margaret Allen, who came here with their family of five 
children, George, William, Nancy Northrup, Joseph, and T. Alfred, in 1820 and 
settled in the southern part of [he town of Cameron. When Thomas settled on the 
Allen homestead there was but one tree cut on the place and by hard labor it 
has been changed from a wilderness to a productive farm. T. Alfred Allen married 
Mary A., a daughter of James McFadden, by whom he had these children: Emma 
Irene (deceased), Xancj' Ella Frohman (afterwards married Robert Toppins), Rosa 
B. Campbell of Iowa, Katie M., William Alfred. Mr. Allen after the death of his 
first wife, married Alice Northrup. He is a member of the M. E. church and has 
been since fifteen years of age. 

Alexander, James, was born in Morris, Otsego county, in 1829. John Alexander, 
father of James, was born in Ireland, about 1795, came to America when a young 
man, and settled in Morris, Otsego county, where he spent his life. He engaged in 
harness making, which business he has always followed. He married Margaret Mc- 
Dole, of Ireland, by whom he had eight children: Margaret, Helena, William, Jane 
Ann, Matilda L., John, Emily, and James. After the father's death the family re- 
moved tf) Chenango county and purchased a farm. James Alexander was educated 
in New Berlin, Chenango county, and at fifteen years of age began life's battles for 
himself by learning the harness maker's trade, which he followed about sixteen 
years. In 1853 he came to Pulteney where he engaged in the same business until 
1856, when he married Celia, daughter of Joel and Nancy (Folwell) Hyatt, and re- 
moved to his father-in-law's homestead, where he has since erected fine, large com- 
modious buildings, and is one of the early fruit growers of this section ; he now owns 
a ten-acre vineyard. 

Argus, Philip, was bora in Rheinzabern, Germany, in 1836, son of Jacob Argus, 
who was born in 1800, one of two sons and two daughters born to Leonard Argus, a 
farmer and vineyardist. Jacob Argus was a farmer and grape grower. His wife 
was Philiphena Masel and their children were John, Martin, and Philip, all of whom 
came to America. John and Martin are deceased. Philip Argus, upon landing in 
America, went directly to Wisconsin, whore he was engaged in farm work for five 
years. He then came to Urbana, Steuben county N. Y., where he worked in 
the vineyards for four years, after which time he moved to Kansas, spending eleven 
years there in farming and grape growing. He then returned to Steuben county 
and purchased his present farm of forty-seven acres, which he cleared and set out 
forty acres of vines, the entire product of which he manufactures into the finest qual- 
ities of wine. In 1839 Mr. Argus married Abolonia BeiU, of Prairie du Chien, Wis. 
("ormerly of Germany), and their children are Jacob, Martin, Barbara, Anthony, 



340 LAJSIDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Mary, Lizzie, Catherine, John, and Abolonia. Mr. Argus is a Democrat and a mem- 
ber of the C. M. B. A. 

Acomb, Fred D., was born November 5, 1868. His paternal grandfather, was born 
in England and settled on Sandy Hill, where he died two years later of cholera, 
which raged in that locahty. Thomas Acomb, the father of Fred D., was born in 
England February 9, 1827, and died March 29, 1893, aged sixty-six years. He came 
to America with his parents in 1832. He married Elizabeth Florey, by whom he had 
nine children: William H., Matilda Babcock, Frank, Ann Hall, Minnie Sterner, Jane 
Flint (M.D.), Daniel G., and Nellie. Mr. Acomb was an energetic man, who began 
life without a cent and at his death was possessed of 750 acres of land. He was 
assessor of Dansville for many years. Fred D. was educated in the common schools 
and attended the Dansville High School for a time. He resides on the old home- 
stead and does quite an extensive dairy business. At Dansville, N. Y., October 8, 
1891, he married Carrie Stone, who was born in Dansville, Livingston county. N. Y. , 
June 19, 1871, by whom he has one child; John F., born December 19, 1892. 

Wheeler, Charles Grattan, was born in the town of Wheeler, N. Y., July 4, 1854. 
He was educated at the Hammondsport Academy, and his first occupation was with 
the Hammondsport Wine Company, where he remained until 1886, with five years of 
the time on the road. In 1886 he engaged with the Lake Keuka Wine Company, 
owning one-fourth interest, of which he is the secretary and general manager. Oc- 
tober 27, 1880, he married Adele M Lozier, of Dansville, N. Y., by whom he had 
four children: Florence, Munroe, Lozier, and Carrie, who died in infancy. Mr. 
Wheeler has twenty five acres of vineyard, also a peach orchard and six acres of 
small fruit. 

Kilbury, Joel.— His grandfather, Robert Kilbury, was born in Vermont in 1765, 
and moved to the town of Dansville and settled on the farm now owned by William 
Cridler, and from there went to Indiana, where he died. Joel's father, Robert Kil- 
bury, who was born in Vermont in 1821, came to Dansville with his father, where he 
purchased a farm a little north of Fremont Center. In 1821 he married Eunice Car- 
rington, who was born in Washington county, N. Y. They were members of the 
Baptist church. He died at the age of eighty-seven, and she, in 1891. They were 
the parents of ten children, two of whom died in infancy; Sarah Jane Faulkner, 
born in 1822; Eli C, born in 1823; Edwin R.. born in 1825; Robert Smith, born in 
1827; Phebe A. Gates, born in 1829; Mary M. Cotton, born in 1831; Joel C, born 
September 11, 1839; and Andrew, born in 1835. Joel was educated at the Rogers- 
ville Seminary. In 18G2 he went to California, where he remained two years, and 
when he returned he purchased his father's farm, where he now resides. He has 
held the offices of supervisor and highway commissioner of the town of Fremont. 
Mr. Kilbury married Harriet Horten, in 1864, and eight children were born to them : 
Mary Eugena Lessig, born in 1866; Edwin R., born in 1867; Harriet E., born in 1870; 
Alfred Horton, born in 1872; Charles S., born in 1875; Guy Mc, born in 1880; Paul- 
lina May, born in 1883; and Merlin J., born in 1887. David H. Lessig, husband of 
Mary Eugena Lessig, is a merchant in Indiana. Edwin R. is a merchant at Fremont 
Center. 

Fritting, John.— John Fritting, sr., was the pioneer of the family in Steuben 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 341 

county. He was a native of Germany and came to America about 1850 and settled 
in the eastern part of Cohocton, where he purchased a farm and became a prosper- 
ous farmer. At the time he took up the land it was heavily timbered and for many 
years he made large quantities of .shaved shingles. He was a prominent member of 
St. Paul's Lutheran church of Cohocton and one of its trustees. He married Anna 
Hach, and they were the parents of the following children ; Margaret, wife of George 
Fronk ; Mary; Lucy, who married Conrad Fox, of Naples, N. Y. ; John, who mar- 
ried Cora Rouse, and settled in Cohocton, being a successful farmer; Louisa, wife of 
George Caward of Cohocton ; Jacob, who lives on the homestead, and married Eva 
Blumenthal; Conrad, who married Minnie Hayward, and resides in Cohocton; and 
Fred. Mr. Fritting died in 1870. 

Zeh, Melchor, and Zeh, Kilian. — Kilian Zeh, sr., the first of this family to settle in 
Steuben county, was a native of Germany and came to America in 1845, and first 
located in New York city, and two years later removed to Pennsylvania, where he 
lived until 185T, when he settled in the western part of the town of Cohocton and 
purchased a farm, where he lived until his death in 1878. He was one of the found- 
ers of St. Paul's Lutheran church of Cohocton, and was one of the organizers of 
Zion's Lutheran church. He married Mary Goodheart, and their children were 
Frederick, who settled in Kalamazoo, Mich. ; Melchor; Louis, who resided in Cohoc- 
ton, where he died; Kilian; and John, who died young. Kilian Zeh, jr., located in 
Cohocton, is a carpenter by trade and is also engaged in farming. He is a member 
of St. Paul's Lutheran church. He married Mary, daughter of Henry Schwingle of 
Cohocton, and their children are John F., Edward F., Catherine L., Martha M., 
Charles H., Clara, and Otto, living, and Herman M., deceased. Melchor Zeh located 
in this town, where he is a successful farmer. He is a strong Republican, and was 
elected poormaster in 1895. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church. He 
married Mary, daughter of Nicholas Folts, and their children are Mary C, wife of 
Jacob Link, John F., William J., Henry L., George P., Louise L. , Samuel D , Em- 
ma H., Martin T., living, and Julia M., deceased. Louise has three children, Fred- 
eric, Spencer and Julia. 

Bush, W. L. — The pioneer of the Bush family was Conrad Bush, who came from 
Germany in an early day, and settled at Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y. He 
served in the Revolutionary war, and had twelve children, as follows; Susan, Will- 
iam, Conrad, jr., John, Ellick, Thomas, Jacob, Ellas, George, Lyman, Charles, Polly. 
John Bush, son of Conrad, served in the war of 1812. He was one of the early 
settlers of Cohocton, and came from Onondaga county and took up 100 acres on the 
River Road, there being but only one house between there and North Cohocton. He 
made his first clearing on the corner where the Bush school house now stands, sowed 
it to wheat, returned to Onondaga county, and the following spring brought back his 
family. He built the first frame house in the town and brought in the first hay rake, 
and became a prosperous fanner. He was for several years in the mercantile busi- 
ness in Cohocton. He married Martha Case for his first wife, by whom he had 
twelve children: Mary, who married Lewis Kimball, and settled in Cohocton, N. Y. ; 
Martha, who married Simon Smith, and .settled in Naples; Aurelia, who married 
Darwin Kimball, and settled in Cohocton; Lyman, who married Lucinda Sutton, and 
settled in Pompey, N.Y. ; John, deceased; Morris, in Cohocton; Elias, who settled in 



342 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Butler county, Iowa ; Thomas, deceased ; Minerva, wife of William Miller, of Co- 
hocton ; Juliette, who married Robert Perry, and settled in Decatur, 111. ; Wesley, 
who served four years in the Rebellion and afterwards married for his first wife 
Minerva Wilson, and settled on the homestead, and for his second wife he married 
Mary Lowell; and Jane, who married Ira Stillman. of Onondaga county. For his 
secorid wife John Bush married Mrs. William Wing, by whom he had two children: 
Celeste, who married T^iram W. Hatch, of Cohocton ; and Lois, who died unmarried. 
Norris Bush was born in Cohocton, in 1829, and has always followed farming. In 
1865 he settled in the town of Naples, near the Cohocton line. He married Helen 
Lee, by whom he had three children: Mary J. (Mrs. J. R. Wetmore) of North Cohoc- 
ton; Wheeler L., a farmer of Cohocton; and Elizabeth (Mrs. EUwyn Briggs). 

Brink, Franklin Johnson, was bom on a farm in the town of Urbana, October 8, 
1821. His father, Matthew Brink, was one of the first .settlers of this section, coming 
from New Jersey when only a lad. He was a blacksmith and justice of the peace for 
many years. He was the proprietor of an ashery in the village, and also run the first 
horse boat on Lake Keuka, and was a captain of the National Guards. He left here 
in 1830, and died in Michigan, in 1836. He married Harriet Webster, by whom he 
had four children, of which Franklin Johnson is the only one living. Mrs. Brink 
died in 1856. Franklin Johnson was given a good common school education, andhis 
first occupation was in the blacksmith shop with his father. He came to this town 
in 1837 and for a few years worked by the month. In 1862 he bought a farm of fifty 
acres, where he lived for ten )-ears. and then sold and bought 113 acres where we 
now find him conducting a general grain farm with a vineyard of five acres and some 
sheep. In 1863 he returned to the trade of blacksmith and has a shop on his present 
farm. In 1846 he married Susan Randall, a native of New Jersej', by whom he had 
five children : Emma, who died in March, 1894, aged twenty-seven years ; Harriet 
Bailey, wife of Frank B., a farmer of this town ; Mary, wife of Willard French ; and 
Elbert, who lives on the homestead farm. 

Colgrove, Henry, was born on a farm in the town of Hornellsville, August 20, 1835, 
grandson of Samuel Colgrove, from Rhode Island, and son of Francis Colgrove, a 
native of Painted Post, born June 20, 1810. He married in 1830, Amanda Pitts, 
daughter di John Pitts of Hornellsville. He always resided in Steuben county, and 
through his life was interested in school and church work. He died November 25, 
1878. Henry was the second of a family often children, of whom eight are still living. 
He was educated in the common schools and Alfred University, and followed his 
father on the farm and in stock dealing. In 1877 he added to his farming interests 
the dealing in produce at Burns. In 1886 Mr. Colgrove moved to Arkport, where 
he engaged in dealing in farm produce, particularly in potatoes and fruits, in 1895 
handling about 100,000 bushels of potatoes alone. Mr. Colgrove is a warm Repub- 
lican, and was twice (in 1880-81) supervisor of the town of Burns, and in 1889 was 
elected to the same office in Hornellsville. and again elected in 1891. He also held 
the office of assessor in both towns. He has been a member of the Masonic fratern- 
ity for fifteen years, a member of Canaseraga lodge No. 781, he is also a member of 
Steuben Chapter No. 101, and De Molay Commandery No. 22. He has always taken 
an active interest in church and school work, and is a member of the board of edu- 
cation of Arkport. He married, March 15, 1859, Sarah, daughter of James Miller of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 343 

South Dansville. They have three sons: James Francis, a partner with his father in 
the produce business and now located in New York city; J. Hervey, a farmer of 
Dansville; and Henry Miller, an optician and jeweler of Canaseraga. 

Conderman, Charles, was born in Fremont. Steuben county, N. Y. , January 15, 
lSti4. He was the son of John D. and Aseneth Conderman. In 1884 he graduated 
from the Hornellsville Free Academy, and in 1880 entered the law oflfice of Fay P. 
Rathbun, and began the study of law. In 1889 he entered the Albany Law School, 
from which he graduated in 1890 and was admitted to the New York State bar in the 
same year. He has successfully practiced his profession at Hornellsville, N. Y., ever 
since. In 1893 he was elected a member of the Common Council of the city of Horn- 
ellsville. which office he still holds, being re-lected in 1894. Mr. Conderman is a man 
of sterling qualities, active and incorruptible in the discharge of his duties, and per- 
severing in his denunciation of ring rule. He has been conspicuous in his exposure 
of corrupt city politics which has resulted in immense good to the city, so that to-day 
he IS looked upon as one of the staunchest aldermen that the city of Hornellsville has 
ever had. 

Curtis, John S., was born in the town of Campbell, August 9, 1865. Daniel B. 
Curtis his father, was a native of Connecticut, and came to the town of Campbell 
among the first settlers, where he engaged in tanning and farming. He married 
May A. Brown of Campbell, by whom he had five children: Jennie, John S. , George 
H., Uriah B. , and May. John S. Curtis was educated in the district schools of Camp- 
bell. He attended the military school at Cayuga Lake, one year at a preparatory 
school, and then took charge of his father's farm of .500 acres, which he now owns. 
Since 1887 he has been agent for the N. Y., L. E. &• W. R. R. He married Grace, 
daughter of C. H. Bemis of Campbell, by whom he had one child, Daniel B. In 1893 
Mr. Curtis was elected supervisor of the town, for a three years term. In politics he 
is a Republican. 

Cleveland, Shepard A., was born in Delaware county, August T, 1843. John P. 
Cleveland, his father, was a native of the same county, and came to South Post, on 
the line between Steuben county and Chemung county, where he bought timberland 
and cleared a farm. He was in the lumber business for many years, and died in the 
town of Campbell, aged ninety-four years. He married Nancy Cotton of Connecti- 
cut. Shepard A. Cleveland was educated in Steuben county, and then engaged in 
farming, and now owns a farm of 270 acres. He married Mary, daughter of Samuel 
Rumsey of Victor, Ontario county, by whom he had five children: Ida M., Alice G., 
Nancy D. , Ray S., and Mertie M. Mr. Cleveland has held many of the minor offices 
of the town, and is a member of the M. B. church. In politics he is a Prohibitionist. 

Cody, Frank A., was born in Hornellsville, January 21, 1857, son of Levi Cody 
who came from Connecticut to Hornellsville when quite small, with his father who 
cleared land for a farm, which at that time was a wilderness. He married Sarah 
Cobern, by whom he had four children: Frank, Fred, Charles and Howard. 
Frank A. Cody was educated in this county, after which he engaged in farming and 
lumbering, and at present devotes his time to farming, and now owns a farm on the 
Mead's Creek road, of 130 acres. He married Sarah, daughter of James Hamilton 
of Ireland, by whom he had one daughter, Mary. He is a member of the M. E. 
church, and in politics is a Republican. 



344 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Campbell, William H., was born in Seneca county, May 19, 1832, the third son of 
four born to Luther and Sally (Townsend) Campbell, both of Seneca county. Elijah 
and Pattie Townsend were pioneers of Townsville, Seneca county, for whom the town 
was named. The grandfather, John Campbell, was a farmer of Seneca county and 
died in Greenwood. Luther Campbell came to Greenwood about 1835 and cleared 
considerable land and died in 1850. Mrs. Campbell died March 10, 1840. William 
H. Campbell was with his father until twenty years of age and helped to clear several 
farms. He then started in business for himself and now owns a good farm of 122 
acres which he rents and resides on a farm of ten acres. March 13, 1857, he mar- 
ried Sophronia Petre, of Herkimer county, N. Y., by whom he had three children; 
Alice, wife of J. Rogers, a farmer of Greenwood; Lottie, wife of Wiiliam Rowland, 
also a farmer of Greenwood; and Hayden, who died in October, 1888, aged twenty- 
one years. 

Crawford Bros. — Lewis Crawford was born in Lycoming county. Pa., in 1881, son 
of David and Margaret Sarah Crawford, who came to Rathbone about 1825, where 
they lived and died. He married Elizabeth Mullison, a native of Luzerne county, 
Pa., born December 23, 1824, daughter of John and Margaret Phoenix Mullison, he 
a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Delaware count}% N. Y. They came to Rath- 
bone in 1832, where he died July 23, 1864, and she, September 15. 1885. Lewis 
Crawford was educated in the common schools, and was a farmer and lumberman, 
owning about 250 acres of land. In politics he was a Democrat and was assessor 
and commissioner. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford were the parents of nine children, seven 
of whom are living; William, who is now engaged in the hay and grain business; 
Charles, David, Martha, wife of Dewitt Northrup ; George, who resides on the home- 
stead; Eugene, born April 7, 1856; and James, born February 28, 1864. Eugene 
was educated in the common schools, and the Poughkeepsie Business College, from 
which he graduated in 1879. He clerked for his brother William several years and 
then entered into partnership with him in 1879. They continued in business until 
1891 when they dissolved partnership, his younger brother, James, buying out Will- 
iam, and they have since continued under the firm name of Crawford Bros. Eugene 
married Mary, daughter of Finley Goff of Rathbone, and they have two children; 
Lewis and Finley. James was educated in the common schools, and was graduated 
from the Poughkeepsie Business College in 1886, and clerked for his brother until he 
formed a partnership, as above stated. October 28, 1890, he married Lottie Rich- 
myer, daughter of John Richmyer, and two children have been born to them : William 
and Ruth. James Crawford was appointed postmaster in 1890. Mr. Lewis Crawford 
died in 1881. 

Campbell, George, was born in Island, August 18, 1842, son of Thomas and Mary 
(Wilson) Campbell, natives of Island, who came to Cameron in 1849, where Mrs. 
Campbell died about 1850, and where Mr. Campbell now resides. George Camp- 
bell was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He owns 178 acres 
of land in Cameron, and in 1884 bought 127 acres in Rathbone, X. Y., and follows 
general farming. He is a member of Cameron Mills Lodge, Xo. 547, F. and A. M., 
and is also a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He was a justice of the peace and 
highway commissioner in Cameron. His grandfather, Alexander Campbell, was a 
native of Island and came to Steuben county at an early day, and was a well-read 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 345 

man for his time, prominent politically, and was postmaster for a number of years in 
Cameron, N. Y. 

Cole, Jesse F., was born in Rathbone, N. Y., July 8, 18G8. His grandfather, Jacob 
Cole, lived on the south side of the river and afterwards removed to the south part 
of the town, where he cleared a large farm and became quite wealthy. Albert Cole, 
father of Jesse F., was born in Rathbone, N. Y. He was a farmer and spent his life 
in Rathbone. He married Sarah Warner, who was born in Sussex county, N. J., 
daughter of Henry and Arvilla (Rubert) Warner; he died in New Jersey in 189:i, and 
she in Rathbone, while on a visit. Mr. Cole died October 27, 1893, and his widow 
lives with her son. Jesse F. Cole was reared on a farm and educated at Woodhull 
Academy, after which he learned the barber's trade, and in 1891 came to Rathbone, 
where he has since resided. In politics he is a Republican, and is now serving his 
second term as town clerk. April 7, 1895, he married Satie Crawford, daughter of 
James Crawford, of Rathbone. 

Cook, Andrew W., was born in Dansville, N. Y., September 14, 1828. His father, 
Andrew Cook, was born in East Haddam, Conn., and died in June, 1857, aged sev- 
enty-one years. He came from Connecticut in 1808 and settled in Geneseo, and in 
1809 built a saw mill on the site of Sweet's foundry. In 1814 he purchased the farm 
in Dansville, now owned by his son. He married Elizabeth McWhorter, who was 
born in Northumberland, Pa. , and died in 1869, aged seventy-eight years. They had 
twelve children: Frances, born Septepiber 18, 1813, and died July 22, 1816; Sarah 
Sylvester born June 23, 1815, and died in 1893; Gideon, born March 18, 1817, and 
died March 26, 1821; Thomas, born April 4, 1819, deceased; Marion, born May 15, 
1821, and died August 21, 1824; Huldah L., born April 17, 1823, and died October], 
1887; Lucretia, born March 6, 1825, and died April 2, 1825; William, born Septem- 
ber 9, 1825, and died March 21, 1828; Andrew W., born September 14, 1828; Caro- 
line E. Gould, born October 20, 1830; and John C. and James O., twins, born April 
1, 1833. Andrew W. recei\'ed a common school education and subsequently took a 
course at the Rogersville Seminary, after which he engaged in farming, and has also 
worked at the carpenter's trade for sixteen years. He has held the office of justice 
of the peace of Dansville, and was elected superintendent of the poor for Steuben 
county in 1872 and served three years. He is a member of Dansville Ledge, No. 478, 
F. and A. M. In October, 1856, he married Mary J. Wellington, who was born in 
1827 and died in 1874, by whom he had three children: Adah Bell Sponable, born 
July 27, 1857; Julia E. Wood, born October 12, 1859; and William S., born June 8, 
1864. Mr. Cook married for his second wife, Ellen M. Howard, who was born in 
Albany, Vt., September 10, 1839. 

Curray, Charles O. , was born on Oak Hill, on the place where he now resides, in 
1836. His father, James B. Curray, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., and died 
in Dansville, N. Y., on the place where his son now resides, in 1888, aged eighty- 
six years. He settled on Oak Hill about 1835. He married Nancy Miller, who was 
born in Tompkins county, N. Y. , and died on Oak Hill, aged sixty-six years. They 
had ten children: Eveline Coe; Angeline Hendy, deceased; William W. , deceased; 
Mary A. Burdettc ; Fanny Newcomb, deceased; Emma Jane Miller, deceased; Mil- 
ton S., deceased; Charles O., as above; Olivia Crow, and Emerdette Cane, deceased, 
rr 



3iG LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Charles O. attended the common schools and took a course in the Rogersville Semi- 
nary. ^ He has always followed farming, and now owns a farm of 150 acres. In Oc- 
tober, 1861. he enlisted in the 104th N. Y. Wadsworth Guards, and was discharged 
in February, 1863. He took part in Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam 
and Fredericksburg. He is a member of Dansville Lodge, No. 478, F. and A.M. He 
married Mary A. Levers, who wa= born in Pennsylvania, July 22, 1836, by whom he 
had three children; Lillie M., born in January, 1872; John B., born in April, 1873, 
and Susan, born July 14, 1878. 

Cooper, John E., was born on the farm where he now resides, September 27, 1852, 
son of Charles J., and grandson of Dr. John Cooper. John E. Cooper married Mary 
Friesleder, andtheyhavethreechildren ; Hippolyt, John, jr. , and Mary. Mr.Cooperis 
a farmer, having a farm which consists of 140 acres, and has been asse.s.sor of the 
town of Erwin. 

Campbell, George W. , was born in the town of Campbell, August 2, 1818, son of 
Archibald Campbell, one of the first settlers of that town, which was named after 
his family. George W. settled in the town of Erwin in 1885, and married Elizabeth 
Burrill, and thej' have three children: Sarah Louise, of Painted Post; Solomon A., 
of Oneida, Madison countj-, and Archibald W., of Elkland, Pa. Mr. Campbell has 
been supervisor of the town of Erwin for five years, and held that office in the town 
of Campbell four years during the war. He has been county superintendent of the 
poor of Steuben county for three years. 

Carroll, Jackson, was born in the town of Bath, July 19, 1860, son of Andrew Car- 
roll, who was born in Ireland, November 1, 1804, came to this country when about 
twenty-eight, and settled in the town of Bath, where he cleared a farm of 125 acres, 
where he continued to live until his death in 1889, at the age of eighty-five. He mar- 
ried Anna Ward, of Ireland, and they were the parents of eleven children, six of 
whom are living at the present time. Jackson Carroll is a farmer by occupation and 
owns a farm of 100 acres improved laud. He was educated in the town of Bath. He 
married Halej-, daughter of George Stewart, of Howard, and they have two chil- 
dren: Deo and Otto. He is a member of the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Car- 
roll is a Democrat, and has held minor offices. 

Coats, Thomas, was born in Ireland, Jlay 18, 1839, came to the United States in 
1853, and settled in the town of Howard. He first worked by the month, but started 
out for himself in 1868, is a farmer by occupation and owns a farm of 175 acres; also 
some timber land. He raises principally wheat, oats, barley and jjotatoes. His crop 
of potatoes for 1894 was over 3,000 bushels. In 1868 he married Mariah, daughter of 
George Wilson, a farmer, and they \<-ere the parents of ten children, nine of whom 
are living. Mr. Coats is at the present time assessor of the town, and has also been 
trustee of the district. In politics he is a Republican. 

Cole, Alvah M., was born in the town of Addison. Steuben county, August 27. 1821, 
son of Peleg G. Cole, who was born in Columbia county, N. Y. He came to Steuben 
county in 1815 and settled in Addison, and in 1817 came to the town of Howard, 
where he bought land and cleared a farm of eighty-four acres, where he remained 
until his death. He married Mary, daughter of Isaac Tracey, who was one of the 
first settlers of Addison, and they were the parents of eight children. Alvah M. re- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 347 

mained on the farm, teaching school in the winter and working on the farm in tlie 
summer, studied law for nine months, and has practiced in a justice's court for 
twenty-five years. He has held the office of supervisor and other olfices of the town. 
He married Ann, daughter of Henry Kreelove of Howard, and they have five chil- 
dren: May, deceased, Alvah P., Phoebe. Martha, and Frank. Alvah is a farmer, 
the youngest son is a railroader, Martha is deceased, and Phoebe is married to a Mr. 
Armstrong. 

Casson, John C, was born in Otsego county, N. Y. , and when a boy came to the 
town of Tuscarora with his parents, where he has since resided. Mr. Casson is one 
of the most enterprising citizen of his town, and also one of the wealthiest, owning 
considerable property by himself, and is also in partnership with his brother in real 
estate and in the manufacture of lumber. In politics he is an ardent Prohibitionist. 
He is unmarried and lives with his brother, Mordecai, who is mentioned elsewhere 
in this book. 

Cook, Adam P., was born in Amsterdam. Montgomery county, April 1. ISJT. Cas- 
per Cook, his grandfather was a native of Holland and came to America with his 
parents shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war. He was a farmer by occu- 
jiation, and reared six children. Benjamin Cook, father of Adam P., was born in 
Schenectady, N. Y., in 1807, and came to the town of Seneca, Ontario county, about 
1831, a year later removed to the town of Wheeler, thence to the town of Prattsburg 
a few months later, where he lived many years and bought and sold several farms. 
In 1876 he removed from his farm to the village of Prattsburg where he lived until 
1888, when he removed to the town of Phelps, Ontario county, where he lived with a 
daughter until his death which occurred in July, 1894. He served as assessor twelve 
years, ahso as commissioner of highways, justice of the peace, etc., and was a mem- 
ber of the order of Odd Fellows. He married Angeline Vrooman of Schenectady, a 
daughter of Henry Vrooman, by whom he had these children: Adam P., Henry V., 
Charles (deceased), William. Catherine, Benjamin, Sarah, and Albert. His wife 
died in 1883. Adam P. Cook began for himself when twenty-one years of age at farm 
and saw mill work by the year for three years, after which for some years he 
engaged in farming for himself on rented farms, and in 1869 bought his 
present farm of 113 acres, where he has been a successful breeder of sheep and 
horses, and has now bought and paid for a large farm of 170 acres, made necessary 
improvements, and accumulated a good property. He served as commissioner of 
highways three terms, assessor nine years, and in 1856 married Elenore N. Edwards, 
who was born in Wheeler, daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Nobles) EdVards, bv 
whom he had three children; Frank E., who assists in operating the farm; Carrie, 
wife of Fred Cramer of Hammondsport, N. Y. ; and Catherine, wife of Fred Lewis 
of Wheeler village. 

Crane. Ferrel J., is a descendant of an old Massachusetts family. His father, 
Lyman Crane, who was born in the Bay State in 1807, came with his parents to 
Cortland, N. Y., where in 1830 he married Charlotte, daughter of Hezekiah Howe. 
Three years later he came to Addison and purchased 200 acres of forest land, about 
five miles north of the village, where he engaged in farming and lumbering with 
great financial success. Of Mr. Crane's ten children, Ferrel, who resides on the farm 



348 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

where he was born in 1856, is the youngest. He is a blacksmith by trade, and has 
erected a shop on the farm. His mother died at his home in 1890, at an advanced 
age. Mr. Crane married Amy, daughter of Garrison Briggs, of Addison, who was a 
native of Corning, N. Y., and a descendant of an old Dutch family. They were the 
parents of three children: Maud E., born in 1880, and died April 21, 1889; Clara 
Sophia, born in 1883 ; and Mabel, born in 1892. 

Corbett, George R. , was born in Massachusetts, December 31, 1830, son of 
Joseph Corbett, who was also born in Massachusetts, and came to the town of Harts- 
ville in 1840, where he bought a claim of 112 acres. Joseph Corbett married Jane 
Babcock, of Massachusetts, and they were the parents of eight children, of whom 
George R. is the oldest son living. George R. was educated in the district schools 
of Hartsville. and learned the carpenter's trade. He entered the IfJth New York 
Artillery, served from January 4, 1864, to November 1, 1865. He married Phebe D., 
daughter John Van Buskirk, of Hartsville, who was a farmer and lumberman, and 
they have seven children. Mr. Corbett has held the office of justice, assessor, and 
other minor offices. At present he is notary public, and mail carrier from Purdy 
Creek to Canisteo, a member of Post Abram Allen, No. 194, and also member of the 
Grange. In politics he is a Democrat. 

Carman, Joseph W., was born in the town of Veru, Sussex county, N. J., son of 
Joseph and Catherine (Rude) Carman. The parental grandfather, Thomas Carman, 
came from Long Island and settled in Bloomingdale, Passaic county, N. J., where he 
died. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. 
Joseph Carman sold his farm and learned the blacksmith's trade. He died in Vern, 
N. J., aged sixty-four j'ears. His wife came to Bradford and spent her last days 
with her children, dying at the age of eighty-six years. Joseph W. lived on a farm 
until twenty years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has smce 
followed, since the war working si.x or seven years in Bath. In 1889 he married 

Jane, daughter of and Jane (Shaw) Terris, natives of New Jersey and Pratts- 

burg, Steuben county, respectively. The maternal grandparents, John and Susan 

(Mace) , came to Prattsburg from New Jersey, from thence to Yates county, 

where he died at the age of sixty years. The great-grandfather, Abel Mace, died in 
Steuben. Joseph W., enlisted in Co. F, 27th New Jersey Vols., in September, 1862, 
and was honorably discharged in the fall of 1863. He was at Washington and Alex- 
andria. He has been town inspector, but does not now hold office. He is a member 
of New Jersey Lodge, No. 668 F. & A. M. 

Coston, Charles, was born in Bath, N. Y. , May 3, 1839, son of Christopher and 
Nancy (White) Coston, she coming from Pennsylvania with her parents, John and 
— — White, and he came to Steuben county about 1855, and settled in Thurston 
where they both died. They had four children who grew to manhood and woman- 
hood: John, who died in Andersonville Prison; Charles, as above; Mary, wife of 
Mr. Strong; and Caroline, wife of Ezra Reeves, of Thurston, and they have three 
children: Ada, Nancy, and John. Charles Coston was educated in the common 
schools. He is a farmer and owns ninety-six acres of land. When the war broke out 
he was drafted and sent a substitute. 

Cross, Edward D., was born in Pulteney, in February, 1852. His grandfather, 



1 



I 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 349 

Lewis Cross, came from Westchester county to Pnlteney in 1S30, and settled on the 
farm now owned and occupied by his son. Odel, and grandson, Edward D. He mar- 
ried Polly Schofield, by whom he had nine children. Odel C. Cross, father of Ed- 
ward D., was born in Westchester connty, N. Y., in 1826, and came to Pulteney witn 
his father, and has spent his life on the homestead, farming and grape growing. He 
has been supervisor of the town, and filled other local offices. He married Adelaide, 
daughter of Ira Gibson, of Tompkins county, N. Y., by whom he had three children: 
Edward D. , Mrs. Ida Perry, of Pulteney, and Erwin. Mrs. Cross died in 1891. 
Edward D. was educated in the common schools and Haverling Institute at Bath. 
Farming and grape culture has been his principal occupation on the homestead farm 
in partnership with his father, having twenty-five acres of vineyard and forty acres 
of farm land. In politics he is an active Republican, and is now serving his sixth 
year as supervisor of his town, and has also been elected to fill other town offices. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Pulteney Lodge. In 1877 he married Sylvia, 
daughter of Smith and Mary Ann McConnell, of Pulteney, by whom he had two 
children: Mary and Estella. 

Drew, James, was born on a farm in the town of Pulteney, March 17, 1830. His 
father, Samuel Drew, was a native of Sussex county, N. J., born July 25, 1796, and 
came to this State in 1818, taking up a tract of fifty acres of land in the town of 
Pulteney. He boarded with his brother-in-law until he had the time to erect a small 
frame house. He cleared nearly the whole of this land, and in 1838 bought a farm 
of 100 acres in the town of Urbana and continued in the town, buying and clearing 
more land, until at one time he owned 600 acres, 470 in one plot in districts Nos. 1 
and 2, where he died January 28, 18T.5. He married Sally Hutches, a native of New 
Jersey, who died September 25, 1866, by whom he had fifteen children, tw-elve of 
whom grew to maturity and were married. James was the oldest child and was 
given a very limited education, and very early began to assist his father in the clear- 
ing of land, hauling of wood to Hammondsport, farming and running the saw mill. 
When twenty-one years of age he began to work for his father by the year, at §140 
per year, with three months' schooling. In his twenty-fourth year he left home and 
bought a half interest in the Bradley Layton farm in this town, where he remained 
for eighteen months, and his grandfather dying, he took the old homestead, where 
he has lived for forty-two years. The many improvements he has made to this prop- 
erty and his beautiful home makes this one of the most delightful homes of this 
section. He has only a small vineyard now, and he has sold and turned most of it 
into farm land. Mr. Drew is a Democrat in politics, and has been elected assessor, 
and has also held some of the minor offices. He is a member of Pleasant Valley 
Grange. December 31, 18.57, he married Sarah J., daughter of Benjamin M. Caster- 
line, by whom he had three children : Eva L., Joanna, wife of Sanford Bedell, a vine- 
yardist of Pulteney; and Clarence L., a farmer with his father. 

Tyler, M. J. — Asahel Tyler, sr., the pioneer of the family in Western New York, 
was of English descent. He came from Connecticut about 1800, and was one of the 
earliest settlers in the town of Middlesex, Ontario county, where he became a prom- 
inent farmer. He married Sina Watkins, by whom he had seven children; William, 
who married Theda Watkins, and settled in Naples, where he was a prominent 
farmer; Asahel; Fisher, who married Nancy storehouse, and was an influential 



350 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

farmer of Naples; Roswell, who married Sarah Wood, and settled in Middlesex, 
where he engaged in farming; James, who settled in Michigan in early life; and 
Lucina, who married Richard Sackett; Speda, who married Mr. Gilbert. Asahel 
Tyler settled in Naples, and about 1845 settled in the town of Cohocton, on the 
Wayland road. He was one of the leading farmers of the town, and was one of 
the founders and prominent members of the North Cohocton M. E. church. He 
married Cynthia Moulton, by whom he had seven children : Cilicia, wife of John 
Beckwith ; Byron A. ; Milan J. ; Arvilla, wife of Samuel Parks, of Cohocton ; Lucia, 
wife'of Halstead Clayson, of Wayland; Hermione, wh) died in childhood; and 
Carnot, who married Addie Clayson, and settled in Cohocton, where he engaged in 
farming. Milan J. is unmarried, and in 1S61 enlisted in Co. I, 161st N. Y.Vols., and 
served until the close of the war. Byron A. Tyler was born January 18, 1838, and is 
one of the leading farmers of Cohocton. He is a prominent member of the Repub- 
lican party, and has held the office of highway commissioner two years and super- 
visor one year. September 25, 1860, he married Juliett, daughter of Rufus Hender- 
son, of Cohocton, by whom he had four children; Hattie (Mrs. George Jackman, jr.), 
of Livonia; Maggie, who died in early womanhood; Lida E. ; and Arthur, who mar- 
ried Mary Corey. 

Curry, Daniel W., was born in the town of Almond, December 12, 1852. His 
grandfather, Thornton F. Curry, was a native of Tompkins count}', born in Enfield, 
and came to Allegany county in 1842, when Silas, father of Daniel, was tweh'e years 
of age, where he engaged in farming. Silas Curry took up the study of medicine 
when he was twenty-eight years of age, and was a graduate of the College of 
Ph)-sicians and Surgeons of Cincinnati, O. He located in the town of Almond, 
where he remained until 1871, when he moved on to the farm now occupied by Horace 
Hunt, continuing the practice of medicine for six years. He then sold, and moved 
to the city of Hornellsville, where he practiced for two years, and m 1879, removed 
to the Western country, where he engaged in ranching. He was in Kansas three 
years, then, selling his stock, returned and conducted the Canisteo House for one 
year. In 1881 he returned to the West, and is now engaged in the practice of medi- 
cine and conducting a plantation in Gentry county. Mo. He is a Republican in poli- 
tics and was county superintendent of the poor of Steuben county for one term. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Hornellsville Lodge No. 331, and Steu- 
ben Chapter No. 101. He married Elizabeth Newell, of Almond, who died October 
13, 1888, by whom he had three children : Daniel W. , Adwilla, who married S. A. 
Carter, a farmer, who afterward engaged in the meat business, then in the mercan- 
tile business, but is now a traveling salesman for C. M. & R. Miller, of Elmira; and 
Elizabeth, who married H. L. Davenport. Daniel W. was educated at Alfred LTni- 
versity and Hornellsville Academy, and his occupation until he was twenty-five 
vears of age was farming. In 1884 he went to Stanbury, Mo., where he engaged 
in conducting a market and farm. He returned to Arkport in June, 1894, and 
bought the Carter store, where he now conducts a general store. In 1877 he mar- 
ried Cardine Davenport, daughter of George Davenport, by whom he had three 
children : Myra, in her fifteenth year ; James, in his fourteenth year ; and Adwilla, 
now in her second year. 

McDowell, Asa, was born in Marathon, Cortland county, N. V., June 20, 1827, son 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 351 

of Jacob McDowell, whose father, George McDowell, came to America from Scot- 
land during the Revolutionary war, and being pressed into the English service he 
deserted and enlisted in the Continental army and served until the close of the war. 
He was a weaver and settled at Albany, N. Y. His children were Thomas, Robert, 
Jacob. Alexander, Hugh, Lydia, and Margaret, all of whom settled in the counties 
of Cortland and Steuben. Jacob, who was a shoemaker in early life, served in the 
war of 1812, and upon coming to Steuben county purchased a farm near Loon Lake, 
and in 1834 he settled in Cohocton. He died in Pennsylvania in 184(). He married 
Abigail Smith, and their chiTdren were Jeremiah, who removed to Iowa; Josiah, 
who settled in Pennsylvania; Jonathan, who located in Iowa; Ale.xander; Jacob; 
Abraham, who settled in Cohocton and in 1846 removed to New York city, 
where he died; Asa; James; Elizabeth, wife of Jonathan Leach; Phoebe, who mar- 
ried Levi Leach ; and Abigail, wife of Anthony Garwood. Asa McDowell has ahvay s 
lived in Steuben county, and was engaged in tanning for many years at Patchinsville. 
and later purchased a farm at Loon Lake, and after a short residence there, in 1874, 
he purchased a farm one mile north of the village of Cohocton, and in 1892 he settled 
in Cohocton village. Politically he is a Republican, and has been supervisor of the 
town. He is a member of Liberty Lodge No. .510, F. & A. M. In 18.51 he married 
Harriet, daughter of Jonathan Pierce of Naples, N. Y. , and their children are Burr 
(deceased), Otis, James, Charles, Asa, and Hattie (Mrs. John Larrowe) of Cohocton. 
One of the prominent men of the past in Cohocton was C. J., son of Robert Mc- 
Dowell. He came to the county about 1834, settling at Loon Lake, and was a shoe- 
maker by trade. He studied law with Benjamin Harwood of DansviUe, and upon 
his admission to the bar in 1843 settled at Cohocton, where he built up a profitable 
practice. He was a Republican, and was justice of the peace and supervisor for 
several years, also district attorney for years. He married Lucy A. Smith, and they 
were the parents of two children: William H., of Adrain, Mich., and Maria (Mrs- 
John H. Butler) of Penn Yan. In 1875, for his second wife he married Louise 
Conley, by whom he had one son. Manly A. McDowell. Mr. C. J. McDowell died 
In 1877. 

Ashbaugh, William, was born in the town of Dansville, Livingston county, N. Y. , 
September 22, 1841, sun of David Ashbaugh, also a native of Dansville and a mason 
by trade. The grandfather of William, named George, was from Pennsylvania and 
one of the early settlers of Livingston county. William was the oldest of a family 
of seven children, three of whom died in infancy, and three are now living. He was 
given a good common school education, and his father moving on to a farm when he 
was twelve years old, he assisted him on the homestead and in work at his trade 
until he was thirty-live years of age. They bought various farms together and con- 
tinued in business until his father's declining health caused him to withdraw from 
active business. David Ashbaugh died in 1875. March 25, 1879, Mr. Ashbaugh took 
po.ssession of the Samuel Hendcrshott farm of 110 acres on lot 9, on the west shore 
of the Caniste(< River, to which he has added fifty acres. In 1891 he sold seventeen 
acres to the Hornell.sville Electric Railroad Company. Mr. Ashbaugh is also one of 
the most extensive land owners of Hartsville, having 670 acres in one body which he 
personallj' superintends. He has always been an extensive dealer in shee]) and 
other stock stuck and now the princii)al farm products are hay and grain. He made 



352 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

a specialty of dairj'ing for twenty years. He has held the office of assessor a num- 
ber of years, a school officer, and a supporter of religious institutions. He has been 
twice married, first in 1861 to Sarah Ann Henry of Hartsville, who died May 22, 
1887, leaving two children; Addie w'ife of James Pope, a farmer of Hartsville, and 
David Levi Ashbaugh, a student of Canisteo Academy. Mr. Ashbaugh was again 
married in April, 1888, to Cora S. Call of Hartsville. 

Moore, H. D. and Robert S. — The first of the Mooi-e family to settle in Steuben 
county were Robert and Thomas, who came from Gorham, Ontario county, N.Y., in 
1815, and settled near Ingleside, in the town of Prattsburg. Robert afterward 
settled on Lent Hill, and with his stalwart sons did much toward clearing up and 
subduing that section. He married Christine Signor, by whom he had eleven chil- 
dren ; Lucy, wife of Nicholas Johnson, who settled in Prattsburg; James, who mar- 
ried Christine Rice, and settled in Ingleside and later removed to Michigan ; Stephen, 
who married Mary A. Drake, settling first m Ingleside and afterward in Michigan; 
Susan, wife of Robert Stanton, of Lent Hill; Jacob; Hiram, who married Hannah 
Stanton, and settled in Cohocton, where he died; Abigail, wife of Joseph Pol- 
manteer, of Ingleside; Eli, who married Phoebe Drake, and settled in Co- 
hocton; Daniel; Annie, wife of Nicholas Johnson, of Ingleside; and John, 
who married Savina Parks, and settled in Ingleside, and afterward in Michi- 
gan. Daniel settled in Ingleside and afterward in Cohocton, where he died. 
He married Catherine Polnianteer, by whom he had eight children ; Clinton 
and Anthony, who served through the Civil war, and afterward settled in Steu- 
ben county, where they died ; Patience, wife of Jonas Partridge ; Hardin ; Clark, 
who married Jennie Wilson and settled in Naples ; Lester, who married Etta BelHs 
and settled in Cohocton ; Chester, who married Addie Hatch, and settled in Cohoc- 
ton ; and Orlo, who died unmarried. Hardin settled in Cohocton. and is a thrifty 
farmer. He married Susan Robbins, by whom he had eight children; Diana (Mrs. 
Ray Gifford) of Avoca, Marguerite, Edwin, Stuart, Florence, Peter, Mabel, and 
Una. Jacob Moore was a farmer and spent his life in Cohocton and Prattsburg. He 
married Abigail Barber, by whom he had six children; Celeste, wife of Charles 
Cornish ; Betsey, wife of Albert Cornish ; Robert S. ; Eliza, wife of Robert Riddle ; 
John, a carpenter and builder, who settled in Cohocton ; Matilda, wife of Albert 
Keeler. Robert S. enlisted in 1862 in the 161st N. Y. Inf., and served until the close 
of the war, after which he settled in the town of Cohocton, and in 1875 settled in 
Lyons Hollow, where he is engaged in farming. He married Hannah Townsend. 

Argus, Martin, was born in Rupertsberg, Bavaria, October 21, 1834. His brother, 
Philip Argus, came to this country in 1855, and it was his report of the country here 
that induced Martin to leave his native land in November, 1856, and come to the 
United States. He was first located at Rochester, where he was engaged on differ- 
ent farms for four years, and was then for a short time in Hammondsport, thence to 
Prarie du Chien, Wis., where he took up a farm and made his home there for two 
years. During this time he married Mary Ries, who was born in Diedesheim, 
Bavaria, October 24, 1834, and in the spring of 1863 he came to the town of LTrbana, 
where he bought twenty acres on the west shore of the lake, which he set out to 
vineyard, and was one of the most successful grape growers and wine makers of thi.s 
section. In 1883 he bought 100 acres on the eastern hillside of Douglass Lockwood, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 353 

where he erected a fine residence, and set out forty acres of vineyard, which is now 
managed by the surviving widow and sons, Charles Fred and Martin, George, the 
eldest son having died May 2, 1892. Mr. Argus died February 2, 1890. He also left 
three daughters: Apollonia, wife of Adam Strehl; Mary, wife of Gideon Kniffin ; and 
Katharine, the youngest, who lives at home. 

Weinhart Bros. — J. F. and C. H. Weinhart are the sons of John U. Weinhart, who 
was born in Germany in 1828 and came to Wayland in 1845, where he reared a large 
family, and where the two sons, Joseph P., and Conrad H., now run a grocery and 
livery bu.siness, and are also proprietors of the Weinhart Opera House. Joseph 
started in active business first in 1873 when he began a draying business with one 
horse, the first dray in Wayland, and in 1879 started a small grocery. Conrad started 
in the grocery business in 1883; in 1890 started as Weinhart Bros., and since then 
have continually added to this store by building, until at the present time they have 
one of the largest stores and trades in Wayland, and also carry on a large livery 
establishment and bus line, employing from fourteen to sixteen horses, and by their 
courtesy to their patrons, are looked upon as among the rising young business men 
of Wayland, N. Y. 

Babcock, Dr. Oliver H., was born in the town of Reading, then Steuben, now 
Schu)-ler county, August 17, 1834. His people moved to the town of Jerusalem, 
Yates county, when he was an infant, where he was reared. He was educated in 
the common schools of Jerusalem and Prattsburg Academy under Professor Jackson. 
In the spring of 1858 he came to Hammondsport and took up the study of medicine 
with his brother, M. T. Babcock, and for two winters attended lectures at the Uni- 
versity of Buffalo and also one special course, and was graduated from that institu- 
tion February 26, 1861, after which he spent another year with his brother, and was 
then for si.x months engaged in practice in WoodhuU. Returning to Hanimond.sport 
in the fall of 1862, he has ever since been engaged in this village. Dr. Babcock has 
been a member of the village board several terms and was twice president of the 
village, and is a staunch Republican but not a politician. He has been a member of 
the Masonic fraternity since 1862, Urbana Lodge, No. 459, Bath Chapter, No. 95, 
for eight years, and has served for twelve years as worshipful master of the lodge. 
In connection with his professional duties the doctor has been identified with grape 
growing since 1863, and has now over thirty acres of vineyard. February 26, 1868, 
he married Harriet I., daughter of A. C. Montgomery, of Prattsburg, who died Feb- 
ruary 24, 1889. 

Decker, William H., was born in Owego, N. Y., June 4, 1841, son of Peter and 
Mary (Smith) Decker, he born in Tioga county, N.Y., and died in Owego, in 1878, and 
she born in Pulteney, Steuben county, and died in Owego, in 18.50, a daughter of 
Abram Smith, one of the first settlers of the town of Pultenev. William H. Decker 
was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and began life for him- 
self when twelve years of age. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. B, Cth N. Y. Heavy Artil- 
lery, and served until the close of the war. He was engaged in the battles of the 
Peninsula, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg and Fisher's Hill, and many 
skirmishes, and was wounded at Spottsylvania. Mr. Decker located on the farm he 
now owns in 1862, where he has since resided. He now owns 145 acres of land. He 



354 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

is a member of the Post of Merchantsville. In 1866 he married Lydia Ninson, of 
Tompkins county, N. Y., by whom he had twelve children: Charles, George, John, 
Rosa, Ella, Ida, William (deceased). Flora (deceased), Sherman, Willie and Willard, 
twins (deceased), and Laura. 

Duvell Bros. — Albert Duvell and his wife, Martha, came from Montgomery county, 
locating in Hornby in 1848 where their sons Alfred and Daniel reside. They spent 
the balance of their days here. Daniel was born in 1830 in Montgomery county and 
married, in 1855, Mary E. Whitehead, who died in 1891. He has a family of two 
sons and three daughters. He afterward married Catherine Sharp, his present wife, 
who is a native of the town of Campbell. Alfred D. was born in 1841 and raised on 
the home place. In 1863 he married Rebecca Kembell, who died in 1894, leaving 
four sons and two daughters. January 1, 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 9th Artillery, 
and was with Grant in the Wilderness. He served till the close of the war being 
promoted to the office of lieutenant-colonel. He is considered one of Steuben 
county's largest and most enterprising farmers owning 900 acres of land. He has 
filled the offices of justice of the peace, assessor, and supervisor. 

Easling, Minor, son of Abram D. and Emeline Masters Easling, was born in 
Hornby in 1854. The father came from Tompkins county in 1826, and in 1872 moved 
to Corning where he died in 18T9, aged sixty-six. The mother came from New Jer- 
sey with her parents, Nehemiah and Harriet Masters, in 1827. In 1875 Mr. Easling 
married Sarah Sample, a native of Hornby and in 1876 came to his present farm, it 
being his mother's home place. He has two children; Ellsworth and Emma. 

Erwin, Samuel C. , son of Arthur, and grandson of Arthur, the original Erwin of 
the town of Erwin, was born in 1823 and has always resided in the county. In 1856 
he married Elizabeth Thompson, who is a native of Erwin. They have five children . 
Samuel C, Carrie N., Arthur A., James T., and Elizabeth. Mr. Erwin has 200 acres 
where he has lived in Hornby since 1865. 

Dunn, Melvin, was born August 25, 1847. His father, Asa Dunn, was born in 
1809, and died April 18, 1886, aged seventy-six years. He has always lived around 
Loon Lake, and he married Samantha, daughter of John Randall, who was born in 
Massachusetts, July 25, 1821, by whom he had five children: John and Leona, de- 
ceased; Melvina, who married Henry Haw, Melvin, as above; and Albert A. Mel- 
vin Dunn received a common school education, after which he engaged in farming, 
and now owns a farm of 106 acres, near Haskinville. November 29, 1869, he married 
Delight Salisbury, who was born in the town of Burns, September 8, 1848, by whom 
he had five children: George B., who was born July 8, 1872; Mertie A., who was 
born March 18, 1874; Melvin A., who was born April 18, 1877; Carrie R., who was 
born September 21, 1881 ; and Arthur W.. who was born September 18, 1883. George 
B. married Mabel Razey, and Mertie married Louis Rowley. 

Draper, Nahum, was born in Morris, Otsego county, N. Y. , May 23, 1820, son of 
Benjamin and Olive (Pettingill) Draper, natives of Dutchess county, N. Y., and 
Massachusetts, respectively. The grandfather, Ebenezer Draper, lived and died in 
Otsego county, N. Y. His father emigrated from England to Vermont, where he 
died. Benjamin Draper was in the war of 1812. He was a farmer and hotel keeper 
in Dutchess county. Nahum Draper was educated in the common schools. In 1866 



FAJtflLY SKETCHES. 356 

he came to Rathbone, settling on the farm he now owns, which consists of 100 acres. 
He has served as constable. In 1845 he married Catherine O., daughter of Jacob 
Fults, and niece of Thurlow Weed's wife. They have had si.K children: Amos, Mar- 
garet, James H., Belle, George, and Seymour. Mr. and Mrs. Draper celebrated 
their golded wedding January 1, 1895, having a company of about fifty of their rela- 
tives and friends. 

Dininny, Mrs. Sarah A. — Col. John W. Diuinny was for years one of the most 
central figures in the social and political life of Addison, and a man closely identified 
with all its affairs. He was born at Oneonta in 1820, a place formerly known as Mil- 
ford, but when twelve years of age he came with his parents to this town. He was 
an active participant in the labor of the pioneer settlers in clearing the land, lum- 
bering, and sharing their hardships. After leaving Oneida Institute, where his edu- 
cation began, he entered the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, from which he graduated 
with high honors in 1842. Then followed several years of school teaching, ending 
with the principalship of Addison High School. His law career is, perhaps, the most 
noteworthy. He began his law study in the office of Hon. Andrew G. Chatfield in 
1845, and in 1849, when only twenty-nine years of age, he was admitted to pactice in 
the courts of New York State, by an order of the Supreme Court. The next year he 
became a partner in the law office of his brother, Hon. Ferral C. Dininny, and ten 
years after his admission to the bar, he was admitted to the Supreme Court of the 
United States, at Washington, D. C, to practice as an attornej- and counselor. In 
1803 his brother retired, leaving the entire charge of his large practice to Colonel 
Dininny, who continued in the law business until the time of his death. The war 
record of this man is no less brilliant. He accepted the position of major of the 141st 
Regt. N. Y. Vols., when it was first organized, and in 1882 he was mustered into the 
United States service. He went with his regiment to Virginia, and was a partici- 
pant in man)' battles in and about Richmond. In 1863 he was promoted to colonel, 
which position he held until disease of the eyes compelled him to resign. Mr. Din- 
inny was much interested in education, and was for twenty-four years president of 
the Board of Education, the establishing of the Union Free School of Addison being 
due largely to his efforts. In 1849 he married Sarah A. Coburn, who still survives 
him, and by whom he had four children: Harper F., Carleton V., William B., and 
Georgiana. 

Donaldson, William R., was born in the town of Hartsville, N. Y. , June 19, 1847, 
and is a son of Hiram Donaldson, who was born in Vermont, and came to Hartsville 
when five years of age. Joel Donaldson; the grandfather, settled in Hartsville when 
that part of the country was a wilderness and was obliged to clear land on which to 
build a log cabin. Hiram Donaldson married Louisa Webb, daughter of Henry 
Webb, of Hartsville, and they had five children: William R., Martha, Henry, Adell, 
and Lillie. William R. has been a miller for over thirty years in the town of Harts- 
ville, owns two saw mills and manufactures lumber in large quantities. He married 
Anna Crousin, daughter of Francis Crousin, of Hartsville, and they have one son, 
Arthur, who follows in the same occupation as his father. 

Elmer, Sanford, a son of Curtis and Violet, formerly residents of Corning but na- 
tives of Connecticut was one of four children named Mary Jane Ranuey, Ella Mer- 



356 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTT. 

riman, Ellen deceased, and Sanford. The latter and his father settled in Big Flats 
about 1850, and raised the first crop of tobacco that was raised in that section. San- 
ford married May Matilda, daughter of Isaac Clute, of Corning, and they have three 
children; Fred, Joseph, and Ida M. Mitchel. Mr. Elmer has a farm of 180 acres, was 
formerly in the extract business in Tioga county, Pa., also a merchant at Hartford 
Corners for one year. Mr. Elmer is a member of the Addison Methodist church. 

Davis, Richard, was bom in Troupsburg, N. Y., July 11, 18-12, and is the third son 
of eleven children born to Isaiah and Hannah Erskine Davis, and grandson of 
David Davis, who was a pioneer of Troupsburg, a farmer and a man of wealth. 
Isaiah was reared on a farm, which occupation he followed until within a few years, 
when he retired and now resides in Potter county. Pa., aged eighty-two years, and 
Mrs. Davis is seventy two years old. Richard commenced in West Union as a farm 
laborer, and being very industrious bought sixty acres in West Union, which he 
sold, and in 18T7 bought again in Troupsburg, and in 1883 settled on the place he 
now owns, which consists of 175 acres. In 1863 he married Louisa, daughter of Eliph- 
elet and Emiline Lamphire Davis, who was born in Troupsburg, April 28, 1845. 
Their children are William, Eugene, Edwin, Edward, Hannah, wife of Delos Page, 
Mary, wife of Freeborn Stiles, a farmer of Troupsburg, Dora, Nettie, Charlie, and 
Johnnie. 

Dunn, George C, was bom in New Jersey, July 11, 1837, son of Jacob, also a na- 
tive of New Jersey, and grandson of Jeptha, a native of New England, who died 
when a young man. In 1846 Jacob came to the town of Pulteney, where he spent 
most of his life on a farm. His wife was Nancy Coleman, a native of New Jersey, 
and their children were Lewis, David, George C, Samuel (deceased), Jeptha, Sarah, 
Catherine, Jennie, Margaret, James, and Celia. Lewis died in Libby Prison, and 
Jeptha in the army hospital. David served all through the war, was first on a 
whaler for five years, when he enlisted on a British brig which he deserted at the 
beginning of the war, and then enlisted for two years in the Union Navy under the 
name of Ellis, which name he has carried ever since. After the expiration of this 
time he enlisted in the 22d New York Cavalry and was discharged in Colorado. In 
1862 George C. enlisted in Company A, 161st N. Y. Vols., and served three years, 
participating in the battle of Stewart Plains, La., the forty days' siege of Port Hud- 
son, Cox plantation, and the Red River Campaign, after which he w-as with General 
Baiiey until the close of the war, when he returned to Pulteney and later to Jerusa- 
lem, where he followed the carpenter's trade. In 1871 he removed to Prattsburg on 
his present farm. Mr. Dunn is a member of the Gregory G. A. R. Post of Pratts- 
burg. In 1866 he married Susan A., daughter of William and Mehetabel Miller 
Coryell, and they have two children ; Angevine, of Pulteney, who is married and has 
one child. Myrtle ; and Willie, who resides at home. 

Earnest, George D., was born in Wayne, December 13, 1861, son of Wallace W., 
and grandson of John J., and great-grandson of John and Isabelle Kelly Earnest, 
and great-great-grandson of Peter Earnest. Peter was a native of Mohawk Valley, 
and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John Earnest was a pioneer of Wayne, 
and died in Tyrone in 1880, and his wife, in 1869. He was a soldier in the War of 
1812. John J. was one of the leading business men of Wayne, being a farmer and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 357 

mechanic. He was a Whig and is now a Republican, and was supervisor of Wayne 
for several years. Mrs. John J. Earnest died in 1883. Wallace W. married Phebe, 
daughter of Lewis and Marial Clark, of Harrington. He enlisted in Co. B, 141st 
N. Y. Vols., in August, 1862, and was honorably discharged when his term of service 
expired. He is a blacksmith and farmer (also an auctioneer), he and his son having 
a farm of one hundred acres and a vineyard of eight acres. George D. was educated 
at Starkey Seminary, and was graduated from Lowell Business College in 18S1, and 
was bookkeeper for O. C. Galen of Albion, Mich. In 1885 George D. married Hattie 
E., daughter of Dr. Jacob Runner deceased. 

Ellis, Benjamin F., was born in Barrington, Yates county, N. Y., June 21, 1833. 
and is the eighth of nine children born to Samuel and Elizabeth (Booth) Ellis, both 
natives of Orange count)', N. Y. The grandparents, William and Rebecca Ellis, 
came from Orange county to Seneca county, thence to the town of Benton. He was 
a miller by trade. The maternal grandfather, Amos Booth, was a soldier of the 
Revolution, and lived to be 101 years of age. He spent his last days in Lodi. Sam- 
uel Ellis, father of Benjamin F. , was a farmer of Yates county. He was for a num- 
ber of years at Geneva Lake, Wis., but died in Seneca county, in 1848, Mrs. Ellis 
died in 18T?. Benjamin F. Ellis was reared on a farm, and in 1860 went to Califor- 
nia where he was engaged in mining for five years. He returned to New York State 
and bought a hotel in Bradford. Mr. Ellis owns 200 acres of land iu Wayne, and a 
small farm in Tyrone, and is engaged in general farming and speculating. He mar- 
ried Emily Gibson, who died in 1881, and he married for his second wife, Rosa 
Champlin, of Sonora. 

Eiband, Anthony M., was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 6, 185.1, and came 
to this country in 1871, when si.xteen years of age. He came to Dansville, Living- 
ston connty, N. Y.. where he was employed with R. S. Stone for one year and a half 
at wagonriiaking and learning the trade. He then went to Canaseraga and then to 
South Dansville. In February, 1873, he returned to his native land where he re- 
mained until October of the same year, and in November, 1873, he came to Arkport. 
He was employed for two years by Henry Bills and Martin Sharp. In 1877 he 
started in business for himself in the manufacture of carriages, which he made a 
specialty until November, 1884, when he established a planing and matching mill at 
Arkport, which line of business we now find him engaged in. ' In 1885 he was burned 
out and then erected a mill 60 by 30 feet, put in steam power and fitted it with ma- 
chinery to do all kinds of wood work. Mr. Eiband is an enthusiastic Republican but 
not a politician. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Arkport. He was 
married October 8, 1877, to Miss Ida B. Coburn, daughter of Andrus Coburn of Hor- 
nellsville. They have eight children: A. Guy, seventeen years of age; Lena, aged 
fifteen ; Joseph, aged fourteen ; Nina, aged twelve ; Margaret, aged ten ; Lot R. , aged 
eight; Anthony, aged seven ; and Elizabeth, aged two. Mrs. Eiband died Decem- 
ber 16, 1893, at thirty-seven years of age. A Christian character, a loving mother 
and kind wife was taken from her family, and they still mourn her loss. 

Emery, Ashabel W., was born on a farm in the town of Hornellsville, May 6, 1828. 
William Emery, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania and one of the early settlers 
of Penn Hill, in the town of Hornellsville. He cleared a farm on lot No. 36, where 



358 LANDMARKS OF. STEUBEN COUNTY. 

he spent the most of his life. He died in the spring of 1864. His wife, Anna Kline, 
was also from Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of eight sons and two daugh- 
ters, of whom five sons and one daughter are still living. Ashabel, the sixth son, 
was given a common school education, such as could be derived by attending school 
during the winter terms. His summers were spent at farm work and lumbering, 
remaining at home until twenty-one years of age, and was then for five years em- 
ployed with other farmers. In the fall of 1864 he bought a farm of 100 acres in the 
town of Jasper, which he conducted one year and then spent three years on his 
father-in-law's place in Hornellsville. In 1868 he bought seven acres of John Dildine. 
thirty-five acres of the Eddy farm and the Price farm of seventy acres. He also owns 
thirty acres adjoining the J. E. R. Patten farm. In 1892, his son being in Hornells- 
ville, Mr. Emery became one of the residents of that village, buying an acre of land 
on which he has erected a fine residence. He is a member of Arkport Grange, No. 
179, and always a supporter of church and school work. January 19, 1853, he mar- 
ried Mary, daughter of George Collins, and they have three children; Edwin S. , a 
school teacher, who died in 1881 at twenty-six years of age; Marshall, one of Ark- 
port's enterprising business men, and Flora, the wife of James X. Flint, who con- 
ducts the homestead farm. 

Evans, Charles E., jr., was born in Painted Post, town of Erwin, Decembers, 
1861. Charles E. Evans, the father of Charles, jr., is also a native of this county. 
He is a machinist and a resident of Hornellsville. Charles, jr., was given a good 
common school education, and at sixteen years of age went to learn the blacksmith 
trade with Grannis, Ryan & Co., of Hornellsville, where his people had moved in 
1871. He spent three years at that business and then took up the machinist trade 
' with the Rawson Manufacturing Co., where he remained until they went out of busi- 
ness in 1883. and then for four years with the Erie Company in their shops in Hor- 
nellsville. In 1889 he moved to Battle Creek, Mich., and was with the Battle Creek 
Machine Co. for one year, and returned to enter the employ of the Hornellsville 
Iron Works, where he continued until March, 1894, when he established, in company 
with Frank Bartz, the firm of Bartz & Evans, manufacturing power presses and 
electric dynamos and motors, besides a general machine and repair business. He 
has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since he was twenty-six years of age, 
raised in Evening Star Lodge, No. 44, and is a past master of the blue lodge, pres- 
ent king of Steuben Chapter, a member of Hornellsville Council, and a member of 
De Molay Council. 

Elwell, George B., was born in the town of Hornellsville, July 28, 1860. Edward 
C. Elwell, his father came to this section from Granville, Washington county, N. Y., 
which was his native town. He was a lumberman and conducted a mill in Allegany 
county. He was a man who took no active part in politics or public aft'au-s, but a 
thorough-going business man. He was the father of three sons, of which George B. 
was the eldest. Oliver E., the second, is a partner in the coal and lumber business 
in Hornellsville. Forest J. is a resident of Scio, Allegany county, where he is en- 
gaged in farming. George B. was educated in the city schools, and at nineteen 
years of age, in partnership with Oliver, established the manufacture of rough hem- 
lock lumber in Allegany county, where they continued until the present time still 
owning the mill. In 1888 they established a lumber yard on Main street, where the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 359 

old Armory now stands, where they were engaged until 1891, and then removed to 
55 Washington street, and that same year added the dealing in coal, which has grown 
to be an extensive part of their business. They also have a planing mill connected 
with their yard, where they turn out large quantities of finished lumber. Mr. Elwell 
is an ardent Republican in political views, and in 1894 was elected supervisor of the 
First and Second wards of the city, which office he now holds; he was also excise 
commi sioner of the city. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity with 
Hornellsville Lodge, No. 331. In January, 1886, he married Ada A. Sisson of 
Gowanda, N. Y., by whom he had one child, M. Florence. 

Deutsch, John M., was born in France in 1837, and came with his parents to this 
country in 1847. At the age of fifteen he started to learn the cabinet makers' trade 
in Rochester, where the family was living. He served an apprenticeship for three 
years and was then employed as a journeyman in Rochester and New York city 
from 1859 to 1861. He was then m Rochester until 1866, when he came to Hornells- 
ville to establish the business of which he is the senior partner. Since coming here 
he has devoted his whole time and attention to his business. He is a member of 
the Presbyterian church, also a member of the Masonic order since 1867, and has 
passed the chairs to senior deacon. In 1861 Mr. Deutsch married Julia E. Boyd, a 
native of Vermont, and resident of Yonkers, N. Y. 

Davenport, Henry L.. was born on the farm of his present residence, near the vil- 
lage of Arkport, in 1853. He is the youngest son of George Davenport. He was 
given a common school education and followed in his father's footsteps on the farm 
until August 15, 1893, when he bought a half interest in the produce dealing and 
milling business with L C. Healy, under the firm name of Healy Sc Davenport, 
where we find him engaged at the present time. Mr. Davenport was for one year 
justice of the peace. He was a director of the Hornellsville Farmers' Club from the 
time of its formation until 1894, and superintendent of one of the departments. He 
has been one of the officers of Arkport school. He was married in 1876 to Miss 
Elizabeth Carry of Arkport. She died March 4, 1894, leaving one daughter. Miss 
Carrie E. Davenport, a student of Auburn High School. He was again married 
April 3, 1895, to Miss Carrie Jones, daughter of Spencer B. Jones of South Dansville. 

Deister, John J., was born in Elmira, Chemung County, N. Y. , February 21, 1866. 
He was given a good common school and academic education. He first took up 
blacksmithing, which he worked at from fifteen to nineteen years of age, and then 
engaged in the butchering business, and on November 1, 1893, he entered the em- 
ploy of Swift & Co., first as salesman at Hornellsville, and January 1, 1894, became 
the manager of what by his industry has become an extensive establishment, the 
Hornellsville Beef Company. Mr. Deister was married January 29, 1890, to Miss 
Lizzie Friend, daughter of John Friend, senior member of the firm of Friend, Metzer 
& Co., of Elmira. They have two children, Mabel Allene and Frank Deister. 

Day, James B. , was born at Union, Broome county, N. Y. , in the year 1847. His 
father was a native of the State of Massachusetts and his mother a native of Broome 
county, N. Y. The subject of this sketch attended common schools at Union and 
completed his education in the public schools at Binghamton. He went to the city 
of New York at the age of twenty-one years and was soon placed on the police force 



360 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

of that city, a position which he held for seven years. In 18T4 he resigned that po- 
sition and removed to and became a permanent resident of Hornellsville, engaging 
in and conducting a successful business, and now stands in the front rank of busi- 
ness men of the city. He was chief of the Hornellsville Fire Department two years, 
and held the office of president of the village of Hornellsville for three years. In 
1888, when Hornellsville became a city, Mr. Day became its first mayor for the term 
of two years, and was re-elected to the same position, which he now holds. In 1873 
he was married to Miss Jennie L. Twaddell, by whom he had three children, none 
of whom is now living. In politics he has always been a Democrat and an earnest 
and zealous worker for the principles of his party. Socially he is a gentleman of 
polite and attractive manner, and always surrounded bj' warm and true friends, 
conspicuous among whom was the late popular John McDougall. He was one of the 
presidential electors of the last election; in 1893 he was made a memberof the Demo- 
cratic State Committee, a position he now holds, and has been a delegate to State 
conventions for six successive years. He is a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 
44, F. and A. M., Steuben Chapter, No. 101, and De Molay Commandery. 

Dolson, Charles A., was born at Bath, Steuben county, N. Y. ,in 1851. His father, 
Dr. J. S. Dolson, now of Hornellsville, N. Y., has been for many years one of the 
recognized leaders of the Republican party in Western New York, and occupies an 
eminent position as a physician and surgeon. The son seems to inherit to a large 
extent the leading characteristics of the father, except his politics. At the close of 
his school life, Mr. Dolson chose the profession of law, and on his admission to the 
bar in 1872 settled at Andover, N. Y. , and entered at once upon a successful career, 
speedily attaining an enviable position as an advocate and strong trial lawyer. He 
soon afterward formed a partnership with Hon. D. P. Richardson of Angelica, N. Y., 
then and now one of the leading lawyers of Allegany. This relation existed about 
three j'ears, the firm being engaged in many important litigations and assuming a 
front rank among the law firms of Western New York. In 1875 Mr. Dolson, desir- 
ing a larger field, removed to Elmira, N. Y., where he remained several years, at- 
taining a prominent position among the noted bar of that city, and being engaged 
in many of the important trials, pitted against such lawyers as David B. Hill, 
Erastus Hart and other prominent men in the profession. Upon leaving Elmira he 
returned to Andover, where for several years he devoted a large part of his time to 
the management of an extensive stock farm. But Mr. Dolson's former clientage 
would not permit his legal abilities to become rusty, and, somewhat against his in- 
clination, he was forced back into practice. It was, perhaps, during his practice at 
Andover thus resumed, that his abilities in the law, and particularly in the criminal 
branch, became justly recognized. In 1888, Hon. Horace Bemis having died sud- 
denly, Mr. Dolson removed to Hornellsville, and the firm of Dolson & Orcutt was 
established, the firm being engaged in many large and important cases. 
This arrangement continued until 1891, since which time Mr. Dolson has 
been alone. Mr. Dolson has never taken a very lively interest in politics and 
has never sought political office, preferring to give his whole attention to the duties 
of his profession. Nevertheless his party once placed him in nomination for the 
office of district attorney of Allegany county, where an election on the Democratic 
ticket is an impossibility, he running ahead of his ticket in each of the twenty-nine 
towns, showing the high appreciation the people of the county have for his abilities. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 361 

English, E. C. was born in Caton, Steuben county, in 183T. In 1861 he enlisted 
in Company D, Twenty-third N. Y. Vols,, and in October, 1862, was discharged for 
disability. He followed farming until 1874, then came to Corning and studied law 
with Spencer & Mills, admitted to the bar in 1879, and has since been coun.sel for 
the board of superintendents for the poor. He was for two years supervisor of his 
native town prior to locating in Corning. 

Edger, ^Villiam F., was born in Corning, in 1848, son of Thomas J. Edger, a farmer 
who was one of the pioneers of this section. \Villiam F. Edger was rai,sed on a farm, 
and followed farming and boating until 1879 when he entered the employ of E. 
Rosenwold & Bro. , of New York city, buyers and shippers of leaf tobacco, taking 
charge of their business here in 1888. They have numerous offices in different parts 
of the country, and are among the largest tobacco dealers in the United States. 

Drake, Charles E., was born in Corning, in 1868, and graduated from Sing Sing 
Military Academy in 1888. He was connected with the First National Bank for sev- 
eral years, and in 1891 established his present hardware trade. He is a director in 
the First National Bank. His father, Henry Drake, a son of F. N. Drake, was a na- 
tive of Cohocton, and located in Corning in 1868. 

Drake, George W., postmaster, president the of Corning Stove Works, and of the 
firm of Clute & Drake, stationers and book dealer.s, is a native of Arnot, Pa., and 
born in 1870. In early childhood he came to Corning with his father, Henry S. 
Drake. He was educated in the common schools and Holbrook Military Academy , 
and graduated from the latter in 1886. He was appointed postmaster in 1894, and 
married Anna Tompkins of Elmira. 

Dignen, Patrick, was born in Ireland, March 17, 1825, son of Patrick and Julia 
(Hery) Dignen. natives of Ireland, where they died. Patrick was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools. He came to the United States when seventeen 
years of age and worked on the Morris & Essex railroad one year, after which he 
worked on the Erie railroad until it was completed. He then came to Tuscarora and 
worked on the plank road from Addison to Elkland, Pa., and drew the last load of 
plank for the road. In 1854 he located on eight acres of land belonging to the Pulte- 
ney estate, to which he added until he had 520 acres, some of which he has sold, and 
he now owns 400 acres. Mr. Dignen has put on all of the buildings, and has in all 
eight barns, also a fine residence. He began life a poor boy and is now one of the 
largest farmers of the town. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been excise com- 
missioner and trustee for a number of years. In April, 1855, he married Mary A. 
Sando, of Elkland, Pa., by whom he had six children: Charles, who resides in Tus- 
carora, N. Y. ; Michael, who resides at home; William, who is a graduate of Addison 
Union School, Hamilton College, Buffalo Medical College, and is now a practicing 
physician in Buffalo; Mary, wife of William Murray of Tuscarora, N. Y. ; Maggie, 
who resides at home; and Julie, who also resides at home. Mr. Dignen has been a 
member of the A. O. U. W., of Tu.scarora, since its organization, June 11, 1879. 

Dininny, Daniel E., was born in the town of Oneonta, Otsego county, N. Y., No- 
vember 6, 1824, .son of Ferrill and Sarah (Bergett) Dininny, natives of Ireland and 
Schoharie county, N. Y., respectively. Mr. Dininny came to America in 1801 and 
worked at Stillwater. He married and settled in Otsego county and engaged in 



362 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

farming and lumbering. In 1833 he settled in Addison, now Tuscarora, where he 
died in May, 1871, and during the la<t twenty-eight years of his life he was blind. 
Mrs. Dininny died in 1836. He was in the war of 1813. Daniel E. learned the car- 
penter's trade, but when twenty years of age he engaged in farming, which has been 
his life work. He has 200 acres of land and makes a specialty of tobacco growing. " 
In 1850 he married Marietta, daughter of John and Catherine Young, by whom he 
had two children: O. H., and John E., who farm the home farm. Mr. Dininny has 
been highway commissioner a number of terms. 

Depew, William M., was born in Pulteney, N. Y. , on the farm he now owns, in 
1829. His grandfather, Peter Depew, was a native of Holland, one of three brothers 
who came to America. He was a farmer and soldier in the Revolutionary war. 
Abram Depew, father of William M., was a native of Orange county, N. Y., born in 
1788. He came to Pulteney about 1823, settled on the farm now owned by his son, 
cleared the land, and erected a log cabin where he spent his life. He supplied his 
household with meat with his gun, killing deer and game. At his death he owned 
300 acres of land and money at interest. He married Deborah, daughter of Samuel 
Drew who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being but fifteen years of age 
when the war broke out, and granddaughter of Gilbert Drew, who was a minute man 
during the war. They had twelve children; L. C, Samuel, Peter, Samantha, Riley, 
Diantha, Roswell, James and Sarah, twins, Ferris, William M., and Abram. He 
died in 1858. William M. Depew received but a limited education in the common 
schools, and has endured many of the hardships of life, when a boy often being 
obliged to go through an entire winter barefooted. He has followed farming all his 
life, and since 1858 has lived on his father's homestead, to which he has added and im- 
proved, and now own 243 acres in his home farm and another farm of 103 acres. He has 
bred many fine and high priced horses, bought, sold and bred large numbers of sheep, 
and now has a band of ninety head. I;i 1858 he married Esther Eggleston, who 
was born in Pulteney, daughter of Benjamin and Sallie (Hyatt) Eggleston, by whom 
he had one child. Grant, who was born in 18C0. His wife died in 1874, and in 1870 
he married for his second wife, Margeha Shuart, who was born in Pulteney, daugh- 
ter of Andrew and Betsey Shuart, by whom he had one child, Rose. In 1885 Grant 
Depew married Emma, daughter of Johnson and Susan Brink, by whom he had one 
child, Frank, who died in March, 1894. He resides with his father on the home- 
stead. 

Dean, John, was born on the farm he now owns, in December, 1830. His grand- 
father, John Dean, was a sailor for seven years while a young man, a soldier during 
the Revolutionary war, and later a farmer in Dutchess county. He settled in Pulte- 
ney in 1815. He married Mary Niles, by whom he had nine children. William 
Dean, father of John, was born in Dutchess county, in 1794. He practiced medicine 
for over forty years, and also conducted a farm. He married Polly Terry, by whom 
he has seven children: Julia, Moses, Charles, Mary J., Darius, John, and George. 
He took a deep interest in educational matters, and was an anti-Mason. Mr. Dean 
has devoted his life to the homestead, to which he has added several hundred acres_ 
He has dealt to a considerable extent in lumber, and during war times dealt exten- 
sively in cattle. In 1861 he married Sarah, daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Peck) 
Boss, of Pulteney, by whom he had three children: George, Everett, and Mary. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 3fi3 

Dennis, Boardman, was born November 30, 1853, son of Franklin Dennis, and was 
reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He is a farmer and now 
owns the J. L. Ordway farm. He is a member of the Bani:er Grange, No. 539, of 
North Jasper. He has been twice married: November 30, 1875, he married Annie 
E. Bachelder, by whom he had one child, born February 2, 1878, and died May 11, 
1880. Mrs. Dennis died October 20, 1881, and August 15, 1883. he married Vira 
Ordway by whom he had one son, Clark, born November 13, 1885."- Vira Ordway is 
a daughter of J. L. Ordway, son of Enoch and Hannah (Whiting) Ordway, natives 
of Lindborough, N. H., he born August 5, 1794, and she October 5, 1793; they were 
married January 29, 1824, and had three children: Jonathan L., born 'January 14, 
1830, in Jasper, who married Omisa E. Clark (born July 10, 1825), August 3, 1852, by 
whom he had three children: Smith, born September 28, 1854, who married Sarah 
Parcell May 22, 1888, by whom he had one child, Gretta, born May 23, 1801. Smith 
is a Presbyterian minister m Syracuse. Vira, born November 27, 1850, wife of 
Boardman Dennis; Jennie, born November 15, 1801, who was a home missionary 
five years, and is now a professional nurse in Denver, Col. Charles W. Ordway, see 
biography of F. D. Ordway; Enoch, born December 25, 1833, who married Hester 
A. Clark (born April 10, 1837), May 12, 1858, by whom he had three children: Bru- 
netta, born May 21, 1859, wife of L. D. Whiting; P. Minerva, born April 19, 1859, 
who married first Edson Prentice, March 23, 1881, and has two children: William, 
born October 28, 1882; Harvey, born September 13, 1885. Mr. Prentice died August 
22, 1887, and she married Byron Backus, September 20, 1894. May, born May 25, 
1873, who married James B. Scutt, in December, 1893. Enoch Ordwaj-, sr., came to 
Jasper in 1824 and settled on the farm now occupied by Boardman Dennis. He was 
an elder in the Presbyterian church for a number of years. J. L. Ordway, father of 
Mrs. Dennis, when eight years of age was reared by Franklin Dennis, and at twenty 
years of age moved on to the farm where he has since lived. He is an elder in the 
Presbyterian church, and has been a member and worker since nine years of age, 
being superintendent of the Sunday school and doing general work. His wife died 
May 20, 1893. 

Dennis, Albert L., was born in Jasper, N. Y., March 25, 1845. Franklin Dennis, 
father of Albert L., was born in New Hampshire, May 23, 1810, and came to Jasper 
in 1825. He was three times married: First to Martha Lamson (born May 16, 1816), 
March 20, 1837, by whom he had five children: Albert L., Andrew F., Serena, born 
September 17, 1839, and who married Charles W. Ordway, and have two chidren: 
Franklin, born March 23, 1862; and Ella G., born February 27, 1800, and who died 
March 2, 1881*. Franklin married Nancy Walwrath (born July 12, 1857), July 23, 
18SG, and they have two children: Wyan H., born November 8, 1889, and Marie. 
Carrie E. , born May 11, 1842, who married George W. Knapp September 2, 1865; 
they have five children: Carrie, born February 7, 1808, and died February 8, 1808; 
George D., born April 30, 1872; Hattie S., born November 7, 1873, and died July 13, 
1874; Mattie L., born July 26, 1880; Nellie B., born April 30, 1882. Martha, born 
November 24, 1849, who married Robert Hilborn (born November 17, 1845), February 
24, 1809; they have five children: Harlo A., born June 19, 1871, and died October 10, 
1888; Lewis E., born June 15, 1873; Rollo A., born November 19, 1870; Jessie M., 
born August 13, 1881; and Carrie S., born July 9, 1888. Mrs. Dennis, first wife of 



364 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Franklin Dennis, died November 24, 1849, and July 1, 1850, Mr. Dennis married 
Abbie Boardman of New Hampshire, born March 31 , 1823, by whom he had these 
children: Abbie and Augusta (twins), born October 16, 1S51 ; Abbie is the wife of C. 
W. Talbot of Jasper; Augusta is the wife of Montgomerj^ Timmernian of Ord, Val- 
ley county. Neb. ; Boardman; Truman, born July 10, 1858, who married Ida M. Gil- 
bert (born October 17, 1864), October 14, 1883, by whom he had one child, Lu; Wil- 
lis E., born March 20, 1860, twice married; first to Olive Small, March 27, 1884; she 
died September 1, 1888: he married for his second wife. Alma Rowley, October 2, 
1839, by whom he had one child, Frank. Mr. Dennis, second wife of Franklin Den- 
nis, died Februar}' 18, 1891. Albert L. Dennis was reared on a farm and educated 
in the common schools and Alfred University. He is the owner of 320 acres of land 
and makes a specialty of hay and dairying. He is a Republican in politics and has 
been assessor six years. He is a member of the Banner Grange of North Jasper, Xo. 
539. In 1866 he married C. M. Travis of Canisteo, by whom he had three children: 
Almond, born December 20, 1868 ; Minnie M. , born March 23, 1872 ; and Luella, born 
September 26, 1881. 

Deck, John, was born in Jasper, N.Y. , October 11, 1836, son of Urial and Elizabeth 
(Countryman) Deck, natives of Montgomery county, N. Y., who came to Steuben 
county in 1822, with his father, John Deck. John Deck married Elizabeth Bauter, 
by whom he had three children: Urial, Nancj-, and John. He married for his sec- 
ond wife, Catherine Failing, by whom he had four children: Solomon, Daniel, Bet- 
sey, and Margaret. The grandfather purchased 350 acres of land and cleared 
seventy acres before his death, which occurred in 1843. Urial Deck, father of John, 
was a farmer, and owned a farm of 100 acres. He died in 1867, aged sixty-eight 
years, and his wife in 1894, aged ninety-three years. John Deck was reared on a 
farm and educated in the common schools. He is a carpenter by trade, and was also 
a merchant for a short time. He owns 150 acres of land where he resides, also fifty 
acres in Pine Grove, Warren county. Pa. He follows dairying and raising hay. In 
1865 he married Lucy H., daughter of Augustus and Eunice (Graham) Van Orsdale. 
who came from Broome county to Jasper in 1851, thence to Warren county. Pa., 
where Mrs. Van Orsdale died. Mr. Van Orsdale is eighty-two years of age. 

Dennis. George, was born in Jasper, Steuben county, January 1, 1844, son of Sam- 
uel F. Dennis, born in New Hampshire May 30, 1811. His wife was Sarah S. Wood- 
ward, whom he married September 27, 1838. They had nine children, namely: Lois, 
who died in 1841; Moses, who died April 6, 1862, in the service of his country; 
George ; Sarah, the wife of Wesley Travis ; Mary, the wife of L. D. Timmernian ; 
Marshall; Harland, who died October 18, 1851; William F., born July 10, 1857; and 
Jesse, bom December 9, 1861, died August 27, 1864. Samual Dennis, grandfather of 
George, was born January 26, 1788, and came to this country about the time of the 
Revolutionary war ; he purchased 800 acres of land, whereon his descendants were 
born. George Dennis was educated in Troopsburg and Alfred, and married Lou A., 
daughter of Amos F. Woodbury, September 7, 1865. Mr. Woodbury was a promi- 
nent farmer of Jasper, and the subject resides upon the Woodbury farm. They have 
two children; Ora L., born April 15, 1875, a student at the Cortland State Normal 
School; and Ross W.. born December 15, 1881, a student at Canisteo Academy. 

Dickey, John E., was born in Cameron, April 24, 1841, son of Erastus Dickej-, who 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 365 

was a prominent farmer and lumberman. Matthew Dickey was one of the pioneer 
settlers of Cameron. John E. has been in the employ of the L. E. & W. R. R. for 
thirty two years, and is now the managing agent at Canisteo, which position he has 
held since 1889. October 17, 1866, he married Anna W. Harman, by whom he has 
one daughter, Mrs. Belle \V. De Laney. Mr. Dickey was supervisor of the town of 
Cameron two terms and was again elected in 1889, but resigned to take his present 
position at Canisteo. Mr. Dickey was educated in the district schools and Eastman's 
Business College, of Poughkeepsie. N. Y. He is a member of Morning Star Lodge 
of Masons Xo. 6.5. 

Davis, George L., was born in Greenwood, August 4, 1851, sou of Redman S. , who 
was born in Worcester, Mass. He was among the early settlers of Greenwood, first 
settling in Dryden, Tompkins county, then coming to Greenwood in 1839. He, 
Redman S., was a merchant and farmer and in busmess with his father. George 
L. is a member of the private banking house of Porter & Davis, which business is 
conducted on a firm basis. In 1879 Mr. Davis was man-ied to Calina M. Isbell, of 
Marion, Iowa, by whom he had one daughter, Minnie E., and one son, Donald Gor- 
don, born March 29, 1895. Mr. Davis is treasurer of the corporation. 

Dates. Henry, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., Januai-y 10, 1822, son of Joseph 
and Betsey (Shocks) Dates, who came to Cayuga county. N. Y., in an early day, and 
from there to Chemung county, where they died. Henry Dates was reared on a 
farm and educated in the common schools, and at nine years of age went to live 
with Lewis Gardner, of Big Hats, N. Y., where he remained until he was eighteen 
years of age, and was then for four years on the Erie Canal. In 1847 he came to 
Woodhull and worked in a saw mill and finally engaged in farming, and he now owns 
ninety-two acres of land. In 1845 he married Harriet Wing, by whom he had these 
children; Emily, Julia. Lyman, Alice, L'ri, and Silas. Mrs. Dates was born in 
Southport, N. Y., August 26, 1822, daughter of Samuel and Retta (Chaffin) Wing, 
natives of Cherrj' Valley, N. Y., who spent their last days in Southport, N. Y. Au- 
gust 28, 1862. Mr. Dates enlisted in Co. G, 141st N. Y. Vols., and served two years 
and ten months, and was at Sackett's Harbor, Cassville, and Dallas, and was with 
Sherman on his march to the sea. 

Deitzel, George C, was born in Rochester N. Y., October 3, 1847, son of Charles 
Deitzel, who was born in Germany, emigrated to this country, and settled in Steuben 
• county in 18.58. Charles Deitzel owns a farm in Wayland, also one in Springwater. 
He married Caroline Miller, who was born in Germany in 1821, by whom he had 
nine children, four of whom are living: George C, born in Rochester, October R, 
1847; Jacob, re.sides at Springwater; Caroline, wife of Eli Saltsman, who resides in 
Avoca; and William H., who resides in Wayland. Mr. Deitzel died in Wayland in 
1875, aged fifty-four years. At eighteen years of age George C. engaged in the car- 
penter and joiner trade with Lyman Woodard, which he followed for twelve years. 
In 1875 he engaged the sash, blind and door business, which he still continues. He 
is a member of the Board of Education, also one of the directors of the Wayland 
Dime Loan and Savings Association. In 1873 he married Rhoda Flory, born in 
April, 1841, by whom he had one child, Julian, born February 24, 1882. 

Deitzel, William H., was born in Springwater, October 31, 1866. His father, 



366 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Charles Deitzel, was born in Germany in 1818, and in 1842 emigrated and settled at 
Rochester, N. Y., where'he remained one j'ear, and came to the town of Wayland, 
where he purchased another farm, on which he died in 1874. His wife was Caroline 
Miller, who was born in 1821 in Germany, where they were married, and their chil- 
dren were George C, Jacob F., Caroline, and William H. The latter was educated 
in the common schools, and in 1885 was graduated from the Rochester Business Uni- 
versity. He clerked in the grocery store of C. C. Tinker for one year, and in 1890 
bought the stock and store, and where now may be found a full line of groceries, 
wall paper, crocker}', etc. He is a member of the Wayland Lodge, No. 176, and of 
the I. O. O. F. July 19, 1893, he married Cora Smith, who was born in Livonia, N. 
Y., in 18T0. 

Edwards, Jerome, was born in Troupsburg, N. Y., August 24, 1851, and is the 
second of three children born to Ira and Ellen (Guernsey) Edwards, he a native of 
Pulteney, and she of Jasper. The grandparents, Daniel and Sallie (Sherwood) Ed- 
wards, came from Connecticut and settled in Pulteney, being pioneers there. They 
went to Woodhull, and finally to Cameron, where they died. The maternal grand- 
father, Harry Guernsey, came to Woodhull at an early day. Ira Edwards was a 
farmer of Troupsburg, and settled in the northeasternpart of the town. From there 
he went to Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he engaged in butchering and dealing 
in stock. He was killed at Rockford, III., while after a load of cattle, in June, 1882, 
aged sixty-one years. Mrs. Edwards resides in Chautauqua county. Jerome Ed- 
wards was reared on the farm and educated at Woodhull Academy, and has been 
engaged in farming most of his life. After the death of his father he was m a meat 
market for one year, and February 24, 1875, he settled on the William Carpenter 
farm where he is now engaged in farming. Julj' 3, 1872, he married Susan, daugh- 
ter of William Carpenter, by whom he had four children: Ada B., William Clair, 
Velma, and Bennie. 

Stratton, George B., was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y., March 4, 1844, 
son of Frederick and Hannah (Dewy) Stratton, natives of Oxford and Norwich, N. 
Y., respectively. Mr. Stratton was one of the pioneers of Tuscarora, coming there 
with a yoke of cattle, and engaged in farming. He died in 1886, and his wife in ISUS. 
George B. Stratton was reared on a farm and has always followed farming. In 
1874 he married Reusha A., daughter of L. Swan of Tuscarora, by whom he had 
eight children; Charles B., George L., Floyd F. , Clarence, who died November 27, 
1892, Ina, Girden. Ada, and Alfreda, who died in 1892, aged three months. In 1864 
Mr. Stratton enlisted in Co. A, 188th N. Y. Vols., and was discharged in June, 1865. 
He was at Hatcher's Run, second battle of Petersburg, and at Lee's surrender. He 
is a member of G. A. R., No. 372, at Addison. 

Stanton, Jacob and Stephen T. — Robert Stanton, the first of the family to settle in 
Steuben county, came from Stanton Hill, Schoharie county, about 1820, when still a 
boy, and located on Lent Hill. He was a son of Elijah Stanton, who was a physi- 
cian, and who came to the county about 1840, and settled on what is now the Vandy 
farm. He served through the war of 1812. In 1824 Robert Stanton took up his first 
piece of land, containing seventy-five acres, paying Sl-25 per acre. He was aman of 
industrious and frugal habits, and with the advanceof years added to hispossessions, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 367 

until he became one of the prominent and well-to-do farmers of that vicinity. He 
was one of the founders of the Lent M. E. church, and was its first class leader, 
taking an active part in the building of the church there. He married Susan Moore, 
of Prattsburg, by whom he had eleven children; Abel, who married Charlotte Stur- 
tevant, settling first on Lent Hill, and was for many years engaged in farming, 
afterward settling in Michigan; Jacob, who settled in Cohocton, where he has always 
lived, with the exception of from 18r)4 to 1860, which he spent in California, and has 
been mainly engaged in farming, but for eleven years was engaged in the produce 
business in Cohocton. He married Ann Morgan in California for his first wife, and 
for his second wife he married Mrs. Jane Burk; John, who married Hannah Worster, 
and settled in Cohocton. where he has always followed farming: Elijah, who married 
Samantha Morrison, and in 1803 enlisted in the 161st N. Y. Inft., and died in the 
service; Lucretia, who married Elijah Kelsey, and settled in Benton, Yates county, 
N. Y. ; Emeline, deceased; Susan P., wife of Henry Smith; Stephen T. , who mar- 
ried Martha Sturtevant, settled in the town of Prattsburg, where he has been an 
enterprising and prosperous farmer, and in 1888 settled in North Cohocton. In 1861 
he enlisted in Co. E. 104th N. Y. Inft., and served until in December, 1804. He i.s a 
member of R. E. Harris Post, G. A. R., of Cohocton; Johanna, who married Ira 
Brownell, and settled in Prattsburg; Hannah S., wife of Abraham Wheaton, of 
Prattsburg; and Robert J., deceased. 

Allen, \Villiam W., w-as born in the town of Howard, October 19, 1835, son of John 
Thomas Allen, a native of Steuben county, N. Y., born in the town of Howard in 
1811, and grandson of William Allen, born in Amsterdam, Montgomery county, N. 
Y. , who settled in the town of Howard near Smith's Pond in the spring of 1810. 
W. \V. Allen is a great-grandson of William Allen of New England, who was active 
as a soldier in establishing American independence. He married Catherine Hub- 
bard, daughter of Thomas Hubbard, then postmaster of Boston, and of Judith Ray 
a granddaughter of Simon Ray, one of the original purchasers of Block Island. Mr. 
Allen and family moved from Boston to Hagaman Mills near Amsterdam, where he 
died December 14, 1844, aged eighty-five years. John T. Allen was a farmer in 
Howard and Avoca several years, whence he removed to Bath and engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits; was county treasurer of Steuben county, and died in 1867. He mar- 
ried Minerva, daughter of Reuben Ferris of Howard, who served in the war of 1812 
and was honored with a captain's commission. Reuben Ferris's wife was Rachel 
Purdy, daughter of Abner Purdy and Hannah Fisher. Mr. Purdy was born in 
Dutchess county and served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionarj' war. His father 
was Ebenezer Purdy, who was early in Greenwich, Conn., and actively engaged in 
the colonial wars m the year 1755 and thereafter. William W. Allen was educated 
in Haverling Academy, Bath. In 1852 he entered the banking houseof Alfred Purdy 
Ferris in Bath and was connected therewith until the year 1857, when the Bank of 
Bath was organized by Hon. Constant Cook, Mr. Allen holding the position of teller. 
In 1863 the bank became a national Bank, with Mr. Allen the cashier, which position 
he still holds. He is treasurer of St. Thomas church, of Haverling Academy, is also 
a director and treasurer of the Urbana Wine Company, a director of the Hammonds- 
port Wine Company and of the Lake Keuka Wine Company. Mr. Allen was prom- 
inent in the organization of the Steuben Club of Bath, a noted social organization of 



368 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the county, and its first president, to which office he has several times been re-elected. 
He has always been active in politics but has never held public office except that he 
was commissioner of the U. S. Deposit Fund for the county of Steuben for fourteen 
years, which position is now held by his son, Walter R. In 18(il he married Helen 
Maria Ganesvoort, a daughter of the late John Roseboom Ganesvoort and Rebecca 
Irwin. Mr. Ganesvoort was a descendant of John Wessells Von Ganesvoort, born in 
Gronigen, Holland, in the year 1419. His descendants came early to America and 
settled in New Amsterdam, now the city of New York, and later became residents 
of Albany, where tonrad Ganesvoort, Mrs. Allen's grandfather was born. He was 
a Revolutionary patriot "and long a ruling elder in the old Dutch church of Albany. 
His wife was Elizabeth Ro.seboom, who was also of Holland descent. Mrs. Allen's 
mother was Rebecca Irwin, only daughter of Jared Irwin and Lucretia Patterson of 
Dansville, Livingston county, N. Y., both of Scotch descent. The Pattersons are 
descended from Andrew Patterson, a "Covenanter," who was banished from Scot- 
land under the reign of King James the Second, came to America on the vessel 
"Francis," which landed at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, in December, 1685. The 
children of William W. Allen and Helen M. Ganesvoort are Ganesvoort Irwin, 
Walter Roseboom and Minerva Elizabeth, wife of Edwin Stewart Underbill ; they 
are all residents of Bath. 

Eckler, John, was born in the town of Starks, in 1826. Henry Eckler, his grand- 
father, was of Mohawk Dutch ancestry, a farmer in Herkimer county, and was a sol- 
dier in the soldier in the Revolutionary war, and fought at the battle of Bunker 
Hill. He reared four children, and died aged eighty years. Henry Eckler, father 
of John, was born February 29, 1800, andspenthis whole life as a farmer in Herkimer 
county. He married Betsey, daughter of Mathias Shaul, by whom he had ten chil- 
dren: Mathias, Isaac, Abram, Henry, Elizabeth, John, Mary, Betsey, Sarah, and 
Levi. He died in 1874, and his wife in 1870. John Eckler remained with his father 
until he was twenty-six years of age, and in 1851 he came to the town of Wheeler, 
where he spent a year and where he was married, after which he returned to Herki- 
mer county, where he spent the six years, buying a farm of his father in the mean- 
time. In 1858 he returned to Wheeler and bought a farm of 140 acres, and in 1866 
purchased the farm on which he now resides, having since added to it until he now 
owns nearly 400 acres of improved land. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Co. H, 
188th N. Y. Vols., served until the close of the war, and participated in the battles 
of Hatcher's Run, Five Forks, and Appomattox. He is a member of the G. A. R. 
at Avoca. In 1851 he married Nancy N., daughter of Isaac and Betsey (Cramer) 
Short, who came to Wheeler from Herkimer county in 1831, by whom he had these 
children: Julia, who died at eighteen years of age; Wilmot, wife of George Stryker 
of Wheeler; and Amelia, wife of Charles Beal of Wheeler. 

EUis, Jerome B., was born in the town of Dryden, Tompkins county, in 18:55, son 
of Jason Ellis, also a native of Dryden. and grandson of Colonel Ellis, who was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a pioneer of Tompkins county, where he en- 
gaged successfully in farming, and at his death leaving a large amount of property. 
Jason came to the town of Bath in 1837, and engaged in farming and lumbering, 
owning a saw mill, and rafted his lumber down the Conhocton River to Harrisburg. 
He married Nancy Hart, of Tompkins county, and their children were George 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 309 

(deceased), Ella, Chester, Albert, William, Joseph, Sarah, and Jerome B. He died 
when sixty years of age, and his wife, aged fifty-eight years. Jerome B. received a 
fair education, and from 1830 until 1890 he taught school during the winter terms, 
and devoted his time to farming during the summers. In 1880 he removed to the 
town of Wheeler, where, with the exception of three years he spent in Watkins, N. 
Y.. in the carnage business, he has resided on his farm of 112 acres. In politics he 
is a Democrat, and has held the office of supervisor for six years. In 1859 he mar- 
ried Caroline, daughter of Robert La Cross, a blacksmith of that town, and their 
children are Jay (deceased), Aaron J. (deceased), Cara, wife of Charles Myers, of 
Wheeler, and Bertha. 

Everett, John, was born m the town of Prattsburg, April 25, 1837. David Everett, 
his father, was born m Vermont, in 1804, and in early life was a shoemaker, after 
which he engaged in farmingand settled in the town of Prattsburg about 1835, where 
he died in 185-1. He had by his first wife two children: Barney and Delilah. He 
married for his second wife, Mary, daughter of James Upthego, by whom he had 
three children: John, Sarah J., and James H. John Everett, when but twelve years 
of age, was obliged to care for himself, and engaged at farm work for an uncle with 
whom he lived five years. At eighteen years of age he bought fifty acres of land, 
and has added to it from time to time. In 1866 he removed to the town of Wheeler, 
where he purchased 111 acres of land, to which he later added sixty-two acres, and 
which now comprises his Wheeler farm and which he conducts. In 1885 he pur- 
chased a residence in the village of Avoca, where he has since resided, and in 1887 
he purchased a small farm of thirty-five acres in Avoca. He has devoted many years 
to the successful breeding of fine horses, and during the years 1871-72 he bought 
cattle and conducted a meat market in Avoca. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. C, 188th 
N. Y. Vols. , and served until the close of the war. He was in the battle of the first 
Hatcher's Run, and after that was on detail duty. In 1858 he married Emily, daugh- 
ter of P. and Hannah Horr, early settlers of Prattsburg, by whom he had these chil- 
dren: Mrs. Minnie Shults of Avoca and Charles W. (twins), Lottie, and Louie and 
Ada (twins). Louie died when fifteen years of age. 

Everett, Charles W. , was born in Wheeler, Steuben county, N. Y., in October, 1860. 
son of John Everett, a prosperous farmer in Wheeler, but a resident of Avoca, who 
was born in Prattsburg in April, 1837, son of David Everett, a native of Vermont, 
and born in 1804. Charles W. remained with his father until he was twenty-four 
years of age, when he purchased his present farm of 150 acres, where he has made a 
success in stock raising and vegetable growing for a number of years. He served 
one term as collector, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Avoca Lodge. In 
1884 he married Nellie E., daughter of Wesley and Johan (Nellis) Calkins, by whom 
he had one son, Johan, and his wife died in 1885. Mr. Calkins, her father, died and 
her mother later became the wife of Martin Strait, by whom she and her sister were 
shot in Elmira, N. Y. Mr. Everett married for his second wife Catherine F. , daugh- 
ter of Isaac Shaut of Wheeler, by whom he had two children. 

Derick, Dennis, was born in Rensselaer county in 1848, son of Henry Derick, a 
native of Rensselaer county, born in 1809, the seventh of nine children, and came to 
Wheeler, Steuben county, in 1855, where he spent his remaining days. He married 



370 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Catherine Kendall, a native of Columbia county, by whom he had six children: De- 
borah, David H., Margaret, George E., Dennis S., and E. K. Mr. Derick died in 
1879, and his wife in 1881. Dennis Derick remained with his father until he was 
twenty-three years of age, when he started in business for himself at farming and 
shoemakiug, he having adopted that trade when eighteen years of age and practicing 
at home. He now owns a farm of ninety acres which takes in one-half of his father's 
homestead, and has a shop in the village of Wheeler, where he attends to the wants 
of his boot and shoe customers. He has been a student of law, political economy 
and science, and is a well educated man. He has been elected to the office of justice 
four terms, and is now serving in that capacity. In 1871 he married Mary (Simons) 
Aulls, an adopted daughter of Ephraim Aulls of Wheeler, by whom he had these 
children: Dennis S., Henry, Frank E., William D., Deborah, who died at three 
veurs of age; Catherine C, and Lulu M. 

Derick, E. K., is a son of Henry Derick, who was born in Rensselaer county in 
1809, and came to Wheeler in 185o, where he spent his remaining days. He married 
Catherme Kendall of Columbia county, by whom he had si.\ children: Deborah, 
David H., Margaret, George E., Dennis S., and E. K. He died m 1879, and his wife 
in 1881. E. K. Derick was educated in the common schools, and at twenty years of 
age began for himself, working his father's farm for a short time, after which he en- 
gaged in selling agricultural implements on the road until 1882, when he leased the 
hotel building in Wheeler, in which he put a stock of general merchandise, and five 
years later erected a building on his present site, and opened business on a more 
elaborate plan. In 1890 he added to his business the buying of country produce, 
hay, potatoes, eggs, etc., and in 1894 doing a 850,000 business, he being the only 
produce dealer in the town. During the construction of the Kanona & Prattsburg 
Railroad he took the contract of building the depot and grading for the switch, 
which he executed during the winter of 1889-90; and was then made station agent, 
in which capacity he has served to the present time. He was town clerk for five suc- 
cessive years, and held the office of postmaster of Wheeler during the first and sec- 
ond terms of President Cleveland's administration. In 1882 he married Carrie, 
daughter of Wood and Olive Benedict. 

Davis, N. D., of Caton, was born in Franklin county, Massachusetts, in 1820, .son 
of Dexter and Emily (Holden) Davis, natives of Massachusetts. The paternal 
grandfather, John D., was in the Revolutionary war. In 1842 Mr. Davis came to 
Caton, locating on the pail factory place, now owned by Daniel Davis. At the age 
of eighteen he embarked in the grocery trade in Corning, continuing five years, and 
then purchased sixty-five acres where he now lives. In 1852 he married, and in lt-53 
moved to the place. He had added to his farm till it now contains 233 acres. His 
first wife was Adelaide Westcott, who died in 1802, leaving four sons: Horace, Henry, 
Charles H., and Edgar M. He afterward married Julia E. Baker, his present wife. 
They have one child, Emma, wife of John Rowe. Mr. Davis follows general farm- 
ing and makes a specialty of breeding horses, bringing the first Percheron intro- 
duced in this section in 1887. He also raises thoroughbred Jersey cattle. 

Davison, C. A., was born in Caton in 1843, son of James Davison, jr., and JIary 
(Thompson) Davison, natives of Schuyler and Chenango counties. The parents 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 371 

were married in Caton, and died in 1894 and 1888, aged seventy-six and seventy- 
seven, father and mother respectively. In 1865 Mr. Davis married Therissa A. 
Tobey, and they have resided ,on their present farm in Caton since 186". He fol- 
lows general farming, making a specialty of dairying. He was highway commis- 
sioner in 1821. 

Eddy, J. F , was born in Thurston, N. Y., December 14, 1845, son of Fenner and 
Celia (Taft) Eddy, natives of the town of Burleigh, R. I., who came to Thurston 
about 183(), where they died. The grandfather of our subject, Eli Eddy, lived and 
died in Rhode Island, at 100 years of age. Fenner Eddy, father of J. F., was a tan- 
ner and currier by trade, and owned a tannery on the farm now owned by J. F. Eddy. 
He was a member of the F. & A. M. J. F. Eddy was reared on a farm he now 
owns, and educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming and 
lumbering, but at present works at the carpenter's trade. He owns eighty-six acres 
of land, the old homestead. Mr. Eddy is a Republican in politics, and has been com- 
missioner of the town for one year, and is now serving his second term as justice of 
the peace. He is a member of Lodge No. 168, F. & A. M., and Merchantsville 
Grange, also a member of Loga Post No. 469, G. A. R. July 3, 1869, he married 
Emily Congden, of Addison, by whom he had nine children- VinaL., Josie L., Belle 
(deceased), Archie B. (deceased) Jessie C, Fenner, Thomas, Ralph (deceased), and 
Ward B. In 1864 Mr. Eddy enlisted in Co. A, 189th N. Y. Vols., and served until 
the close of the war. 

Dickinson, Francis A., was born in Thurston, N. Y., November 5, 1834, son of 
David and Judith (Story) Dickinson, he was born in New York, and she in Middle- 
bury, Conn. The grandfather of our subject, Amos Dickinson, was one of the first 
settlers of Thurston. He went to Michigan where he died. David Dickin.son, father 
of Francis A., was a farmer, and at one time owned 146 acres of land. He died in 
1871, and his wife in 1890. Francis A. was reared on a farm and educated in the 
common schools. He is a farmer and owns 118 acres of land. He married Minerva, 
daughter of James Jack, one of the first settlers of Thurston, by whom he had four 
children: Allen B. , born April 3, 1868. and educated in the common schools. He is 
afarmer and owns sixty acres of land; Leon F., born October 29, 1872, educated in 
the common schools, and resides at home; Zaide M., born September 4, 1875, edu- 
cated in Bath, and is the wife of Elmer Granger, and they have one child; Clayton 
L. , and Elvie, born January 23, 1880, educated in the common schools, and resides 
at home. Mr. Dickinson enlisted May 16, 1861, in Co. A, 3d N. Y. Vols., and served 
two years, and re-enlisted in Co. C, 16th N Y. Heavy Artillery, and served until the 
close of the war. He was at Antietam, South Mountain, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, 
second Bull Run, and many .skirmishes. He is a member of Loga Post, No. 465, 
G. A. R. 

Longwell, Randall, was born in the town of Vernon, Sussex county, X. J.. April 4, 
1837, son of William Longwell, who was also a native of New Jersey, born January 1, 
1796, and died November 30, 1843. In 1839 he came to Steuben county and settled 
in the town of Bath on a farm, and his principal occupation was dealing in stock. 
Mr. Longwell married Elizabeth Sprague, who was also a native of New Jersey, and 
they were the parents of eleven children, six of whom arc now living, and Randall 



372 LAIiJDMAEKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was the youngest of seven sons that reached adult age. Mrs. Longwell died October 
1, 1876, aged seventy-eight j'ears. Randall was educated in the common schools and 
his first occupation was as a clerk in a wholesale and retail store in Paterson, N. J., 
where he remained two years, and then spent one year on a farm in that State. In 
1857 he returned to New York State and engaged in farming on shares and on leased 
farms until 1874. In 1873 he bought a farm of 11.5 acres in Urbana, and in 1874 traded 
for the farm of 154 acres, upon which he has made many valuable improvements, 
among them being the setting out of a thirty-live acre vineyard, the erection of a 
fruit house, and a fine residence. In politics he is a Democrat and has held some of 
the minor town offices, and in 1876 was the representative of his town on the Board 
of Supervisors. He is identified with the Presbyterian church, of which he is a 
trustee. In 1860 he was married to Eliza O. Brundage, daughter of George S. Brun- 
dage, and they were the parents of two children: George B., who died in 1865, aged 
four months; and Harry B., who is an insurance agent of Hamraondsport. Randall 
has been a member of the Masonic fraternit)' since 1865. 

Neel, James, was born in the town of Holland, Erie county, N. Y., May 11, 1837, 
the second son of a family of thirteen children born to Robert Neel, a merchant of 
the town of his birth, who is now a resident of Livonia, N. Y., and is in his eighty- 
fourth year. James Neel was educated in the common schools, after which he en- 
gaged as agent for the N. Y. C. R. R. Co., at Chili, where he remained for thirteen 
years. In 1875 he located at Kanona, N. Y., and established a general store, which 
he conducted for seven years. In 1882 he entered the employ of the Urbana Wine 
Company, which position he has since held. He has been postmaster of the village 
of Urbana since its establishment in November, 1883, and has always been a Repub- 
lican in politics, but never an oifice seeker. He has been a member of the Masonic 
fraternity since he was twenty-one years of age, and is now a member of Urbana 
Lodge, No. 459. In 1858 he married Mary Day, of Scottsville, N. Y. , by whom he 
had one daughter, Minnie, wife of Charles Larrowe, of Cohocton, N. Y. Mrs. Day 
died at the home of her daughter, October 16, 1895. She was born in Milton, Eng- 
land, in 1836, and was one of a lage family of children, but one of whom, a brother in 
the West, survives. She lived a happy Christian life, devoted to her home, family, 
and friends. 

Sick, Philip, 3d, was born in Germany, October 25, 1845, and is a son of Philip and 
Catherine (Fogle) Sick, who came to America in 1845, and settled in the town of 
Wayland, where he became a prominent farmer, and was a leading member of the 
Perkinsville Lutheran church. Their children were Fred, William, Philip, Cath- 
erine, Louise, Electa, and Caroline. Fred settled on the homestead, and married 
Mary Lander, William is a farmer and settled in Wayland, Catherine married 
Godfrey Fleishman of Cohocton. Louise married Philip Sick, 2d, of Cohocton. 
Electa married William Lander, of Wayland. Caroline married Fred Biehl, of Co- 
hocton. Philip Sick, 3d, settled first in Wayland and afterward in Cohocton, and 
is one of the substantial men of the town. He is a prominent member of St. Paul's 
Lutheran church of Cohocton. Mr. Sick has been twice married, first to Louisa, 
daughter of the late Philip Barts, of Cohocton. by whom he had four children: 
Henry, Rose. George, and Aurelia. Henrj* married Ann Link. Rose married Louis 
Shultice. For his second wife Mr. Sick married Margaret Link, of Cohocton. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 373 

Eygabroat, Jacob, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., December 29, 1828, son of 
John and Matilda Eygabroat. John was born in 1800, near St. Johnsville, was a 
farmer by occnpation, and came to tlie town of Campbell about thirty-three years 
ago, where he continued to live until his death on February 18, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. 
Eygabroat were the parents of seven children: John H., Jacob, Betsey A., William, 
Martha, Rosilla, and William, the second. Jacob has been a shingle maker, which 
business he followed in connection with farming and lumbering. At present he is 
devoting his time to farming, and is the owner of five farms. He married Fannie, 
daughter of Isaiah Austin, of Caton, and they have had five children; William, de- 
ceased, Harriet Amy, Charlie, John, and Jacob. 

France, James H., was born in Otsego county, N. Y., October 13, 1826, son of Da- 
vid H., and Eliza (Farquharson) France, he a native of Seward, Schoharie county, 
N. Y., and she of Cherry Vafley, Otsego county, N. Y. The grandfather, Henry 
France, was captured by the Indians in Tryon county, N. Y., with his brother, John, 
who was killed, while Henry escaped ; their father, Sebastian France, was a native 
of Germany, and one of the first settlers of Tryon county, where he died. David H., 
father of James H.. went to Otsego county and then to Herkimer count)', and in 1856 
came to the town of Jasper and settled on the farm now owned by his son, where he 
lived until his death, which occurred October 36, 1883, while with his daughter in 
Canisteo. He was a local M. E. preacher. His wife died in 1845. James H. was 
rear.ed on a farm and educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in 
farmmg, and in 1861 moved on to the farm of 140 acres he now owns, and follows 
general farming. He is a member of the Jasper Grange. October 15, 1846. he mar- 
ried Charity Valkenburgh, of Cherry Valley, Otsego county, N. Y., by whom he had 
six children: David deceased, Jacob deceased, Willard deceased, Abigail, and Mag- 
gie deceased. Mrs. France died March 20, 1866, and July 4, 1866, he married Lo- 
vina, daughter of George R. June, who settled m Jasper in 1832, where he died. Mr. 
and Mrs. France have three children; George R. of Belmont, N. Y. ; Charles W., 
who was educated in Cook's Academy, Canisteo Academy, and Bryant & Stratton's 
Business College of Buffalo, and is now a farmer at home; in 1890 he married Bertha 
Lent of Jasper, N. V. ; and Jason H., who was educated in the common schools, and 
at home. 

Fenton, IraS., was born in Tuscarora, N. Y., September 25, 1856, son of Jesse W. 
and Harriet (BouUlman) Fenton, he born in Jasper, July 23, 1835, and she in Wood- 
hull, July 10, 1835. The grandfather, Lewis Fenton, was born in 1802, and early 
came to Jasper but died in .'\ddison. His wife, Jemima Rowley, was the first white 
child born in Addison, and was born February 6, 1866. The maternal grandfather, 
James Bouldman. was also one of the early .settlers of WoodhuU. Jesse W. Fenton, 
father of Ira S. , has spent most of his life in Tuscarora as a farmer. He has also 
been collector, constable and justice. Ira S. followed farming until 1891, since 
which time he has been engaged in the mercantile business. He is a member of 
Borden Tent, No. 259, K. O. T. M. January 27, 1884, he married Sophronia More- 
house, who was born in South Pultency, October 21, 1803. daughter of Joseph and 
Amanda (Drew) Morehouse, both natives of South Pultcney, he born in 1834, and she 
in 1832. He died in 1880, and his widow lives in P.alh. The grandfather of Mrs. 



374 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Fenton, Henry Morehouse, was born in South Pulteney, and his father was one of 
the first settlers at that place, and was 100 years of age when he died. 

Frank, Henry M., was born in the town of Allegany, Cattaraugus county, N. V., 
June 21, 1862. Henry was the youngest of a family of seven children of Daniel 
Frank, who died when Henry wa^ but three years old ; but the mother who was a 
.school teacher was very earnest in her endeavors to have each of her children well 
educated; she survived her hu.sband until 1889. His first employment was as a tele- 
graph operator, beginning with the Erie Company before he was ten years of age. 
He was located at Carlton until 18T8, when he went to Dunkirk as operator, May 28, 
1878, and February 11, 1881, was made train dispatcher, occupying that position 
until still further promoted to the position of train master, February 12, 1893, which 
position he occupied until the time of his death, which occurred November 10, 1893. 
He was a prominent member of the Train Masters' Association, and a trustworthy 
employee of the company, as the prominent position he occupied proved. He was 
supervisor of the Fourth and Fifth wards, and also supervisor of the Fifth and Si.xth 
wards. He was for two years a partner with David E. Fleming in the mercantile 
business. July 2, 1883, he married Mary R. Welch, of Hornellsville, who still sur- 
vives him with one daughter, Helen Margaret Frank, now in her fifth year. Mr. 
Frank was one of the real estate benefactors of this city, having built three of the 
most beautiful residences of the city. 

Fleming, David E., was born in the town of Indiana, Indiana county, Pa., Octo- 
ber 23, 1863. He was educated in the common school and at the Pennsylvania State 
Normal School, from which he graduated in 1884. He then went to the West on a 
prospecting tour, visiting the leading portions of that section. Returning east in 
1887, he located in Hornellsville, May 28, 1887, and was for one year employed as a 
bookkeeper in the master mechanic's office of the Erie Railroad. In 1888 he estab- 
lished a gents' furnishing goods and boot and shoe store on Loder .street, which he 
conducted for six years, and March 23, 1895, he opened a general store at 111 Main 
street, which for its beauty and convenience is the pride of the city. In June, 1894, 
he was appointed by Mayor Willott and the council to the position of police commis- 
sioner, which office he now holds. The spring of 1895 he was elected a member of 
the Republican City Committee, and at the same time made a chairman of the com- 
mittee. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Hornellsville Lodge 331, Encampment 
117, and Canton Loyal of Hornellsville; is accountant of the latter division, of which 
he was a charter member. He was married October 1, 1891, to Miss Lutia B. Mack 
of this city. 

Flynn, Thomas T., was born in Prattsburg, Steuben county, N. Y. Timothy 
Flynn, his father, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in 1835, one of four brothers, 
three of whom came to America. He came to Prattsburg in 1850, where he com- 
menced at farm work by the month, and later purchased the farm on which he now 
resides. He married Ellen Flannery of County Kerry, Ireland, by whom he had 
three children: Thomas T. , Mary, who died at nineteen years of age, and John. 
Thomas T. was reared on the farm and educated in the Franklin Academy, and at 
sixteen years of age he started in business for himself, at farm work during the sum- 
mer and teaching school in the winter, and at twenty years of age he learned the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 375 

carpenter's trade, which he followed three years, when he entered the hardware store 
of Peck & Co., at Prattsburg, as clerk, later becoming a partner in the business, which 
he continued for four years. In February, 1894, he sold his interest in thisstoreand 
in ct)mpany with Walker, under the firm name of Flynn & Walker, engaged in the 
same business, opening with a large and rapidly increasing trade, and in connection 
with the hardware business he deals extensively in agricultural implements. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat, and in 1892 was elected supervisor of the town. 

Fisher, Perry W. , was born at Barnstable, Mass., June 30, 1844, and is the seventh 
of nine children born to Henry and Olive (Hinkley) Fisher, both of Massachusetts, 
where they died. The great-grandfather, Lemuel Fisher, was a farmer of Falmouth, 
Barnstable county, Mass., was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and participated 
in the battle of Bunker Hill. He died at ninety-four years of age. The maternal 
grandparents were Elijah and Elizabeth (Bradford) Hinkley of Massachusetts. Mr. 
Hinkley was a ship carpenter and built three large ships: Washunk, Commodore 
Norris and William Peun. In the last he lost all his property. Henry Fisher, father 
of Perry W.. died in 1880, and his wife in 1853. Perry W. Fisher was reared on the 
farm, worked in the oil regions thirteen years and came to Troupsburg in 1882, 
where he has since been engaged in farming. In 1880 he married Louise, daughter 
of L. H. and Lovina Murdock. formerly of Pennsylvania, but now residents of 
Troupsburg, by whom he had one son, Willie. In 1862 he enlisted in the Thirty- 
eighth Mass. Vols., and served until the close of the war, and was in nine heavy en- 
gagements; was under Banks in Western Mississippi. He lost his hearing by the 
firing of heavy artillery, and his company joined Sherman in Georgia in the march 
to the sea. At Shenandoah he was wounded in the foot. He is a member of Post 
Baily, No. 351, G. A. R., of Troupsburg. 

Fedder, John W., a member of the firm of J. B. Collins & Co., is the manager of 
their Corning store, called "The Fair," Xos. 4fi and 48 East Market street, which 
was established in 1880. They carry a full line of general merchandise, and have in 
connection with their store a picture frame manufactory. J. B. Collins, the other 
member of the firm, manages their Jamestown branch, where they handle a similar 
line of goods. Mr. Fedder was president of the \ illage in 1889-90, and a member 
of the first city council. 

Fraser, D., of Painted Post, Steuben county, N. Y., was born in Scotland in 1815, 
son of Daniel and Margaret Fraser, natives of .Scotland. The father died there, 
and in 1831 Mr. Fraser came to America with his mother, two brothers and two sis- 
ters, locating in Herkimer county. Two years later they moved to Oswego county, 
and in 1836 came to Steuben county, locating at Campbell. In 1847 he married Eliza- 
beth, daughter of Minor Nute, by whom he had two children: Minor, and John, who 
died in 1891, aged thirty six years. In 1885 the family moved to Canada, where his 
mother died. In 1870 he returned to the town of Camjibell, and in 1883 moved ti> 
Corning. 

Fero, David F., was born in the town of Catlin, in 1846, son of Peter and Lorana 
(Bryant) Fero. He remained on the farm until nineteen years of age, when he came 
to Corning and learned his trade of silversmith and jeweler with A. D. Dudley, with 
whom lie afterward formed a partnership in the firm of Dudley & Co., and in 1875 



376 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

succeeded them. He also handles bicycles and supplies. In 1877 he married Rose 
Blair, by whom he had two children; Hazel, aged thirteen, and Mildred, aged seven. 

Franz, Jacob, was born in Prussia, in 1832, and came to America in 1849 and lo- 
cated in New York city, where he remained xintil 1855, when he came to Corning. 
In 1866 he established the bottling works, to which he has since given his attention, 
and is also interested in real estate in and adjoming the Fifth Ward. 

Fox, G. Albert, was born in the village of Avoca, March 10, 1836. George P. Fox, 
his father, was born in the tow-n of Palatine Bridge, Montgomery county, N. Y., in 
June, 1810, and came to Bath in 1833. He was a wagonmaker by trade, and mar- 
ried Julia A. Anderson of Connecticut, by whom he had these children: D. A., born 
February 24, 1834; G. A., borir March 10, 1836; Hezekiah B., born in August, 1838; 
and Julia B. , born in 1843. G. Albert Fox was educated in Avoca, with the excep- 
tion of one term in Rogers Union Seminary He learned the wagonmaker's trade, 
and also followed the carpenter trade in connection with it, and for thirty-six win- 
ters has taught school. About twenty-five j'ears ago he began farming in the town 
of Avoca, and now owns a farm of 164 acres. He married Elinore L. Ketan of 
Prattsburg, by whom he had these children: Fannie, C. E., D. H., Lloyd G. and 
Rosco C. Fannie and C. E. are teachers. Mr. Fox has filled the office of justice for 
some years. 

Faults, William H., was born Bath, July 8, 1856. Henry Faults, his father, was 
born in Germany and came to the United States with his parents when he was six 
years of age, and first settled in Wayland, where he engaged in the tanning business, 
which he followed for many years. At present he is bridge inspector on the N. Y., 
L. E. & W. R. R. He married May Dunn of Wayland, by whom he had four chil- 
dren: Mary C, William H., Laura and Frank. William H. engaged in the railroad 
and farming business, and the last seven years has been in the clothing business in 
Avoca and carries a general line of clothing and gents' furnishing goods. He mar- 
ried Cora Sharp of Avoca. Mr. Faults has filled the office of collector, and is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. , Wallace Lodge, No. 519. 

Filkins, John A., w^as born in Herkimer county, N. Y. , December 29, 1844, son of 
Nicholas and Maria (McCready) Filkins. both natives of Herkimer county. The 
grandfather of our subject, Joseph Filkins, was born at Troy, N. Y., and in an early 
day settled in Herkimer county, where he lived to be nearly lOOyears of age. Nicho- 
las Filkins, father of John A., spent his days in Herkimer county, where he engaged 
in farming. He died about 1852, and his wife in 1850. John A. was reared by his 
uncle Cornelius until he was sixteen years of age, when he came to Thurston, Steu- 
ben county, N. Y., where he has since resided. He is a carpenter by trade, and 
also owns a farm of eighty-six acres, w-hich he bought in 1874. He is a Republican 
in politics, and has been highway commissioner three years and assessor about twelve 
years. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. A, 189th N. Y. Vols., and served about one year. 
He was at Hatcher's Run, Five Forks and at Lee's surrender. In 1868 he married 
Edith, daughter of John and Minerva (Mulford) Adamson — he born in Pennsylvania 
and she in Tioga county. Pa. — and came to Steuben county, where they spent their 
last days. Mr. and Mrs. Filkins have three childi'en : Belle, Fred and Mildred. Mr. 
Filkins is a member of Loga Post, No 465, G. A. R. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 377 

Fults, Spelman L. , was born in Morris, Otsego county. N. Y. . July 18. 184!). He 
was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and came to the town of 
Rathbcme when eleven years of age where he has since resided. He has always fol- 
lowed farming, and at present is engaged in pressing hay. He owns thirty acres of 
land in Rathbone. In 1809 he married Lucinda Smith, of Woodhull, who died in 
1879. In December, 1881, he married Maggie, daughter of Michael and Johanna 
(Tomey) Conley, by whom he has one son. Nelson, born July 27, 1883. 

Timmerman, H. A., was born in the town of Manheim, Herkimer count)', January 
S.'i, 1839. H. A. Timmerman, his father, was a native of the same town and county, 
where they were early settled, and through life were identified as farmers. In 1865 
Jlr. Timmerman married Martha, daughter of Jacob Lepper. by whom he had four 
children. Ward H., Nellie E., Katie M., and Gracie E. In 1869 he came to Bath, 
.Steuben county, and purchased the General Smith farm. Mr. Timmerman is one of 
the practical and successful farmers of his town, taking an intelligent interest in 
educational and religious institutions, and has ever received and merited the respect 
of his associates. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. A, 121st N. Y. Vols , and took part in 
the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Rappahannock Station, being 
taken prisoner at Chancellorsville, and wounded in the right leg at Fredericksburg, 
being promoted from the ranks to sergeant, and received an honorable discharge in 
1S0.5 at the close of the war. 

Ferenbaugh, Lyman G., was born in Hornby in 1837, son of Joseph and Anna 
Sweet Ferenbaugh, natives of Germany and Vermont. The father and five brothers 
came from Germany with their father, locating at first in Pennsylvania, coming 
afterwards to Steuben county. The parents when married came to Hornby, locating 
in the wilderness. They afterwards moved to Corning and died in 1868. Mr. Feren- 
baugh married Cynthia, daughter of George Sly, and they have one child, Ada, now 
the wife of Clifford O'Brien. Mr. Ferenbaugh and his brother, John H., have kept 
up the old saw mill built by their father. They also own a farm of 500 acres and a 
grocery store. 

Fero, Albert, was born in 1830, son of Abram and Catherine Fero, natives of 
Montgomery county and Feuusylvania, and came to Hornby at an early day, and 
raised a family of six children. The parents died in 1887 and 1885, aged eighty-six 
and seventy-nine, father and mother, respectively. Mr. Fero, who is the old- 
est of the family, married Caroline L. Easling in 1855 and located on his present 
place of ninety-six acres adjoining the old homestead. They have four children ; 
Lucy, George Frank, Harriet Belle, and Arthur. 

Farran, H. J., Caton, Steuben county, N. Y., was born in Tioga county, N. Y., in 
1842. In 1861 he enlisted in the 50th N. Y. Vol. Engineers, enlisting for three years. 
He was afterwards promoted to the rank of artificer. His wife, Sarah C. , nee Sage, 
is a native of Chemung county and came to the town of Caton when a girl. Mr. 
Farran has resided on his present place since the war; his farm consists of 200 acres 
of well improved land. They have one child, Adah H., wife of Lewis Thurber. 

Ferry, Mrs. Mary M., is the widow of the late John Wesley Ferry, sou of John 
Ferry, one of the pioneers of Addisf)n. J. W. Ferry was born at Almond, Steuben 



378 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

county, 1834. His sympathies were with the Republican party, but he sought no 
political preferment, being too busily engaged with his farming interests and stock 
dealing. He was farming at Tuscarora at the time of his death, which occurred July 
23, 1892. In 1885 he married Mary M., daughter of William Bennett of Hornellsville, 
who is now retired from active business life, having been a farmer, and extensively 
engaged in the lumber business in Michigan at one time. His father, Thomas Ben- 
nett, was one of the first settlers of Hornell.sville, where he kept hotel for many 
years. Mrs. Ferry became a resident of Addison in 1893, and has one son, John W.. 
bom in 1886. 

Fairbanks, George. — Joel Fairbanks settled in Cameron in 1822. He married 
Sarah, a daughter of Mathew Dickey, by whom he had six children : Elizabeth Turner, 
George H., William, Martha, Mary Moore, and Emily Helmer. Joel Fairbanks was 
a carpenter, builder, and millwright, and at the time he retired from business had 
built more buildings in the town than any other one man. George H. married Jane, 
a daughter of Daniel and Margaret Barber, by whom he had four children : Sarah 
Hatch, Jennie B. Dickey, Charles L., and JoelL., all born on the homestead. Inearly 
life Mr. Fairbanks was engaged in lumbering, but he now follows farming. He 
is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Cameron Mills, No. 547. 

Foster, George, was born in Yorkshire, England, 181T. Ralph Foster, his father, 
one of nine children, was a farm- laborer, and married Mary Kirby, by whom he had 
nine children. Mr. Foster devoted his life to farming, and at the age of thirty-two 
years came to America, coming direct to Geneva, N. Y., where he spent one winter 
and the following spring came to Prattsburg where he followed farming. In 1867 he 
purchased his present farm, and by industry and practical economy has paid for 
his farm and accumulated a good property. He is an active member of the M. E. 
church of Prattsburg of which he was for years trustee and steward. In 1850 he 
married Ann Stevenson of England, by whom he had six children; Frank, John, who 
died in 1888, Mary, Anna, who died in 1862, George, and William. Mrs. Foster died 
in July, 1872, and he married for his second wife, Salina Horton, a native of Orange 
county. Mrs. Foster is a member of the M. E. church and missionary society. 

Gould, Talcott W., was born in Berkshire, N. Y., February 13, 1851. Francis 
Gould, his father, was a native of Broome county, N. Y. , and the family were promi- 
nent during the Revolutionary war. T. W. Gould was educated at Elmira in 188<l, 
and came to Bath and established his present business of plumbing, steam fitting, 
and electrical goods. In 1893 he was elected president of the village of Bath, and 
re-elected in 1894, taking an intelligent interest in educational and religious institu- 
tions and has ever received and merited the respect of his associates. 

Grant, Dr. B. F., was bom in Bath, September 16, 1827. Col. Stephen Grant, his 
father, came to Steuben county with Colonel Whiting in 1786, and settled on the 
Hornellsville road, where he purchased a wood lot, which he cleared up and made 
into a fertile farm. He married Lucinda Frink, and died in 1875. B. F. Grant grad- 
uated from the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital College, and began his practice in 
Bath, extending over thirty years. He married Mary E. , daughter of James Bene- 
dict, by whom he had one child, Frank. Mr. Grant is one of the progressive men of 
his profession, a member of the Board of Health, and one of the founders and presi- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 379 

dent of Southern Tier Homeopathic Medical Association of New York, to which he 
has contributed Hberally. 

Gere, William N., was born in (ireene, Chenango county, N. Y., December 23, 
182o, son of Eleazer W. and Mary (Brown) (Jere, who were married July 3, 1822. 
He was born in Mas.sachusetts, December 7, 1796, and she, in New York, October 16, 
1802. The grandfather, Silsby Gere, was born in Preston, Conn., May 18, 1757, and 
came to Chenango county, where he died March 4, 1852. Eleazer W. Gere was en- 
gaged in farming in Chenango county until 1836, when he came to Steuben county, 
going from there to Iowa, where he died June 9, 1872. His wife died September 29, 
1882. William N. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and 
at the age of ten came to Steuben county, where he has since resided. He learned 
the carpenter's trade, which he followed for eight years, and at the age of thirty he 
bought a farm near Hedgesville, where he lived for forty years. It is known as the 
Dart farm and consists of 112 acres of land. He now lives in Hedgesville. In Au- 
gust, 1861, Mr. Gere enlisted in Co. F, 107th N. Y. Vols., and served seven months. 
He was at the battle of Antietam. He is a member of J. N. Warner Post, No. 565, 
G. A. R. October 28, 1854, Mr. Gere married Melissa, daughter of Peter N. San- 
ford, who came to Cameron from Dryden, Tompkins county, in 1842, and died in 
.■\ddison in 1888. 

Genung, N. E., was born in the town of Covington, Otsego county, N. Y., in 1817, 
and is the oldest of eight children born to Azariah and Olive Walker Genung, both 
natives of Otsego county, he born in 1788, and she, in 1796. The grandparents, 
Cornelius and Esther Genung came from Otsego to Milo, Yates county, in 1818, 
where they died. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Azariah Genung was 
a wagonmaker by trade, but during the latter part of his life he followed the carpen- 
ter's trade. In 1830 he settled in the village of Bradford, where he spent most of his 
life. He died in Waterloo, October 11, 1877, and Mrs. Genung, in 1872. In religion 
they were Baptists. At the age of fifteen N. E. Genung commenced working at the 
carpenter's trade, at which he has been principally engaged, and in 1850 he bought 
a farm in Bradford, where he has since resided. In 18ij7 he married Sophia, daugh- 
ter of Henry and Elizabeth Leonard, and to them have been born thirteen children: 
Mary, deceased; Olive, deceased; Henry, who was a soldier in Co. H, 189th Regi- 
ment, N. Y. Vols., and died August 6, 1865; Augusta, Sophia, Bradford, Henry L., 
Frank, George, Ann, Nathan, and Richard, who died in infancy. Mrs. Genung died 
April 22, 1895. In politics Mr. Genung has been a Whig and Republican. 

Gamman, Alfred M., was born in Corning, N. Y., and graduated from the New 
York Homeopathic Medical College in 1876, and practiced his profession until 1888, 
from which time until 1890 he spent in Atlanta, Ga., since which time he has been a 
member of the firm of Robinson & (iamman. 

Goodno, Edwin, was born in South Dansville, March 4, 1834. His father, Isaiah 
Goodno, was born in Massachusetts, a farmer by occupation, and died in South 
Dansville in 1850, aged sixty five. Isaiah married Philena Marsh, who was born in 
Vergennes, Vt., and died in South Dansville, in 1868, aged sixty-eight, and their 
children were Jackson, Albert Jonas, William, Charles, Isaiah, and Edwin, all of 
whom are deceased e.xcept the latter. Edwin received his education in the common 



380 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

schools, and at the age of seventeen went to Dansville to learn the harnessmaker's 
trade, and worked for Hall & Ingersoll, where he remained thirty-two j'ears. In 
1884 he came to Wayland where he has carried on the harness making business for 
eleven years. In 1861 he enlisted as a musician in the 13th Regt. N. Y. Vols., as a 
three months recruit, and is now a pensioner. Mr. Goodno is a member of Wayland 
Lodge, No. 176, I. O. O. F. , and of the Methodist church. In 18.56 he married Flor- 
ence Lacy, at Hammondsport, N. Y., and they have the following children: Mary, 
born in 1861, in Dansville; Fred Dean, who resides in Pennsylvania; Herbert, born 
in 1868, in Dansville, and resides in Wayland; Ernest, born in February, 1879; Eva, 
born in 1884. 

Goodsell, Joel S. , was bom in Kent, Litchfield county Conn., September 7, 1816, 
son of Nathan and Polly (Hallock) Goodsell, he a native of Fairfield county. Conn., 
and she of Long Island; they had these children; Harmon, who was a merchant at 
Cold Spring, N. Y. ; Joseph, who went to Iowa and was killed in Chicago by an ele- 
vator; Nathan, who spent his latter days in Cayuga county, N. Y. , where he was 
killed by a railroad tram ; Joel S. ; Rufus, who spent his latter days in Cayuga 
county, N. Y. ; Eliza, who now lives in Port Byron, Cayuga county ; her husband 
was Eli Sumner. Nathan Goodsell, father of Joel S., died in Connecticut. Joel S. 
was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. At twenty-two years of 
age he went to Cayuga count)', and after several years he went to Delaware county. 
He has been married three times: In 1838 he married Cyntha Hallock, by whom he 
he had five children: Charles of Buffalo; John of Oneonta, N. Y. ; Franklin, who 
died in Washington; these sons were in the civil war; Lorenzo of Woodhull, N. Y. ; 
Fannie, deceased. He married for his second wife, Louisa Hunger, of Delaware 
county, by whom he had two sons: J. Emmett of Meredith, Delaware county, and 
and Wesley L. , who was born in Lawrence, Otsego county, N. Y., June 16, 1860, 
reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and who married Cora B. Swan 
in 1887. From Delaware county Mr. Goodsell came to Oneonta, Otsego county, and 
in 1867 came to Woodhull, where he remained until 1875 when he came to Jasper 
where he now resides on his farm of ninety-one acres. His second wife died Octo- 
ber 5, 1877, aged fifty-seven years and he married Asenath, daughter of John Mar- 
latt, of Jasper. 

Gibbs, Darwin Z. , was born in Cornwall, Addison county, Vt., in 1833. Truman 
Clark Gibbs, his father, was born in Connecticut in 1789, one of five children born to 
Zadock Gibbs of Connecticut, who was a mechanic and farmer, and moved to Ver- 
mont in 1795. Truman was a farmer, and spent his whole life from the time he was 
six years of age in Vermont. He served in the war of 1812 as a volunteer soldier, 
and participated in the battle of Plattsburg. He married Esther, daughter of Sim- 
eon North of Connecticut, by whom he had six children: Esther, Truman C, Sidney 
S., Lovina, Dotha, and Darwin Z. Darwin Z. began for himself when twenty-one 
years of age as a farmer, and in the spring of 1857 came to the town of Wheeler 
where he purchased a small farm, which eig^t years later he sold. He now owns two 
farms of 234 acres, and in connection with his farming has built and conducted a .saw 
mill, and has also dealt to some extent in buying and selling stock, also the breeding 
of Merino sheep and full blood Durham cattle. In March, 1864, he married Harriett 
Carr, who was born m Almond, Allegany county, N. Y. , and who was killed at Jack- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 381 

son, Mich., October 13, 1893, in a wreck, anionj:; tbirteen others while going to the 
Columbian Exposition at Chicago. 

Gorges, Anton, was born in Germany in 185.5 and came to America in 1871, locat- 
ing first in Scranton, Pa., where he remained two years. He then came to Steuben 
county and moved to his present place in the town of Caton in ISS.'j, where his parents, 
Mathias and Barbara, died in 1884 and 1890. aged iifty-six and fifty-six. In 188.") Mr. 
Gorges married Lena Bentz, al.so a native of Germany. He has a farm of 1.50 acres, 
and makes a specialty of dairying and sheep raising. 

Gavigan, Edward, was born in Ireland in 1830, came to this country in 1849, set- 
tled in Cornmg in 1853, and on the farm where he now resides in 1854. He married 
Bridget Tinnelsella. and they liave four children living: John J., Margaret M., Eliz- 
abeth A., and Catherine B. Mr. Gavigan is the owner of a farm of 100 acres, mak- 
ing specialties of tobacco, grain, and dary products. 

Moore, Edw-ard B., was born in Canisteo April 23, 1S32, and was educated in the 
common schools. He is a farmer and lumberman, and has followed the latter busi- 
ness over forty years. He married Helen L. Bunker, daughter of Warren and 
Sarah Bunker, of Rensselaer county, born January 7, 1832. They have had three 
children: Joseph W., born April 7, 1858; James W. (deceased), born June 4, 1861; 
Edward B., jr., born October 3, 1865, who lives at home with his .parents. Mrs. 
Moore is a member of the Christian church. 

Zielley, Alex L., was born in the tow^n of Avoca, April 18, 1854, son of Oliver 
Zielley, who was born in Palatine, Montgomery county, in 1827, and came to the 
town of Avoca in 1846, and settled at wdiat is known as the Pond settlement on a 
farm of 200 acres, and retired from active business in 1876. He married Amelia 
Shults. of Avoca, and one son was born to them, Alex, who was educated in the dis- 
trict schools and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary. In 1891 be entered the milling 
business at Cohoctou, and remained there until l!S9o, when he came to Avoca and 
became one of the founders of the Avoca Milling Company, now located in the village 
of Avoca, which makes flour under the roller process, with a capacity of 200 barrels 
per day. Mr. Zielley is president and secretaiy of the company. He married Libbie, 
daughter of Wm. Vrooman, and they have two children: Willie D., and Ollie. Mr. 
Zielley held the office of commissioner of highways in 1878, since then having held 
the office of trustee of the village, and in 1893 was elected supervisor, and re-elected 
in 1894 on the Republican ticket. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 538. 

Robinson, Hon. Frank H., who succeeded Hon. Harlo Hakes as county judge, 
January 1, 1844, was born in Cuba, Allegany county. May 23, 1855. His ability as 
an attorney has made him popular with the people throughout the county. He 
served as district attorney for two terms previous to his election as countv judge. 
He read law with Champlain, Armstrong, and Russell, of Cuba, finishing with Sickles 
and Miller, of Albany. He graduated from the law department of Union University 
in 1876, and was soon after admitted to the bar, settling in Canisteo in 1879. As a 
lawyer Judge Robinson ranks among the leading members of the bar. 

Gilbert, Dr. Horatio, was born in Ephratah, Fulton county, N. Y., September 11, 
1843, the youngest of a family of eight children of the Rev. Ezra D'. Gilbert ; his early 



382 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

education was derived at Fairfield Seminary and Fort Plain Liberal Institute. He 
took up the study of medicine at sixteen years of age and was first with Dr. Burnapp 
at Ephratah, and entered the College of Physicians, and Surgeons of New York in 
1866-67, and then went to Albany Medical College, from which he graduated De- 
cember 24, 1867. He first practiced at Fultonville, Montgomery county. N.Y., where 
he continued until 1876. and then removed to Canajoharie, where he conducted an 
office until 1880, when he came to Hornellsville and established a practice which has 
assumed a most satisfactory proportion. He is a member of Hornellsville Medical 
and Surgical Association, the New York State Medical Society, the American Medi- 
cal Association, one of the consulting staff uf St. James Mercy Hospital, and while 
in Montgomery county was examiner for the Pension department. He served as 
hospital steward during the war with the 153d N. Y. Vols., and served two years as 
resident physician of the Soldiers' Home at Albany. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and the LO.O.F. He served as coroner while in Fultonville, and is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist church. In 1869 he married Mrs. Louisa Gildersleeve, daugh- 
ter of Pythagoier Whitman of Canajoharie. 

Hvna, John, was born in Herkimer county, April 10,1842. EnosHyna, his father, 
was born in Germany and came to the United States when twent)- years of age. He 
settled in Herkimer, where he engaged in farming. In 1844 he came to the town of 
Avoca and settled near Avoca village, where he cleared a farm of eighty-seven acres. 
He married Christiana Weno, by whom he had these children: Marietta, John, Peter, 
William, and Samuel. John Hyna was educated in the district school of Avoca, after 
which he engaged in farming and now owns a farm of ninety acres, which he cleared 
by his own efforts. He married Harriet, daughter of Benjamin K. Drake of Wheeler, 
by whom he had three children : Erastus, Katie, and Constance. 

Hennis, Benjamin, was born in England in November, 1822, and came to the 
United States in 1862, and first settled at Rogersville, Steuben county, where he 
bought a farm. He remained in that part of the county for three years and then 
came to the town of Avoca and purchased a farm of 260 acres, where he has lived 
ever since. He was a farmer prior to coming to the LTnited States. He married 
Matilda Wall of England, by whom he had four children: Agnes, John, Ebenezer, 
and Benjamin. Agnes and Benjamin are dead. 

Hogue, Patrick, was born in Ireland in 1846, and came to America when three 
years old with his father, Patrick, who first settled in Canada, then to Corning and 
in 1849 purchased the farm on the Goodhue Road, which has been Mr. Hogue'shome 
until recently. The father died in 1884. In 1883 Mr. Hogue began to buy and ship 
live stock to New York and other markets, still operating the farm. In politics he is 
a Democrat, and served as overseer of the poor for not less than eighteen years. He 
takes an active part in the affairs of the Roman Catholic church. In 1870 he mar- 
ried Honora Jane Reynolds, and they are the parents of eight children, two of whom 
are deceased. He has built a house in Addison village in order to give his children 
better educational advantages. 

Hubbs, Dr. M. B., was born at Corning, where his father, the lute (iilbcrt Hubbs, 
was an early settler. That he ranks high in his profession while yet a young man 
is due to his own energy and talent. While teaching at Cameron he took up the 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 383 

study of medicine with the determination to make it his life work, and in 1882 en- 
tered the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he graduated with 
full honors, and in 1887 located at Addison, where he is already highly esteemed, no 
less as a man than as a physician. In 1890 he married his present wife, who is a 
daughter of J. B. Wheeler, one of Addison's pioneers, by whom he had three chil ■ 
dren: (Jeorgie, Melvin. and Tracy. Dr. Hubbs is cx-presidentof the Steuben County 
Medical Society, ex-president of Hornellsville Medical Association, and is a member 
of the Erie Railroad Surgeons' Association, New York State Railroad Surgeons' As- 
sociation, National Railroad Surgeons' Association, New York Medico Legal Society, 
and of the Psychological branch of the same society. 

Hickey, D. D., was born in County Kerry, in 1837, and came to America and 
to Addison in 18r)8, when sixteen years of age. lie first engaged in farming, receiv- 
ing for compensation eight dollars per month the fir.st year, after which for thirty 
years he received employment in the sasli factory of Amos & Bliss, and their suc- 
cessors. Since 1888 he has been engaged in the mercantile business, at which time 
he entered as a partner with John Durkin, a grocer. After two years he purchased 
Ills partner's interests, and is now alone, dealing prominently in groceries, provisions, 
flour, feed, etc. Mr. Hickey has been for twenty years a member of the Board of 
Education, and a trustee of the Catholic church for twenty-five years. In 186!! he 
married Mary Lynch of Addison, by whom he had six children. 

Hooker, Fred S. — Mr. Hooker's life has been one of more than ordinary interest 
and adventure and the "moving accidents by field and flood," which environed his 
early manhood, might w^ell have appalled a stouter heart. His birthplace was the 
quite little tov.-n of Springfield. Pa., and the date was 1833, au earlier one than the 
casual observer would surmise from his vigorous personality. His father was Clark 
Hooker, a farmer and lumberman, of Bay State birth, who moved to Pennsylvania 
about 1820 and was one of Springfield's pioneers. Fred S acquired a good academic 
education at Troy, Pa., and fir.st learned the cabinetmaker's trade, at which he be- 
came an expert, afterward taking up and mastering the art of photography. In 1858 
the love of adventure and exigencies of business life took him to Texas, and the out- 
break of the Civil war found him a photographer at Houston. Treason was rampant 
there, and Mr. Hooker's loyalty to the old flag was undisguised, so he became a 
marked man, and after arrest by a vigilance committee, was indicted for treason to 
the Confederacy, the penalty being an ignominious death. But he was not easily 
frightened, and had plenty of staunch friends who covertly aided his escape to Gal- 
veston, but hearing of the hue and cry at Houston, valiantly returned to that hotbed 
of secession, where his financial interests had become involved. The committee 
formed a plan for his assassination, making a quarrel the pretext, but as he was 
known to be an e.xcellent shot, and without fear, he passed unmolested and boarded 
a pilot boat for Santiago, thence to Brownville, where he was conscripted into the 
rebel army serving under that flag for three months. In the spring of 1802 he es- 
caped and after an equestrian trip of 500 miles through hostile country he finally 
reached a loyal blockade-runner at Matamoras, and was thenceforward protected by 
the Union llag. Mr. Hooker has been a resident of Addison for a quarter of a cen- 
tury, principally engaged in photography. In 1894 he visited the Southwest and 
met many old friends, and whilom enemies, now, perforce, more amicalily disposed. 



384 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Havens. Thomas, was born in Seneca county, March 26, 1809, son of Jabez and 
Ester Cryell Havens, a native of Long Island, and she of New Jersey. They settled 
first in Lodi, and then came to Steuben county, settling in Pulteney in 1810, where they 
cleared a home, and where he died at the age of sixt)'-one years. Mrs. Havens died 
in Corning, aged seventy-seven.. He was a Republican and was justice of the peace 
for a number of years. They were members of the Presbyterian church, of which 
he was deacon. Thomas was reared on a farm, and in 1860 he bought the farm in 
Bradford on which he has since resided. He retired from farming in 1885. In 1837 
he married Lydia, daughter of Jacob and Charity Cole Bryon, and they have one 
adopted daughter, Hannah, wife of Oren Bartholomew, a farmer of Bath. Mr. and 
Mrs. Havens are members of the Methodist church. 

Hunt, William, was born in the town of Caton in 1856, sou of A. J. and Hannah 
Cole Hunt, who were married in Tompkins county and came to Steuben county, 
locating in the town of Caton. where they now live. Mr. Hunt was raised on a farm 
and married in 1881 Lillian Tubbs, a native of Tioga county, Pa., and in 1883 lo- 
cated on his present farm of eighty acres, where he follows general farming. 

Honness, Melvin M., is a son of the late Benjamin Honness. He was born in 
Ithaca, N. Y., in 1850, reared on the home place, where he now lives, in Caton. 
When fourteen years of age he learned telegraphy, and followed that as an occupa- 
tion, taking charge of his first office at Victor on the Central Railroad. In 1893 he 
gave up an office in New York for the C. & C. Railroad and has since resided on his 
present place. In 1883 he married Anna E. Glover, a native of Kentucky. 

Holmes, J. S., was born in Tompkins county, in 1839, and came to Chemung 
coujity when thirteen years old with his parents, Anson and Lillian (Hunter) Holmes. 
In 1850 he married Mary Elizabeth Bonham, and moved to the town of Caton in 
1852. His first wife died in 1874. His present wife, Sarah Jane, nee Saunders, is a 
native of Chemung county. He enlisted in the 188th N. Y. Vols., serving till Ju'y 
11, 186!). 

Hellaby, John, was born in England, in 1837, and came to America in 1.S70, locating 
in Lawrenceville one year, Lindley two years, and in Tuscarora for a time. He came 
to Caton later and followed general farming, having a farm of 147 acres, where he 
resides. 

Healy, William W., was born in Dansville, N. Y., August 30, 1822, and is of New- 
England stock. His father. Joshua Healy, was born in Massachusetts, and moved 
to Shoreham. \'t., and died in Dansville, N. Y., July 27, 1858, aged sixty-seven years. 
He was a volunteer in the war of 1812, and William W. has a canteen picked up on 
the battlefield of Plattsburg, which was left there by the British. He came to Shore- 
ham, Vt., on foot and built a log house on the place near the Healy school house, he 
being the first settler in that locality, where he i)urchased 200 acres of laud and sub- 
sequently purchased 150 acres. He was the first supervisor of Dansville, and was a 
member of the State Legislature in 1834-35, also was associate judge of Steuben 
county. In 1815 he returned to Shoreham, Vt., where he married Lucy Wilson, who 
was born in Shoreham, November 11, 1793, and died August 23, 1S3S, aged forty- 
four years, and they returned to Dansville in an oxcart. They had eleven children-. 
Azro, born January 20, 1814, and died January 15, 1895; Lucy Lathrop Slusser, born 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 385 

September 23, 1816; Sophia, born August 1, 1818, deceased; Caroline Clark Kreid- 
ler, born May 22, 1820; William Wilson, as above; Benjamin S., born April 18, 1825; 
Joshua, born January 2, 1828; Byron, born January 10, 1830, judge of Wyoming 
county for twenty-two years; L. B. Healy, M. D., born August 13, 1832, and died 
February 9, 1880; Mary Clark, born July 10, 1835, and Doris, born December 3, 
1837. William W. was educated in the cummon schools of Dansville, and has always 
followed farming, and is now the owner of Pine Grove farm, containing 400 acres. 
He is known as the largest potato buyer in Steuben county, and is a large raiser of 
the same, being the pioneer potato grower of Dansville. He has also engaged ex- 
tensively in buying sheep, and has at one time bought and driven 2,000 sheep from 
Vermont to Dansville. He sold one crop of wool for §108,000, and has had 5,000 
sheep at one time. He is a member of Dansville Lodge, No. 478, F. & A. M. De- 
cember 25, 1845, he married Harriet I Clark, who was born at Conesus, in 1824, and 
died in November, 1883, by whom he had seven children: Sarah B. ; L. C, who re- 
sides at Arkport; Lucy S. Day, Caroline Eliza, Nettie M., a teacher in Salamanca 
High School; Harriet, deceased, and Edith May, deceased. Jlr. Healy married for 
his second wife Martha R. (Robinson) Wilbur, who was born in 1838. 

Healy, Joshua, is of New England .stock. His grandfather, Benjamin Healy, was 
born in Massachusetts and was a soldier of the Revolution. Joshua Healy, father of 
our subject, was born in Massachusetts, June 16, 1791, and died July 27, 1858. He 
moved to Shoreham, Addison county, Vt., with his parents at six years of age, and 
in 1814, immediately after the war of 1812. in which he participated, he started 
across the country on foot in company with Eli.sha Robinson, Gross Gates, John 
Robbins and Joseph Phelps, and settled in Dansville, where he purchased 200 acres 
of land, and subsequently purchased 150 acres. He was a man of prominence not 
only of Dansville, but of Steuben county. He was the first supervisor of Dansville, 
which office he held for several terms, and represented Steuben county in the State 
Legislature in 1834-35. He was also justice of sessions for several years. He died 
July 27, 1858. Joshua Healy has always followed farming, and he now owns 225 
acres of land. He has held the office of justice of the peace of Dansville for three 
terms. He is a member of Canaseraga Lodge, No. 781, F. & A. M. At Wheeler, 
N. Y., in 1857, he married Julia A. Chichester, who was born in 1833, and died in 
1890. In March, 1894, he married for his second wife Julia Swain, of Nunda, who 
was born in 1855. 

Barter, Lafayette, was born January 4. 1855. His grandfather, Andrew J. Harter 
was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., April S, 1802, and died March 28. 1887, on the 
farm of 100 acres which he purchased of the land office, about 1825, and which he 
cleared. Cornelius Harter, father of Lafayette, was born in Dansville, on the same 
place, June 22, 1827, and died May 12, 1878. He married Mary L. Merrill, who was 
born in Fremont, September 11, 1833, and died January 14, 1893, by whom he had 
seven boys: Lafayette, as above; Eugene, born July 29, 1857; Sidney A., born De- 
cember 5. 1858; John W., born May 13, 1861; Elmer E., born August 6, 1863, and 
died November 30, 1874; Etna, born November 8, 1805, and Cornelius, born Novem- 
ber 9, 1872, and died November 6, 1894. T^afayette Harter has always been a farmer, 
and is now the owner of the homestead. At Howard, N. Y., he married Lucy Hecox, 



386 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

born August 30, 1857, by whom he has three children ; Viola, born May 26, 1881 ; 
Clarence, born April 11, 1884, and Clyde, born February 2.5, 1890. 

Huguanir, Leonard N. — His grandfather was born at Kinderhook, Columbia 
county, N. Y., was a French Huguenot, and died in Montgomery county, N. Y., at 
the age of eighty-six years. Leonard's father, Adam Huguanir. who was born in 
Montgomery' county, N. Y., in 1799, was brought up on a farm and attended district 
school. He married Catherine Voorhees, who was born in April, 1806, and they 
moved to the town of Howard (now Fremont) and bought a farm, where he engaged 
in farming the remainder of his life. They were the parents of ten children : David 
A., born January 12, 1827; Jane Ann, bom in 1829, deceased; Lewis Voorhees, born 
in 1831, deceased; Barbara, born in 1833, deceased; Maria, born June 9, 183.5; Han- 
nah, born in April, 1837; Elizabeth, born in April, 1839; Leonard N., our subject, 
born September 3, 1843; Primla, born in June, 1844, and Charles, born in April, 1846. 
Leonard N. was educated in Franklin Academy, at Prattsburg. Steuben county, 
N. Y. He enlisted in the 141st N. Y. Vols., Co. F, was wounded at Dallas. Georgia, 
and was mustered out of the service at the close of the war, receiving an honorable 
discharge. November 26, 1873, he married Rose Holden, at Salamanca, N. Y. , born 
at Fremont, May 12, 1855. They are members of the Advent church. Mr. and Mrs. 
Huguanir have three children: Pearl E., born February 16, 1877, who commenced 
teaching school when she was but sixteen years old; Leon C, born February 27, 
1879, and Lloyd B., born February 27, 1886. Mrs. Huguanir's father, Stephen Holden, 
was born in Connecticut and came to the town of Fremont, where he purchased a 
farm. November 8, 1887, he married Catherine Wright of Dansville, N. Y.. and died 
in April, 1879, at Salamanca, N. \^. 

Hemphill, George, was born in the town of Hartsville, September 12, 1840, and is 
the son of Robert Hemphill, who was born in New Hampshire, March 13, 1796. He 
first settled in Oneida county in 1822, and remained there fourteen years; then he 
came to Steuben county, on the farm where George now lives. He married Lucy 
Kimball, of New Hampshire, and they were the parents of six children: William, 
John K., John R., Silas H.. George and Addie E., all of whom are living. George 
Hemphill acquired his education in the district schools of Hartsville. He married 
Martha, daughter of James M. Hovey, a farmer of Hartsville, and one of the 
oldest settlers of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill have no children. They 
reside on a farm which consists of 200 acres, about seventy-five acres of which is 
timber. He has filled the office of assessor. 

Horton, Luther T., was born on the faAn where he now lives February 25, 1833, 
son of Thomas, who was born in Connecticut. Thomas Horton came to Steuben 
county in 1832, buying and clearing sixty acres of the farm now owned by Luther T. 
He married Rhoda Hitchcock, of Connecticut, who died when Luther was a small 
child. They had five children: Lauren, who lives in Fremont; Lucius, Lansing, 
Lucy, deceased, and Luther T. The latter has always been engaged in farming, but 
in connection with that business he has also been agent for agricultural implements 
for nearly thirty years. Mr. Horton married Adelpha, daughter of John Patterson, 
who was born in England, coming to the United States when fourteen years old, 
and having lived in Howard for sixty-two years, where he has been engaged in 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 387 

blacksmithing. Mr. and Mrs. Horton have two children: Delia and Casler. Mr. 
Hortou has held many minor offices in the town of Howard. 

House, Frank, was born in the town of Howard, October 17, 1858, son of Josiah 
House, who was born in this town, and was the son of Ansel House. Josiah House 
was a farmer and owned the farm where our subject now lives. He married Lodus- 
kie Cobb, of Genoa, and they were the parentsof fivechildren: Jane, Emma, Fanny, 
Frank and Hattie. Emma married George Ballard, of Hornellsville. and Fannie is 
the wife of Arthur Zeilley, of Avoca. Frank House is a farmer b)' occupation and 
has always lived on the homestead near Howard Flats. He married Vinnie, daugh- 
ter of Elvira Smith, of Howard, and they have three children : Charles, Lena and 
Earl. In politics Mr. House is a Democrat. 

House, Aaron, was born in the town of Howard, October 20, 1837, son of Ansel 
House, who is mentioned in another part of this volume. Aaron House was educated 
in the district schools of Howard, his occupation has always been farming, and now 
owns a farm situated near the village of Howai-d Flats, of seventy acres, mostly im- 
proved land. He married Julia Cob, daughter of AbnerCob, a farmer and one of the 
pioneer settlers of the town of Howard. They have one child, Estella, who was ed- 
ucated in the school at Howard, and lives at home with her parents. In politics Mr. 
House is a Democrat. 

Horr, Samuel D., a well-to-do farmer and sheep grower of Pulteney, was born in 
Pratt.sburg in IS'29, a son of Appleton Horr, a native of Maine, born in 1795. Apple- 
ton Horr came to Prattsburg about 1820 and cleared the most of a 100 acre farm. 
He was a great hunter and fisherman. His wife was Hannah Decker, a native of 
Pennsylvania and daughter of Samuel Decker, who later removed to the town of 
Urbana. Their children were William, Lucy, John, Samuel, Rebecca, Betsey, 
Sarah, Rhoda. Mary, Emily, Elisha, and Lottie, all of whom grew to maturity. 
Mr. Horr died in 1871 and his wife many years before. Samuel D. remained with 
his father until twenty-one years of age. when he engaged as woodchopper. A year 
later he look up carpentry, which he followed for three years, when he was married 
and engaged in farming, but soon resumed his trade, which he has followed the 
greater part of his life. He came to Pulteney in 18-19 and some years later in con- 
nection with his trade bought and conducted a vineyard. In 1881 he purchased his 
present farm of 130 acres and for se\-eral years has been interested in breeding fine 
wool sheep, now owning 250 head. In June, 1853, Mr. Horr married Sarah E., 
daughter of Phineas and Ellen (Havens) Casteline, early settlers in Prattsburg. Mrs. 
Horr was born in New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Horr had two children : Olney, who 
died at the age of eight years; and Mary, wife of Charles Skinkle, of Pulteney. 
They have three sons. Mr. and Mrs. Horr have been members of the Baptist church 
at South Pulteney for forty-live years, Mr. Horr having been trustee and deacon for 
si.x years. John and Elisha Horr, brothers of Samuel D., served three years each in 
the war of the Rebellion. 

Holden, Jacob B., was born in Bath, N. Y., February 6, 1841, son of Jacob and 
Catherine (Johnson) Holden, he a native of Connecticut, and she of Homer, N. Y., 
who came to Bath with her parents when nine years of age, where she died in 1883. 
Mr. Holden came to Bath with his parents, Hiram and Anna Holden, who died in 



388 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

that town. Mr. Holden died in 1849. Jacob B. Holden was reared on a farm and 
educated in the common schools and Union Seminary of Rogersville, N. Y. In 1871 
he located on the farm of eighty acres ip Thurston, which he now owns, where he 
engaged in farming. He is a Rei^ublican in politics, and has been commissioner two 
terms. In 1868 he married Mary J. Parker, by whom he had one child, Charles F. 
Mrs. Holden died August 19, 1875, and Mr. Holden married for his second wife, 
Alice INIartin, by whom he had eight children: Ella M., Ida G., William J., Oliver E., 
Floyd L., Frank E., Roy and Phoebe. In 1863 Mr. Holden enlisted in Co. D, 104th 
N. Y. Vols. , and served until June of the same year. He is a member of Loga Post, 
G. A. R., No. 469. 

Jerry. Emron J., was born in Hartsville, N. Y. , November 18, 1856, son of James 
and Almira X. (Adamson) Jerry, who were married May 10. 1854, he born in the 
Province of Quebec, Canada, June 29, 1829, and she born in Clearfield county. Pa. , 
February 23, 1834. The grandfather of our subject, John Jerry, was a native of 
France, and came to Canada previous to the Rebellion, where he died. James Jerry, 
father of Emron J., came to New York State when eighteen j'ears of age, and to 
Steuben county in 1850, where he has since resided, and followed lumbering and 
farmmg. He owned 216 acres of land in Thurston, which he recently sold to his son- 
in-law, Samuel Aldrich, and now lives a retired life. He was a Republican until 
1872, and since that time has been with the Democratic party. He was highway 
commissioner for one year and supervisor for six years. He is a member of the Cam- 
eron Mills Lodge, No. 547, F. & A. M. Emron J. Jerry was reared in lumbering 
and farming, and in 1879 engaged in partnership with his father in the mercantile 
business at Risingville, where they were successful. In 1881 the firm dissolved and 
our subject has since carried on the business. He owns at present 150 acres of land 
in Thurston. He is a Democrat in pohtics, and has been justice of the peace four 
years, and is now serving his third term as supervisor of the town. He has also been 
postmaster of the town for eight years. He is a member of the Cameron Mills Lodge, 
No. 547, F. & A. M., and has been master for two years. November 2, 1881, he mar- 
ried Millie J. Yost, of Thurston, N. Y., daughter of Jacob Yost, one of the early 
settlers of that town, by whom he had two children: E. J., who was born April 15, 
1883; Milda J., who was born March 20, 1888. 

Hurd, Joel, was born in Tuscarora, N. Y., June 30, 1834, son of Ransom and 
Annie (Johnson) Hurd, natives of Vermont, who came to Tuscarora in 1830, where 
they died, he June 27, 1847. They had eight children: Achsah, Ransom, Annie il.. 
Rebecca, Joel, Sherman, Bryant and Byron. By a former marriage Mr. Hurd had 
six children; Russell, Horace, Philander, Lucretia, Harvey and Norman. Joel Hurd 
was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and has since followed 
farming. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and a member of the M. E. church in 
Tuscarora. 

Hurd, Eugene, was born in Woodhull, N. Y., Oct. 3,1851, where he was educated. 
He began life for himself as a clerk in Woodhull for O. B. Baxter, where he remained 
one year and a half, and then came to Syracuse, and later, to Addison, where he was 
employed in the same capacity. At the age of eighteen years he engaged in the 
mercantile business, and, with the exception of a year and a half spent in Painted 



1 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 389 

Post, was in partnership with his brother, John, at Woodhull. The partnership was 
dissolved and Eugene Hurd went into business by himself, in which he was engaged 
about thirteen years, being very successful. Mr. Hurd owned considerable property 
in Woodhull and was proprietor of the Hurd House about five years, and in 1892 
came to Hedgesville and engaged in the hardware and agricultural business, and had 
the agency for McCorniick Company four years. In 1883, Mr. Hurd, R. C. Park, and 
Dr. E. E. Webster built the telephone line from Hedgesville to Woodhull, and re- 
cently Mr. Hurd sold to Mr. McPherson of Hedgesville. N. Y. He is a Republican, 
and has been town clerk and is uo%v assessor of Woodhull, and has the contract of 
carrying daily mail from Hedgesville to Rathboneville. He is a member of the 
Restoration Lodge, No. 777, F. & A. M. April 12, 1874, he married Charlotte M., 
who was born September 28, 1846. daughter of Christopher and Cynthia Tubbs 
Marlatt, she a native of Woodhull, and he, of Ballston, N. Y. He came to Addison 
when a small boy and afterward to Woodhull. where Mrs. Marlatt died at the age of 
seventy-six years. To Mr. and Mrs, Hurd have been born two children; Arthur, 
born October 29, 1878, who waseducatedin the common schools and Woodhull L^nion 
School, and now resides at home; and Ray E.,born at Painted Post, August 11, 1884. 
The parents of our subject, Horace and Anna Ward Hurd, he a native of Yates county, 
N. Y., born October 17, 1813, and she, of Elmira, Chemung county, N. Y. , born 
June 5, 1824, came to Steuben county in 1840. They were members of the Methodist 
church. Mrs. Hurd died in 1888. Mr. Hurd is a carpenter by trade and lives with 
his son, Elmer W., in Hedgesville. Elmer W. is a merchant in Hedgesville, a Re- 
publican in politics, and was postmaster about ten years. April 27, 1892, he married 
Cora Petrie, a widow, who had one son, Harry. Mr. Eugene Hurd has a brother, 
John, who is a merchant m Woodhull, and a sister, Julia, who is the wife of John K. 
Stone, of Addison, N. Y. 

Herrington. Earl, was born in Otsego county, N. Y., March 13, 1848, son of Caleb 
G. and Adelina (Wiltsie) Herrington, both natives of Otsego county. The grand- 
father, Caleb Herrington, spent his life in Otsego county, on the farm his father 
settled and where he died. Caleb G., father of Earl, came to Woodhull in 1859, 
where he died September 15, 1883, aged sixty-one years, and his widow is still living 
at seventy-two years of age. Mr. Herrington was a Republican in politics, and was 
justice of the peace for nine years. Earl Herrington was educated in the common 
schools, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns eighty-four acres of land, 
which he cleared. He also sold 140 acres to a brother. He is a Republican in poli- 
tics, and is now serving his second term as commissioner of highways. He is a mem- 
ber of Elkland Lodge, No. 800, I. O. O. F., also of the Osceola Tent, No. 100, K. O. 
T. M., and of the K. of H., Osceola Lodge, No. 847, and is also a member of the 
Osceola Grange, No. 957. In 1871 Mr. Herrington married Angeline Spence, who 
was born in Otsego county, N. Y., by whom he had one son, Eddie, who was born 
April 22, 1873, and was educated in the common schools and the graded schools of 
Osceola, Pa, 

Hollis, E. T., was born in Tioga, Pa., October 3, 1835, son of Thomas and Mary 
A. (Crook) Hollis. Thomas was a native of Gilbertsville, Otsego county, and Mrs. 
Hollis was a native of Bainbridge, Chenango county. Thomas, grandfather of E. 
T. , %vas a native of Derbyshire, England, and came to Otsego county when a child 



390 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

with his father, Humphrey, and lived and died in Gilbertsville. In 1833, Thomas, 
father of E. T., went to Tioga county, and in 1844 went to Addison. In 18o3 he 
went to Homellsville, where he died in 1883. He was a lumberman. His wife died 
in Homellsville in 187.5. E. T. was educated in Addison Academy, then began the 
study of law with the late Henry Sherwood, of Addison. He completed his studies 
with Harlo Hakes, of Homellsville, in 1856 and in December was admitted to the 
bar. He began practice at Addison and was in partnership with Mr. Shenvood until 
1860, when he came to Woodhull and remained until 1862, then returned to Addison. 
He returned to Woodhull in 1867, where he now has an extensive and successful 
practice. Mr. HoUis has been notary public for many years. June 25, 1860, he mar- 
ried Luretta G. Sherman, by whom he had one daughter: Carrie E., of Woodhull. 
Mrs. Hollis died in 1877, and in 1878, Mr. Hollis married Lucy Wright, of Ham- 
mondsport, by whom he has one child; John W., born March 15, 1879. 

Judd, Madison, was born in Schoharie county, N. Y.. September 23, 1835, son of 
Peter Judd, a son of Erastus Judd, a native of Hartford, Conn., and graduate of Yale 
College, and one of the prominent lawyers of Jefferson. Schoharie county. N. Y. He 
and two brothers settled and owned the town of Jefferson. Peter Judd, father of 
Madison, died in Schoharie county, and was buried in the cemeterj' of which he was 
the owner. He was a farmer, and was also first mate on a boat on the Hudson for 
two years. He was a Democrat in politics, and was justice of the peace, iladison 
Judd was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He worked at 
three dollars per month on a farm, and now owns 430 acres of land in Woodhull, 140 
acres in Otsego county, and is also interested in real estate in Schoharie county. He 
first settled in Broome county, and in 1869 he came to Woodhull where he now re- 
sides. He is a member of Restoration Lodge, No. 777, F. & A. M. In 1864 he mar- 
ried Mary Garnet, of Otsego county, daughter of Henry Gamet, one of the leading 
farmers of Oneonta, Otsego county, N. Y., where he lived and died. Mr. and Mrs. 
Judd have two sons: Arthur and Raymond. 

Houck, Dillazon S. , was born in Wayne, March 26, 1847, son of Henry and Belinda 
(Taylor) Houck, natives of Wayne, N. Y., and New Jersey, respectively. The grand- 
father, Joseph Houck. was a native of London, England. He settled in the Eastern 
States first, then came to Steuben county, settling in Wayne, where he died. He 
was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His wife was a native of Paris. The ma- 
ternal grandfather, Garrett Taylor, came from New Jersey and was an early settler 
in Wayne. Henry Houck was a very successful farmer, owning at the time of his 
death, in 1883, 500 acres of land. Mrs. Houck died in 1891. Dillazon S. Houck was 
educated at Starkey Seminary and Dundee Academy, then was engaged in teaching 
for five years. He was afterwards engaged in farming for eleven years, at which 
time he bought and run the Elmira Chilled Plow Works, which he run for seven 
years. He was burned out in January, 1888, when he came back on to the farm in 
Wayne, where he has since been engaged in farming and fruit growing. He makes 
a specialty of growing grapes, having a vineyard of twenty acres. In 1870 Mr. 
Houck married Josephine Bennett, of Yates county, who died in 1890. In 1892 he 
married Matilda J. Huston, of Clifton. Kansas. Mr. Houck has been justice for si.x 
years and town committeeman for eighteen years. He is a member of Lamoka 
Lodge, No. 480, F. & A. M. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 391 

Horton, John, was born in the town of Phillips, Putnam county, June 29, 1833, son 
of Benjamin and Millie (Roe) Horton, both natives of Putnam county, N. Y. The 
Hortons bought the first farm in Phillips. The grandparents, John Horton and John 
Roe, were fanners of Putnam county. Benjamin Horton, father of John, was a 
farmer and teamster in Putnam county, and spent his last days with his daughter in 
Bethel, Conn. John Horton commenced for himself when thirteen years of age. by 
working in a brickyard and teaming. He came to Steuben county in 1858. where he 
has since resided. Mr. Horton has bought and .sold several farms, the last being the 
Tolmeuson farm of 100 acres, where he has carried on general farming since 1886. 
In IS.").! he married Lucy Ann Lockwood, of Ulster county, by whom he had one son, 
John, who married Mandy Baily. He died in 1892, leaving three children; Estella, 
Lyman and Bertha. Their mother died in 1880. Mr. Horton enlisted in 1864, and 
ser\'ed until the close of the war. He participated in the battle at City Point. Siege 
of Petersburg, battle of Five Forks, and was in the front line at Appomatto.x Court 
House, and was wounded at Hatcher's Rxm. 

Holt, George, was born in Troupsburg, November 24, 1828, and is the second of 
fifteen children born to John W. and Charlotte (Wright) Holt, he a native of Ontario 
county, born January 27, 1807. The maternal grandfather, Truman Wright, was a 
pioneer of Troupsburg. The paternal grandfather, Amos Holt, died in Ontario in 
1810. Jesse Wright, father of Tiuman Wright, spent his last days in Troupsburg. 
He was in seven campaigns of the RevoUuionary war, and was at Lexington. White 
Plains, and Bennington. John W. Holt, father of George, was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and for many years was highway commissioner. He died April 37, 1802, and 
Mrs. Holt September 1, 1870. George Holt was reared on the farm and educated at 
Alfred Academy. He has always followed farming, but taught school when joung. 
In 1853 he married Eliza, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Pea.se) Sluyter, both 
natives of Delaware county, who came to Troupsburg when young, and where they 
died. He was in the carding business. Mr. and Mrs. Holt have reared one adopted 
daughter. Bertha, wife of Charles Hill, a farmer of Potter county. Pa. ; they have 
three children: Emily, Fred, and William F. September 17, 1864, Mr. Holt enlisted 
in Co. H, 141st N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged June 8, 1865. He was in 
the battle of Bentonville, and many skinnishes, and was with .Sherman on the march 
to the sea. He is a member of Post Baily, No 351, G. A. R. , of Troupsburg. 

Hubbard. William H., was born in Owego, Tioga county, N. Y., October 6, 1840, 
and is the eighth of nine children born to Ansel and Mary A. (Mead) Hubbard, both 
natives of Dryden, N. Y., he born July 20, 1800. and she November 13, 1799, The 
grandparents were William R. and Mariah (Jinks) Hubbard; William R. was born in 
Glasgow, t^cotland, and came to America at an early day in company with si.\ broth- 
ers who settled in Massachusetts. He came to Tioga county, N. Y. .being pioneer of 
that county where he died. Ansel Hubbard was a brickraaker in Owego, where he 
made brick for the old court house. In 1842 he settled in Troupsburg, where he died 
December 16, 1874, and his wife January 31, 1877. He was a Wesleyan Methodist 
minister. William H. Hubbard's principal occupation has been farming, and he and 
his wife now own a farm of 376 acres and make a specialty of dairy farming. In 
IW69 he married Alice R., daughter of Hiram and Amanda Morton, who were early 
settlers of Troupsburg on the farm now owned by Mrs. Hubbard. Mrs. Morton died 



392 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

in February, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard have these children; Minnie R., who 
died infancy; Wilham H., jr., born February 14, 1872, afarmer in Troupsburg; Lewis 
M., born December 31, 1874, a farmer on the homestead; Mary A., born November 
13, 1884. In September, 1861, Mr. Hubbard enlisted in Co. H, 86th N. Y. Vols., and 
was honorably discharged September 1.5, 1864. He was at second Bull Run, Freder- 
icksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, where he was wounded by a shell and 
was nine months in Lincoln Hospital. He was assessor of the town for many years, 
and is a member of Post Baily, No. 351, G. A. R. 

Hober, Derias W., was born in Troupsburg, September 5, 1843, the eighth of nine 
children born to Jo.seph and Martha (Rodgers) Hober, born in October, 1808, and 
December 9, 1812, respectively. The parents of Joseph were Frederick C. and 
Phoebe (Conkling) Hober, who came to West Union from Schenectady. Mr. Hober 
was a miller by trade. He died July 15, 1863, aged ninety-three years, and Mrs. 
Hober died in 1874, aged ninety-eight. The mother of Phoebe Conkling lived to be 
104 years old. Joseph Hober was a farmer, who came from ^Vest Union to Troups- 
burg in 1844, where died July 13, 1872. Mrs. Hober still sur\-ives at the age of eighty- 
three and lives in Canisteo. He raised and went to New York city with the first 
body of soldiers from Troupsburg in 1861. but was rejected on account of age. He 
was captain of the home militia. Derias W. was reared on the farm and educated 
at Troupsburg Academy, also at an academy at Deerfield, Pa. He began teaching 
at the age of sixteen and continued until 1889. He taught eleven years at Troups- 
burg Centre, four years in Texas, and three years at Minnesota. During the latter 
years of teaching he was also engaged in farming, which he now follows exclusively. 
He has a farm of 160 acres and carries on general farming. In 1879 Mr. Hober mar- 
ried Martha, daughter of Caleb D. and Mary E. (Fox) Holt, natives of Madison 
county, N. Y. , and Oneida county, N. Y., respectiveh'. The paternal grandparents 
were Luther and Martha (Dunbar) Holt and the maternal grandparents were Joel 
and Elizabeth (Forbes) Fox. Mr. Hober has served as supervisor and collector of 
Troupsburg. He is a member of McClellan Lodge, No. 649, F. &■ A. M., and has 
been master of the lodge for the past two years. 

Jordan, M. V., was born in the town of Troupsburg, August 13, 1840, and is the 
seventh of thirteen children bom to Jonathan and Clarissa (Harrington) Jordan, na- 
tives of Tioga, Pa., and Troupsburg, respectively. The grandparents, Daniel and 
Susanna (Coon) Jordan, came from the East in 1806 and settled in Tioga county. Pa., 
where the)- died. The great-grandfather. Baruch Jordan, was in the French and 
Indian war and the Revolutionary war. Jonathan Jordan came to Troupsburg and 
engaged in farming. He died in April, 1879, and his wife in January, '.894. M. V. 
Jordan received his education in the Troupsburg Academy, and after leaving school 
he engaged in farming. He now owns a farm of 186 acres, making a specialty of the 
production of hay. In 1865 Mr. Jordan married Lucinda M., daughter of William 
and Maria (Rice) Jordan, and granddaughter of Stephen Rice, the first white child 
born in the town of Addison. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan have one daughter, Naomi, born 
January 30, 1879. 

Hayner, Eugene, was born in Howard, Steuben county, N. Y.. in 1857. Philip 
llavner, his father, was born in Germany in 1835, and is the youngest of two broth- 



FAMILY vSKETCHES. 393 

ers who came to the United States in 1848, he being then but thirteen years of age. 
He took up the vocation of farmer which he has followed up to the present time. In 
1863 he enlisted in the volunteers and participated in many battles, and was once 
wounded in the right arm. He is farming now in the town of Bradford, and married 
Mary, daughter of William Davis of Prattsburg, by whom he had five children : 
Alonzo, Eugene, Annetta. Philip, and Knierson. His wife died in 1870. At seven 
years of age Eugene Hayner began working for his board with other people, and 
early began to earn wages, and, by his own energy and the practice of economy, he 
accumulated some property, and in 1890 purchased his present farm of l.")" acres on 
which he raised a small amount of fine stock, his specialty being driving horses, he 
being a practical horseman. In 1881 he married Almelad Philips, a native of Italy, 
Yates county, and one of six children born to Edwin and Olive (Covill) Philips. 

Haynes, Rowland, was born in Chenango county, July 15, 1833, son of Samuel 
and Emma (Capley) Haynes, natives of Dutchess and Chenango counties, respec- 
tively. The grandfather, James S. Haynes, lived in Dutchess, Chenango and Chau- 
tauqua counties. Rowland Haynes was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 
mon schools. He is a farmer, and in 1870 came to Jasper where he purchased a farm 
of seventy-one acres and followed general farming. He was assessor one year. 
February 22, 1857, he married Miss Bartoo of Jasper, by whom he had five children: 
Carrie and Eunice, deceased, Olive, Ida, and Rosa. 

Hunter, D. C, was born in Jasper, May 20, 1801, son of W. W. and Theresa L. 
(Lewis) Hunter, he a native of Jasper, born April £9, \83li, and she of Brookfield, Pa., 
born September 16, 1835. W. W. Hunter was reared on a farm and educated at 
Genesee College at Lima, after which he followed farming until 1862, when he en- 
gaged in the mercantile business. In 1881 he retired from business and his two sons, 
William J. and D. C, became proprietors of the store, under the firm name of Hun- 
ter Bros. May 30, 1883, William J. died and D. C. Hunter entered into partnership 
with Ezra Chatfield for three years when they dissolved partnership and Mr. Hunter 
has since continued the business. The building is 70 by 20 feet. Mr. Hunter was a 
member of Troupsburg Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Jasper Lodge until abandoned. 
He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and he has been superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school for four years. W. W. Hunter has another son, George 
A., who is engaged with Tuttle & Rockwell, and one, Willie E., who died at five 
years of age. He has one daughter, Lucy, who is at home. D. C. Hunter was 
reared in the village of Ja.sper and educated in the common schools of Jasper. At 
twelve years of age he engaged as clerk in a store, and has since been connected 
with the mercantile business. He was postmaster during Cleveland's first adminis- 
tration. January 16, 1881, he married Annie IC, daughter of Charles H. and Amelia 
(Marsh) Barns of Jasper. 

Hunter, Dr Nathaniel Perry, was born in Jasper, May 7, 1856, son of William 
Hunter, M. D., born August 4, 1800, son of Alexander Hunter, a native of Ireland, 
who came to America during the Revolutionary war, was married in Canada, re- 
moved to Salem, Washington county, N. Y., and soon after to Virgil, Cortland 
county, where he died. His wife was Polly McNeise, a native of Scotland. William 
Hunter, father of Nathaniel Perry, was reared on a farm and educated in the com- 



394 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

mon schools, after which he engaged in teaching for some years. He studied medi- 
cine and at twenty-five years of age began the practice of his profession in Jasper. 
June 2, 1835, he married Polly Price, by whom he had one son, Salem P. Mrs. 
Hunter died April 16, 1836, and May 1, 1827. he married Elenore Craig, by whom he 
had three children: Polly born February 29, 1828; Andrew C, born August 29, 
1832; William W., born April 29, 18*). Mrs. Hunter died November 22, 1838, and 
April 16, 1839, he married for his third wife, Maria Craig, sister of his second wife, 
by whom he had one child, Nathaniel Perry. The doctor was a practicing physician 
for forty years in Jasper. He was town clerk and superintendent of schools, also 
supervisor, and held minor town offices. He was twice a member of assembly. He 
was a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F., also a member of the State militia. 
He died September 4, 1865. Nathaniel Perry was reared on a farm and at twelve 
years of age entered Woodhull Academy, after which he went to Ithaca High School 
and Cascadilla Preparatory School, and was graduated from Cornell in 1881. He 
studied for one year in Wilder's Laboratory at Cornell, and was for one year at Ann 
Arbor Medical College. In 1884 he was graduated from the medical department of 
the University of Pennsylvania, and has since had a very successful practice. He 
was supervisor of the town in 1893-94. July 20, 1891, he married Laviania, daughter 
of Frank and Elizabeth (Crosby) Hallet. Mr. Hallet was in the 86th N. Y. Vols., 
and was killed at Spottsylvania. His widow married Thomas Sheffield of Jasper. 

IngersoU E. W., was born in Guilford, Chenango county, N Y., April 29, 1821. 
son of James and Rebecca (Haynes) IngersoU, natives of Saratoga county, N. Y., 
who came to Chenango county in 1806, where they lived until 1837. E. W. IngersoU 
was reared on a farm, educated in the commou schools, and in 1836 came to Jasper 
with his parents, who settled on the farm no-w owned by the family, where they died. 
E. W. IngersoU has always been a farmer, and with his two sons, James H. and 
Frank R., owns 185 acres of land. In 1841 he married Emeline Reynolds, by whom 
he had six children, two of whom are living: James H., who was born in 1855, edu- 
cated in the common schools, and married Eva Quick, by whom he had three daugh- 
ters: Cora, Stella, and Gertrude; and Frank R., who was born April 5. 1863, edu- 
cated in the common schools, and married Emma Sweet, by whom he had three chil- 
dren: Edward, Edith, and Louisa. 

Higgins, H. Delos, was born on a farm in the town of Howard, September 22, 
1832. Russell Higgins came to the town of Hornellsville in 1844 and settled on a 
farm on Pennsylvania Hill where he spent the balance of his life. The mother of 
our subject, Louisa Root, was a native of Otsego county. They were the parents of 
five sons and two daughters, all now living. H. Delos was the oldest of the family. 
He was educated in the common school and followed farming until about twenty 
years of age, when he took up the trade of a carpenter and joiner which he followed 
until about 1880. He then engaged in the handling of potatoes and farm produce 
which he has continued to the present time. In the fall of 1888 he located in the 
village of Arkport where his handiwork is found m a beautiful home and substantial 
out buildings. He was married to Miss Mary Jane Kline, daughter of George Kline, 
and granddaughter of James McMichael. They have four children : Byron, a farmer 
of Allegany county; George, also a farmer of Gar Spring Valley; Jennie, wife of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 395 

Hosea Carpenter, a farmer; and Frankie, wife of Laverne Sanford of Allegany 
county. 

Hotchkiss, A. Leroy, was born in Grnton, Tompkins county, June 19, 18](i. The 
youngest son of a family of six children of Aaron Hotchki.ss, one of the pioneers of 
Cortland county, who died there about 1850. Lola Johnson, the mother of Leroy, 
was a native of Connecticut, and died in 1838. Leroy was given a good common 
school education and remained with his father on the farm until twenty-three 
years of age, when he bought a farm of sixty acres in Virgil, making his home with 
his parents until a year later and in 1841 removed to Ohio where he engaged in 
farming, and in connection built a distillery which he conducted for one year and 
then returned to New York State, and in 184G was married and settled on a farm 
in Virgil where he continued until 1851. He then spent two years prospecting in the 
Western country and in 1853 he bought a farm in the town of Scio, Allegany county, 
where he made his home eight years. He then sold and bought another place near 
Scio village, where he lived until 1865, and then spent one year at Belvidere, three 
years at Belmont, eight years at Belfast, and in 1877 bought the ilourishing mills at 
Belmont and conducted them one year. In 1883 he bought the Mayor farm of fifty- 
six acres where he made his home for two years, and has since lived retired in the 
city of Hornellsville. Mr. Hotchkiss has always been an ardent Republican, and 
occupied the office of assessor thirteen years. He was also postmaster and commis- 
sioner in Allegany county. In 1846 he married Mary A. Chatterton. who died in 
1854, by whom he had one child, Mary A., who died in infancy. His second wife 
was Melinda Ogden, who died in May, 1861. His present wife was Adeline Gibbs, 
of Homer, by whom he had one child, Mary, who became the wMfe of Milo F. Bur- 
dick, and who died June 6, 1894, leaving two children. 

Hill, Austin C, was born in the town of Almond, Allegany county, N. Y., Febru- 
ary 26, 1838. Benjamin Hill, the father of our subject, was a native of Dutchess 
county, and came to Allegany county in 1833, where he made his home until 1850. 
He located on the farm of sixty-three acres, where we find our subject, and died here 
in 1885 at eighty years of age. The mother of our subject, Ann Bross, was of Hec- 
tor, Tompkins county. She is still living at eighty-seven years of age. They were 
the parents of seven children: Harvey, a farmer of Hornellsville; Sarah, the widow 
of William Gates of Fremont; Washington, died in Michigan; Austin C, our sub- 
ject ; Nancy, wife of Russell Higgins of Hornellsville; Chester Hill, of Michigan; 
Harriet, died in Addison, July 15, 1880. Austin was educated in the common schools 
and succeeded his father on the homestead farm in Hornellsville. Mr. Hill has 
always taken an interest in politics and is one of the strong supporters of the Repub- 
lican party. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Arkport, and a member 
of the A. O. U. W. , and has held the office of receiver for fifteen years. He enlisted 
March 31, 1864, in the 179th N. Y. Vols., and served with them until the close of the 
war, being with the regiment in different engagements. He was wounded at the 
taking of Petersburg, April 2, 1865, in his ankle. He was married in 1859 to Miss 
(Cordelia Higgins, daughter of Russell Higgins of Hornellsville. They have been 
the parents of four children: one died in infancy; Luther is with his father on the 
farm ; Charles lives in Arkport, and Miss Mary Hill lives at home. 



396 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Hunt, Horace, was born in the town of Alfred, Allegany county, March 23, 1836. 
Parley Hunt, the father of our subject, was a native of Andover, Mass., and was one 
of the early settlers of Allegany county. He was twice married and his first family 
was three children. The mother of our subject, Harriet Davis, was the mother of 
five children of whom Horace was the oldest. He was given a common school edu- 
cation and his first occupation was conducting a livery and keeping hotel in Ando- 
ver. He was afterward in business in Almond, four months. In the early fifties he 
helped in the surveying of the Western Division and living at Almond at that time. 
In 1856 he came to Hornellsville and bought the interest of a half brother in the 
livery business and also bought a saloon on Loder street near the depot, and built it 
into a hotel and conducted it until in 1865, when he bought the Osborne House and 
conducted it until 1866, when June 16, the house burned and Mr. Hunt rebuilt and 
spent about 830,000 in its construction. He continued to run the house nine months, 
when he sold a half interest to W. C. Brainerd and rented him his half for five years. 
In 1877 he bought of Dr. Silas Curr\-, a farm of 215 acres in the town of Hornells- 
vilie, where we now find him. He has spent three years off the farm in this time, 
living in the city. He conducts the farm as a grain and vegetable farm. He was 
married in 1859 to Miss Thedaj- Hawkin of Andover. Allegany county, N. Y. They 
have no children. An adopted child. Miss Minnie, forms a part of Mr. Hunt's 
family. Mr. Hunt is a member of Evening Star Lodge, F. & A. M., Steuben Chap- 
ter No. 100, Hornellsville Council No. 36, and De Molay Commandery No. 22, and 
Hornell Consistory. 

Hall, Isaac, was born in Howard, Steuben county, N. Y. , January 4, 1850. John 
Hall, his father, was a native of Ireland where he was bom January 4, 1804, and 
came to Canada in 1816 and made his home there until 1835, when he located in 
Howard where shortly after he bought a farm and made his home there for the bal- 
ance of his life, with the exception of two years spent in Canada. He died Septem- 
ber 13, 1888. Mar\- Ann Stewart, the mother of Isaac, was a native of this county. 
a daughter of John Stewart of Howard. They were the parents of twelve children, 
nine of whom reached adult age, and seven are now living. Mrs. Hall died May 13, 
1855. Isaac was the sixth son, and his advantage of school was very limited, but his 
education has been derived in the hard school of practical experience. He was only 
sixteen when he first started for himself, and followed lumbering for six years. At 
twenty-two he married and moved to Canisteo, being for one year employed in the 
planing mill and for two years in various employments, and he then spent eight and 
one-half years in the mill and on the road for Charles Flohr. The fall of 1881 he had 
bought a part of the Bartley farm consistmg of fifty-two acres, and in 1883 he located 
here and has ever since conducted the farm for the production of hay, grain and 
vegetables. In the fall of 1888 he added to his farm by the purchase of forty eight 
acres of Erastus Carter, making now 100 acres, July 3, 1872, he married Juliette, 
daughter of bherman Higgins, a retired farmer of Howard, by whom he had two 
children, Cora Elizabeth, who lives at home, and William Lee, a student of the com- 
mon school. 

Jones, Wilson J., was born in Rushville, March 31, 1861. Samuel Jones, his father, 
was a native of the same town, and Samuel Jones, the grandfather, was one of the 
pioneer settlers. Samuel J. Jones married Edith Wilson, daughter of James K. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 397 

Wilson, and was a well known druggist. Wilson J. Jones was educated at Rushville 
and the Military Academy at Peekskill, after which he entered the drug business at 
Truinansburg. In 1X86 he came to Bath and established his present business, carry- 
ing a large line of imported and domestic drugs. Mr. Jones is one of the enterpris- 
ing men of his town, taking an intelligent interest in educational and religious insti- 
tutions, and has ever received and merited the respect of his associates. 

Freidell, Joseph Conrad, was born in the village of Hammondsport, N. Y., August 
17, 1^62. His father, Matthew Freidell, is a native of Germany, and a grape grower 
of this town. Joseph Conrad is the oldest son of a family of four children. He was 
educated in the Hammondsport Union School, and his first occupation was in his 
father's vineyard. At fifteen years of age he engaged as clerk in the store now con- 
ducted by George H. Keeler, where he remained for eleven years. In 1888 he formed 
a co-partnership with L. D. Masson, and established a hardware store on Water 
street, where we uovv- find him located. In 1893 he married Laura L. Brown, of 
Penn Yan. 

Cook, Ezekiel, was born in Thurston, N. Y., July 12, 1847, son of Seth and Sabrina 
(Herington) Cook, natives of Rhode Island. They came to Thurston in 1830, after- 
ward moving to Rathbone, where they died, aged ninety-three and eighty-nine re- 
spectively. Ezekiel was educated in the common schools, then engaged in farming 
and lumbering. He owns 100 acres in Rathbone and eleven acres in Cameron. Jn 
1879 Mr. Cook married Amoretta, daughter of George and Sarah A. (Darley) Bates, 
natives of Oxford, Conn., and Otsego county, N. Y. They came to Cameron in 
1820 and have since lived in Cameron and Rathbone. Mr. and Mrs. Cook had two 
children: George W. and Martha E. Mrs. Cook died in 1889. The parents of George 
Bates were Andrew and Eunice (Clark) Bates, who lived and died in Cameron. 

Ilealy, Llewelyn Clark, was born in the town of Dansville, Steuben county, N. Y. 
His grandfather Healy was a native of Yermont, born at Shoreham. He was the 
father of seven sons and three daughters. William Wilson Healy, the father of 
Llewelyn, was the second son ; he was born m Dansville and has always made his 
home in that town. Clark was given a good common school education and also at- 
tended Rogersville Seminary, living on the farm. He has always taken an interest 
in the mercantile business and was engaged with his father until 1882. That year 
he came to Arkport and built a mill storehouse, coal sheds, and office, and has since 
devoted his attention to the dealing in grain, seeds, potatoes, coal, plaster, feeds of 
all kinds, etc. He was married in 1875 to Miss Ida Graves of Howard. They have 
one child, Frank L., a student at Arkport. 

Hathaway, Dr. William E , was born in Tioga county, Pa., April 5, 1848, the sec- 
ond son of the late James A. Hathaway, a farmer of that town, who died the spring 
of 1895. He was given a good education and began the study of medicine while still 
in his 'teens. He was for a number of years a teacher of Tioga Academy, and in 
1876 graduated from Hahnemann College, Philadelphia, with the degree of M. D. 
He began the practice of his profession in Tioga, and spent also three years in Elk- 
land. In 1878 he came to Hornellsville, and is to-day the leading homeopathist of 
this city. He was a partner with Dr. Olcutt for two years and has since been alone. 
The doctor has also been identified with the Buffalo Fence Wire Company, with a 



398 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

factory at Canisteo. He is a member of the New York State Homeopathic Society, 
Southern Tier Homeopathic Society, and in one of the associate staff of Lexington 
Heights Hospital of Buffalo. In 1868 he married Janette S., daughter of Col. H. S. 
Johnson of Tioga, by whom he had two children ; Edgar, a representative inventor 
and manufacturer of this city, and Augusta Lucille. Jlrs. Hathaway is also a prac- 
ticing physician of this city, and a graduate of Hospital College of Cleveland, Ohio, 
class of I'SSS. 

Houck, Peter P., was born in the town of New Scotland, Albany county, Novem- 
ber 21-, 1831. The Houck family are descendants of the old Holland stock and were 
among the early Mohawk settlers. The maternal ancestors, named Bradt, were also 
of Dutch descent. Peter J., father of Peter P., was born in 1795, and followed farm- 
ing in his early days, then became proprietor of a hotel in Bethlehem until 1832. He 
was then located in Cobbleskill until 1840, when he moved to Steuben county, locat- 
ing in Corning, where he remained but a short time, and then for two years on what 
is now known as the Magee farm. In 1843 he became the proprietor of the Hornells- 
ville tavern and stage house. In 1845 he removed to Burns, where he kept hotel 
and was on a farm near there until 1854. In 1856 he removed to Minnesota where 
he was engaged in farming the balance of his days, dymg at the age of sevent5--five 
years. He was the father of nine children, of whom Peter was the third. He was 
educated in the common schools until thirteen j-ears of age, then went with his uncle, 
John Hilton, a grocer of Albany, with whom he remained three years. He was then 
for two years employed in an eating house. At the age of twenty, in company with 
his cousin, he bought out an eating house at the corner of State and Pearl streets in 
Albany, where he conducted a successful business for nine years. In 1851 he re- 
moved to this county, locating on a farm at Burns until 1854. With his father, he 
engaged in the meat and poultry business, and in 1855 bought a general store in 
Hornellsville, where he remained for three years, then bought a farm three miles 
south of the city, where he made many miprovements. Two and one-half years 
later he took the store of his brother-in-law, Marcus E. Brown, and conducted it 
until 1868 and then sold out. The summer of 1870 he spent m the West, and in 1871 
bought the wood and coal business at the corner of Canisteo and Taylor streets. In 
1877 he sold out, but in less than two years took the business back and was proprie- 
tor until 1885, when he sold to Simons & Howell, and has since lived retired. Mr. 
Houck has held several minor town offices and was a member of the Board of Educa- 
tion for three years. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1868. In 
1845 Mr. Houck married Hester Ann Van Antwerp, of Albany county, by whom he 
has two daughters: Mrs. Frank A. Simmons and Mrs. William F. Sherwood. 

Hagadorn, Hiram, was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1814. He was a de- 
scendant of one of the early Holland families and one of the Anneke Jans claimants. 
His father was a deacon of the Presbyterian church and removed to New York when 
Hiram was quite young. He was given a good common school education, and was 
engaged in mechanical pursuits in New York and Binghamton until 1838. That year 
he came to Steuben county and was engaged in the McKay House for a short time. 
In 1839 he married Lydia Cameron, daughter of Dugald Cameron, and after was 
engaged in farming until his death, which occurred August 8, 1891. He was the 
father of si.K children- Mrs. Gregory, Mrs. Tubbs and Emmett Hagadorn of Grand 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 399 

Rapids, Michigan; Ira, a wagon manufacturer of Arkport; Charles, in the same 
business in Troy, Pa., and Jane, widow of (Jeorge Loveridge, of Hornellsville. 

Hayt, Dr. Charles W., son of Hon. Slejihen T. Hayt, graduated from the medical 
department of Columbia College in 1889. He was engaged in hospital practice in 
New York city until 1892, ann has since practiced his chosen profession in Corning. 

Haischer. Fred, was born in Germany and came to Corning m 1853, and since 1808 
has been conducting his present business as brewer and bottler. In 18T8 he erected 
his present brewery and the bottling works, in 1893 manufacturing 1,800 barrels per 
year. He has an interest in the Buffalo Land Improvement Co., and has served two 
terms as alderman in Corning. 

Hadley, Jefferson, was born in Canisteo, September 9, 1833. Thomas G. Hadley, 
his father, was also a native of the same town. His grandfather. James Hadley, 
was one of the pioneer settlers, coming from Wyoming in a canoe, and settled on a 
farm of 200 acres, which is now owned by Jefferson, who has since added 100 acres. 
James Hadley was in the massacre at Wyoming, also in the Revolutionary War. 
Thomas G. Hadley married Mary Hallett of Canisteo, by whom he had nine chil- 
dren. Jefferson is a farmer and lumberman, and married Emily R., daughter of 
Reuben Millard, by whom he had one daughter, Mrs. Jamison. Mr. Hadley has held 
the office of assessor and highway commissioner, and is a member of Morning Star 
Lodge of Masons, No. 6.5. 

Jamison, William, jr., was born in Canisteo, January 12, 1837, son of William, 
who was also born in Canisteo, January 10, 1803, on the farm vv'here William, jr. , now 
lives. John Jamison, the grandfather, was born in Bucks county. Pa., and was one 
of the twelve original settlers of Canisteo. William Jamison married Permelia Ben- 
nett, a descendant of one of the old settlers, by whom he had four children: Hugh, 
Mary, Martha and William, jr. William, jr., owns a farm of thirty acres and is part 
owner of a farm of .seventy-five acres. In 1865 he married Allace Brosted, of How- 
ard, Steuben county, by whom he had nine children: Mary, Elisha, Ira, Sarah, Al- 
lace, Martha, Jessie, Bell and Walter. 

Huston, John S., was born in Sparta, Sussex ccninty, N. J., November 25, 1846. 
His father, John, married Ellen Stewart, and came to Steuben county in 1844 and 
settled in the town of Bath, where he has been identified as a contractor and builder. 
John S. Huston was educated at Haverliug Academy, and in 1879 married Amanda 
Dygart. In 1890 he opened a store, dealing in general merchandise and agricultural 
implements. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster, which position he now holds; 
also served as deputy under Sheriff Baldwin. 

Hardenbrook. Frank, was born in -Seneca county, March 7, 1831. Richard Ilard- 
enbrook, his father, came to Bath April 1, 1845, and was identified as a farmer, and 
later in life as the owner of the Hardenbrook foundry. Frank Hardenbrook was 
educated at Ilaverling Academy, after which he taught school, and in 1856 married 
Mary J., daughter of John McElvvee, by whom he had one child, Mary L. Mr. 
Hardenbrook is one of the representative farmer.s of the town, serving as justice of 
the peace for twenty-seven years. 

Joint, William E., was born at Jamesport, L. I., November 11, 1862. His father, 



400 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Thomas Joint, was a native of North Ireland, who came to the United States in 1860 
and settled on Long Island. Mr. Joint married Marcia Erskine. William E. was 
educated in the common schools and came to Steuben county, in 1868, where he be- 
gan to learn the hardware business at the age of fourteen years. In 1887 he formed 
a partnership with George Moore and afterwards with William Tucker. In 1891 be 
purchased their interests, and now carries one of the largest stocks of hardware, 
wagons and agricultural implements in Steuben county. October 24, 1888, Mr. 
Joint married Hattie, daughter of Stephen Jessup. Mr. Joint was appointed post- 
master in 1893. 

Kiefer, Charles, was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 28, 18-11, and came to 
America in 1867, and first settled in Rochester, where he was engaged in the leather 
business until 1876. when he came to Cohocton and took charge of the tannery of 
Richard Trelemon, where he remained until 1885, when he purchased the property, 
and has since carried on a grist mill. He also carries on a harness shop and feed 
store. He is a member of St. Pius R. C. church and the C. M. B. A., and was for 
four years president of that organization. In 1872 he married Lena Wakeman, by 
whom he had ten children; Lena, Emma, Charles, Annie, Mary, Otto, George, Irene, 
Amelia and Helen. 

Knapp, Marsena v., was born in Milo Center, Yates county, N. Y., November 16. 
1827, and is the oldest of eight children born to James A. and Margaret Hiltipidal 
Knapp, and grandson of Gen. James Knapp. who was a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war. General Knapp was a resident of Herkimer county, a farmer'and millwright 
by occupation, and came to Milo, where James A. was born. He removed to Bar- 
rington, where he died in 1831. His wife, Margaret (Worden), died in 1830. James A. 
was a painter by trade and resided at Penn \'an, afterward removmg to Barrington. 
Marsena V. commenced working on the Erie Canal at the age of thirteen years, on 
which he worked ten years. In 1854 he engaged in farming, at which he has since 
been employed with the exception of five years spent in Penn Yan in the grocery 
business. He has a farm of 106 acres and a vineyard of fifteen acres. In 1846 he 
married Sarah E., daughter of John and Sarah Haight of Penn Yan, and they have 
three sons; Marsena A., a farmer on the homestead, who married Mar\' Sanford, by 
whom he had three sons and one daughter, living — Emily, John S., Oliver C. and 
George G. ; Manford H., died at the age of five months, and John, died in infancy. 
Mr. Knapp is a Democrat and has been assessor for a number of years, and served 
twenty years as district clerk. 

King, Philip, was born in the town of Howard, Steuben county, November 11, 
1846. Daniel King, his father, was born in Ireland and came to the United States 
and settled in Pennsylvania, and afterwards in Howard, Steuben county. Philip 
was educated in the district schools, and owns a farm of 225 acres, of which 160 is 
under cultivation. He first began working in a saw mill, later purchased a large 
tract of timber land, which he cut and converted into lumber, and is at present the 
owner of about 300 acres of hemlock and hardwood timber. He married Mary J. 
Hadley of Canisteo, by whom he had nine children — Jefferson, Addie, Maud, 
Madeline, Daniel L., Philip, Lee, Raymond and Harold. Jefferson is in Detroit, 
Mich. Mr. King has held the office of assessor and other minor offices, and is a 
member of Morning Star Lodge of JIasons, No. 65. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 401 

Kinne, James B., was born in the town of Rathbone, Steuben county, N. Y. , Feb- 
ruary 27, 1861. George P. Kinne, the father of James, is a native of Otsego county, 
anri came to Steuben about 1848 or 1850. He was a butcher by trade and a dealer in 
stock during the war. He removed to New York city in 1867 and is now engaged in 
real estate business. James B. was the second son of a family of seven children. 
He was given a good common school education and his first occupation was in the 
railroad service. At eighteen years of age he entered the employ of the Erie Com- 
pany, first as a brakeman for ten years, the last four years of the tjme being 
as extra conductor. In 1889 he was promoted regular conductor and has since held 
the position. He is now on train 78. He has never had serious accidents and has 
never been obliged to layoff. Mr. Kinne was married in 1891 to Miss Evangeline 
K. Prentiss, daughter of Aaron Prentiss, a conductor on the Erie. They have two 
children : Katherine P. and Walter P. 

Kershner, Mrs. Maria, is the widow of the late Henry A. Kershner, who was born 
in Dausville, N. Y., March 26, 1820, and died August 24, 1892. He moved on the 
farm where his widow now resides when he was sixteen years of age. He was a man 
of strict integrity, a model farmer, and had the respect of his neighbors and towns- 
men. He received a common school education and improved his opportunities until 
he was called one of the best posted men in the locality. He held the office of jus- 
tice of the peace for twenty-two years consecutively, and resigned the office on ac- 
count of poor health. As a magistrate he did a large amount of business. He mar- 
ried his first wife, Eliza Osborn, who was born February 18, 1880, and died in Feb- 
ruary, 1848, by whom he had two children; William, born May 1.5, 184;$, and died in 
March, 1877; and Frances Amanda, born July 7, 1845, and died February 5, 1863. 
October 24, 1850, Mr. Kershner married for his second wife Maria A. Shutt, born 
August 26, 1825, by whom he had two children: Elizabeth Alvaretta, born Decem- 
ber 22. 1851, and married Frank Whalen and resides in Lima. They have three 
children: Fannie E., Robert H., and Annie Livingston; and Robert Campbell, born 
April 22, 1857, and married Carrie Robinson, of Dausville, N. Y., by whom he had 
one child, Flossie Marie. Mrs. Kershner's parents were born in Moore township. 
Pa. Her father was John Shutt, who died in February, 1873, aged seventy-three 
years; and her mother was Christie Ann Weldie, who died March 28, 1877, aged 
seventy-five years. 

Kreidler, Addison E. — Mrs. Edward Kreidler is the widow of the late Edward 
Kreidler, born in Columbia county, Pa., near Easton, in 1812, and died in 
Dausville, N. Y.. June 11, 1894. He came with his parents when aiad and settled 
on the farm which he owned at his death. He was president of the board of trus- 
tees of Rogersville Seminary for twelve years, and has held many town offices, com- 
missioner of highways, assessor, etc. His father, Frederick, Kreidler, was born in 
Germany, and died on Oak Hill, in 1862, aged seventy-four years. He married 
Susannah Ehrett, who died in 1862, by whom he had eight children: Simon, de- 
ceased; .Sophia Eveland; Edward, born in 1812, and died in 1894; Elizabeth Hen- 
shaw; Daniel, John; Susanna Robinson, deceased; and Catherine Swick, deceased. 
In 1837 Edward Kreidler married Lucretia A., daughter of Cyril and Philura (Hall) 
Buck, by whom he had eight children : Frederick M., born October 14, 1838, and re- 
sides in Milo City, Jlont. ; Philura Willcy, born December 2, 1839, and resides in 



402 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Dansville, N. Y. ; Edward A., born April 18, 1842, and resides in Washington, D. C, 
and held a clerkship in the Interior Department; Amanda M. Swink, born April 29, 
1844; Hiram F., born August 24, 1846, and died November 4, 1860; Clifford C, born 
August 21, 1851, and resides in Montana; Adrian S., born June 4, 1857, and died 
October 25, 1860; and Addison E., born July 1, 1861. 

Levers, G. Frank, was born on the place where he cow resides, September 18, 
1849. The family are of English origin. His father, John Levers, was born in 
Northampton county. Pa., October 13, 1802, and settled in Dansville, N. Y., in 1838, 
and purchased 176 acres of land and has since devoted his time to farming. He was 
formerly a tanner. He married Ruffina Heckman, born in Northampton county, Pa., 
November 15, 1818, and died January 26, 1892, by whom he had six children; 
Thomas born January 11, 1835, and resides in Chicago; Mary E. Curr\-, born July 
2, 1836; Samuel A., born April 9, 1838; Susan C. Wilson, born September 16, 1844; 
John E., born April 29, 1846; and Frank G.. as above, who received a common 
school education, and has since followed farming. At Dansville, N. Y. , he married 
Anna Rivett. born in England, September 15, 1862, aud died March 20, 1884, 
by whom he had two children: Thomas E., born May 27, 1883; and Anna R., born 
March 9, 1884, and died April 7, 1887. 

Lander, Frederick, was born in Dansville, N. Y.. September 19, 1842. His grand- 
father. Christian Lander, was born in Prussia, and emigrated to this country in 1832, 
and settled on Sandy Hill, Dansville. He married Margaret Kouch, by whom he had 
these children : Fred, Christian, Peter, Augustus, Jacob, Catherine Wagoner, and 
Margaret Miller, all deceased, Christian Lander, father of Frederick, was born in 
1809, and died November 19, 1882. He married Sophia Wagoner, born in Prussia, in 
1816, and died in 1875, by whom he had these children: Frederick, as above; Jacob, 
born in 1844, deceased; Christian, born in 1846; Lewis, born in 1848; and Louisa, 
born in 1850, and married George Conrad, of Wayland. Frede'ick Lander worked 
on the farm until 1861, when he went to learn the wagonmaker's trade with H. S. 
Stone, of Dansville, N. Y., where he remained three years, after which he worked 
one year for James Lindsley, thence to Scottsburg and worked for John Shutt one 
year, thence to Cohocton, where he carried on the same business for six years. He 
also worked four years at house building in Dansville. In 1883 he purchased the 
wagon shop in Rogersville, and has since been engaged in the same business. He 
has held the office of overseer of the poor three years. At Dansville, N. Y., in 1864, 
he married Mary Hoffman, born in 1840, by whom he had eight children: William, 
born January 26, 1865, and married Ida Millamen by whom he had one child, Vernie; 
Elizabeth, born May 23, 1866, and married William Small, of Kanona, and they have 
four children ; Lewis, Fred, May, and Edith; Frederick, born May 27, 1868; Peter, 
born April 19, 1870; Anna, born June 9, 1872; Benjamin, born August 15, 1874; 
George, born February 22, 1876; and Alexander, born June 12, 1881. 

Lewis, George W. , was born in the town of Wheeler, in November, 1838. Her- 
man Lewis, his father, was born in Rensselaer county, in 1787, of Holland parents, 
and came to the town of Wheeler in 1828, where he spent the remainder of his life, 
with the exception of three years m Yates county, and a few years in Avoca and 
Bath. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 for a short time. He married Margaret 



FAMILY SKKTCHES. 403 

Thompson, who was born in July, 1797, a daughter of Daniel Thompson, who 
came to Wheeler in 1840, by. whom he had these children: Daniel D. , John 
JI., Jacob H., Lemuel, George W., Jane, Catherine, Margaret, Emeline, and 
Mary. He died in January, 1873, and his wife in July, 1860. George W., at the 
early age of twelve years, began to care for himself, doing farm work by the day and 
month for many years. In 1871 he married Mary F., daughter of George and 
Catherine (Wheeler) Miller, by whom he had three children: Delbert, Ray M., and 
Ethel M. He then began farming for himself on rented land, and in 1887 purchased 
his present farm of 120 acres, on which he has conducted a regular farming business. 
In 18()2 he enlisted in Co. A, 161st N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war, 
and participated in the siege of Port Hudson, the battles of Sabine Cross-roads, 
Pleasant Hill, : lege of Fort Blakely, and was on the Red River campaign, and dur- 
ing all this time he never missed a day's duty. He has been elected to fill the 
offices of town clerk, assessor, commissioner of highways, and other mmor oflfices. 

Lewis, Lemuel H., was born in the town of Wheeler ir. 1833. Herman Lewis, his 
father, was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1787, of Holland parents. He was 
a farmer and came to the town of Wheeler in 1828, where he spent the remainder of 
his life, with the exception of three years m Yates county, and a few years in the 
towns of Avoca and Bath. He served a short time in the war of 1812, and 
was elected to fill several of the town offices. He married Margaret Thompson, who 
was born in July, 1797, daughter of Daniel Thompson, who came to Wheeler in 1840, 
by whom he had ten children: Daniel D.. John M., Jacob H., Lemuel H., George W., 
Jane, Catherine. Margaret, Emeline. and Mary. He died in January, 1873, and his 
wife in July, 1860. Lemuel H. remained with his father until he was twenty-one 
years of age, although he did farm work for others by the day and month, after 
which he rented a farm and conducted it for five years, when he purchased a farm in 
the town of Wheeler and operated it two years, when he sold it and bought another. 
From 1883 to 1888 he conducted a livery business in the village of Avoca, and in 1888 
purchased hispresent farm of fifty acres. From 1860 to 1865 he dealt largely in sheep, 
buying .some times in Vermont and shipping to the Western and Middle States, and 
also bred the fine wool merino sheep, and since that time has dealt to a considerable 
extent in horses. He was elected supervisor two terms, commissioner of highways . 
two terms, collector two terms, assessor and poormaster several years. In 1855 he 
married Lydia Sophia, daughter of Willard and Mary Ann (Acker.son) Stormes of 
Wheeler, by whom he had these children; Delia, wife of Leroy Castor of Wheeler; 
Frank, and Charlie. During his early life in Wheeler he used to work a day for a 
bushel of corn, and would then carry the corn on his back through the woods to mill, 
several miles distant, and bring the meal home at night. He and his wife have seen 
days when they had nothing to eat but potatoes and salt. 

Lewis, Benjamin, was born in Troupsburg, X. Y., April 23, 1836, is the youngest 
of eleven children born to Abram and Hannah Lewis. He followed farming until 
1887 when he retired and has since resided in Greenwood. In 1867 he married Mar- 
garet, daughter of John L. and Elinore (Ferguson) Brooks, by whom he had one son, 
John S. . who is civil engineer and real estate dealer in Chicago. Mr. Brooks was a 
farmer and lumber dealer in Cleartield county. Pa., and came to Troupsburg where 
he engaged in farming until 1862 when he enlisted. He died of yellow fever at Key 



404 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

West, Fla., in 1863. Mr. Lewis enlisted in Co. F, l89th N. Y. Vols., and was hon- 
orably discharged June 5, 1865. He was on duty every day and was at Hatcher's 
Run, Weldon R. R., and Lewis Farm where the comrade on each side was killed. 
He is a member of the William C. White Post, No. 561, G. A. R., and has held all 
the offices of the same. 

Lake, Isaac, was born at Urbana, Steuben county, in 1824, son of Timothy and 
Catherine Sanford Lake, natives of New Jersey, who came to this county in 1814, 
locating at Urbana where they died in 1865 and 1879. Mr. Lake's brothers and sis- 
ters are as follows: Hannah, Rebecca, Thomas, Sarah, and James. In 1863 he en- 
listed in Co. A, of the 161st N. Y. Vols., serving fifteen months. In 1866 he married 
Gittie Sample and has since resided on his present place of 13T acres. His wife died 
in 1892 leaving three children; Bertie, Katie, and Eddie. 

Leach, I. Van Courtland, was born in Troupsburg, N. Y. , September 9, 1840, son 
of Ichabod C. and Clarissa Sherley Leach, he born in Bridgewater, Mass., October 
13, 1805, and she, in Vermont, September 7, 1811. Ichabod C. came to Madison 
county, N. Y., with his parents, Ephraim and Sarah Conant Leach, and removed to 
WoodhuU at an early date, and peddled throughout that section for years, and final- 
ly settled on Troupsburg Creek, where he engaged in the mercantile and hotel 
business, having the first store on the creek, and also kept an ashery. In 1841 he 
removed to Woodhull and kept the first store of any importance in that village, and 
became an extensive stock dealer. In politics he was a Whig and Republican until 
Tilden's time, when he became a Democrat. He died October 6, 1878, and his wife, 
October 13, 1886. I. Van Courtland was educated in Homer Academy and clerked 
for his father in Woodhull until he was married to Hannah Tuttle in 1861, when he 
engaged in farming on a farm of sixty acres, which he now owns. He was a mem- 
ber of the Lodge of Woodhull, No. 353, F. & A. M. Mr. and Mrs. Leach have two 
children: Clarrissa H., wife of Uri Whitnall of Harrison Valley, Potter county, Pa., 
and Hulda M. , wife of Henry Dodson of Nebraska. For his second wife he married 
Ellen Finn, and they have one son, I. Van Courtland, who lives with his father. 
The Leach family were related to Miles Standish and Mr. Leach has a pair of sleeve 
buttons worn by Mr. Standish on the Mayflower. 

Lathrop, Mathias, was bom in Jasper, N. Y., March 17, 1845, son of Henry and 
Martha (Van Derip) Lathrop he a native of Vermont, and she, of Cayuga county, 
N. Y., who came to Jasper in an early day, where they both died in 1894. Mathias 
Lathrop is a farmer by occupation, and owns a large farm in Woodhull, being one of 
the most successful farmers of that town. He is a Republican in politics, and has 
been constable. In 1865 he married Elizabeth Dennis, of Jasper, by whom he had 
four children : Hattie, deceased; Mary, Mertie, and Rhoda, deceased. In 1864 Mr. 
Lathrop enlisted in Co. F, 111th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. 
He was after Lee nine days, and was present at his surrender. He is a member of 
James Warner Post, No. 565, G. A. R. 

Leach, James H., was born in Cameron, N. Y., August 14, 1851, son of Ezra L., 
who was born in Jerusalem, Albany county, N. Y., October 7, 1821. The grand- 
father, Elisha Leach, a native of Massachusetts, came to Cameron in pioneers days, 
where he died in 1865. Ezra L. Leach died in Troupsburg in 1887, and his wife, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 405 

December 29, 1893. James H. was educated in the schools of Jasper and Addison. 
He lived in Troupsburg from 18f!7 to 1892, since which time he has lived in Wood- 
hull, where he owns a farm of 158 acres. June 19, 1875, he married Nora, daughter 
of Samuel W. and Betsey (Mallory) Wheaton, natives of Steuben county. Mr. 
Wheaton died in Troupsburg in 1870, where his widow now resides. Mr. and Mrs. 
Leach have seven children Elfreda, Francis K., Lewis, Robert L. and Rena (twins), 
James H., jr., and Leon. The grandfather of Mrs. Leach. Rufus Wheaton, was 
born in Albany, N. Y., and came to Wheeler, Steuben county, N. Y. , and thence 
moved to Potter county. Pa., where he died December 16, 1875. The maternal 
grandfather, Amos X. Mallory, was born in Steuben county and married Sallie Bene- 
dict. He and his brother, Nathaniel, took up 600 acres of land. Mr. and Mr.s. Mal- 
lory had ten children. He died July 9, 1869. 

Lunger, A. R., was born in Columbia county. Pa., in 1812, son of Martin and 
Charity (Robbins) Lunger, natives of Columbia county. Pa., where he died in 1813, 
but his wife died in Dansville, Steuben county, N. Y. A. R. Lunger was reared by 
his grandfather, Thomas Robbins, of Columbia county. Pa., where he came in an 
early daj-. When a young man Mr. Lunger came to Avoca, Steuben county, where 
he engaged in shoemaking, which business he followed twenty-one years. He 
came to Woodhull in 1852, and settled in the woods on a farm of 123 acres he now 
owns. He also owns another lot of sixty acres on which his son, L. M., now resides. 
Mr. Lunger was a Democrat in early life, but is now an ardent Republican. March 
10, 1836, he married Susan Rice of Avoca, by whom he had seven children: Oscar 
R., who was killed in the late war; Amond M., deceased; William H., deceased; 
Augusta, Wilson B., L. M., and Clair. 

Lanning, Henry L., was born in Yates county, N. Y., April 18, 1839, son of John 
and Margaret Lanning, who came to Yates county, N. Y., in 1858, thence to Wood- 
hull in 1860, where he died' in 1862, and she died about 1880. The grandfather, 
Richard Lanning, died in Starkey. Yates county, N. Y. Henry L. was educated in 
Woodhull Academy, after which he taught school for several years, and is now en- 
gaged in farming and owns sixty-seven acres of land. He is a Republican in poli- 
tics, and has been collector one year. In 1871 he married Sarah E., daughter of 
Benedict Northrup, one of the first settlers of Woodhull, N. Y. , who died in 1880. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lanning have one daughter, Lillian M., wife of Rev. O. H. Uenniey, 
of Lowell, Mass. January 1, 1864, Mr. Lanning enlisted in Co. C, 86th N. Y. Vols., 
and served until the close of the war. He was at the Wilderness, Mine Run, and 
Spottsylvania, where he was wounded May 10, 1864. The wife of Benedict Northrup 
was Sallie Christian, by whom he had seven children: Laura, Susan, Abigail, Jerome, 
Marie E., Amos, and Sarah E. 

Lower, Samuel J., was born in Philadelphia and came to Corning in 1854, and in 
1880 formed with J. L. Scott the present firm of Scott & Lower, merchant tailors, 
succeeding Smith & Waite. 

Lathrop, Charles K., was born in Tioga county. Pa., in 1858, sou of Austin and 
Caroline (Knox) Lathrop, natives of Otsego county, N. Y. , and Tioga county. Pa., 
who died at Lawrenceville, Pa. Mr. Lathrop was raised on a farm near Lawrence- 
ville. and in 1875 entered the employ of the Fall Brook Railway, remaining with 



406 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

them until 1894. In 1893 he moved to his present farm of 108 acres. In 1881 he 
married Helen, daughter of John A. Parcell of Corning. 

Lindsay, Capt. W. W., was born at Castle Rea, County Mayo, Ireland, March 13, 
1833, and came to the United States in 1853 and settled in Bath, where he engaged 
in farming, and in 1862 enlisted in Co. D, 161st N. Y. Vols., as private and took part 
in the battles of Store Plain, Port Hudson, Cox's Plantation, and Sabine Pass, where 
he was taken prisoner and sent to Texas, remaining nearly a )-ear and was then ex- 
changed and re-entered the service and took part in the battles of Mobile Bay, 
Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, and capture of Mobile, receiving an honorable discharge 
in 1865, and receiving the rank of captain for gallant and meritorious services in the 
field. In 1858 he married Mary E., daughter of Robert S. Fancett. by whom he had 
five children; Robert, W. Frank, Mrs. Eleanor Genderman, Ida H., and Mary E. 
Mr. Lindslay is one of the leading men of his town, excise commissioner and justice 
of the peace, and town clerk, and has ever been identified in advancing the best in- 
terests of his town. 

Longwell, William V., was born in Sussex county, N. J., June 2, 1843. Hon. 
Charles S. Longwell, his father, was a native of the same county, and came to Steu- 
ben first with his father, William Longwell, about 1840. After his father's death he 
returned to New Jersey, and was back and forth until 1867, when he made Bath his 
permanent home. He married Julia Vibbard, by whom he had four children, Will- 
iam "V., Charles G. , Mrs. Mai'v E. Givens, and Mrs. Judson Bryan. He was one of 
the prominent farmers of Steuben county, elected to the Legislature m 1880, and 
was identified in advancing the best interests of his town and county. William V. 
married Kate, daughter of P. W. Demerest, by whom he had four children. Dr. John 
Longwell, Wilkinsburg, Pa., Demerest, Mrs. Julia Aber, and Mrs. Robert Turnwell. 
Mr. Longwell is one of the active men of his town, serving as assessor and excise 
commissioner, and taking an intelligent interest in education and religious institutions, 
and has ever received and merited the respect of bis associates. 

Little, Philip M., was born in Bath, on the homestead farm which was settled and 
cleared up by his lather, James Little, and which has remained in the family to the 
present time. Philip M. married Emma, daughter of Ira M. and Harriet Calkins, 
by whom he had seven children: George H., John C, William M., Ira C, James A., 
Mrs. Ilattie Chatfield, and Janey E. Mr. Little is one of the practical and successful 
farmers of his town, taking an intelligent interest in educational and religious in- 
stitutions, and has ever received and merited the respect of his associates. 

Little, John F., was born in Reading, .Steuben county, July 13, 1839. William 
Little, his father, was a native of Ireland and came to Steuben county and was iden- 
tified through his life as a farmer. John F. was educated in Haverlmg Union school, 
and in 1860 began the study of law with W. B. Ruggles. In August, 1862, he en- 
listed in Co. F, 161st N. Y. 'Vols., as a private and took part in battles of Port Hud- 
son, Sabine Pass, Red River Campaign, and in the capture of Mobile, receiving an 
honorable discharge at the close of the war, with the rank of brevet major, and re- 
maining in the service some time after the close of the war, when he returned to Bath 
and resumed the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1866. In 1867 he was 
elected to the Legislature, and in 1868 formed a law partnership with W. B. Ruggles, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 407 

which continued up to 1883, when Mr. Ruggles was elected superintendent of public 
instruction of New York State. In 1877 he was appointed surrogate of Steuben 
county, also has served as supervisor for five years, and as trustee of the New York 
State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home for twelve years. 

Lord, J. P.— George P. Lord, was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., June 'J7, 1815, 
son of Ebenezer and Mary Morris Lord, he a native of Connecticut, born Jannary 18, 
1771, and she, of New Jersey, born in August, 1778. Mr. Lord came to Barrington, 
where he spent the most of his life. Mr. Lord was engaged in the wagon malnng 
busine.ss for three years, and was afterwards employed in a mill in Urbana. He 
came to Wayne in 18G0 and built the house where he now resides, and is engaged in 
farming and grape growing. In 1838 he married Irene, daughter of James and .Sallie 
Sanford, who were early settlers of Wayne. James Sanford's father, Ephraim, was 
one of the first settlers of Wayne. He was a Baptist minister. Mr. and Mrs. Lord 
have one child, Sarah, wife of Delos Wilber of Urbana. Mrs Lord died in 1841. 
For his second wife he married, m 1844, Mary A., daughter of Orren Bishop, of 
Barrington, and they have the the following children: Belle, who married J. B. 
Marlatt. after whose death she married C. Stanton, a retired farmer of Prattsburg; 
Hattie, wife of N. Miller of Prattsburg: Addie, wife of M. A. Johnson of South 
Dakota; Mary F., deceased; Charles, who died in 18.">5; Katie, wife of M. Wheeler 
of Wayne; Minnie, wife of Frank Margeson; and Joseph, a farmer of South Dakota. 
Mr. Lord is a Republican and has been justice of the peace over thirty years. He 
was school commissioner of Yates county, and has been superintendent of the poor 
in Steuben county. 

Lewis. J. S., was born in Cortland county, November 2, 1817, and is the second of 
eleven children born to Abram and Hannah (Frink) Lewis. J. S. Lewis was reared 
on a farm and has always followed farming. He first bought sixty acres, which he 
cleared, and has added to it until he had 215 acres which he sold to his son Alfonzo 
in 1883. He has always made a specialty of dairy farming. He married Sally Ann 
Hobes, by whom he had the«e children: Marilla, wife of George Wilson, a farmer of 
Colorado; she died at Holyoke, Col. ; Alzina, wife of L. Wilcox, a grocer at Dunkirk; 
Almira, wife of Mory Bowley, a farmer of Canisteo; Susan, wife of Wesley Potter, 
a farmer of Otsego county; Albert, a farmer of Troupsburg; Alfonzo, who owns the 
homestead farm; James, who died at five years of age; Flora, wife of James Potter 
of Young Hickory. Mrs. Lewis died in 1851, and Mr. Lewis married for his second 
wife, Hannah, widow of Harmon Clark, and daughter of Ansel Hubbard of Troups- 
burg. .She died March 9, 1883. Mr. Lewis was assessor for seven years. 

Withey, Diana — Elijah Labour was born in Pennsylvania in August, 1810, and 
came with his father to this county when only a lad. In 1842 he bought a farm of 
thirty-one acres on lot 28, where he reared his family and made his home the balance 
of his days, dying November 29, 1891. He was married September IG, 1841, to Mi.ss 
Rebecca, daughter of James McMichael, of Ilornellsville, who is still living and was 
seventy-four years of age, April 30, 1895. She has now a farm of thirty-six acres. 
They were the parents of two children: Ann Elizabeath, wife of Foster Webb, a far- 
mer of this town; and Diana, the widow of Judson Withey, who died July 3(1, 1894. 
They were married September 21, 1864. 



408 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

La Grange, Edward E., was born in the city of Hornellsville, November 5, 1858. 
John La Grange was the father of four sons of whom Edward is the oldest son ; Sam- 
uel M., in a dry goods store at Addison ; John ; and Harry, a clerk with Adam David- 
son. Edward was educated in the common schools and his first occupation was with 
C. L. Hawley with whom he was employed ten months. He then took up the man- 
ufacture of awnings, tents and everything of that line. In 1885 he established a shop 
for their manufacture and has since conducted that Hue. He employs from five to 
nine hands putting out about §3,000 worth per year. In 1886 he married Miss Ida 
Drehmer, of Hornellsville. They have two children; George E., and Rhea S. They 
lost a child, Harold, aged eleven months, who died November 11, 1890. 

Marcy, James L., West Caton, was born in 1858, son of James and Ann (Daniels) 
Marcy, natives of Dutchess county, who located in the town of Corning, married 
there and resided on Mr. Marcy's present home place for more than fifty years. They 
died in 1892 and in 1891, aged seventy-eight and sixty eight, father and mother re- 
spectively. Mr. Marcy was born on the place where he has always resided, and in 
1891 married Mabel Robinson, a native of Lindley, daughter of George Henry Rob- 
inson. 

McBeth, Robert, was born August 14, 1844, in the town of Howard, son of James 
McBeth. who was born in Ireland, and came to the United States in 1820, and set- 
tled in this town, where he cleared a farm of sixty-four acres; later they added to it, 
making a farm of 124 acres of improved land. James McBeth married Mary, daugh- 
ter of David Miller, one of the early settlers of Howard, and ten children were born 
to them, nine of whom are living to-day. Robert McBeth is a farmer by occupation, 
and now owns the old homestead where he lives. At a call for men he enlisted in 
the 189th N. Y. Vols., and in serving his country he nearly lost his life, but a shield 
on his belt saved his life, and is kept as a memorial by him. Mr. McBeth was edu- 
cated in the district schools. He is an active worker in the church and is a member 
of the U. P. church of the town of Howard. In politics he is a Republican. 

Meeks, William A., was bora in Tompkins county, September 19, 1833, son of 
Christopher Meeks, who was born in Dutchess county, October 20, 1788, and came to 
the town of Howard in 1834 and settled near Howard Flats, working a farm for his 
father. Later he came to Bert Hill and purchased the land known as the Cummings 
farm, where he resided until his death which occurred in 18(j7. October 15, 
1808, he married Polly M. Barber, and they were the parents of the following 
children: Charity, Dehla, Rachael, Elias, John, Samanthia, Caroline, Edward, 
Sallie J., Christopher, Bradley, Joseph, and Augustus. William A. was edu- 
cated in the district schools, and first started for himself on the farm where 
he has resided since 185T, and which consists of 216 acres. He married Agnes, 
daughter of Adam Lander, a farmer of Howard, and they were the parents of 
three children : Charles Seamor, Walter Seward, and Jessie. Both of the sons are 
farmers by occupation, and Walter resides at home. Mrs. Meeks died in 1892, at 
the age of sixty-five. In politics Mr. Meeks is a Republican, has been assessor and 
filled other minor offices. 

Masters, Herbert J., was born where he lives in 1854, son of Lewis H. and Effie 
Schuyler Masters, natives of New Jersey and Montgomery county, N. Y. The 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 409 

father came from New Jersey in 1827 with his parents, Nehemiah and Harriet Mas- 
ters, who died on the home place in Hornby. The father also died here in 1883, the 
mother is still residing on the home place. Mr. Masters is an only child. In 1893 
he married Caroline Tiinerman. a native of Painted Post, and they have one daugh- 
ter, Gertrude. 

Morse, Willard C, was born in Harrington, Yates county, N. Y. , October 20, 1826, 
and settled in this county in November, 1844. He is a son of Dr. David Morse, who 
was a surgeon in the Revolutionary war, and a native of Woodstock, Conn., and 
married Hannah, daughter of Capt. Willard Child. Willani C. married Mary E. 
Cooper, and they have one son living, John Cooper Morse. They lost one daughter, 
Elizabeth E. 

Mitchell, Mrs. Alma B. — Prominent among the leading physicians of Addison, was 
the late Dr. John Mitchell, who died here in 1886. His widow. Alma B., daughter 
of David Hubbard, and six children live to cherish the memory of a kind husband 
and a loving father, and the community a faithful and conscientious practitioner. 
Dr. Mitchell, who was born at Lisle in 1824, was the son of John Mitchell, a furniture 
dealer. He graduated from the University of Buflalo in 1851, his diploma bearing 
the signature of Millard Fillmore. Through his profession he gained the appoint- 
ment of surgeon of the 106th Regiment of National Guards, during the civil war. 
He came to Addison in 1854, where he won the respect of all who knew him. He 
was an earnest member of the M. E. church, and was married in 1851. 

McKay, Mrs. Annie. — The late Amaziah Sylvester McKay was born in 1833, in the 
old town of Pompey, Onondaga county, son of Philo McKay, a shoemaker. His 
early days were spent at Bath, and near Avoca, and he taught school for a time in 
Howard. He began the study of law in the Dininny law office, where he afterward 
practiced, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. In politics he is a Republican, and 
in 1865 was sent to the State Legislature as a member of assembly. In 1859 Mr. Mc- 
Kay married Annie, daughter of Major Arthur Erwin, an old and well known family, 
after whom the town of Erwin was named. Mr. and Mrs. McKay were the parents 
of two children: Helen, wife of H. S. Rose, who is a jeweler in Addison ; and Arthur 
Philo, a law student in Delmar Darrin's office, who died at the age of twenty-four 
years. 

Moore, T. V., was born in Jasper in 1845, and has been engaged in the retail hard- 
ware trade nearly a quarter of a century. His first mercantile venture was when 
associated with L. V. Lain in 1871, and he afterward run a store at Canisteo, Osce- 
ola, and Manslield, returning to Addison in 1890 and purchasing of Brewster Bros, 
their business on Tuscarora street, of which George Weatherby became a partner 
early in 1892. 

Mead, A. R. — Purdy A. Mead was born in Greenwood, December 10, 1830, .son of 
Alvin and Sarah Ann Mead. He engaged in farming with the exception of one year 
when he kept a boarding house in Elk, Pa. April 9. 1865, he married Jemima Pease, 
sister of R. A. Pea.se mentioned elsewhere, who still resides on the farm where they 
settled in 1868, and which she has successfully managed since the death of Mr. Mead, 
which occurred March 4, 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Mead were the parents of two children : 
Alvin R., born December 8, 1873, who has taken charge of the homestead farm 



410 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

lately, and is a member of Sentinel Lodge, No. 151, F. & A. M., of Greenwood; and 
Hattie B., born March 2, 1878, who was educated in Andover. and is now teaching 
school. Politically, Mr. Mead was a Democrat, and was assessor nine years, and 
elected supervisor without opposition the spring before his death. The family are 
Methodists. 

McCollura, Finley, was born February 4, 1827. His grandfather on his mother's 
side, John Stevenson, was born in Scotland, and came to America about 1778, and 
located in Washington county, where he lived for a time and in 1820 came to Howard 
where he was one of the first settlers, and engaged in farming. He died in 1864. 
Hugh McCoUum. father of Finley, was bom m Montgomery county, N. Y., January 
24, 1777, and came to Howard and located on a farm one mile south of Big Creek, 
where he engaged in farming in summer and taught school during the winter for 
about twenty terms. He died March Ifi, 1882. In 1824 he married Jane Stevenson, 
who was born February 28, 1806, and died August 2, 1867, by whom he had three 
children : Daniel S , born June 20, 1825 ; Fmley, as above ; and Katherine, born 
February 14, 1829. Daniel S. is unmarried and lives with his brother Finley, who 
has a farm of 124 acres. Katherine married John Brasted; he died and she moved 
to Nebraska with her family. Finley McCollum received a good education, and is 
located on a farm one mile south of Big Creek, where he is engaged in farming. He 
has held the oflice of justice of the peace four years and assessor si.'c years. March 
11, 1858, he married Eunice Cross, who died November 4, 18.59, by whom he had one 
child, Eunice May, born July 27, 1859, and died October 2 1871. June 14, 1864, he 
married for his second wife, C^-ntha Jane, daughter of John Burdick of Allegany 
county, N. Y., by whom he had one child, Finley Ray, born January 28, 1866, and 
lives at home. 

McCaig, Alexander, was born in Scotland in 1837, son of John and Margaret (Mc- 
Mellon) McCaig, both natives of Scotland, who came to America in 1850, and settled 
in Geneva, thence to Rathbone in 1864, where they died. In 1866 Alexander Mc- 
Caig married Annie Nicholson, daughter of Richard Nicholson, a native of England 
who came to America in 1850 and settled in Allegany county, where he died. Mr. 
and Mrs. McCaig have four children: Margaret, John, Richard, and Harry. Mr. 
McCaig has alwavs followed farming, and now owns 100 acres of land in Rathbone 
which he purchased in 1875. He is a member of Rathbone Grange. 

May, Harry R., was born in Bath, Steuben county, in 1828, son of James May, a 
native of Connecticut, who came to this country about 1815 and raised and reared a 
family of three sons and one daughter. He was a chairmaker and died in 1872, aged 
eighty-two years. When twenty-one years of age Henry R.May began civil engi- 
neering and followed it in the West about eight years, and in 1858 came to Corning 
where he was conductor on the Erie railroad from that date until 1886, when he es- 
tablished his present busmess as manufacturer and dealer in confectionery. 

Moore, Joseph F., was born in Scotland, in 1832, came to America when seven- 
teen years old, and in 1851 located at Corning. He was engaged in the foundry 
business three or four vears, and then was in the employ of the Erie Railroad Co. 
for fourteen years. He has filled various town and city offices, and is largely inter 
ested in Kansas investments, and was president of the Manhattan Kansas Bank, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 411 

which discontinued its business a few years ago by asking its depositors to withdraw 
their money. In 1855 he married Adele Clarke, a native of Carbondale, Pa., and 
daughter of Jesse Clarke, who was one of the pioneers of Corning, locating at the 
Corning Mill in 1835. He built Coming's first foundry and assisted in building the 
first Methodist church. Mr. Clarke was one of the first to leave Corning for Califor- 
nia in 184!). He died and was buried at the foot of the Black Hills. 

ilills, E. I)., was born in Fairfield. Conn., and came to Corning in infancy. In 
1857 he was admitted to the bar and practiced in the city of New York until 1865, 
and has since been located in Corning, where he is city attorney, and one of the lead- 
ing older attorneys of the city. He was district attorney from 1872 to 1878. 

Matoon, James, was born in Johnstown, Fulton county, N. Y., June 10, 1850, son 
of Alonzo and Ann Jeanette (Allen) Matoon. Alonzo Matoon is a mason by trade, 
and came from Gloversville to Wayne in 1855, where he has since resided. He is a 
Democrat in politics and was justice of the peace at Gloversville. James Matoon 
was engaged in farming until 1887, and in 1895 he took charge of the Holel Helvetia, 
of which he is now landlord. In 1876 he married Fannie Phelps, daughter of David 
and Elmira (Champlin) Phillips, by whom he had one son, Johnnie, who died Sep- 
tember 8. 1881, aged fourteen months. Mr. Matoon is a member of Royal Tent, 
No. 70, of Bath, K. O. T. M. 

Moore, John D., was born in Canisteo. Steuben county, January S', 181-1. John 
Moore, his father, was born m Ireland, and came to the United States when thir- 
teen years of age. They settled in Canisteo, wbere they purchased 400 acres of land 
for ten dollars per acre, and the deed for this land was the first recorded after Steu- 
ben county was formed. He engaged in farming and lumbering and in running a 
saw mill, and was in the war of 1812. He married Hannah Daw, by whom- he had 
seven children: James, Thomas, John D., Samuel, Joseph, Edward B. and Sarah. 
John D. is a farmer and lumberman ; the latter business he has followed for forty 
years. He married Angeline Root, by whom he had three children: Thomas, Will- 
iam and Lydia. He married for his second wife Mary E. Ayer of Jamestown, N.Y. , 
by whom he had one son, Frederick, who is dead. Mr. Moore is a member of Morn- 
ing Star Lodge of Masons, No. 65, also of the Hornellsville Chapter. 

Morgan, George E., was born in Allegany, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., October 7, 
1857, and is the only son of George and Eunice (Thompson) Morgan, both natives 
of Massachusetts. The grandparents, Eastman and Eunice Morgan, came from 
Massachusetts and settled in Cattaraugus county, where they engaged in farming, 
and where they died. The maternal grandparents were also pioneers of Cattarau- 
gus county, and came from Massachusetts. George Morgan, father of George E., 
was a farmer of Cattaraugus county, where he died in 1858. Mrs. Morgan married 
the second time, Joseph Moyes, and they had two children. Mr. Moyes was a soldier 
in the late war and died in 18 — . Mrs. Moyes married W. J. Miller of Woodhull. 
(ieorge E. Morgan has always followed farming, and now owns a farm of 170 acres 
in Troupsburg. He married Hannah Mowray in 1878. They have one adopted son, 
David Morgan. 

Miller, James U., was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y., June 11, 1825, son 
of Andrew and Zernah Mowrey Miller, natives of Connecticut, who came to Che- 



412 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

nango county in 1800, where both died on the farm on which they settled In poli- 
tics he was a Democrat and was assessor, justice of the peace and commissioner of 
highways. James U. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, 
and is a farmer by occupation, owning 117 acres in Woodhull, near the village, where 
he located in March, 1850. He was in the mercantile business twelve years in Wood- 
hull. At the present time, in addition to his farming, he manufactures shingles and 
carries on a planing, cider and grist mill, and conducts an extensive business, manu- 
facturing about 250,000 feet yearly, and 400,000 shingles. Mr. Miller is a Prohibi- 
tionist and has been highway commissioner of his town. In 1850 he married Ange- 
line Symonds, a native of Oxford, N. Y. , by whom he had three children: Sarah, de- 
ceased; Mary, wife of Augustus E. Wheeler, of Greene, N. Y., and they have five 
children : Lynn, Howard, Ella, Anna and Alice ; and Dewitt. The grandfather of 
James U., Andrew Miller, was born in Connecticut, and in 1800 came to Chenango 
county, N. Y., where he died. His wife was born in Connecticut and died in Oxford. 
The maternal grandfather, George Mowrey, was born in England and came to Amer- 
ica when a child and settled m Oxford, where he died. 

Morley, Addison L., was born in Springwater, N. Y., in 1844. His father, Harvey 
Morley, was of New England birth, and died in Springfield, N. Y., in 1867, aged 
sevenlj-- seven years. He was twice married, and his second wife was Sarah Cros 
well, who was born in Ontario county, and died at Honeoye, in 18T7, aged seventy- 
seven years. They had ten children: Lorena. Mabel E., Catherine, Jasper, Lucre- 
tia, Jane, Henry, Addison L. , Steward and Wesley, all living. Addison L. received 
a common school education, and at twenty-three years of age engaged as clerk in 
the store of Benjamin Hess in Wayland. In 1866 he rented a place of John Hess, 
where he sold groceries, flour and feed, where he remained for two years, when he 
rented a store on Main street, enlarged his stock and remained here one year. He 
then moved into a new store near the depot, where he remained until 1871, after 
which he rented a store on the corner of Main and Fremont streets, and remained 
here one year. He then bought a site and erected a store where the opera house now 
is, where he remained until it burned in 1893. He afterwards bought a site on East 
Naples street and erected a commodious store in 1894, where can now be found dry 
goods, carpets, boots and shoes, wall paper, trunks, hand bags, etc. He is a mem- 
ber of Phoenix Lodge, No. 113, F. & A. M., of Dansville, also a member of Wayland 
Lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 176. At \Vayland, in 1867, he married Carrie Marther, 
who was born in Wayland in 1849, by whom he has two children : Ray, born Novem- 
ber 30, 1876, and May, born July 28, 1880. In 1864 he enlisted in 188th N. Y. Vols., 
served until the close of the war, and was in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Weldon 
Railroad, Second Hatcher's Run, Frazier's Farm, Gravelly Run and Five Forks. 

Miller, Prof. Curtis, was born in Madison county, in 1865, son of Rev. Samuel Mil- 
ler, who is a native of Oneida county, and one of ten children born to Curtis Miller. 
Curtis Miller, the grandfather, was always actively interested in all public affairs 
pertaining to the welfare of his town and county, and married Mary Duncan, who is 
of Scotch descent. Rev. Samuel Miller was reared on a farm, became a Congrega- 
tional minister, and served in the war of the Rebellion as second lieutenant in Co. K, 
117th N. V. Vols., also served in the defences around Washington, D. C. He mar- 
ried Mary, daughter of Dr. Horace Bigelow of Auburn, N. Y. , by whom he had three 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 413 

children: Curtis; Mary, wife of Herbert Brownell of Peru, Neb., and Gertrude. 
Prof. Curtis Miller was educated in Colgate Academy, Madison, N. Y., and gradu- 
ated from Hamilton College at Clinton, Oneida county, in 1889, after which he ac- 
cepted the principalship of the Franklin Academy and Union School at Prattsburg, 
in which capacity he has acted ever since, and under whose management the school 
made rapid progress, the membership of foreign students having nearly doubled 
during his first five years as principal. In 1889 he married Eveline M., daughter of 
David and Mary Barton of Oneida county. Mrs. Miller is a member of the N. N. C. 

McMindes, Uzal, was born in Jasper, October 16, 1845, son of Hiram and Olive 
(Woodward) McMindes; he a native of Jasper and son of Uzal McMindes, one of the 
first settlers of the town. Hiram McMindes was a carpenter and also a farmer, and 
now lives at Jasper, at seventy-seven years of age. His wife is also living at the 
same age. Uzal McMindes was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools He is a farmer and now owns 168 acres of land, and follows general farm- 
ing and dairying. He owns the old John Marlatt farm. March 18, 1869, he mar- 
ried Addie, daughter of Vincent Van Orsdale of Jasper, by whom he had two chil- 
dren : Jennie, wife of SejTnour Heckman, they have one son, Herman L. ; and Maud. 
Mr. McMindes enlisted in 1864, in Co. H, 161st N. Y. Vols., and served one year, and 
was at the Siege of Mobile, Spanish Fort and Blakesley. 

Mayhew, John C. , was born in Chenango county, N. Y. , August 26, 1839, son of 
Harvey and Grace (Edwards) Mayhew, natives of Broome and Chenango counties, 
respectively, who came to Jasper in 184.5, where he died. Mr.s. Mayhew died in Penn- 
sylvania while on a visit to her daughters. The grandfather, John Mayhew, died in 
Broome county, and the maternal grandfather, John C. Edwards, died in Troups- 
burg. John C. Mayhew was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and 
is a carpenter by trade, but owns a farm of ninety-eight acres. May 10. 1868, he 
married Lodosky, daughter of Eber and Letitia (Moore) Styles of Troupsburg, 
by whom he had two children; Orra, wife of Joel Willis of Troupsburg; and Albert, 
who died at seven years of age. In 1861 Mr. Mayhew enlisted in Co. K, 86th N. Y. 
Vols., and served nearly four years, and was at Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, 
Beverly Ford, Gettysburg, Auburn, Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilder- 
ness, Poe River, Spottsylvania, Anderson Farm, North Anna River, Tolopotomy 
Creek, Cold Harbor, Siege and Capture of Petersburg Jones's House, Deep Bottom, 
Hatcher's Run, Boydton Plank Road, Five Forks. Amelia Springs, Farmville. and 
the Surrender of Lee. 

McNett, James, M.D., was born in Buffalo, September 9, 185.'). Col. Andrew James 
McNett, his father, was born at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., October 3, 1818. He was 
given a good education and then taught school for a number of years. He then be- 
came a harnessmaker and saddler. He afterwards took up the .study of law and was 
admitted to the bar. He was at one time a member of our State Legislature. At 
the outbreak of the war he was one of the first volunteers, serving all through and 
losing an arm. He afterwards became a member of the Regular Armv. He went 
out as captain and returned as a colonel. He is the father of three children : Dr. 
George C. McNett, of Bath ; Mrs. James E. Norton ; and James. The latter was 
educated in Alfred University, from which he graduated in 1877 with the degree of 



414 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Ph. B. In the same year he entered the medical department of the University of the 
City of New York, from which he graduated February 13, 1880, with the degree of 
M. D. His hospital work was done during his regular course, so as soon as he grad- 
uated he began practice in Hornellsville, May 1, 1880, where he has an extensive 
practice. With the exception of one year, the doctor has been connected with the 
Board of Health ever since coming to the city. He is a member of the Masonicorder 
of thirty-two degrees, also a member of the I.O.O.F. In October, 1882, he married 
Eva Sauter, by whom he has one child, James S. 

McGill, Charlie W., was born in Hobart, Delaware county, N. Y., Januai-y 18, 
1843. James McGill, the father of Charlie, was a native of Scotland, who was brought 
to this country by his parents when he was only a babe. He made his home in New 
York city until about fifteen years of age, then locating in Delaware county where he 
was engaged in farming until about 1855. He then entered the employ of the Erie 
Railroad as car inspector. He located in Hornellsville about 1851 and it was here the 
family have since made their home. He was killed at Hornellsville station, Decem- 
ber 26, 1864. Charlie was the youngest of a famil)' of five children, two sons and 
three daughters. His only brother, Albert, was killed on the railroad at Great Bend, 
September 4, 1862. Charlie was educated in the city schools and one year at Alfred 
University. His first employment was with the railroad with whom he started at 
only fifteen years of age, and has ever since, until June, 1894, been in the employ- 
ment of the Erie Company, without a lay-off, except a year spent at Alfred Univer- 
sity. He has never been called up for reprimand or discharge and has never had a 
serious accident in this time. Commencing as a water boy, he rose to a brakem.an and 
at twenty years of age he was conductor on a freight, which position he held for eight 
years and for the last twenty-three years he has been conductor on a passenger train. 
He has for a number of years been on the Monitor and his regular run is now trains 
24 and 29. Mr. McGill has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for twenty-five 
years, Hornellsville Lodge No. 331, Steuben Chapter No. 101, and De Molay Com- 
mandery, and Hornellsville Consistory of thirty-two degrees. He belongs to the 
Episcopal Society. February 21, 1871, he married Helen, daughter of Gilbert Pres- 
ton, a name familiar to railroad men as the first to take an engine over the old 
Portage Bridge. Gilbert Preston died in 1878. Mr.^. and Mrs. Gill have one son, 
Charlie Mortimer, now a student at law in the office of Irvin W. Near. 

Morris, George W., was born in the township of Ray, Macomb county, Mich., 
March 22, 1835. Benjamin Morris, his father, was a native of this State, born 
in Morrisville, Madison county, who removed to Michigan in 1831, and his father was 
a native of Massachusetts, who moved to Madison county, N. Y. , m 1796, when he 
was eleven years of age. Benjamin Jlorns was a farmer and when he moved 
to Michigan he took up eighty acres of government land, which he increased by pur- 
chase to 160 acres. George followed farming until twenty- eight years old, when he 
began milling at Birmingham, Oakland county, conducting a custom mill thirteen 
years, then moved to Reed City, Osceola county, where he built a new mill in 1877. 
In 1883 he remodeled the mill into a full roller merchant mill. He continued there 
until 1889 and that j-ear sold out and returned to farming. At that time he was the 
owner of 430 acres in Michigan. In 1893 he exchanged with T. J. O. Thatcher 240 
acres of that land for the Valley Roller Mills at Hornellsville. Since coming here Mr. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 415 

Jlorris has made many improvements, prominent among them being the change from 
steam to water power, utilizing a fifteen-foot head with two Little Giant turbine water 
wheels, which gives them about sixty horse-power, and has also made a complete 
renovation in the milling system, increasing the capacity to seventy-five barrels of 
flour per day, and sixty barrels of buckwheat per day. The mill employs five hands. 
July 1, 1.S94, Mr. Morris formed a partnership with Jacob Braack, a practical miller, 
the firm now being (). W. Morris & Co. The greater i)ortion of the grain used is 
raised in this county. August lo, 1894, he married Blanche Shar]) of Howard, Steu- 
ben county. Two children by a former marriage are living: S. Adele, wife of M.W. 
Stevenson, of Stanton, Mich., and Hattie E. Morris, who lives at home. 

Mitchell, Dr. Samuel, was born in the town of Rathbone, Steuben county, N. Y., 
March 19. 1S5.5. He is the second son of the late Dr. Samuel Mitchell. He was edu- 
cated in the city schools and a select school kept by Frances Dwight. In the fall of 
187G he entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and after spending one 
year went to the University of New York, from which he graduated March 12, 1879. 
He followed the practice of the profession for three years with his father, and then 
went in business with his father-in-law, William O'Connor, in which business he was 
engaged for six years. January, 1888, he went to New York and entered the Post 
(iraduate School for the special study of diseases of the eye, ear and throat, and 
made also studies in the dift'erent eye and ear hospitals. He was also for a time in 
the office of specialist Dr. Hepburn, assistant surgeon of the Manhattan Eye and 
Ear Hospital. May 1, 188S, he returned to Hornellsville, where he began the prac- 
tice of a special treatment of the eye, ear and throat. He has always taken an active 
interest in church work and is the present treasurer of the Park Methodist church 
and a steward. He was married in 1879 to Isabel A. O'Connor, daughter of William 
O'Connor; they have four children: Edan F. , Floyd C, George W., student of the 
academy, and William Francis of the common school. 

Moore, John D.. was born in Bath, Septembers, 1842. John Moore, his father, 
came to the town of Bath at the age of three years with his parents, John and 
Amanda Moore, in 1807, and settled on the farm which is now occupied by his de- 
scendants, and which has been in the family for ninety-one years. John Moore mar- 
ried Purlunia, daughter of Daniel and Betsey Kenney, and through life was identified 
as a farmer. He died in 1878, aged seventy-five years, and leaving a wife, one son, 
John D., and two daughters, Mrs. E. T. Hewlett, and Laura. 

McElwee Bros. — Montgomery D. McElwee was born on the homestead farm Octo- 
ber 25, 1839. Itwasapart of the Henry McElwee tract and was cleared up by his father, 
Samuel McElwee, and has been in the family nearly 100 years. Samuel McElwee 
married Mary A., daughter of Moses Fish, and through life was identified as 
a farmer, and died in 1884, aged seventy-three years. He had three sons, Montgom- 
ery D. , Samuel, and Thompson T., who married Carrie, daughter of William Buyer, 
by whom he had two children, Elizabeth and Harriet. 

McCall, Ansel J.., was born at Corning, January 14, 1816. Ansel McCall, his 
father, was a native of Lebanon Springs, and the family trace their descent from 
James McCall, freeman by order of General Court at Marshfield, Mass., in I(!H4. 
Ansel married Sarah Weed for his first wife, and for his second he married 



416 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Ann Shannon, daughter of Robert Shannon, who through life was identified in ad- 
vancing the bes: interests of his town, being one of the pioneer millers at Painted 
Post. A. J. McCall was educated in the common schools, and in 1838 he graduated 
from Union College, and in the same j'ear came to Bath and began the study of law. 
He was admitted in 1841, and has practiced for fifty-six years in Bath. In 1856 he 
married Mary, daughter of Dr. Simpson Ellis, by whom he had four children: 
A. Ellis, James, Sophia, and Anna. 

McNamara, John, was born in Upper Canada. August 10, 1846. Michael Mc- 
Namara, his father, was a native of Ireland and came to Le Roy. N. Y. , in 1848, 
where he died in 1876, in his eighty-fifth year. John McNamara was educated at 
Le Roy, and in 1866 he came to Bath and entered the employ of D. C. Howell. In 
1870 he entered the hardware store of E. H. Hastings & Co., remaining eleven 
years. In 1882 he went to Hammondsport and purchased a stock of hardware, re- 
maining until March 1, 1883, when he came to Bath and purchased the Hastings 
stock and business, and in 1888 disposed of it to George W. Paine. In the same year 
he established his present business, carrying a full line of hardware. In 1876 he 
married Mary, daughter of John Baty of Bath, by whom he had four children : 
Frank B., Edward J., George D., and Nellie. John McNamara is one of the lead- 
ing business men of his town, serving as tax collector and trustee, and has been chief 
of the fire department for four years, and has been identified in advancing the best 
interests of the town and towns-people. 

McConnell, Frederick, was born in Howard, July 12, 1859. Aaron McConnell, his 
father, was also a native of Howard, and the family were descendants from Charles 
McConnell, who came to Steuben county in 1808, and settled in Howard. Aaron 
McConnell married Sarah, daughter of Nathan Robertson, and his life was identified 
in the mercantile business, serving as supervisor for three successive terms. He 
died December 37, 1894, in his seventy-third year. The family have been prominent 
in the town of Howard since its organization. Aaron and Sarah McConnell were 
the parents of four children: Charles Frederick, Bert, and Harry. 

Merrill, Fred P., was born in Muscatine, Iowa, August 25, 1859. His parents re- 
moved to Maine when he was a young child, and he was educated in Portland, 
Maine. At seventeen years of age he was connected with the glove industry. Sep- 
tember 4, 1889, he began the manufacture of fabric gloves at Norwich, where he 
continued until December 17, 1890, when he came to Hornellsville and in company 
with the Rocliwell Brothers' establishment, the glove company with which he has 
been since, connected both as partner and superintendent. 

Noble, Henry M., was born in Bath, October 2, 1868. Edward L. Noble, his 
father, w'as the son of Lay Noble who was one of the pioneer settlers and represent- 
ative men of Bath. Edward L. married Louisa, daughter of Charles Fairchild, by 
whom he had three children, Anna, Charles L., and Henry M. He bought the 
Howell farm, which is known as the Jersey Home stock farm, and was one of the 
representative farmers of his town. He died in 1877. Henry M. married Bessie, 
daughter of John Presho, in 1891, and has made a specialty of breeding pure Jersey 
cattle. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 417 

Nicholson, Wesley, was born in Luzerne county, F'a., December 24, 1817, being 
the seventh son of Jonathan Nicholson, who was born October 14, 1T83, and died 
January 1, 1809. Wesley's mother, Betsey Schwingle Nicholson, was born in 1785 
and died August 11, 1845. Wesley was educated by his father and in the common 
schools and has always followed farming. He started for himself when he reached 
majority by the purchase of 102 acres of the old homestead on the east line of the 
town of Hornellsville and twelve acres in the town of Howard, making specialties of 
grain and vegetables. He has also become the owner of a farm adjoining the west 
line of the original purchase. He was married March 15, 1846, to Jane, daughter of 
John Leonard of Hector, Schuyler county, and they have two children: Leonard J., 
who conducts the old homestead farm, and Frances, the wife of Calvin Nicholson, a 
farmer on division sixteen. Mr. Nicholson and family are members of the Metho- 
dist church. 

Ordway, William H., was born in Canisteo, Septembers, 1819. Enoch Ordway, 
his father, was born in New Hampshire, and in his early days followed distilling, 
lumbering and farming. William H. is one of the promment farmers and business 
men of the town, and he began life by working out by the day, and running on the 
river, which was then a paying business. He acquired about 305 acres of land in 
.Adrian, which in 1808 he traded for a farm, which is known as lot 4 first division. 
He was one of the promoters of the building of the academy in Canisteo village, and 
is one of the trustees. He married Mary, daughter of John Hallet, by whom he had 
four children: Charles, who enlisted in the 80th N. Y. Vols., and was killed in second 
battle of Bull Run; Albert, who was in the 1st N. Y. Cavalry; Julia, now Mrs. Her- 
man Crosby; Adella, now Mrs. Clark Braisted, of Westchester county. 

Ostrander. E. E., was born in the town of Bath, April 9, 1831, son of John Ostrau- 
der, a native of Schoharie county, who came to Steuben county in 1815. He mar- 
ried Eveline, daughter of Elisha Hanks. He was a member of Steuben county bar, 
and also engaged in mercantile business, and holding the office of supervisor for a 
number of years. He died in 1805, aged si.\ty-three years. E. E. Ostrander was 
educated in the common .schools, and has engaged in lumbering, mercantile and pro- 
duce business. In 1S61 he enlisted in Co. A, 23d N. Y. Vols., served two years, and 
re-enlisted in Co. G, 22d N. Y. Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. In 
1868 he married Fannie, daughter of Hugh Gay, and they are the parents of five 
children: Edward E., Guy N., Mead H., Lillian E., and Harriet E. 

Ostrander Ervine, was born in Jasper, March 24, 1841, son of John and Mary A. 
(Babcock) Ostrander, he a native of Coxsackie, (ireene county, and hi.s wife of the 
same county. They came to Jasper in 1841, where he died January 25, 1888. Ervin 
Ostrander was reared on what is known as the Spaulding farm. May 16, 1886, he 
married Kate, daughter of Lewis and Abigail (Eastman) Huntington, natives of 
Greene county and Tompkins county, respectively. John Huntington, father of 
Lewis, died in Greene county, N. Y. The father of Abigail Eastman died in Alle- 
gany county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Ostrander have two sons: Walter E. , born May 
18, 1867, who married Eva, daughter of John Carter, and was educated in Canisteo: 
and Merritt E. , born June 11, 1870. and was educated in the common schools and 
Canisteo Academy. 



418 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Owens, Alonzo, was born in Cameron, March 22, 1842, and is the seventh of eleven 
children born to Ithamar and Waita Ann (Briggs) Owens, he a native of Otsego, 
and she of Yates county, N. Y. The grandparents were James and Nancy (Alma) 
Owens, he of Otsego, N. Y. , and she of Rhode Island. They settled first at Bluff 
Point, from where they removed to Cameron, and he was for years justice of the 
peace, and died in Cameron, and Mrs. Owens married Isaac Santee of Cameron. 
Ithamar Owens was reared on the farm and afterward made farming his occupation. 
He was always in poor health and spent his last days at Prospect Hill, near Fre- 
donia, in grape growing, where he died. Alonzo Owens was educated at Troups- 
burg Academy, after which he engaged in lumbering in Cameron where he bought 
*a farm. He afterwards engaged in the mercantile business, and then a dealer in 
musical instruments. In 1882 he came to Troupsburg where he owns 126 acres of 
land, and in connection with his farm he is a dealer in agricultural implements, and 
pianos and organs. He also practices law in justice courts. In 18G7 he married 
Seresa, daughter of Joel and Martha (Perdy) Wheaton, by whom he had nine chil- 
dren; Agnes, Eugene, Alice A., Melvin T., Fannie, Leland, Clifford, Effie G., and 
Bessie B. Agnes is the wife of Rev. L. D. Works of Huron, South Dakota: Melvin 
T. is in Huron College ; and the other children were educated at WoodhuU Acad- 
emy. Mr. and Mrs. Wheaten were both natives of Delaware county, and came first 
to Addison, thence to Cameron in 1865, where he died, but Mrs. Wheaton still re- 
sides on the farm at Cameron. 

Olmstead, Jeremiah, was born in Montgomery county. May 4, 1813. Erastus Olm- 
stead, his father, was born in Connecticut and came to Montgomery county quite 
early in life, where he engaged in farming, which business he has followed all his 
life. He cleared a farm of eighty-five acres, and married Jane Conover of Mont- 
gomery county, by whom he had ten children. Jeremiah was educated in the 
district schools of Montgomery county, after which he engaged in farming, which 
business he has followed all his life and now owns a farm of 180 acres in the town of 
Avoca. He married Charlotte, daughter of Rudolph Dagart of Wheeler, by whom 
he had these children: Chester, and Alice, now Mrs. Charles Hope. 

Oxx, Ripley, was born in Avoca, July 2, 1834. Jonathan Oxx, his father was born 
in Washington county in 1799, and came to Avoca and from there to Howard in 
about 1814, and settled on a farm. He married Sallie K., daughter of Ripley Colk, 
by whom he had six children: Ripley, Hannah, Warren W.. Steuben C, Monroe, 
and Charity. Ripley was educated in the district schools of Avoca, after which he 
engaged in farming which he has followed most of his life. He married Helen \'aii 
Atten of Cohocton, by whom he had seven children. Mr. Oxx has held the office of 
constable for many years, and is at present justice of the peace. 

Oakden, Alfred H., was born January 14, 1867, son of Hope D. and Emily (Nichols) 
Oakden, natives of Hammondsport and Addison, respectively. They were married 
July 1, 1855, and had six children: Alfred H., Hope D., Hollis, Jessie B., Mary, and 
Maria, who died when nine years of age. Mr. Oakden was a farmer, and he died 
March 5, 1879, and his wife resides at Nelson, Pa. The grandfather, Joseph Oakden, 
was born in England, in 1803. He married Maria Hollis and came to America and 
engaged in butchering in Hammondsport; from there he came to Addison and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 419 

bought a large tract of land m Tnscarora, the most of which he has divided among 
his grandchildren. He has been a very successful man and still resides in Tuscarora, 
at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Alfred H. Oakdeu married Beatrice, 
daughter of Calvin Stid, by whom he had two children. Mr. Oakden has 170 acres 
of land and is engaged in general farming. 

Osborn, L. M., was born August 31, 1837. His grandfather, William Osborn, was 
born in Scipio, N. Y., and moved to South Dansville, where he followed farming. 
He died at ninety-seven years of age. Lewis Osborn, father of L. M., was born in 
Scipio, August 6, 1806, and died August 27, 1853. He was a mason by trade, but 
followed farming, and owned a farm of 150 acres. He married Saniantha Gates, 
born May 20, 1812, and died July 29, 1865, by whom he had two children: Alfonzo 
A., born December 1, 1835; and L. M., as above, who was educated at the Rogers- 
ville Seminary and taiight school a number of terms. He married Rosetta, daugh- 
ter of John Redman, of the town of Ossian, born June 26, 184-), and by whom he had 
six children: Samantha Elizabeth, born November 21, 1863, and married Michael J. 
Fries; Bertha Luella. born February 23, 1867, and married Smith Harden; Pheba 
Jane, born October 21, 1868, and married Gideon M. Southgate; Lewis Frederick, 
born October 9, 1870; Susie May. born September 3, 1875; and Dora Ethel, born 
July 28, 1885. 

Orr, Ira, was born in the town of Reading, Schuyler county, N. Y. , December 25, 
1820. His father, Peter Orr, was born in Ireland, m 1797, and came to America in 
1811, and .settled at Fort Ann, near Lake Champlain, where he engaged in shoemak- 
ing. He lived at sevei'al places in New York, and at last went to the town of Barry, 
Barry county, Mich., where he bought a farm of eighty acres. He married Jerusha 
Griswold, who was born near Fort Ann, and died at sixty years of age, by whom he 
had five children: Auswell, Ira, as above, Jane, William, and Mary. Ira Orr has 
always followed farming. He has lived at several places m Steuben countv, and is 
the owner of the old Captain Merritt farm of 100 acres, where he has lived thirty-six 
years. He married Mary Holt, who was born at Bennett s Creek, Steuben county, 
June 14, 1823, by whom he had five children; Ida Isadore, who married D. F. Hal- 
sey; Viola, deceased; Oliver, who married Katie Billings; Mary, who married Scott 
Juel ; and Ira, who married Nellie Demerest. 

Orr, James C, jr., was born in Chenango county. June 28, 1827, a son of James C. 
and Orena Orr, who settled in Tuscarora in 1833. Their children were James C, 
Calvin D. , Sarah, Joseph, Oliver, and Nelson. James C. , jr., married Adelia, 
daughter of AlphcusJ C. Newman, who came to Woodhull in 1839, and engaged in 
farming and the clothing business. Mr. and Mrs. Orr had three children : Elmer N., 
Gertrude A., and Melvin W. Mr. Orr is an active political worker and has been 
.supervisor, commissioner, and assessor in the town of Lindley. He is engaged in 
lumbering and farming. Melvin W. is a graduate of the Rochester Business College 
and Elmer of the Binghamton Business College. 

Owen, Cortland, is a son of John Owen who was born in Otsego county, of Welsh 
ancestry. When sixteen years of age, Cortland enlisted in Co. K, 8Gth N. Y. Vols., 
serving two years. He was in the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, 
and at the latter place was slightly wounded, taken prisoner and sent to Libby 



420 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

prison, but was paroled and exchanged after two weeks' captivity. He was born at 
Cameron, in 1846. Two years later his father moved to Jasper and engaged in farm- 
ing. In 1865 he purchased a saw mill and carried on a lumber business. Mr. Owen 
worked with his father until 1871, when he married Martha Harwood, and in 1872 
he bought his father's lumber business with which he has been extensively engaged 
ever since. He came to Addi-son in 1886 and built a planing mill, which furnishes 
employment for several men, and is one of the important enterprises of the town. 
He has two children: George, born in 1872, and Ella, born in 1879. 

Orser, Frank B., was born at Cameron Mills in 1857. He is of Scotch descent, be- 
ing a son of David H. Orser, who married Jane Hutchison, by whom he had four 
children. He died in 1882, aged sixty-si.'c. David Orser was a wagonmaker by 
trade, and was one of the 86th N. Y. Vols., from which he was discharged for dis- 
ability, and later he enlisted in the 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, where he was pro- 
moted to the rank of corporal. Frank Orser was educated in the common schools in 
Addison, and before learning the printer's trade he worked in a sash factorv, after 
which he entered the office of A. Roberts, and rose rapidly in his profession, and has 
been the associate editor of the Advertiser, the leading paper of Addison, since 1889. 
He has been village clerk for five terms, and in 1895 was elected town clerk, which 
office he administered so successfully that he is now serving a second term. He is a 
member of the benevolent order of Maccabees, and the Baldwin Hook & Ladder 
Company. In 1882 he married Lizzie D. Evans of Elkton, Pa., by whom he had one 
daughter, Marion J. 

Orr, Joseph J., was born in the town of Addison, a son of James C. and Orrena 
(Day) Orr. James C. came here with his father, Joseph, about 1830 from Delaware 
county. Joseph J. was one of five children named James C, Calvin D., Sarah C. 
Smith, Oliver J., and Joseph J., all residents of the county. Joseph J. married 
Sarah, daughter of Stephen and Mary Dillon, and they have five children : Edna 
Robinson, Celia Plunkett, Luna Hill, Clara Mead, and Edwin S. The last named 
married Josie Ayers. Joseph J. is a member of Addison Union Lodge, F. & A. M., 
No. 118. 

Ney, Charles, was bom in Northampton county. Pa., in 1823, son of Andrew and Amy 
(Fisher) Ney, and is another example of what a young man may accomplish by industry 
and economy. He has had to make his own way in the world, and when a boy he 
learned the carpenter's trade, but soon bought 130 acres of land in Urbana, which 
he sold and bought 143 acres in Bath, which he still owns. He came to Bradford 
and bought 158 acres where he still resides, all of which he has paid for by hard work 
and careful management. He married Minerva Bronson, by whom he had these 
children: Frankie, who died at twenty- three years of age; Sarah A., who died at 
twelve years of age; and William, who died at two years of age. 

Nipher, Melvin, was born January 11, 1851. His grandfather was born in Ger- 
many, and emigrated to this country, coming to Montgomery county, N. Y., thence 
to the town of Avoca, and from there he came with his son, John Nipher, to the town 
of Fremont, where he died at eighty years of age. John Nipher, father of Melvin, 
was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., July 12, 1818, and came to Howard, and 
from there to Fremont, where he located on a farm of eighty-two acres and engaged 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 421 

in farming. In 1840 he married Polly A., daughter of Charles Roberts, who was 
born in Howard, March 10, 1822, and died December 14, 1884, by whom he had three 
children: Matilda, born July 22, 1843, and died July 25, 1885; Uewitt, bora in 1849, 
and died in 1850; and Melvin, as above, who received a good common .school educa- 
tion, and has always followed farming. He has held the office of assessor of the 
town of Fremont, and is justice of the peace. November 14, 1878, he married 
Emeranda, daughter of Philo Baker, who was born November 5, 1840, by whom he 
had two children: Inez, born April 10. 1880; John P., born February 9, 1882. 

Rogers, David S., of Ferenbaugh, was born in the house where he now lives in 
1860. His parents, Daniel and Lois Angeline Rolo,son Rogers, natives of Ulster 
county and the town of Hornby, are residents of Beaver Dams. Mr. Rogers was 
raised and has always been a farmer. He married Augusta Ferenbaugh in 1885. 
He has a farm of 260 acres. 

Roloson, Sylvester, of Painted Post, was born in Hornby, son of Peter and Julia 
Kirby Roloson, natives of New Jersey and Rhode Island, who in about 1835 located 
in the eastern part of the town of Hornby, where the father cleared and at one time 
owned 500 acres. He died in 1890. aged eighty-three. The mother still survives. 
Mr. Roloson is one of a family of fifteen children. He has followed farming as an 
occupation all his life. In 1877 he married Ophelia Stanton, who was born on their 
present place. They have a farm of 100 acres. 

Roberts, A. L. , was born in the town of Avoca, May 20, 1856, son of William 
Roberts, who was Dorn in Avoca on Roberts Hill, in August, 1828. William Roberts 
was engaged in wagonmaking until recently when he retired and now lives in Can- 
isteo. He married Catherine, daughter of Tunis Van Vleck, of Avoca, the family 
coming originally from Montgomery county, N. Y. They had four children : A. L., 
Marcus, Tiney, and Venier. A. L. Roberts worked at farming in Troupsburg for 
four years, then came to Howard, having lived seven years on his present farm of 
225 acres, known as the "Comfort" farm. He married Hattie, daughter of Lewis 
Van Order, a farmer of Howard. They have five children: Lewis V., Ray W., Grace 
B., Blanch E., and Alta May. Mr. Roberts and family are members of the Baptist 
church of Howard. 

Reynolds, Charles D., was born in Addison in 1857, son of Thomas I. Reynolds, an 
architect and contractor, who came here in 1846, and was afterward employed with 
the same sash, door, and blind industry. Mr. Reynolds traveled a great deal, being 
engaged in different cities in various enterprises. From 18G0 to 1865 he was in Jer- 
sey City, and from 1868 to 1873 at Paterson, N J. His death, which occurred in 
1881, was caused by an accident. Charles D. received his education in Addison, and 
much of his early life was spent with his father in his travels. He was first employed 
with the sash, door and blind factory, which business he .still continues, being now 
with Park, Winton & True. Mr. Reynolds has served two terms as a member of the 
board of trustees. In 1884 he married Emma, daughter of William H. Manners, a 
grocer of this place, and they have one daughter, Dorothy, who was born in 1889. 
Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are members of the Episcopal church. 

Ross, John W., was born in Springfield, Bradford county. Pa., April 10, 1851. He 



in LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

was educated at Burlington, Bradford county, Pa., and Painted Post, Steuben county. 
He was a farmer, after which he engaged in the drug business at Avoca and Painted 
Post. He is unmarried and lives on the homestead farm with his step-mother, and 
has filled the minor offices of the town. He is a member of the Baptist church, and 
is a Democrat. 

Ross, Bruce E., born in Bradford county. Pa., November 7, 1857, is the son of A. 
J. Ross, who was born in Burlmgton, Bradford county. Pa., October 28, 1826, and 
came to the town of Campbell in 1868 and settled on a farm which was partly cleared. 
He married Mara Grace, and they were the parents of the following children : John 
W., Emmett B., Dallas, and Bruce E. The latter was educated in the district schools 
of Bradford county. Pa., and Steuben county, N. Y., and has devoted his time to 
farming, and now owns a farm of fifty acres located in the town of Campbell, along 
the Mead's Creek Road. He married Harriet Austin, of Erwin, and they were the 
parents of two children: Grace and Julia. For his second wife he married Emma, 
daughter of Charles Dewey, of Delaware county, and they have the following chil- 
dren : Hattie, Cl)-de, Harry, Maud, and Olan. They are members of the Methodist 
church. 

Remington, Washington B. , was born in Hornby, October 24, 1844, son of Jona- 
than and Rachel Hammond Remington, who came from Vermont to the town of 
Campbell in 1816. Jonathan was a son of Joseph Remington, who was a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Remington's father, Hansdale Hammond, married 
Lucy, a daughter of Colonel Mason, and in 1816 settled near Cooper's. He was also 
a soldier in the Rebellion. Jonathan was a non-commissioned officer in the war of 
1812. Mr. and Mrs. J. Remington had the following children; Simeon, who died m 
1856, Orinda, Jonathan, Emily, now deceased, Alvin, Owen, Frank, Hannah, Joseph, 
Albert, Simeon O., Washington B., all of whom are natives of the county. Wash- 
ington B. attended the Painted Post Union School, and when sixteen years old clerked 
in a drug store for Daniel Orcutt. In 1863 he enli.sted in Co. F, 9th N. Y. Vols, and 
was also connected with the 6th Army Corps. He was mustered out of service in 
1865, when he commenced the study of medicine with his brother Frank, who was 
then practicing at Painted Post. He was graduated in 1871 from the Philadelphia 
University of Medicine and Surgery, and located at Painted Post, of which village 
he was president in 1894. He is actively engaged in church and educational inter- 
ests. He married Emma E., a daughter of William and Mary Houghtaling, of 
Painted Post, who formerly lived in Caton, Steuben county. Washington B. is a 
member of Montour Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 168. and also of the I. O. R. M., of 
Painted Post. 

Redhead, Thomas J., was born in Syracuse, N. Y., January 13, 1851. Thomas 
Redhead, his father, now lives in this city, an old and respected citizen, and has 
been an active business man as merchant tailor. He married Ann Brackenbury of 
Syracuse. Thomas J. was educated in Syracuse and came to Avoca in 18 — . He 
learned the trade of carpenter and builder, which business he carries on in the vil- 
lage of Avoca, and as contractor has erected almost every prominent building in the 
village. He married Kate A., daughter of Albert Billings of Avoca They have one 
adopted daughter, Lula. Mr. Redhead has lilled the office of trustee of the village, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 423 

and at present is justice of the peace. He is a member of I. O. O. F. , Avoca Lodge, 
No. 562, and charter member of the M. E. church, and superintendent of the Sunday 
school. 

Robison, Simeon, was born July 1.5, 1831. His father, Ehsha Robison, was born 
jn Vermont, in 179.5, and came to South Dansville when eighteen years of age, and 
took up a lot on what is called Cream Hill, and lived to be ninety-three years of age. 
He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He was a shoemaker by trade, but his princi- 
pal occupation was farming. He returned to Vermont and married Lucinda, daugh- 
ter of Simeon Wood, of Vermont, by whom he had thirteen children: Marcenia, 
George, Mordicai, John, Matilda, Phoebe Ann, Hannah, William, Simeon, Sarah, 
Helen, Liscomb, and James Henry. By his second wife he had two children: Olive, 
and Oscar. Simeon Robison received a common school education, and has been 
salesman and collector on the road for twenty years, but is now engaged in farming. 
June 27, 18.52, he married Harriet Amelia, daughter of Lorenzo Demery of South 
Dan.sville, who was born May 20, 18H4, by whom he had one child, Cassius L. , born 
June 2(5, 1857, and who married Lillian, daughter of John McNorton of Harden Hill, 
town of Fremont, bora in March, 1858. He is a farmer, and owns a farm of 184 acres, 
and his father, our subject, owns a farm of 110 acres. 

Rejmolds, Charles A., was born in Corning, Steuben county, N. Y., in 1858, son of 
Kuapp S. Reynolds a native of Westchester county, who was born in 1809 and located 
in Stickneyville, Steuben county, in 1832, and in 1843 came to Corning where he has 
since resided. He married Emma Johnson of Broome county, who died in 1884, by 
whom he had two children: Charles A., and Cyrus J., who was with the .53d Pa. 
Regt. about five years, and died in 1892. Charles A. Reynolds is a market gardener 
and farmer. He was president of the County Agricultural Society in 1894, and has 
been supervisor since 1891. In 1876 he married Ella J., daughter of George W. 
Preston. 

Rau, John, was born in Bethlehem. Pa., in 1814. He is of English and German 
extraction. His grandfather was born in Germany and settled in Philadelphia. He 
married and settled in Bethlehem, Pa., and had three children. Erhardt Rau, father 
of John, was born at Bethlehem, Pa., September 3. 1786, and settled in Sparta about 
182], and died in 1884. He married Susan Ridd, born in Bethlehem, and died in 
Sparta in 1885, aged seventy-eight years. They had sixteen children: Benjamin, 
Daniel, Joseph, John, George, Betsey Wampole, Polly Carney, Susan Johns, Sally 
Ann Traxter, Hiram, Owen, David, Mary Ann Strong, Nelson, and Samuel. John 
Rau received his education in the common schools, and has always followed farming. 
In 1853 he purchased 158 acres of land in Dansville, N. Y. January 18, 1838, he mar- 
ried Charity Johns, born December 4, 1817, and died December 3, 1885, by whom he 
had seven children, two of whom died in infancy; Erhardt, born November 28, 1854, 
and John Wallace, born March 5, 1849; Sarah J., born April 7, 1839, and died May 
11, 1855; Simon P., born August 18, 1841; Watson D., born March 11, 1844; Abner 
U., born March 23, 1846; and Rose E., born March 5, 1851. Abner D. resides with 
his father and has charge of the farm, also owns and runs a restaurant near Stony 
Brook (Jlen. He married Nancy Fries, of Naples, born June 16, 1841, by wliom he 
has two daughters: Minnie C, born August 30, 1875; and Myrta E., born November 
25, 1876. 



424 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Raplee, Mrs. H. — Hiram Raplee was born in Barrington, Yates county, N. Y., July 
14, 1831, son of Joshua and Jane Longsoy Raplee, he a native of Milo, and she of 
Starkey, N. Y. They came to Barrington where he died in 1888. Mrs. Raplee died 
in 1841. The grandparents, Joshua Raplee and Henry Longsoy, were early settlers 
of Yates county. Hiram has always followed farming with the exception of two 
years when he engaged in the mercantile business in Bradford. He came to Wayne 
in 1864, and owns a farm of 150 acres. In 1857 he married Mary E., daughter of 
George T. and Abigail Eldridge Fitzwater of Milo, and to them have been bom four 
children: Joshua H.. a manufacturer of baskets at Weston, N. Y. ; George T., a 
farmer and fruit grower of Wayne; Clarence D., a farmer of Tyrone; and Adelbert 
H., who resides at home. By a previous marriage to Charity Swartz, Mr. Raplee 
has one daughter, Loraine. He is a Republican, and has been assessor, and is now 
excise commissioner. He was a member of Jersey Lodge, No. 668, F. & A. M., and 
of the Methodist church. 

Roberts, Wallace, was born in the town of Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., July 18, 
1848. Thomas Roberts, his father, was a native of Wales, who came with his 
parents to this countr\- in 1835, when Thomas was twelve years old. The family 
located in Rome, and it was there Thomas was educated ; he took up farming as an 
occupation, which he always followed. He moved from Rome to Attica, from there 
to Orangeville Center and from there to Batavia. He died in Louisville, Ky., in 
1868. Wallace was the second son of a family of four children ; he was given a good 
common school education and followed farming until he was twenty years of age. 
He then .served an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade with G. B. Worthington of 
Batavia, X. Y. ; he spent seven or eight years with him. In 1872 he came to Hor- 
nellsville, being employed with Charles McCraig ; afterward was for three years rail- 
roading, being a fireman on the Buffalo, New York & Philadelphia Railroad. Re- 
turning to Hornellsville he was employed with the same firm and also with W. G. 
Rose. In April, 1888, he started in business on Canisteo street, which he has added 
to by hard work and close attention to business, and has become one of Hornells- 
ville's leading business men. ' He is a member of the Methodist church and one of 
the official board. Mr. Roberts was married in 1884 to Jennie Potter of the town of 
Almond. 

Ross, Lyman R., was born in Hornellsville, Steuben county, N. Y., October 1, 
1855. Jesse B. Ross, his father, was a native of Lansing, Tompkins county, N. Y., 
who came to this section about 1845. He first settled in Avoca, and lived on a farm 
for ten years, and then was a resident of Fremont until 1860, when he bought a farm 
on the turnpike, and later bought a farm of fifty acres, now owned by Edwin Ross. 
He died ilay 25, 1883. Abigail C, the mother of Lyman R., was a native of Gro- 
ton, Tompkins county, N. Y., and died January 4, 1882. They were the parents of 
nine children: Lyman R. was the youngest son and was educated in the common 
schools, and was associated with his father in conducting the homestead farm, and 
after his death he bought twenty-five acres of that place and twenty-rive acres ad- 
joining it on the west, where he now conducts a general line of farming with u spe- 
cialty of grain and potatoes. Mr. Ross has always been a warm supporter of the 
Republican party and its principles, and for six successive terms has been elected 
constable of the town. He has also been trustee of school district No. 9, and road 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 425 

overseer. April 9, 1886, he married Nellie, daughter of Egbert Nicholson, by whom 
he had two children: Louise and Helen. 

Ross, Edmund C, was born in Howard. Steuben county, N. Y., July 2.5, 1848, the 
third son of Jesse B. and Abigail J. Ross. He was given a common school educa- 
tion and made his home with his parents until eighteen years of age. He then went 
to work at farming, which he followed for five years, and was then employed with 
Joseph Lack in his brewery in Hornellsville for seven years, and was then two years 
with Morris Hefter. He spent one year farming in Jliddlebury, Pa., and the spring 
of 188.5 he came back to the old homestead farm, where he has made many valuable 
improvements, and is now conducting it for the production of grain and vegetables, 
with a specialty of potatoes. March 28, 1873, he married Elizabeth, daughter of 
Jesse Jacobs, a farmer of North Lansing, Tompkins county, N. Y., by whom he had 
four children, three now living: Edith, Mabel, a student of the academy, and Glen 
Otto, a student of the common school-. 

Ryan, Thomas, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, February 1, 1852, and 
came to this country in 1864. He landed in New York and went to Montreal, where 
he attended school for one year and then returned to his native land, and again came 
to America in 1.869. That year he located in New York city, where be was employed 
at the trade he had learned in his native land and followed in London, that of tailor- 
ing. Mr. Ryan became a resident of London at the close of the Fenian uprising in 
186T, in conformity with his patriotic idea of Ireland's need of self-government. He 
remained in New York for two years, and in 1871 came to Steuben county, being 
employed with James Sutherland in Bath for about six months. He then came to 
Hornellsville in April, 1872, and entered the employ of Thomas Brock, with whom he 
continued for one year as tailor and cutter, and then was with Mr. Lehman in the 
same work for two j'ears, during which time he had a partnership in the business. 
He was then employed for two or three years with James T. Glazier, and later with 
Julius Cohn as cutler, and in 1880 he became a partner with Edward Powers in the . 
merchant tailoring establishment on Broad street. They have ever since been asso- 
ciated together, with the exception of three months Mr. Ryan spent in Baltimore as 
a cutter. Mr. Ryan was the representative of the Fourth Ward in the first Board of 
Alderman for the city of Hornellsville in 1888, and in 1893 was the candidate for 
supervisor from the Fourth and Fifth wards. He was one of the founders of the 
A. O. H. in Hornellsville and held the office of first vice-president; also a member 
of the C. M. B. A. In -1874 he married Sarah Clancy, and they have five children, 
all daughters. 

Rice, Leroy D., was born in the town of Independence, Allegany county, N. Y., 
November 22, 1832, son of Alexander Rice, a native of Cortland county, who came 
to Allegany county when a young man and cleared a farm of 100 acres, where he 
spent the balance of his life. Leroy was the sixth of a family of nine children, four 
of whom are now living. He was given a common school education, and in 1850 he 
took up lumbering and followed it in Allegany county until 1860, when he removed 
to Michigan, where he spent three years in the same business. In 1863 he removed 
to Warren Pa., where he contmued lumbering, and was in the employ of F. G. and 
D. I). Babcock, with whom he sjient over twenty years as foreman and superin- 
bbb 



426 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

tendent of their lumbering interests. He remained in Pennsylvania until 1875, and 
then removed to Maryland, where he engaged successfully in farming for seven 
years. In 1883 he came to Hornellsville, where he first bought twenty-seven acres 
on Lot 12, and the same year bought 100 acres more, and he now has 170 acres of 
the best land in this town. He also has a farm of seventy-five acres in the town of 
Hartsville, w-hich is used principally for dairy purposes. In 1855 he married Nancy 
Wright of Scio, Allegany county, who died in January, 1884. They were the parents 
of two children ; Laura, the wife of Simon Downs, and Lester I., who is with h's 
father on the farm. 

Robie, Charles H., was born in Bath, October 8, 1836, son of Reuben Robie, who 
was one of the leading men in the settlement and development of the town of Bath. 
Charles H. was educated at Haverling Academ)-, after which he devoted his time to 
farming. In 1859 he married Sarah E., only child of Henry McElwee, and they are 
the parents of one son, Henry McElwee Robie, and one daughter, Olive W. Mr. 
Robie is one of the largest farmers in Steuben county, serving as president of the 
Agricultural Society of Bath for two years, and has been greatly interested in im- 
proving and developing fine horses; also one of the largest wool producers and 
breeder of shorthorn cattle iu Steuben county. 

Rowe, Lewis, was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1833, and came to the United 
States with his parents in 1835 and settled in Wayland. Lewis Rowe, sr. , was a 
farmer and one of the pioneer settlers. He died in 1841 in his fifty-first year. Lewis 
married Caroline Drum, and are the parents of one son, Frank, of Prattsburg. In 
1856 he came to Kanona and learned the tanner's trade, and in 1876 was burned out, 
and since then has made a specialty of dealing in hides and leather. 

Rauber, Nicholas, was born in Prussia, Germany, m 1846, emigrated to this coun- 
try with his parents when seven j^ears of age and settled in Wayland, N. Y. His 
father, Mathias Rauber, was born in Prussia, in 1816, and is still living. He mar- 
ried Margaret Bricks, who was born in Prussia and died in Wayland in 1892, aged 
seventy-three years. He bought a small farm njar Perkinsville, now owned by- 
Nicholas, Mathias having a life lease of the same. They had eight children : Kate, 
Nicholas, Mary, Lizzie, Peter, Jacob, Maggie, and Anna, deceased. Nicholas at- 
tended the Catholic school at Perkinsville for five years, w-here he was instructed in 
both English and German. He worked at fanning until eighteen years of age, and 
September 12, 1864, enlisted in the 188th X. Y. Vols., and served until the close of 
the war, and was in the battles of Hatcher's Run, Weldon Railroad, Second Hatch- 
er's Run, Stony Creek and Five Forks. He now draws a pension. After returning 
from the war he engaged in the lumber business for three years, after which he went 
on the Erie Railroad as section hand for seven years and was then promoted to fore- 
man of section, which he has held sixteen years. He also runs a grocery store and 
saloon at his residence, which is -superintended by his wife. He has held the office 
of village trustee eight years. He is a member of Champion Hook & Ladder Co., 
No. 1, and of the Theodore Schlick Post, No. 314, G. A. R., also a member of C. M. 
B. A. In September, 1872, he married Caroline Halauer, who was born in 1844, and 
died January 9, 1892. They had five children: Charles, born October 8, 1875; Lester, 
born June 16, 1879; Frank, born in October, 1882; Mary, born in October, 1887, and 



I 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 427 

Carrie, born January 0, 1890. Mr. Raubc-r married for his second wife, Mrs. Chri- 
sanlha (Ilagele) John, who was born in (Jcrmany in 1851. She had five children by 
Jacob John : Katie, born in 1875; Albert, born in ISTli; Joseph, born in 1872; Net- 
tie, born in 1884, and Tillie, born in 1887. 

Rowe, Peter J., was born in Waylaud, N. V., in November, 180:5 His father, 
Henry Rowe, was born in Waylaud, N. Y., and died in East Springwater. April ;!0, 
1891, aged fifty-four years. He married Barbara Libengouth, who was born in Way- 
land in 18-12. and is still living in East Springwaler on the farm. They had eight 
children: Henry, born in Wayland, in 1859; William, born in 1861; Peter J., born 
in November, 1863; Lizzie, born in 1865; Charles, born in 1867; Frank, born in 1809; 
Edward, born in 1871. and Louis, born in 187;?. Edward and Louis are graduates 
of Geneseo Normal School; Edward is now principal of the Rushville Union School, 
and Louis is attending college in Rochester, where he is taking a medical course. 
Peter J. Rowe commenced business for himself in Big Rapids, Mich., in the meat 
business, where he remained from 18S5 tfi 1891, when he returned to Waylaud, where 
he carried on the same business. In 189;J he assumed the proprietorship of the Bry- 
ant House, a brick structure on the corner of Main and Naples .streets, which he has 
since conducted. He is a member of Wayland Lodge, No. 176. I. O. O. F. At Big 
Rapids, Mich., in 1887, he married Lena Shaw, born in Norway, in 1804, by whom 
he has two children: George, born in 1889, and Lola, born in 1893. 

Raufenbarth, Frank, was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1858, emigrated to this 
country in 1881, and settled in Rochester, N. Y., where he remained for three years 
and worked as a laborer. In 1884 he came to Wayland and opened a meat-market, 
having previously learned the trade in Germany. He bought the building he now 
occupies, in 1888, of A. Pardee, situated at No. 12 Main street, where can be found 
at any time meats of all kinds. He is a member of the Wayland Hook & Ladder 
Company, also a member of the C. M. B. A., and is now treasurer of the Wayland 
Dime & Loan association. In 1881, at Rochester, N. Y., he married Matilda Burk- 
harth, who was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1800, emigrated to this country in 1881, 
and settled in Rochester. They have four children : Josephine, born in 1882; Leo, 
born in 1884; Mary, born in 1888; and Julia, born in 1891. 

Rosenkrans, John A., son of Levi Rosenkrans (see the Rosenkrans sketch), was 
born September 22, 1845, in Wayland, N. Y., where he was educated in the common 
schools. He commenced work for himself by working on his mother's farm for live 
years, and then bought fifty acres of land which he subsequentlv sold, and has since 
dealt in property to a considerable extent, and for ten years run a livery and exchange 
stable. He is now engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, which he has 
carried on for ten years. Mr. Rosenkrans is a member of the Wayland Lodge, No. 
176, I. O. O. F. In 1887 he was married at Arkport, N. Y., to Libbie Newsome, who 
was born in Arkport, in November, 1847. Her father, William Newsome, was born 
in England, and was twice married, and his children by his first wife were Susan, 
living, Sarah, Jane, and Mary, all deceased. She died in Arkport. For his second 
wife he married Bessie ZelulT, who was born in Penn.sylvania, and died in Colorado, 
in 1891, aged seventy-five years. Their children were William W. (deceased), Eliza- 
beth, Loretta, Helen (deceased). Silas W., John A., George W^, and J. Frank. Mr. 
Newsome died in Arkport in 1885, aged eighty-one years. 



428 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY, 

Phillips, Lyman H., was born in Campbell, N. Y., September 15, 1837, son of Vol- 
kert and Ruth (Hungerford) Phillips, he a native of Schoharie county, N. Y., and 
she of Connecticut, who came to Campbell while young, and died on the farm now 
owned by Lyman H., he in 1871, and she in 1879. Lyman H. Phillips was reared on 
a farm and educated in the common schools and Starkey Seminary, after which he 
engaged in teaching and lumbering, but his principal occupation is farming, and he 
now owns 120 acres of land, where he iias lived since he was six years of age. Mr. 
Phillips is a Republican in politics, and has been justice of the peace many years and 
justice of sessions two years, also supervisor seven years. He is a member of Mer- 
chantsville Grange. In 18(i2 he enlisted in Co. E, 141st X. Y. Vols., and served un- 
til the close of the war. He was at Resaca, Missionary Ridge, Peach Tree Creek, 
Culp's Farm, Atlanta, Averysboro, and Bentonville. March 22, 1871, he married 
Olive M. (Parker), widow of John Booth, by whom he had one child, Lillie; he also 
has one adopted son, Charles. 

Peters, David S., was born in Bath, N. Y., in 1847, son of Charles and Elizabeth 
(Sanford) Peters, he born in Bath, and she in Lfrbana. The grandfather of our sub- 
ject, George Peters, was one of the early settlers of Bath, where he died about 1858. 
Charles Peters, father of David S., was a farmer, and now lives at Sanilac county, 
Mich. His wife died in 1848. David S. was reared by his grandfather and educated 
in the common schools. August 8, 1864, he enlisted in Co. K, 104th N. Y. Vols., 
and served until the close of the war. He was at Six Mile House, Hatcher's Run, 
Five Forks, and at Lee's Surrender. He is a member of Knox Post. G. A. R., No. 
549. In 1878 he married Fidelia Myers, by whom he had two children: Fred, who 
resides at home ; and Charles, who was killed by falling from a load of hay. Mrs. 
Peters died June 26, 1880. Mr. Peters owns ninety six acres of land, which he bought 
in 1874, and follows general farming. 

Pinchin, A. A., was born June 28, 1849. His father, Albin Pinchin, was born in 
the town of Mooers, Clinton county, N. Y. , February 10, 1820, and came to Arkport 
w-hen seventeen years of age, where he engaged in farming, and also run a saw-mill 
a part of the time and dealt quite extensively in the lumber business. He now lives 
at Almond, Allegany county, N. Y. He married Adaline R., daughter of David 
Whitford, who was born May 25, 1824, by whom he had one child, A. A., as above, 
who was educated at Rogersville Seminary and Alfred University, and is by occu- 
pation a farmer. He married Frances Bell Hunt, born February 24. 1854, daughter 
of Nathaniel Huut of Mount Morris, by whom he had three children ; Mary Ada, 
born May 7, 1878; Lloyd Arthur, horn June 4, 1883; and Otha H., born March 1, 
1887. 

Potter, Walbridge, was born in Tioga county. Pa. , April 21, 18.53. His grandfather, 
Adolphus Potter, was born in Rhode Island, and was one of the first settlers of 
Troupsburg, where he died. Darling Potter, father of Walbridge, was born in 
Troupsburg, and married Lucy A. Woodard, who was born in Vermont. They now 
reside in Woodhull. Walbridge Potter was educated in Woodhull Academy. He 
owns 122 acres of land in Rathbone, on which he located in 1880. He follows farm- 
ing and makes a specialty of cabbage. In 1887 he married Samantha, daughter of 
William H. and Samantha (Devenport) Wilson, who were born in Vermont and came 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 429 

to Woddhull, aud thence to Rathbone, where Mrs. Wilson died in 1889, and where 
Mr. Wilsim now resides. His second wife was Thankful 'rhompson. Mr and Mrs. 
Potter have two children: Joel, who was born August 13, 1888; and Josie. who was 
born September 4 1891. 

Parkhill, Dr. R. F., was born in. the town of Howard, December 11, 1832, son of 
David Parkhill, who was born in Montgomery county in 1804, of which an account 
is found elsewhere. Mr. Parkhill began his education in the common schools, and 
finished in Alfred Seminary in 1855. He taught school in the village of Howard for 
about si.\ years, then began reading medicine with Dr. A. B. Case of Howard, with 
whom he remained four years. He graduated at Albany December 27, 1859, as 
physician and surgeon, and located in the town of Howard, where he has since prac- 
ticed. He married Lucinda, daughter of Henry A. Toucks, and they have two chil- 
dren: Leona May, now Mrs. C. M. Pruchan of Wheeler, and Myron H. who is a 
physician and surgeon and practices with his father. He was educated in the district 
schools of Howard, and was graduated from the Buffalo Medical College, February 
21, 1886. Dr. R. F. Parkhill was supervisor for three years, and is a member of the 
Masonic fratfernity, Louis Lodge 104. 

Pixley, Frank, was born in Canisteo, March 9, 1853. William Pi,\ley, his father, 
was born in the town of Howard, and engaged in farming in the town of Canisteo, 
and now lives retired in the village. He married Ann Fogle of Canisteo, Steuben 
county, by whom he had five children: Fred, L., Dr. E., Sarah, and Frank, who was 
educated in the town of Howard, after which he came to Avoca where he has lived 
on a farm of 120 acres for about two years. He married Ida, daughter of Lewis 
Borden, a farmer of Wheeler, by whom he had one daughter, Alice. He is a mem- 
ber of the Maccabees. 

Pease, Randall A., was born in Greenwood, May 31, 1849, son of Albert Pease, a 
native of Newfield, who married Lufany Richie of Dryden, Tompkins county, by 
whom he had seven children. The paternal grandfather, Randall Pease, and the 
maternal grandfather, Daniel Richie, came from Tompkins county to Greenwood in 
pioneer days and here lived and died. Albert Pease was a farmer of Greenwood, 
and was at one time highway comrais.sioner, and died in 1856, and his wife in 1882. 
Randall A. Pease was reared on a farm and now owns the horriestead farm of 155 
acres, and a lot in Andover, where he is preparing to make his future home. In 
politics he is independent, and at one time was assessor. In 1870 he married Char- 
lotte, daughter of Albert and Augusta Scribner, by whom he had one daughter, Au- 
gusta L. , who was educated at Andover and is now a teacher. 

Peterson, Frank, was born at Big Flats, Chemung county, June 3, 1850. He be- 
gan his education in the district schools of the town of Campbell. He is a farmer 
and lives on the homestead farm of 150 acres. He is unmarried and lives with 
bis mother. He is a member of the Bajjtist church, and in ])(jlilics he is a Re- 
publican. 

Paxton, E. C, was born in 1852, in Addison, where he was educated. He has 
been engaged in the Addison Mills for the last twenty-five years, and is still a junior 
partner of the Curtis & Paxton Mill, with which his father, the late Thomas Paxton, 
was associated the greater part of his life. In June, 1880, he married Kate, daugh- 



430 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ter of Thomas S. Reynolds, who was a pioneer settler of this place. They have two 
children: Adelaide Patterson, born in 1884; and Thomas Edward, born in 1885. 
Thomas Paxton, the father of E. C. Paxton, who was born in Banbury, England, in 
1818, came to America when twenty-two years of age. He was a shoemaker by 
trade, and in 1836 opened a shoe store in Addison, and had a factory employing fif- 
teen men. In 1885 he sold out the shoe business, and bought a half interest in the 
Addison Mills, and was also associated with the Goodhue tannery. He has been ex- 
tensively engaged in the lumber business, and surveyed and drove piles on the Erie 
Railroad. He married Susan, daughter of Benjamin Patterson, a land owner. Mr. 
Paxton was supervisor and assessor of the town. He was a member of the Church 
of the Redeemer, which is greatly indebted to his benevolence. He died in 1893, 
aged seventy-five years. 

Prangen, George D., was born in the city of Hornellsville, and in the house of his 
present residence, December 10, 1860. Diederich Prangen, the father of George, was 
a native of Germany, born in Bremerhaven, August 8, 1825, and came to this coun 
tr)^ when twelve or thirteen years of age. He was located in New York city until 
1854. That year he was first engaged in Hornellsville as a merchant, which he fol- 
lowed only a short time and then engaged in the dray and express business. Scott 
Thatcher was at this time engaged in dealing in ice and Mr. Prangen did the carting 
for him. Later he became the proprietor of the business, and it was from the small 
start of going among his neighbors after supper at night that the extensive business 
of to-day was established. , In 1876 he bought out John Le Grange and that year 
they afforded the luxury of one horse and then gradually increased until 1889; the 
year of his death they handled 2,000 tons. He was a man who devoted his whole at- 
tention to his business and family. He was the father of eleven children, seven now 
living. George is the second son. He was educated in the common schools and his 
first employment was with his father, driving team. In 1888 a co-partnership was 
formed of Mr. Prangen and bis three sons: William H., George D. , and Richard M.. 
under the firm name of Prangen & Sons. The sons have continued the business 
under the name of Prangen Brothers, with increasing trade and continued success. 
In 1895 they handled between 24,000 and 25,0U0 tons, a part of which was for the 
Erie Railroad Company. In winter they employ from 150 to 160 men and in sum- 
mer from ten to twelve men and three or four teams. George D. was married Sep- 
tember 5, 1894, to Miss Bertha M. Williams, a sister of F"rank Williams, one of 
Hornellsville' s merchants. 

Phillips, Dr. Charles Robert, was born in Speedsville, Tompkins county, June 22, 
1867. Asa E., his father, was a native of Dryden, Tompkins county, and went to 
the town of Caroline when a young man, engaging in the mercantile business. He 
conducted a general store until twenty-three years of age, then removed to Wash- 
ington, D. C. , and became proprietor of one of the largest lumber houses of that city. 
He died November 7, 1881. He was a member of the Masonic order and of the 
R. A. M. Charles was educated at Franklin Grammar School in Washington, 
from which he graduated when thirteen years of age. He then entered Cortland 
Normal School, which he left in 1885, spending one year in the medical tlepartment 
of the University of the City of New York, then entered Columbia College, formerly 
known as the College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating in June, 1889, with 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 431 

the degree of M. D. In 1890 he came to Hornellsville and was for one year with 
Dr. Baker, then established the office he now conducts. Dr. Phillips is a member of 
the Board of Health, president of the Examining Board of Plumbers, was United 
States e.xamiuing physician of this district, and visiting surgeon to the St. James 
Mercy Hospital, also surgeon for the N. Y. L. E. & W. Railway Company. He is a 
member of the Steuben County Medical Society and president of the Hornellsville 
Medical and Surgical Association, and a member of the Erie Railway Surgical Asso- 
ciation. May 8, 1892. the doctor married Alma, daughter of Alphonso Hubbard, a 
lumberman of this city. They have one child, Robert Hubbard Phillips. 

Prindle, Albert T., was born in Sharon, Litchfield county, Conn., September 21, 
1823, a son of Charles L. . of New Haven, Conn, who was descended from one of five 
brothers who came from Scotland, all being ministers of the gospel. At the outbreak 
of the Revolution four joined the Continental army, and one clung to the king's com- 
mand. Charles L. was a tanner by trade, and when twenty-one determined to come 
West. In 1823 he established himself in business, which he continued for a time, 
then came to Schenectady, entered into partnership with John Brown, continued 
three years, then removed to Naples, where he conducted a tannery for ten years. 
In 1848 he removed to Hornellsville, where the family have since resided. Albert, 
our subject, bought the old O'Connor tannery, and for five years Charles L. Prindle 
and Col. D. L. Benton conducted the business, retiring in 1833, when Albert formed 
a partnership with J. E. Shaut, which continued three years, then became Prindle, 
Rose & Shaut, and in 1861 they sold to Benton & Rose. Charles Prmdle retired from 
active business, and died in 1885. Of his eight children, the youngest son, Mark, joined 
with Albert and Mr. Shaut and ei-ected the tannery, which has ever since been a 
leading feature of the place. In 1866 the firm became A. T. & M. Prindle. which 
continued till the death of Mark on March 1, 1887. Mr. Prindle is a Mason and a 
Knight Templar. In 1861 he married. Lucy Spencer of Wyoming county, and their 
children are: Farrand C, a member of the above firm ; Alice, Albert T. , and George 
S., the latter two employed in the tannery. 

Preston, Henry C, was born in the town of Howard, Steuben countv, N. Y., Octo- 
ber 24, 1847. He was educated in the common schools and the Union Seminarv, and 
was employed in early life on the farm and later was engaged in the livery bu.siness 
at Hornellsville in the' rear of the Osborne House. It was a little later that the 
Hollow Cable Wire Company was established by Mr. Preston and his sons, and 
Henry C. has always been the treasurer of the company since. He was married in 
1872 to Miss Lucy, daughter of Ira Pierce, a farmer of South Dansville. They have 
five children; Beulah, Blanche, Bernice, Maude, and Grace. Four of them are 
students of the academy. Grace is in Lincoln school. 

Patten, John Nelson, was born in the town of Otego, Otsego county, N. Y., Octo- 
ber 1, 184:i. George Patten, the father of John, was also a native of Otsego county, 
born February 8, 1818. The family are of Scotch descent. John Patten, the grand- 
father of John Nelson, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, and came to this country 
m 1800. George was the oldest son of eight children. He was educated in the com- 
m.on schools and took up farming for his life work. He was married December 18, 
1^40, to Miss Polly Squires, a native of Otsego county. They were the parents of 



432 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

three children: John N., our subject; Joel, died when three years old: Deetle is the 
wife of William H. Burt, a railroad man of Hornellsville. Mrs. Patten, the mother 
of John Nelson, is still living, seventy-one years of age. John N. was educated in 
the common schools of Otsego county, and lived on the old homestead farm with his 
parents until he was of age. In 1865 his family came to Hornellsville, his father 
buying a farm in Arkport where he lived until 1869, when they removed to a farm 
of seven acres, which he has increased by additional purchase to 106 acres, the prin- 
cipal products of which are grain and vegetables. Mr. Patten was married April 16, 
1868, to Miss Margaret Dildine, youngest daughter of John Dildine. They have five 
children, all living: Miss P'thelyn, one of the Hornell Academy students who have 
taken up teaching; Mary J., the wife of James McMichael, a farmer of this town; 
George E., with his father on the farm; Joel, died in infancy; and Miss Anna Belle, 
a student of the common school. Miss Janet Anderson Patten is also in the common 
school. 

Parker, Mrs. Delia. — Abram Cadogan was born in We.st Winfield, Herkimer 
county, N. Y., July 10, 1813, son of Abram, who was a soldier in the warof 1812, and 
served at Sackett's Harbor, where he was taken sick and died. Abram, jr., came to 
Canisteo in 1836, where he resided fourteen years and then came Hornellsville, where 
he has been engaged as millwright, in the wagon business and building. He mar- 
ried Frances J., daughter of Charles Whitewood, of Truxton, formerly of Stock- 
bridge, Mass. 

Powel, M., was born in Germany in 1844 and came to America in 1858, locating at 
Scranton, Pa., where he worked m iron foundries till 1883, then purchased his pres- 
ent farm in Caton and moved there. He has ninety-three acres and follows general 
farming. In 1876 he married Katie Keuhn, a native of Chemung county. 

Prentiss, George A., was born in the city of Hornellsville, March 3, 1857. George 
W. Prentiss, his father, is a native of Schuyler county, N. Y., and came to this town 
about 1849. He is a mechanic and has been engaged in building some of the fine 
houses of the southern part of the town, and is the superintendent of the erection 
of the Methodi-st church on the south side ; he is now sixty-four years of age. George 
A. is the only son of a family of three children ; he was educated at Hornellsville 
Academy and was first engaged with his father as helper when only fourteen years 
of age at painting, and followed it summers during vacation until nineteen years of 
age, and at that age he adopted it as a trade and has since followed it with the ex- 
ception of three years, 1880 to 1883, during that time being engaged on the construc- 
tion of the Texas Pacific railroad in Texas. The spring of 1895 he was elected a 
member of the Republican City Committee and the same spring was elected alder- 
man by a majority of fourteen over T. S. Thomas. He is chairman of the printing 
committee, member of the law committee, and the committee of claims. Mr. Pren- 
tiss has been one of the benefactors of the city in the way of biiilding four new 
houses and rebuilding t\yo or three in the Fifth ward and three in the fourth ward. 
He is a member of the Presbyterian church of this city. He was married in 1883 to 
Luella S., daughter of Aaron Waters, a manufacturer of Greenwood. They have one 
child, Gertrude H. Prentiss. 

Park Robert F., was born in Woodhull, in 1852, son of William N. and Christina 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 433 

Mesick Park, natives of Broome county, N. Y., where they were married. In 1830 
they came to Steuben county, locating in Corning where Mr. Park died in 1878, aged 
sixty-three. In 1879 Robert F. married Emma B., a granddaughter of Nelson 
Cowan. Mr. and Mrs. Park resided on the old Cowan homestead until 1893, when 
they moved to their present residence. Their children are: William N., Robert N. 
and Laura. 

Peabody, Dr. George M., was born in Springwater, N. Y. , October 22, 1858. His 
great-grandfather, Samuel Peabody, was a native of Massachusetts. His grand- 
father, William Peabody, was bom in Stonington, Conn., and died in Canadice, N.Y. 
Alvah Peabody, father of George M., was born in Manlius, Onondaga county, N.Y. , 
February 18, 1810, and moved to Springwater, with his father, in 1814, where he died 
September 2, 1887. He married Hannah Jane Quick, who was born in Newburg, 
Orange county, N.Y., September 20, 1815. Her maternal grandfather, Lsaiah Smith, 
was one of the pioneers of Ontario county, a soldier of the Revolution, and one of 
the body guard of General Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Peabody had nine children : 
Nelson, who died at Salisbury Prison, N. C. , a member of Wadsworth Guards, 140th 
N. Y. Vols. ; Albert H., who resides in Annada, Mo., member of the same regiment, 
and was wounded at Gettysburg; Helen, who died in December. 1868, wife of James 
Robinson; Lucinda, who married Freeman Thompson, and resides at Springwater, 
N. Y. ; Manson, who resides at Canadice; Margaret, who resides at Canadice; 
Alfred L., who resides in Columbiaville, Mich. ; Frank J., who resides in Canadice; 
and George M., as above, who attended the common schools of Canadice until four- 
teen years of age and worked his father's farm until twenty-one years of age. He 
attended the Dansville Seminary two terms and the Brockport Normal School two 
terms, after which he taught school four terms. He read medicine with Dr. Worden, 
of Springwater, and Dr. Chester Cary, of Columbiaville, Mich., after which he at- 
tended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Md. , also the Univers- 
ity of Vermont, at Burlington, from which institution he was graduated in 1885. 
He commenced the practice of medicine in Wayland, N. Y., where he remained one 
and one-half years, when he moved to Tallapoosa, Ga., where he carried on the drug 
business in connection with his practice. He returned to Wayland in September, 
1894, where he has a lucrative practice. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum 
Council No. 1070, also a member of the K. O. T. M., No. 220. At Dansville, N. Y., 
May 4, 1886, he married Ella Schubmehl, who was born June 24, 1863, by whom he 
has fovir children: Monica, born in Rochester, N. Y., March 19, 1887; Louise, born 
in Rochester, N. Y., May 21, 1888; Helen, born in Tallapoosa, Ga., March 5, 1891; 
and Mary, born in Tallapoosa, Ga., March 23, 1893. 

Piatt, Dr. Alvah A., was born in Angelica. N. Y., in 1861. His ancestor was ex- 
iled during the Huguenot times, and landed at Boston. His paternal grandfather. 
Charles Piatt, was born in Connecticut, and died in Olean, N. Y., in 1883, aged 
ninety-three years. Joseph A. Piatt, father of Alvah A., was born in Sparta, N. Y., 
in 1831, and is engaged in the in.surance business at Livonia, N. Y. He married 
Louisa Lindsley, who was born in Livonia, in 1835, by whom he had one son, Alvah 
A., who learned the trade of taxidermist, in Ward's University at Rochester, which 
he followed for six years. He attended the High School at Livonia, N.Y., afterwards 
took a preparatory course at the Geneseo Normal School. He studied medicine with 



434 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

W. S. Purdy at Corning, N. Y. , for two years, after which he took a three years' 
course at the Pulte Medical College, in Cincinnati, a post-graduate course one year, 
and was graduated from that institution in 1881, and afterwards took an honorary 
degree at Buffalo Medical College. He first commenced the practice of medicine in 
Cincinnati, thence to Jackson, Tenn., thence to Atlanta, N. Y., thence to \Vayland, 
where he has practiced for seven years. Dr. Piatt is a member of Livonia Lodge, 
No. 758, F. & A. M., of Waylarid Lodge, No. 116, I. O. O. F., also a member of the 
Atlanta Encampment. In November, 1884, at Livonia, N. Y., he married Eva Bar- 
ton, born April 1, 1866, by whom he has one child, Gussie M., born in Wayland, N. 
Y., May o, 1890. 

Patchin, Gordon M., was born December 20, 1848. His grandfather, Walter 
Patchin, was a native of Connecticut, emigrated to the town of Wayland from Mar- 
cellus, Onondaga county, in 1814, and settled at Patchinsville where he purchased a 
large tract of land. He was a Revolutionary soldier and was wounded by the 
Indians at Ballston, Saratoga county, N.Y., when that town was burned; he escaped 
by swimming the river. He died at Patchinsville, aged ninety years, and was 
buried at East Wayland. Myron Patchin, father of Gordon M., was born in Onon- 
daga county, N. Y., in 1806. and came to Wayland with his father when eight years 
of age. He was very prominent in the affairs of the town, was one of the founders, 
and was the one who gave it the name of Wayland. At his death, which occurred in 
1890, he was the owner of 200 acres of land. He held the office of supervisor of the 
town several years, was justice of the peace for thirty years, and was also justice of 
sessions for several terms. He married Rosilla Parmenter, who still survives him, 
aged seventy years. They had three children: Grace G., Gertrude, who married 
Frank Baker, deceased, and Gordon M., as above, who is now the possessor of the 
farm owned by his father. Gordon M. was educated in the district school and at- 
tended the Dansville Seminary and Naples Academy. He is a member of Phoeni.x 
Lodge, No. 115, F. & A. M., of Dansville, N. Y. He carries on the farm and has 
dealt in real estate. He served Steuben county in the State Legislature in 1892-93, 
elected by the Republicans. 

Peterson, Charles H., was born in Horseheads, Chemung county, July 14, 1847, 
and in 1853 came to Steuben county with his parents, Jerome B. and Maria F. Peter- 
son, who purchased the Levi Horton property, and where his descendants now re- 
side. In 1876 Charles H. married Elma, daughter of the late Isaac Saunders of 
Rathbone, by whom he had one daughter, Je.ssie M. 

Pawling, Dr. Thomas H., was born in Fulton, N. Y., October 3, 1856, and tlic 
family were of English descent and settled in the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, 
which was named for them. Charles W. Pawling married Esther, daughter of 
Palmer Root, and served m the late war with honor and credit. Thomas H. Pawling 
is a graduate of Haverling Academy, and in 1884 graduated from the medical de- 
partment of the University of Buffalo. In 1884 he associated with Dr. Kassom, and 
in 1888 established his present practice, making a specialty of dermatology. In 1891 
he married Mary, daughter of D. W. Woodruff of Dansville, N. V. Mr. Pawling is 
a member of the Board of Health, and for four years member of E.xamining Board 
of Surgeons. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 435 

Parks, James, was born at County Tyrone, Ireland, September 14, 1818, and came 
to the United States in 1819 with his parents who settled in Oranjje county, remain- 
ing until 1820 when they came to Steuben county, and was identified through his life 
as a farmer in Schuyler county, which was then a part of Steuben county, his resi- 
dence being on Sugar Hill. He died in his seventy-fourth year. James Parks was 
educated in the common schools, after which he gave his attention to farming. In 
1842 he married Mary, daughter of Alexander Adams, by whom he had two chil- 
dren, Mrs. Adeline, and Charles, who died at Ihirly-si.K years of age. Mrs. Parks 
died October 14, 1893. 

Pipe, Samuel, was born in England in 1851, and came to America with his parents 
in the same year, coming direct to (Jeneva, where they lived for twenty years. He 
was educated in the district schools, and in 1871 they moved to Pratt.sburg where he 
remained until 1873 when he purchased of his father 180 acres of land where he has 
since resided, and being possessed of natural mechanical ability he has erected for 
himself a commodious house and large barns. In 188.T he married Rhoda, daughter 
of Daniel and Eliza (Wraight) Stevens of Wheeler. Mr. and Mrs. Pipe are active 
members of the M. E. church of Lynn in Prattsburg, and Mr. Pipe is steward and 
trustee, acting financial steward, and a teacher in the Sunday school. 

Potter, Edward J., was born in Corning, Steuben county, N. Y., September 2(5, 
1858, the oldest of a family of eight children born to John and Elizabeth (Stickler) 
Potter, he a native of Seneca county, and a farmer by occupation, and she of Corn- 
ing. The grandfather, John Potter, came to Painted Post in 183-5, and afterward 
went to Burdett, N. Y., where he spent his last days. The maternal grandfather, 
Martm Stickler, was an early settler of Corning. Edward J. Potter was reared on a 
farm and educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming, 
which business he followed until 1889, when he went to Illinois and worked in a 
hotel for several years. He returned to Cameron and settled on the farm known as 
the W. L. Swartwood farm, where he remained until in December, 1895, when he 
bought the Hurd House at WoodhuU, N. Y. He is a member of Elkland Lodge, No. 
800, I. O. O. F. December 28, 1892, he married Alice L. Swartwood, a native of 
Cameron, N. Y. , and a daughter of Wellen and Hattie (Lamphear) Swartwood, he a 
native of Cameron, and she of Corning, N. Y. Mrs. Potter's grandfather, Rrastus 
D. Swartwood, came to Cameron in an early day. His wife was Mary Jones, and 
he died in Pennsylvania, and she at Addison, N. Y. Mrs. Potter's maternal grand- 
father, Asa B. Lamphear, was a native of Fulton, N. Y. His wife was Jane Briggs, 
a native of Corning, where she died in 1847, and Mr. Lamphear married Louisa Par- 
sons, a native of Middletown. He died in Erwin Center in 1860, and his widow now 
lives at Addison. Mr. Swartwood was one of the leading farmers of Cameron. He 
died May 11, 1888, and his widow now lives with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Potter 
have one son, Charles L., born September 25, 1883. 

Prutsman, R. D., was born in Jasper, August 15, 1855, a son of Alexander and 
Lillie (Wilco.x) Prutsman, natives of Troup.sburg and Chenango county, respectively. 
The grandfather, Philip Prutsman, was an early settler in Troupsburg, where he 
died. The maternal grandfather. Philander Wilcox, also died in Troupsburg. Al- 
exander Prutsman is a farmer and now lives in Troupsburg Center. His wife died 



436 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

in 18T5. R. D. Prutsman was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools 
of Troupsburg. He learned the blacksmith's trade at the age of twenty-one, which 
he has since followed. He came to Woodhull in 1S83, where he has been very suc- 
cessful. He has served as constable, and is a member of Woodhull Tent No. 174 K. 
O. T. M. , also of the Brooklyn Life Insurance Company. In 187.5 Mr. Prutsman 
married Frances Paul, a native of Troupsburg, by whom he had nine children: Mer- 
tie, Floyd, Dennis, Ethel, Olive, Lee, Alice, Julia, and Fay. 

Van Orsdale, Dr. Fitch Henry, was born in Jasper. N. Y., December 12. 1858, son 
of Henry and Jane A. (Shimsway) Van Orsdale, he a native of Cpper Lisle, Broome 
county, N. Y., and she of Addison, N. Y. The grandfather, Vincent Van Orsdale, 
was born in Newburg, N. Y. , in 1797, and lived in Broome county, X. Y. , until 184:5 
when he came to Jasper, where he died in 1889. Henry Van Orsdale, father of Fitch 
Henry, came to Jasper in 1843, and was educated in the common and select schools 
of the place. He studied medicine with Dr. Solomon Deck of Jasper, graduated 
from the medical department of the University of New York city in 1856, and began 
the practice of his profession in Jasper, where he remained until his death, which 
occurred May 14, 1887. He was town clerk two years, and highwhy commissioner 
two years. He was a member of Greenwood Lodge, F. & A. M. Fitch Henry Van 
Orsdale was reared in the village of Jasper, and educated at Alfred University. He 
studied medicine with his father two years, and with Dr. W. P. Hunter three years. 
In 1891 he graduated from the University of Butfalo and began the practice of his 
profession in Jasper in the same year. He first began teaching at seventeen years, 
and at twenty-two years of age engaged in the mercantile business at Painted Post, 
where he remained for three years. May 10, 1881, he married Grace E., daughter of 
Willis E. Craig of Jasper but at present a resident of Belmont, by whom he had one 
daughter, Mabel C, born August 18, 1882. Dr. Van Orsdale is a member of the Jas- 
per Tent, No. 100, K. O. T. M., and is examiner for the lodge. 

Vail, Anna R. — Daniel F. Young was born at Frey s Bush, Montgomery county, 
N. Y., February 16, 1817, son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Younglove) Young, natives 
of Frey's Bush, where they died. Daniel F. was reared on a farm, is self-educated 
aad began life by learning the carpenter trade. He earned the money to go to col- 
lege and graduated from Clinton College. In 1845 he became editor of the Mont- 
gomery Phoenix, which business he followed for thirteen j-ears, after which he stud- 
ied law with Wagner & Webster. In 1848 he accepted the appointment of deputy 
postmaster at Fort Plain, which he soon resigned and became clerk to William Dale, 
a superintendent on the Erie Canal. He later became connected with the Fort Plain 
National Bank and was afterward promoted to cashier, which position he filled until 
■ after the civil war. He came to Steuben county for many years to spend his sum- 
mers, where he owns considerable real estate. For many years was a correspondent 
of the prominent county papers, also the Mail and Express of New York city and 
Mohawk Valley Register. July 14, 1883, he married Anna R., daughter of Dr. Will- 
iam Miller and Mary (Seeber), he a native of Johnstown, and she of Canajobarie, 
Montgomery county, who spent their lives in Johnstown where Dr. Miller died, and 
Mrs. Miller resides with her daughter, Mrs. Vail. The father of Dr. William Miller 
was a son of Dr. Miller, son of a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His wife was 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 437 

Rust, daughter of Amasiah Rust of Revolutionary fame. Mr. Young died 

August 18, 1892, and in 1894 his widow married F. D. Vile of Cauisteo, who was in 
business in Canisteo, and is now a merchant in Jasper. 

Van Scoter, Monroe D., was born in the town of Burns, Steuben county. May 19, 
1838. His father, Philip Van Scoter, was also born in the town of Burns, May 6, 
1812, and came to Honiellsville when about eighteen years of age, to enter the em- 
ploy of Andy L. Smith, both in the store and tannery. He was married January 10, 
1837, and returned to his native town and built a tannery which he conducted until 
1840. In 1841 he returned to Hornellsvillc where he ever after made his home. He 
was one of the old time Democrats and held some of the most important offices of the 
town, supervisor in 1800-61 and in 1863 was a candidate for the State Legislature. 
In 1848 in company with Alanson Stephens he bought an extensive tract of timber 
land which they cut and run down the river in rafts. He was a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity and a Knight Templar. He died November 29, 1885. He was 
twice married, first to Mary E., daughter of Christopher Doty, by whom he had two 
children; Monroe D. and Lydia who died September 23, 1863, at seventeen years of 
age. Mary Doty Van Scoter died May 4, 1871. and he took for his second wife Mar- 
garet D., daughter of John J. .Smith, a farmer of Bath. Monroe I), was educated in 
the common school and followed farming until 187."), when he engaged in the hotel 
business for eight years and was then four years conductor in the Pullman service. 
In 1890 he opened a real estate and loan office in the city of Hornellsville, which 
business he is now engaged in. He was tru.stee for four years of the Third and 
Fourth wards, and highway commissioner of the town of Hornellsville in 1862-63 and 
1867-68, and laid out some of the most important streets of the city, prominent among 
thembeing River str eet and those in the south part of the town. He has two cliil- 
dren living, John M. and Blanch, wife of Thomas J. Worden of this city. 

Van Alstine George W., was born in Schoharie county in 1847, and cameto Horn 
by the following year with his parents, James and Mary Ann, who resided here till 
their death in 1892 and 1874, aged seventy-si.\ and fifty-four, father and mother, re- 
S])ectively. He is the younge.st of three children, the others being Martin H., and 
James W. He resided at home till 187.') when he married Ella O. Roloson, daughter 
of Peter Roloson, a native of Hornby, and then moved to his present farm of seventy- 
three acres. 

Vastbinder, Nelson H., was born on the farm where he now resides, son of Horace 
and Etha Harrison Vastbinder, who were the parents of five children ; Charles, de- 
ceased. Nelson H., Grace, Archie, and Addie. Nelson H. married Effie, daughter of 
John (deceased) and Armania Hollenbeck, residents of this county, and they have 
two chiltlren: Wallace and Charles Read. Horace settled here about 1851 on the 
farm where he now resides, and was in the late war. He and his wife are members 
of the Lindley Methodist church. Nelson and his father have a farm of about 500 
acres. 

Underwood, George W., was born at Groton, X. V., in 1834, son of William Un- 
derwood, who married Ruth Goodwin, by whom he had twelve children, of whom 
George W. is the youngest. The time of his birth is remarkable, by the fact that 
he had brothers fifty years old, comparatively old men. They are of EngHsh ances- 



438 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

try on both the maternal and paternal side. He was educated in Groton, and when 
only sixteen years old began business for himself, being first engaged in buying and ' 
shipping stock, which business he still continues. In 1S8'3 he purchased 150 acres 
of land, which is located about two miles from Addison village, making a specialty 
of tobacco. He married Ophelia Van Marter, of Groton, and they were the parents 
of seven children. In politics Mr. Underwood is a Republican, and at the present 
time is excise commissioner. 

Yawger, Philip, was born in Bradford, N. V., July 16, 1827, son of Henry S. and 
Naucy (Scott) Yawger ; he a native of New Jersey and she of Bradford. The grand- 
father, Francis Yawger, was a pioneer of Bradford, coming from New Jersey to 
Connecticut, and from there to Bradford, thence to Seneca county, where he resided 
about twenty years, but returned to Bradford, where he died. Henry Yawger, father 
of Philip, was born in 1800 and reared on a farm in Cayuga county. He came to 
Bradford, where he engaged in farming. He died December 12, 1857. Philip Yaw- 
ger helped his father to clear the farm, and has always followed farming on the farm 
of 1 30 acres which he now owns. He married Lucretia, daughter of Stephen and 
Emeline Moss of Bradford, by whom he had five children : Josephine, wife of J. B. 
Day, who died at twenty-three years of age, leaving one son, C. M. Day, who was 
reared by our subject ; Sarah Eva, wife of Alford Seybold of Bradford ; Nancy, wife 
of George Blyss of Peun Yan; Frankie, who died at fourteen years of age, and Her- 
bert, who is a farmer on the home farm. Mr. Yawger is a Democrat in politics, and 
has been road commissioner three years and supervisor three terms. 

Young, Thomas J., was born in Rathbone, N. Y. , August 24, 183C. His grand- 
father. Porter Young, was a native of Germany, who came to Rathbone at a very 
early day, w-here he built a log tavern. George W. Young, father of Thomas J., was 
born in Steuben couutj' and was a shoemaker by trade. He married Charlotte M. 
Holmes, of Steuben county. In politics he was a Whig and Republican, and was 
supervisor of his town for sixteen years and justice of the peace for some time. He 
was quite an extensive land owner, and later in life became a merchant. He died 
in 1879, and his widow resides in the town of Rathbone. Thomas J. Young en- 
gaged in lumbering until the war began, when he enlisted in Co. F., 107th N. Y. Vols., 
and served three years. He was in the battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville and 
Gettysburg, and was afterward with Sherman, and was at Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, 
Resaca, and was wounded at Bentonville, N. C. , in the arm and leg. He is a Re- 
publican in politics and has been constable, which position he now holds, and has 
also been collector. He is a member of James B. Jones Post. In October, 1868, he 
married Susan Smith, daughter of John and Lizzie Shafer, natives of Germany, who 
came to this country and first settled in Baltimore, thence to Pennsylvania, and from 
there to Corning, where Mrs. Shafer died in 1858. Mr. Shafer died in Rathbone in 
1885. Mr. and Mrs. Young have three sons: George W., foreman on a railroad at 
Adrian; John, who resides at home and works on a railroad, and William H., fore- 
man on a railroad at Big Flats. Mr. Young owns fifty acres of land near the village 
of Rathbone. 

Young, N. P., was born in Chenango county, N. Y., November 2, 1838, son of 
Nathan T. and Lucy M. Crandrall Young, he a native of Rhode Island, and she of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 439 

New York, and grandson of Northrup W.. who went to Chenango county,' N. Y., at 
an early day and afterwards to Pennsylvania, where he died. Nathan T. was 
a blacksmith by trade, and came to Addison, and thence to Rathbone, where he 
died. N. P. Young was educated in the common and select schools of Rathbone, and 
followed clerking for several years. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. K, 23d N. Y. Vols., 
and served two years, being at Polk's Retreat, Second Bull Run, South Mountain 
and Antietam. After the war Mr. Young engaged in the mercantile business in 
Rathbone. where he has since had a successful business. He is a Prohibitionist, and 
was postmaster from Lincoln's administration to Cleveland's. He is a member of 
Cameron Mills Lodge, F. & A. M., and James B. Post, No. 579. He married Frances 
E. French of Cameron, and they have had three children: R. P., the station agent 
of Rathbone; M. Annie, and Katie. Mr. Young has been ju.stice of the peace six 
j'ears and town clerk for several years. 

Young, Clement H., was born in Covington, Pa., February 1!), 1834. Francis E. 
Young was born in the town of Corning in 1810. His father, George Young, was a 
native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Francis Young was in early life a 
tailor, later a merchant and a clothing salesman in New York city, and died at 
Painted Post in 1892. Clement was the second son of .a family of four children, and 
was educated in the common schools and Prattsburg Academy and his first occupa- 
tion was in the banking business with C. F. Piatt, and at the same time he studied 
law with Mr. Piatt who was a lawyer, remaining there until he was twenty-one, 
when he went to New York to take the position of assistant bookkeeper with John 
Thompson, the celebrated banker. One year later he went to Chicago and was cor- 
responding clerk with F. Granger Adams for four years. He returned to Painted 
Post, and for three years was employed in a milling establishment. During the war 
he occupied a position in the quartermaster's department and in 1865 he came to 
Hornellsville to take the position of teller of the First National Bank. In 1869 he 
engaged in the insurance business with Crane, Coys & Young, and two years later 
the firm became Coys & Young and existed as such for three years In 1874 he be. 
came a partner in the furniture manufacturing company of Dietsch, Tschachtli & 
Co., and continued in that until 1883, when he became a partner in tlic drug business 
in the firm of Reed & Young which existed for six years, and in 1889 he established 
an independent business on Loder street, and one year later established the Main 
street store now conducted by his son Ralph. In 1809 he married Anna Stearns 
Hubbard, daughter of Alphonso Hubbard of Paterson, N. J., by whom he had two 
children: Ralph, who conducts the Main street store, and Frank who is engaged as 
bookkeeper in the lumber mill in Paterson, N J. 

Shattuck, Ur. S. E., was born in the village of Branchport, Yates county, N. Y., 
May 29, 1829. He was the second of a family of four children, and receiving his ed- 
ucation in the common schools and Franklin Academy, he first followed teaching for 
a few terms and at the age of twenty took up the study of medicine with Dr. D. N. 
Newton of Towanda, Pa., and after one year began a three years' course with Dr. E. 
Doubleday of Yates county, N. Y. He was for three terms a student of (ieneva 
Medical College and Buffalo University, graduating from the former institution in 
June, 1851. The same year be came to Hornellsville and was in the continuous prac- 
tice of the profession until his death. Shattuck Opera House block is a monument to 



440 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

his industry and perseverance. He was once the president of the village of Hornells- 
ville, and in 1878 represented his town on the Board of Supervisors. He was married 
in July, 1851, to Harriet, daughter of John B. Hininan of Bradford county, Pa. They 
have one daughter living. Miss Hattie Shattck. 

Smith, Hobart Clinton, was bom on the farm where he now resides, April 18, 1859, 
son of Abram Smith, a native of Schuyler county, who was born May 2, 1818, and 
came to this town when he was a lad of ten or twelve years, and has always followed 
farming until lately when he retired from all active work. He was the father of ten 
children, five of whom are living. Hobart was the third son, was educated in the 
common schools and Hornellsville Academy, made his home on the old homestead 
farm, being associated with his father until 1883 when he was married and worked 
the farm on shares until 1892 and then bought it. This farm contains eighty acres 
on division 18, and the principal products raised on it are grain and potatoes. Mr. 
Smith is a member of East Avenue Methodist church of which he is steward. He 
was married April 18, iss;i, to Belle, daughter of John Leonard of Schuyler county, 
and they have three children: Lena M., Edith Elmira, and the baby, Carrie Mildred. 

Smith, William K. , was born in the town of Birdsall, Allegany county, N. Y.. June 
12, 1853. Patrick Smith, his father, was a native of Ireland and came to this coun- 
try in 1848. He was a farmer in Allegany county until 1868, when he came to Hor- 
nellsville, where he died iu 1873 at fifty-two years of age. William was the oldest 
of a family of seven children that reached adult age. He was given a good educa- 
tion in the common schools of Allegany and Steuben counties, and his first occupa- 
tion was as a carpenter, which he followed until twenty-five years of age, when he 
took up railroading, which he followed for five years, and then was a carpenter un- 
til 1888. Mr. Smith has always been a warm supporter of the Democrat party and 
its principles, and the 5'ear named, when the city of Hornellsville was organized, he 
was the choice of his many friends for the honor of nomination for city chamber- 
lain, to which office he was elected over one of the most popular Republicans, and 
his qualification for the office was proven by his re-election in 1890. and in 1892 he 
was nut only nominated by his own party, but endorsed by the Republicans; renom- 
inated in 1894. he was defeated by factional troubles in his own party. The fall of 
1895 he was appointed deputy postmaster, which office he now holds. He has been 
an officer of the C. M. B. A. since 1879, and financial secretary for twelve years ; also 
recording secretary of the A. O. H. since 1890, and corresponding secretary for the 
same length of time. He has been trustee of St. Ann's church for twenty years. 
In 1876 he married Ann O'Connor of Binghamton, by whom he had seven children, 
six of whom are living. 

Schwingle, George, was born in Cohocton, August 11, 1851. Both paternal and 
maternal ancestors are of German origin. Henry, the father of George, came to 
this country in 1842, when he was fifteen years of age. His parents settled in the 
town of Wayland, and it was here his boyhood was spent. After his marriage he 
moved to Cohocton and bought a farm, where he has since made his home. He is 
now living retired in the village of Cohocton. George, the oldest of a family of eight 
children, was educated in the common schools and by reading and study alone, and 
at sixteen years of age started for hiijiself, two years at farming, and in 1809 he 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 441 

went as an apprentice with H. W. Gasney, a tinsmith of Wayland, where he spent 
three years, and was then employed with Steffen & Beebe of Dansville until 1874 
That year he started in business with a cou.sin in Wayland, under the firm name of 
Schwingle & Tess, until 1880, and then sold out and was employed with Kimball, 
Morris & Co. until the spring of 1882. He then located in Hornellsville and took 
charge of Sheldon Bros.' shop, where he remained until the spring of 1893. He and 
his brother conducted a business under the firm name of Schwingle Bros., and in 
1894 they took a partner, Edward Davis, and the firm since is Schwingle & Davis, 
Mr. Schwingle represented the First Ward on the board of alderman in 1891-92. He 
has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1886, Hornellsville Lodge, No. 
331, Steuben Chapter, No. 101, Hornellsville Council, No. ,35, De Molay Council, 
No. 22, Hornellsville Consistory (32d degree), No. 40. He has passed all chairs of 
the lodge but master, and is one of the trustees this year. In 1878 he married Mary 
E. Warkley of Dansville. 

Sweeney, Dr. James M., was born in New Orleans, November 12, 1867, the sec- 
ond son of Capt. James Sweeney, who was a native of Ireland, and who came to 
this country about 1860. During the war he was captain of a vessel on the Missis- 
sippi, but also held a commission as a sea captain. 'James M. was educated in the 
city schools of New Orleans, and took a collegiate course at St. Vincent's College, 
Cape Girardeau, graduating from there June 22, 1887. He then took up the study 
of medicine, first taking a course at Niagara University, Buffalo, N. Y., graduating 
May 2, 1892, with the degree of M. D. He began practice at New Orleans, La., 
where he spent one year, and then, December 3, 1893, located in Hornellsville, 
where he has since been engaged in the practice of the profession. He is the deputy 
supreme examiner of the Sexennial Leag^ie, and is also a member of the Hornells- 
ville Medical and Surgical association. In May, 1893, he married Anna L. McKeon 
of Hornellsville, by whom he has two children- Gerald Joseph and Margaret Frances. 

Sylvester, Dr. Franklin E., was born in the town of Dansville, Steuben county, 
N. Y., November 3, 1864. Gideon C, the father of the doctor, was also a native of 
this county, while his father, Enoch, was a native of Vermont. The latter came 
w'ith his father, Charles, from Vermont about 1820 and settled in Dansville, where 
the family have ever since resided. They have been a family of agriculturists. 
Gideon C. is now living retired in Arkport. He served his country in the late war. 
Franklin was educated in the common schools and Rogersville Union Seminary and 
took up the study of medicine with Dr. J. E. Walker in the fall of 1884, and en- 
tered the medical department of the University of New York in 1886, graduating 
from that institution March 8, 1888. He was chief of clinic and attending surgeon 
of the orthepaedic department of the University of New York, and also postgrad- 
uate of the school and hospital of New York from 1888 until 1890. He was then 
secretary of Sydenham Postgraduate and Surgeon of Orthopaedic until 1893. The 
fall of that year he located in Arkport, where he has since been engaged in the 
practice of the profession. The doctor is a member of the New York City Medical 
Association and al.so of the Hornellsville Surgical and Medical Association. He is 
a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 27, F. & A. M. ; was married to Miss Anna 
J. Bancroft of New York city. May 30, 1888. They have one child, born August 9, 
1890, Harold Frank Sylvester. 



442 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Smith, Frank S., was born in the town of Amity, Allegany county, N. Y , June 8, 
1853. Stephen R. Smith was a native of Berlin, Rensselaer county, N. Y., and was 
one of ihe early settlers in Western New York, born in 1787. He was a soldier in 
the war of 1812. He was prominently identified with public and political affairs and 
was one of the founders of Alfred University. He moved from Alfred to Amity about 
lt*50 and spent his last days in <hat town. He was a Mason when it meant danger to 
acknowledge it. He died March 23, 1863, at seventy-six years of age. The mother 
of Frank S. , Tapher Eymer, was a native of Allegany county, of Holland descent. 
She died May 21, 1882, sixty-two years of age. They were the parents of four chil- 
dren, of which Frank was the oldest son. He was educated in the common schools 
of Allegany county, and his first occupation was on the farm until eighteen years of 
age. At that age he began an apprenticeship at the painter's trade, which he has 
always followed. He located in Hornellsville in 1886, and after serving one year in 
mercantile pursuits. June, 1887. he entered the F.rie shops and has ever since been 
in the employ of this company; and assistant foreman for the last five years. He 
was married, January 18, 1888, to Miss Elan Millspaugh, of Canada. Allegany county. 
They have one child, Edna Charlotte Smith, now in her third year. 

Santee, Mrs. Rachel. — John Santee was born at West Cameron. Steuben county, 
N. Y., February 6, 1817. Isaac Santee, the father of John, was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania and a farmer. John was the oldest son of a family of five sons and 
three daughters. He was educated in the common schools, and began teaching 
when about twenty years of age, following that for about twelve years. In 1842 
in partnership with his father they bought a grist mill at Scio, which he conducted 
for five years; with all the difficulties of getting a start in the world, their mill was 
the foundation of his future business. In 1847 he returned to the farm which he con- 
ducted until 1864, and that year he located in Hornellsville. He has always been 
a speculator in lumber, cattle, sheep, etc., and furnished material for the railroad 
company. He was a very active business man and employed many men in various 
enterprises he was interested in. In his younger days he conducted a market and 
would furnish his men with provisions and meat. He was always interested in 
school work and a supporter of the church ; was one of the benefactors of the city 
and built a number of fine residences and also the Santee block at the comer of 
Main street and Hakes avenue, and also the Carr House on Hakes avenue. John 
Santee, with Mr. McMaster, was the founder of the Citizens" National Bank. He was 
member of the Masonic fraternity and a Knight Templar. At the time of his death, 
which occurred October 8. 1890, the whole community mourned. He was married, 
October 1, 1840. to Miss Rachel, daughter of Phineas Stephens of Greenwood. They 
are the parents of three sons: Addison, of Hornellsville, retired; Isaac, of Hornells- 
ville, retired, and J. E. B. Santee of the Citizens' National Bank. Mrs. Santee is 
still hale and hearty, now in her seventy-third year. 

Shattuck, Stephen D., was born in Cohocton, N. Y., April 5, 1828 son of Lucius 
and Hattie (Chamberlain) Shattuck. His grandfather, Joseph Shattuck, was a sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary war. He came from Pompey, Onondaga county, to Cohoc- 
ton as early as 1812, and took up a farm about a mile west of Wallace, where 
he remained until his death, which occurred in 1822. His children were Joseph, 
Stephen, Eli, Chester, Truman, Alfred and Lucius. Lucius Shattuck settled in 



f 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 443 

Cohocton. He was a shoemaker by trade, which business he followed for many 
years, and was also engaged in farming. He was elected town clerk in 1823, and 
held that office for twenty-three years. He died in 1852. His children were Alfred^ 
Nelson, Tyler. Milo, Stephen D., Lucius S. , and Harriett, deceased, who married 
Alexander Sayles. S. D. Shattuck settled in Cohocton, where, with the exception of 
three years spent at Painted Po-st and three at Toledo, Ohio, he has always lived. 
He began life as a clerk in a store, and in 1849 became a partner with Henry G. 
Hlood, in the mercantile business at Cohocton, continuing until 18.")!. From 1858 to 
180:! he was again engaged in the mercantile business at Cohocton, and in the latter 
year he removed to Toledo, but returned to Cohocton in 186(). and from that time 
until 1885, was engaged in the mercantile business. From 1885 to 1889 he was post- 
master at Cohocton, and in 1890 purchased the Cohocton Valley Times, and has since 
published that paper. He has been town clerk for several years, also collector, and 
was supervisor for five years. In 1873 he was elected member of assembly and re- 
elected in 1874. In 1850 Mr. Shattuck married Rachel A. Mills, of Cohocton, by 
whom he had two children; Charles B., and Emma G. (Mrs. O. S. Searl), both of 
Cohocton. 

Santee, Isaac, was born in West Cameron, February 21, 1845, the second son of 
John Santee. Isaac was educated in the common schools of his native town and 
private school at Hornellsville and Rogersville Academy. Mr. Santee has acquired 
a knowledge of mathematics. He was engaged with his father in the building busi- 
ness and was manager of that department of John Santee's manj- enterprises. After 
giving that up, in 1873 he entered the employ of the Erie railroad, first as a brake- 
man and then as baggageman, and at the time of his father's sickness he returned to 
the east where he has since made his home. He is engaged in the real estate busi- 
ness having a number of residences in charge. Mr. Santee has been twice married, 
August 4, 1864, to Miss Emily Hallett of the town of Canisteo. She died December 
1, 1890, leaving four children, three sons and one daughter. He was again married 
May 1, 1892, to Miss Ada M. King, a daughter of Philip King, a lumberman of Canis- 
teo. They have one child, Rachel M. Santee. 

Starr, Samuel F., was born in the town of Newfield, Tompkins county, N. Y., De- 
cember 12, 1835. John Starr, the father of Samuel, was also a native of Tompkins 
county, a farmer by occupation, who died in 1879. Samuel was the youngest son of 
a family of ten children, was given a good common school education, and at the age 
of eighteen began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade in Greenwood, Steuben 
county, whence the people removed in 1838. He served three years as an apprentice, 
and at twenty-one years of age established a shop for himself in Greenwood, where 
he continued for two years and then removed to Canisteo, where he conducted a 
business for twelve years. The fall of 1873 he came to Hornellsville and bought a 
shop on Seneca street, was burned out the year following and then bought Randall 
Haynor's shop on Carr street, where he has ever since been located. Mr. Starr was 
married in 1857 to Miss Catherine McClay of Greenwood, and they are the parents of 
four children: Frank M. Starr, a partner in the blacksmith shop; Sarah, the wife of 
John True, yardmaster of the N. Y. C. at Buffalo, and Charles, a clerk in the store of 
W. H. Willett in Hornellsville. 

Taylor, John D., was born on a farm near the village of Arkport, December 4, 



444 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

1868. Thomas Taylor, the father of John, is a native of Livingston county. He 
came to Steuben in 1855 and has ever since made his home here, engaged in farm- 
ing. John is the second son of a family of six children. He was educated in the 
common schools and Alfred Academy and his first occupation was on the farm and 
teaching for two years. In 1889 he engaged in the mercantile business, in partner- 
ship with his brother, establishing a general store under the firm name of Taylor 
Brothers, which firm is still in existence. John U. is also the postmaster of Arkport, 
appointed in 1894. • The firm of Taylor Brothers in the spring of 1895 added the 
dealing in produce to their business, and are now extensive dealers in grains and 
potatoes and all farm produce. The .season of 1895 they handled about 75,000 bushels 
of potatoes alone at Arkport and Hornellsville, where they have a branch establish- 
ment. These gentlemen are also interested in the cultivation of potatoes, and also in 
farming. 

- Tuttle, Erasmus D., was born in Columbia, Chenango county, N. Y., in 1835. He 
was given a good education and finished at Norwich Academy; for a number of 
years he taught in the winter and followed the making of cheese in the summer. He 
moved to Holmesville about 1868 after his return from the army. He was for three 
years a soldier of the Rebellion, his closing service being with the 7th N. Y. Light 
Artillery, and was for a time m the office of the provost marshal. He followed 
cheese making in Holmesville, where he built a large factory which burned in 1878. 
and two years later he moved to Hornellsville, where he was for a while engaged in 
dairying on his brother's farm imtil 1884, and that year he built a large cold storage 
warehouse on "West Main street, where he began dealing in all kinds of farm pro- 
duce, continuing in that business until the time of his death, which occurred Septem- 
ber 11, 1893. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and a Chapter Mason. He 
was twice married ; his first wife was Nancy J. Sexton, by whom he had the follow- 
ing children: the oldest, Merton L., died February 28, 1894, twenty-eight years of 
age; Harley C. is a machinist of Horton, Kansas; Clifton S. has followed his father's 
footsteps as a business man, and April 1 , 1893. he established a store at 22 Canisteo 
street, where he was joined in September of the same year by William D. Series, his 
father-in-law, the firm name being Tuttle & Series. Ha was married in 1893 to Miss 
Nellie L. Series. Another son of E. D. Tuttle is Frank A., who is a clerk in his 
brother's store; the daughter, Mi.ss Ella A., is a teacher of the common school of 

North Norwich. 

Taggart, George F., was born in the town of Hornellsville on the farm of his pres- 
ent residence September 16, 1858. Christopher H., his father, was also a native of 
this place, born March IT, 1813, and James Taggart his father, was one of the first 
settlers of the town, coming from Northumberland, Pa., about 1797, and taking up a 
tract of 110 acres of this farm and a half interest in 100 acres on the west side of the 
highway and also land in Albany and Livingston counties. James had but two 
children: Christopher H., and Mary, who married Dr. Cadey. Christopher married 
Elisa Griswold of Dansville, and they were the parents of two children : Mrs. Sarah 
L. Beardsley of Elmira, and George F. Christopher Taggart died September 18, 
1887. Mrs. Taggart is still living. George was given a common school education, 
and followed in the footsteps of his ancestors on the farm. He is a member of Oasis 
Lodge, No. 251, I. O. O. F. October 26, 1892, he married Kittie, daughter of David 
Davidson, a blacksmith of Canaseraga. They have one child, James Taggart. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 445 

Shoemaker, Daniel, was born in Bath, September 22, 1855. Daniel Shoemaker, his 
father, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, and came to Bath about 1850, and married 
Elizabeth Kelley, and was identified as a farmer. Daniel, jr., was educated at Hav- 
erling Academy, and in 1888 established his present business as buyer and shipper 
of hay, grain, produce, lumber, etc., with an average shipment of 8,000 tons of hay 
and straw. In 1882 he married Cora E., daughter of Jacob Suell, by whom he had 
one child, Alice. 

Sutton, A. O., was born in the town of Thurston, May 8, 1854. His father, Alex- 
ander Sutton, was born in Pulteney, where his father, Peter, settled about 1812. He 
married Mary, daughter of Benjamin Decker, and through life was engaged in farm- 
ing, dying at the age of seventy-si.\ years. Alexander Sutton married Mary, daugh- 
ter of John Richmeyer, by whom he had three sons: Oscar, John A., and A. O. 
The latter married Sarah Look, who died in 1887. Mr. Sutton afterwards married 
Catherine, daughter of B. F. Wilbur, by whom he had two children: William and 
Azel. Mr. Sutton is one of the practical and successful farmers of the town, taking 
an active interest in school and church affairs. 

Smith, Hessel, was born in Seneca county, October 20, 1820, son of Ammeron 
Smith, who was a native of Goshen, Orange county. He married Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Jacob Seager, and they came to Steuben county in 1827, settled in the town of 
Urbana, and were among the pioneers of that town, giving his influence toward the 
advancement of education and religion. He died in 1856 in hife fiftieth year. In 
1843 Hessel Smith married Lydia, daughter of Ralph Van Houten, who was also one 
of the pioneers of Urbana settling there in 1815, and one of the founders of the first 
Baptist church in that town. He died in 1868 in his seventy-fourth year. Mr. Smith 
has served as assessor, highway commissioner, and excise commissioner. 

Tiffany, E. O. — Orlando Tiffany was born in the town of Schodack, Rensselaer 
county, December 4. 1819. His father, Willis N. Tiffany, married Betsey Webster 
for his first wife, and after her death married Bertha Hall. He came to Bath in 
1833 and engaged in carding and cloth finishing He died in 1859. Orlando finished 
his education at Bath, and then learned his father's trade. In 1842 he came to Ka- 
nona and engaged in the same business, and from 1844 to 1854 was engaged in 
various occupations, among them being a trip to the Isthmus of Panama, and from 
1854 to 1889 he served as agent for the N. Y & L. E. R. R., a continuous service of 
thirty-five years. In 1863 he married Jennie, daughter of Jacob Waters, and they 
are the parents of one son, Edward O., who was educated at Haverling Academy, 
then learned telegraphy and engaged in railroad work, and now fills a position occu- 
pied by his father for forty-three years. 

Sutton, Marvin C, was born in Marion, Wayne county, N, Y., April 25, 1836, son 
of Jason and Amanda (Case) Sutton, he a nativeof Homer, N. Y., and she of Marion, 
N. Y. The grandfather spent his last days in Homer, N. Y. Jason Sutton, father 
of Marvin, went to Palmyra, thence to Rochester, and finally settled in Marion, but 
died in Tioga county in 1881, and his wife died in 1854. He was a tailor by trade. 
Marvin C. was reared on a farm and educated in the common school. He isa wagon- 
maker by trade, and lived in Tioga county. Pa., and in 1882 came to Woodhull, 
purchased fifty-seven acres of land and makes a specialty of tobacco raising. De- 



446 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

cember 4, 1859. he married Susan M. Smith, a native of Charleston, Tioga county. 
Pa., by whom he had three children: Ellen, George H. and Charles W. Mr. Sutton 
enlisted in Co. H, Forty-fifth Pa. Vols., and served fourteen months, and lost his 
forefinger in an exp'osion at Otter Island, S. C. , by a Harper's Ferry musket. 

Symonds, Radcliff F., was born in Troupsburg, October 29, 1854, son of William 
and Ann Park Symonds, he a native of Oxford, Chenango county, N. Y., and she of 
Binghamton. The grandfather, Watkins Symonds, was a native of Massachusetts 
and came to Chenango county, where he died. The maternal grandfather came to 
Binghamton and owned thirty acres of land. The father of Radcliff came to Troups- 
burg about 1830, where he died in April, 1876. He was a Republican, and was 
assessor for several years. In religion he was a Presbyterian. Radcliff was brought 
up on a farm and educated in the common schools and WoodhuU Academy. He fol- 
lowed farming and came to Woodhull March 1, 1881. and bought a farm of lloacres, 
which he now owns, and makes a specialty of tobacco raising. He is a Republican 
and was constable for some time m Troupsburg. He is a member of the Restoration 
Lodge, No. 777, F. & A. M., and Addison Chapter, No. 146, R. A. M. In November, 
1876, Mr. Symonds married Hulda Carpenter, a native of Troupsburg, a daughter of 
William Carpenter, who is mentioned in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Symonds have 
been born five children. 

Stroud, William, was born July 13, 1827, son of Edward L. and Alniira (Guern- 
sey) Stroud, he a native of New Jersey and she of Connecticut, who came to Wood- 
hull in 1820, where they died, he May 18, 1873, and she in 1885. He was a farmer. 
He was a Republican in politics, and was collector and held other minor offices. 
William Stroud was educated in the common schools. He now owns a good farm. 
He is a Republican in politics, and has been constable and assessor. He married 
Susan Davis, by whom he had one child, Annetta, now a widow in Chicago. She 
has two children: Mark M., who lives with Mr. Stroud; and lola, who married Ed- 
ward Barackman, and they live in Santa Monica, Los Angeles county, Cal. 

Tallmadge, Andrew M., M. D., was born in Jasper, N. Y., January 15, 1849, a son 
of Ira S. and Sarah J. (Murphy) Tallmadge. natives of Pennsylvania. The maternal 
grandfather, Andrew Murphy, was a native of Ireland, who came to Pennsylvania, 
and thence moved to Jasper, where he died. Ira S. '1 allmadge came to Jasperabout 
1846, where he and his wife now reside, aged eighty and seventy-five years respec- 
tively. He is a merchant tailor by trade. Andrew M. was reared in Jasper and 
educated m the common schools and Woodhull Academy, and in 1868 began the 
study of medicine with Doctor Ainsworth of Addison and Doctor Purdy of Jasper. He 
then took a course of lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio, then went to Montana, where he 
engaged in practice^ remaining about eight years. He was then interested in min- 
ing until 1888, when he returned to New York, and February 14, 1895, he passed the 
regents' examination in medicine and surgery, and is now a successful physician in 
Woodhull. He was a member of the Illinois State Jledical Society, is a member of 
Restoration Lodge, No. 777. F. & A. M., and of Woodhull Tent, K. O. T. M. In 1862 
Doctor Tallmadge enlisted in Co. H, 161st N. Y. Vols., and served three years and 
four months. He was at Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Mobile, Red River Expedition 
and Sabine Fort. He is a member of Post No. 583, G. A. R. In 1885 he married 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 447 

Addie C. H. Hiller, of Chicago, by whom he has three children: Lucy A., Flossie E. 
and Hazel M. 

Travis, Wesley and Nelson. — Charles B. Travis was born March 23, ISO.!. Amasa 
Travis, his father, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., September 20, ITTO. and De- 
cember 14, ISOO, he married Phoebe Travis, who was born in Dutchess county, De- 
cember 25, 1783, and by whom he had twelve children, nine of whom lived to ma- 
turity. In May, 1801, they moved to Bergen, N. J., where they remained fouryears, 
thence to Shesheqnin, Pa., where they remained one year, and where Charles B. was 
born. In 1806 they moved to Howard, coming through Chimney Narrows at Corn- 
ing, where they were in great peril, their horses losing their footing in the rapid 
water, which was several feet in depth on the narrow roadway. They were the sec- 
ond family settling in Howard, where they occupied a place which had been in the 
possession of a Mr. Hovey. January 28, 18iS4. Charles B. married Sylvia, daughter 
of Richard Crosby, by whom he had eight children: Solomon, Amasa, John C, Wes- 
ley, Cynthia, M. Eleanor, M. Samuel and Nelson C. Wesley Travis was born in 
Canisteo, March 2(), 1842. and was educated in the town and Troupsburg Academy, 
and at twenty-one years of age enlisted in Co. A, 189th N. Y. Vols, and served until 
the end of the war, when he returned home and worked at farming until 1886; since 
then his business has been dealing in stock, cattle, sheep, wool, etc. He owns a farm 
of 740 acres. September 15, 1869, he married Sarah, daughter of F. S. Dennis, of 
Jasper, by whom he had three children: Mabel, deceased ; Elinor and Vernon. Mr. 
Travis is a member of Morning Star Lodge of Masons, No. 65. Nelson Travis was 
bom in Canisteo, May 8, 1851, and was educated in the district schools and Canisteo 
Academy. He began life as a farmer, and later has been buying and shipping wool, 
and November 7, 1894. he moved from his farm to the village of Canisteo. March 
12, 1879, he married Hattie E., daughter of J. B. Foster, by whom he had four chil- 
dren: Nathan J.. Amery E., deceased. Pearl E. and Clarence W. Mr. Travis is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., Mountain Lodge. No. 503. The grandmother was 104 
years and five months old when she died. May 11, 1888. 

Tucker, Daniel A., was born in Troupsburg, Steuben county. May 6, 1842. John 
Tucker, his father, was a native of New York State, where he engaged in farming 
and lumbering. He came to Troupsburg in about 1833, where he held the office of 
supervisor, and < ied in November. 1870. aged seventy-three years. He married 
Lydia . of Boston, Mass., who died July, 1894. aged eighty-three year.s. Dan- 
iel A. was a farmer up to 1875, and since that time has been speculating in cattle, 
and at present devotes his attention to the egg market, and owns a farm in Harts- 
ville, but does not work it. In 1871 he married Jennie, daughter of John Simpson, 
who was one of the early settlers of Troupsburg, and came there about 1833, by whom 
he had three children: John S., who is a stenographer and typewriter, a graduate of 
Canisteo Academy, also of Roberts' Business College; R. B., and Lizzie. 

Travis, James, was born in the town of Canisteo. July 25, 1865. Amory Travis, 
his father, was a well-known farmer of the same town, where he had resided for 
many years, and by his own hands cleared a farm of 180 acres. He was for a num- 
ber of years interested in the lumber business. He married Sarah France, of Jas- 
per, by whom he had four children. James Travis was educated in the district school 



448 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and the academy at Canisteo village, and graduated from Eastman's Business Col 
lege in 1886. He married Amelia, daughter of M. S. Parkhill, of Canisteo, by whom 
he had four children: Ella, Emma, Amory and Clinton. 

Trant, Eugene J., was born in Prattsburg, July 25, 1866. John J. Trant, his father, 
was born in County Kerry, Ireland in 18^5, and in 1852 came to Holyoke, Mass., 
three years later removed to Prattsburg, where he engaged in farming. He mar- 
ried Nora Dean, who died January 30, 1887, by whom he had six children: Mary A., 
James F., a practicing physician of New York, Thomas D., deceased; Eugene J., 
Kate A., and John, deceased. Eugene Trant was educated in the Franklin Acad- 
emy, and since nineteen years of age has been teaching school, and since 1891 teach- 
ing continuously in the grammar department of the Franklin Academy of Pratts 
burgh, and during vacations assists his father on the farm. 

Simpson, Andrew J., was born in Troupsburg, August 27, 1829, and is a son of 
John and Fannie Lamb Simpson, the former being a native of Scipio, Cayuga 
county, N. Y. The maternal grandfather, Amos Lamb, came from Rhode Island to 
the town of Wayne, now Hammondsport, where he lived and died. The paternal 
grandparents, Andrew and Rebecca Simpson, came from Aurora, Cayuga county, 
in 1812, and settled in Jasper, he having been there the previous year, when he cut 
down the first trees where the village of Jasper now stands. He was in the battle 
of Bennington, being only si.Kteen years old. John Simpson was a soldier in the war 
of 1812, and was taken prisoner in company with Winfield Scott, under General 
Brock, at Detroit, and held about one year. He was a harnessmaker by trade, and 
came from Aurora to Jasper, where he married Lucy Reynolds, and two children 
were born to them. For his second wife he married Fannie Lamb Kent, by whom 
he had seven children. He sold his property in Jasper and came to Troupsburg, 
where he died in 1875. Mrs. Simpson died in 1872. Andrew J. was educated at 
Alfred Academy, and commenced farming in Troup.sburg, but in 1877 he went to the 
oil regions, where he remained ten years, and then went to Canisteo, and three years 
later came to Troupsburg, where he has since been engaged in farming on a farm of 
three hundred acres, making a specialty of dairying. In 1852 he married Amenta 
M. Olmsted, sister of Hiram O., mentioned elsewhere, and they have two children: 
Hulda D., who was educated at the Boston Conservatory of Music, and is now a 
teacher of music; and C. E. Simpson, a farmer of Troupsburg, who married Allie 
Wicoff, of Jasper, and they have three children: Ellsworth, Earl W., and Louise. 
Mr. Simpson has been a Republican, but of late years has been identified with the 
Prohibition party. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson are members of the Baptist church. 

Sanford, Howard, was born in Addison, N. Y., April 14, 1864, and is the oldest of 
three children born to Byron and Lucinda Alba Sanford, natives of Troupsburg and 
Tuscarora, and grandson of Seymour and Elizabeth Rodgers Sanford, who came from 
Connecticut and settled in Troupsburg when the country was new. Byron was 
reared on a farm, and educated at Troup.sburg Academy, taught school for a time, 
and then engaged in farming and dealing in stock, and later engaged in the mercan- 
tile business in Troupsburg, which he followed until his death, which occurred 
August 14, 1874. Mrs. Sanford still survives and resides in Troupsburg. Howard 
was educated in Troupsburg, and has always been engaged in the mercantile business 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 449 

and now owns the stock, which consists of a general line of goods, and also keeps a 
supply of flour and feed. In politics he is a Republican, and has been inspector of 
election several times, and is now serving his third term as town clerk. He is a, 
member of Troupsburg Tent, No. 339 K. (). T. M. The parents of Mrs. Sanford 
were Sethand Nancy Mitchell Albee, natives of Rhode Island and of Lawrenceville, 
Pa. Her grandparents were Eliba and Abigail Chilson, who came from Rhode 
Island and settled in Tuscarora. where they lived and died. 

Tapper, Benjamin S. , was born in Corning, in 1870, son of John Tupper, also a 
native of Corning, who was largely interested in the Bradford oil fields and died in 
1872. He married C. Adelia, daughter of Nelson Cowan, one of the pioneers of 
Corning. Benjamin S. Tupper married a daughter of George Rose, and a native of 
Corning. 

Schu. Jacob E., was born in Wayland, N.Y., August 1, 1867. I lis paternal grandfather 
lived and died in Germany. His maternal grandfather, Jacob Hoffman, was born in 

Germany, emigrated and located in Wayland, where he died. He married Kusch, 

and was one of the first settlers of Wayland. Nicholas Schu, father of Jacob E., was 
born in Germany, in 1833, and emigrated to this county at eighteen years of age. He 
married Elizabeth Hoffman, born in Germany in 1835, and emigrated to this country at 
tenj'earsof age. They had five children: Nicholas, jr., Frank N., Maggie, Jacob E., and 
Lizzie. He has been a section hand and foreman on the Erie railroad for thirty- five years. 
Jacob E. was educated in the Union School of Wayland, and subsequently attended 
the Catholic School of Perkinsville, where he learned German. He studied telegra- 
phy at Wayland under the tutorship of John Kennedy and R. C, Neill in 1885, and 
has been engaged by the D. L. & W. Railroad Company for nine years. November 
1, 1890, he was appointed agent and operator at Perkinsville, which position he still 
occupies. At Wayland, November 10, 1891, he married Maggie Conrad, born April 
8, 1869. August 4, 1891, he organized the Perkinsville Hook & Ladder Company, 
which is composed of twenty-six members, and of which he is the foreman. 

Schu, jr.. Nicholas, was born in South Dansville, N. Y., November 18, 1857. His 
paternal grandfather, Frank Schu, died in Tolia, Germany, April 10, 1871, aged 
eighty-four years. His maternal grandfather, Jacob Hoffman, was born in Tolia, 
Germany, emigrated to this country in 1843, settled at Sandy Hill, South Dansville, 
and purchased a farm, where he died in 1877, aged seventy-six years. Nicholas 
Schu, father of Nicholas, jr., was born in Tolia, Germany, in 1832, emigrated to this 
country at twenty-five years of age, and settled in Perkinsville, where he engaged in 
business with Miller Bros., in manufacturing pump logs, which business he followed 
for nine years. He is now engaged on the Erie railroad, where he has been for 
thirty years. He married Elizabeth Hoffman, who was born in Tolia, Germany, 
and emigrated to this country at eleven years of age, by whom he has these children : 
Nicholas, jr., born in South Dansville, November 18, 1857; Frank, born in AVayland, 
in 1859; Margaret, born \n Wayland, in 1861; Jacob, born in 1868; and Elizabeth, 
born in 1873. Nicholas, jr., attended the common schools of Dansville and subse- 
quently finished his education in the Catholic and Union Schools of Wayland. He 
has been village clerk for i\ve years, inspector of election nine years, and is treasurer 
of Champion Hook & Ladder Company of Wayland, At Wayland in 1883, he mar- 



450 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

ried Margaret Rauber, born in AVaj-land in 1859. Mr. Schu is now the proprietor of 
the Commercial House of Wayland, where he has been for five years. He run the 
Wayland House for two years, and was also engaged in the same business in Roch- 
ester, N. Y., for three years. 

Thompson, Rev. Jacob W.. was born in York county. Pa., in 1867. The family 
are of English and German descent. His father, Henry Thompson, was born in 
York county, Pa., in 1835. He married Catherine Weiser, born in York county, Pa., 
in 1835, by whom he had four children: Jacob, as above; William P., born in 1869; 
Ellen E. and Eliza S., born in 1872. Mr. Thompson is a retired farmer. Jacob 
W. was educated in the common schools of his native town, attended a term at the 
York County Normal School, after which he was at a private academy for one year. 
He then taught school for two years, when he entered Central Pennsylvania College. 
In 1889 he entered the ministry, spent one year in Howard, Center county, Pa., and 
in 1890 removed to Williamsport, Pa., where he was pastor of St. Paul's church for 
two years. He moved to Grover, Pa., where he was pastor of Grover Mission. In 
April, 1894, he moved to Wayland, where he circulated a petition, and subsequently 
built one of the finest churches in the town, at a cost of S3, 800. The edifice is of 
modern architecture. The membership is increasing rapidly and bids fair to be one 
of the largest congregations in the place. The church is known as the United Evan- 
gelical church. Mr. Thompson is a member of Amazon Lodge, No. 662, I. O. O. F., 
of Williamsport, Pa., also a member of Canton Lodge of F. & A. M., No. 415, Can- 
ton, Pa. March 19, 1891, at Louisville. Ohio, he married Orionto I. Rohland, born 
at Homeworth, Ohio, in 1872, daughter of Rev. I. A. Rohland, D. D., born at Clear- 
field, Pa., and died in 1893, aged forty-six years. He married Rebecca C. Stiff er, 
born in Indiana county, Pa. , in 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had two children : 
Edna Fern, born at Grover, Pa., January 6, 1893; and Ethel May, born at Wayland, 
July 8, 1894. 

Thorp, Andrew, was born August 4, 1835. His maternal grandfather, Jesse 
Brown, died in Canadice, Ontario county, aged eighty years. William Thorp, 
father of Andrew, was born in Delaware, and died in 1865, aged fifty-five years. He 
married Amanda E. Brown, who was born in Camillus, Onondaga county, and died 
in Wayland in 1885, aged seventy-two years. They had these children; Wheeler 
\V., born February 15, 1833; Andrew, as above; Lucius, deceased; Phihp and Sarah. 
Andrew Thorp has always followed farming, and now owns the farm which his 
father purchased in 1838. He is a member of Phoeni.x Lodge, No. 115, of F. & A. 
M., of Dansville. At Springwater, N. Y., he married Mary Ingraham, born in 1833, 
by whom he had these children; Byron A., born September 25, 1866, married Daisy 
Thomas, and resides in Chicago. He attended school at Lima and was graduated 
from the Rochester Business University. Oda, born January 13, 1872, and died 
March 12, 1873; Carl, born July 25, 1875, and died February 25, 1876; and Anna, 
born March 27, 1878. 

Swarthout, D. E., was born in Wayne, Steuben county, N. Y., August 31, 1826, 
son of Andrew D. and Johanna (French) Swarthout. Andrew Swarthout was born in 
Seneca, and came with his parents, Anthony and Elizabeth Swarthout, who were 
among the very first settlers of the town of Wayne. Andrew Swarthout was a very 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 451 

active man and followed farming until the time of his death in 1882, at eighty years 
of age. Mrs. Swarthout died in 1889. He was a Democrat in politics, and for many 
years was assessor. D. E. Swarthout has always been a farmer and fruit grower. 
In 18bfi he married Ursula Sunderlin, sister of Judge Sunderlin of Watkins. Mr. 
Swarthout is a Democrat in politics, and has been supervisor two terms, and assessor 
nine j'ears. 

Stratton, Oscar B., was born in Fallsburgh, Sullivan county, N. Y., in 1834, son of 
the late Thomas Stratton, who was of an old Connecticut family, and an early settler 
in Sullivan county, where the remainder of his life was spent. His wife, the mother 
of Oscar B., was Clarissa Smith. Mr. Stratton acquired the basis of his education in 
the common schools, and remained at home on the farm imtil twenty-one years of 
age, then went to Tioga and learned the tanner's trade, which has constituted his 
chief business since. In 18.")9 he became foreman of a tannery near Elmira, where 
he remained four years, at the expiration of which time he purchased the Addison 
tannery, of which he became sole owner in 1880, and of which he has continued to 
act as superintendent for the last two years. In politics Mr. Stratton is a Republican, 
and in 1889 he became sheriff. In 18.J9 he married Mary, daughter of P. S. Settle, of 
Tioga, and they have one daughter, Ellen. 

Shockey, Charles O., was born in Elmira, in 1841. William Shockey, his father, 
had been a resident of Addison twenty years prior to his death, which occurred in 
1881, aged seventy-four years. He was a carpenter and joiner. Charles Shockey 
came to Addison in 1863, and opened a livery business, two years later removing to 
Titusville, Pa., and returning to Addison in 18(i6. He has also been engaged in the 
carpenter business, having learned that trade from his father at Elmira. In 18TT he 
opened a liquor store at his present location, and in 1895 took an agency for the sale 
of D. M. Osborne & Co.'s agricultural machinery. He has also large farming inter- 
ests, in 1892 purchasing a farm of 300 acres, which he leases. He was for four years 
a trustee of the village, and is treasurer of the fire department. 

Shaver, M. H., was born in the town of Bath, August 1, 1847, son of Hiram 
Shaver, who was born in Montgomery county, N. Y. , and came to the town of Bath 
about sixty years ago, where he resided until 1854, at which time he removed to the 
town of Avoca. where he lived until 1892. He cleared a farm in Avoca of 240 acres. 
He married Parmelia, daughter of M. Shults, of Montgomery county, who came to 
Avoca at the same time Mr. Shaver located here. They have five children : M. H., 
Rose Baldwin, Nancy, now Mrs. Moore, Aaron, and Andrew, deceased. Mr. Shaver 
was educated in the town of Avoca, and makes a business of farming, now living on 
the homestead where he was born. He married Phoebe, daughter of Jacob Cook, of 
Montgomery county, and they have two children: Mertie and Hattie. Mr. Shaver 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also a member of the Grange. 

Salt-sman, Hiram, was born in Montgomery county, June 20, 1808. George Salts- 
man, his father, was born in the same county and in the same house. He was a 
farmer, and married Catherine Copernoll, by whom he had five children : Fannie, 
Betsey, Benjamin, John, and Hiram. He died in Montgomery county, aged forty- 
eight years. Hiram Saltsnian was educated in Montgomery county, after which he 
followed farming. In 1804 he came to Avoca and settled on the farm of 250 acres, 



452 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

which he now owns and where he resides. He married Mary, daughter of William 
Nellis of Palatine, by whom he had five children: Laurence, Eli, Elijah, William, 
and Irving. Three of the sons are at home with their father. 

Smith, James A., was born in Middlefield, Otsego county, N.Y., January 25, 1827, 
and settled in Cameron with his parents in 1836. He is a son of Richard and Sarah 
(Bristol) Smith and the oldest of eleven children: James A., Ceylon, Margaret, Eliza, 
Mary, Richard, Marcia, all living, and Hannah, Doane, Amanda, and Jane, deceased. 
James A. married Maria Hallett in 1851, who died December 12, 1890, leaving five 
children: Mary Burrett, John R., Rogene, James A., jr., and Frank H. James A. 
enlisted in the Construction Corps, under E. L. Wintz, in 1864 and went to Chat- 
tanooga on railroad work. September 19, 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 189th N. Y. 
Vols., and was promoted at Washington to regimental quartermaster and served 
until the end of the war. He was at Appomatto.K Court House when Lee surren- 
dered. Mr. Smith has been justice of sessions for five }-ears, justice of the peace 
for a number of years, deputy sheriff, collector, and constable. He is the oldest 
Mason in the town and belongs to Cameron Mills F. & A. M., Lodge No. 543, and 
has held every office in the lodge except master. 

Selleck, Zeno C, is a son of Zeno C. Selleck, who came to this county in 1822 and 
married Weltha, a daughter of Capt. Samuel Baker, who settled in Howard in 1812. 
Capt. Samuel Baker was in the war of 1812 and also in the Revolutionary war and 
was taken prisoner and carried to Montreal, where he was exchanged. He had a 
family of six children: Daniel, Arbane, Phebe, Travis, Weltha Selleck, Cynthia Mc- 
Duffy, and Eveline Miles. Mr. and Mrs. Selleck, sr., had twelve children: Noah, 
Phebe, Cole, Samuel D., Margaret Loid, Cynthia, Weltha, Zeno C, John, Weltha 
Jane, Perableton, Milton, and another. Zeno C. married Marinda, daughter of 
Willard and Elizabeth (Eddy) Bailey, by whom he had four children: Edwin, 
Aurilla Harrison, Zeno, and Emma J. Rowen. He is a farmer and owns a farm of 
157 acres. Mr. Selleck and family are members of the Baptist church. He is a 
Mason and belongs to Cameron Mills Lodge No. 547. 

Smith, Warden, was born in Campbell, August 17, 1838. Avra Smith, his father, 
was a native of Chenango county, and came to the town of Campbell in 1825, and 
settled near what is known as Cooper's Plains. He married Clarice White of 
Chenango county, N. Y., by whom he had eight children: Amos, Austin, Lucinda, 
Jane, Warden, Isaiah, who was killed in the late war; Clarice, Almetia. Warden 
Smith is a manufacturer of chairs, and makes a specialty of office and hotel chairs, 
and also conducts a farm of seventy-one acres. He married Jennie, daughter of 
Mary Richards, by whom he had two children: Freddie and Chester, who are at 
home with their parents. He is a member of the K. of H., also a member of the 
Baptist church, and in politics is a Democrat. 

Switzer, Mary A. — Jacob Switzer was born in the town of Bradford, January 16' 
1820, son of William Switzer, who was a farmer. Jacob Switzer was also a farmer, 
and in 1847 he settled on a farm now occupied by his widow, Mary Switzer. He died 
October 25, 1874, aged fifty-four years. He married Mary A., daughter of Daniel 
Clark of Campbell, by whom he had six children: Byron, Wallace, Melvin, Ella, 
Clara, and Emma. In politics Mr. Switzer was a Republican. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 453 

Smith, Fremont C. was born on his present home farm in Caton, in 1858, son of 
Emory O. and Sarah Ann (Sawyer) Smith. Deacon Titus Smith, the grandfather of 
Fremont C, was born in Chenango county in 1801, and located in Caton in 1823 or 
'23. Emory O. was the oldest of the family and lived here all his life. He died in 
1893, aged sixty-seven years. The mother is still living. He has part of the old 
homestead of fifty-three acres, and follows general farming. 

Tobey, Christopher, of Caton, was born in Susquehanna county. Pa., in 1836, and 
when eleven years old came to Caton with his parents. Amaziah Tobey 2d and 
Nancy Read Tobey, natives of Otsego county, N. Y., and Susquehanna county. Pa. 
Mr. Tobey is the oldest of a farmily of nine children raised to maturity. In 1863 he 
married Mary P. Seyter, a native of Germany. He has followed farming all his 
life and is considered one among the most successful farmers of the county. His 
farm consists of 240 acres, and he makes a specialty of stock raising and dairying. 
He has two sons; George N., and Charles L. Dr. Christopher Tobey, the grand- 
father, formerly from Otsego county, died in Caton. 

Tobias, James S., was born in the town of Vrbana, February 10, 1832, educated 
in the public schools and Bradford Academy, read law with Clark Bell, of Hammonds- 
port, was admitted to the bar December 5, 1861, commenced practicing in Bradford, 
and settled at Painted Post April 1, 1867, where he has a successful business. Mr. 
Tobias has held the office of justice thirty-four years, twenty-eight in this town, and 
six in the town of Bradford. 

Shepard, George W., was born in October 26, 1823. His grandfather, Jacob 
Shepard, was born in England in 1742. He followed coopering on the sea, and was 
at New Haven at the time it was burned by the English. He came to Greenwood, 
Steuben county, N. Y., where he died. Obed Shepard, father of George W., was 
born in New Haven, Conn., August 24, 1786. He was a farmer and came to Tomp- 
kins county, thence to Greenwood, Steuben county, and from there to Wisconsin, 
where he died at seventy-one years of age. He married Lucilva, daughter of Will- 
iam SpauUling, who was born January 3, 1791, and died March 30, 1862, by whom he 
he had seven children: William D., Bradley, Sally M., Susan M., George W., as 
above, Calvin, and Harriett Jane. George W. has a good common school education, 
and has been a blacksmith in Hornellsville for about thirty-five years. He is now 
located on a farm of 160 acres, on Big Creek, five miles from Hornellsville. He mar- 
ried Rebecca, daughter of Philo Walbridge of Hornellsviille, by whom he had four 
children: Lida L., born June 10, 1849, and died at eleven yeais of age; Jane L. , 
born April 10, 18.51, and died at nine years of age; Mary Jane, born April 21, 1855, 
and married Hiram Spaulding, and they have one child, George H. ; and George H., 
born March 30, 1863, and who married Alice Donum, and works his father's farm. 

Smith, Dr. Clarence F., was born in Friendship, Allegany county, N. Y. , Decem- 
ber 16, 1855, son of George W. Smith, a native of Bath, Steuben county, who mar- 
ried Ellen Howe of Cortland county, N. Y., by whom he had nine children. The 
maternal grandparents, Albert and Eliza Howe, were pioneers of Cortland, and 
large land owners, and he was a soldier in the war of 1812. George W. Smith is a 
manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes at Friendship, N. Y., and in politics is a 
Prohibitionist. He has been twice supervisor of the town and fifteen or twenty years 



•J 54 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

justice of the peace. Clarence F. Smith graduated from Friendship Academy and 
received his medical education in New York City Universit)-, graduating in 1880, and 
commenced practice and the drug business m Clean, where he burned out in 1885. 
He removed to Allentown, Allegany county, and from thence to Greenwood in 1894, 
where he has established a lucrative practice. In 18"8 he married Addie J., daugh- 
ter of James and Helen (Corbin) Stout of Amity, N. Y. In politics he is a Repub- 
can, and was coroner and health officer in Allegany county, and is a member of the 
Allegany County Jledical Association. 

Swarts, William O., was born in Barrington, Yates count}-, September 21, 1830, 
son of John and Mary Ann Snook Swarts, and grandson of T. Walt Swarts, one of 
the pioneer settlers of Yates county, who came from New Jersey. Mrs. Swarts's 
father came from Deckertown, N. J., to Barrington, and was a farmer and inn- 
keeper. John Swarts was a farmer of Yates county, where he died. Mrs. Swarts 
still survives, being eighty years of age. William O. is a farmer and now owns 220 
acres of land, making a specialty of sheep raising and dairy farming. He has 
always been a Republican, casting his first vote for Lincoln. He is a member of 
Sentinel Lodge No. 151, F. & A. M., of Greenwood. In 1861 Mr. Swarts married 
Mary, a daughter of Peter and Jane Boon of Barrington, by whom he had seven chil- 
dren: Estella, Ella, Mattie, Hattie, John, Matie, and Glenn. 

Townley, Edward L., was born in Corning in 1861, son of William Townley and 
Harriet C. Lyon Townley, natives of New York, who came to Corning about 1850. 
The father was a cabinetmaker and died in 1891, aged sixty-seven ; the mother re- 
sides in Corning. Mr. Townley is one of a family of three children raised to maturity, 
the others being Lauretta, who died in 1866, aged twenty-eight, and William F. , jr., 
who resides in Corning. Mr. Townley married Anna May Oldfield in 1886. He has 
220 acres where they reside and 136 adjoining. He follows general farming and 
small fruit growing. 

Swan, Orrin, was born in Addison, December 11, 1827, son of Orrin and Sarah 
(Allen) Swan, he a native of Connecticut, born December 12, 1798, and she born in 
1798. The grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, as was also the maternal 
grandfather. Orrin Swan, father of Orrin, jr., came to Addison in 1826 and settled 
on a farm. He died at Tuscarora in 1890, aged ninety-three years, and his wife 
September 16, 1868, while on a visit to her son. Orrin Swan was reared on a farm 
and educated in the common schools. He has staged it considerable, and has also 
been in the freight business. He was in the mercantile business, and kept hotel at 
Five Corners for some years. He owned a farm in Tuscarora and July 9, 1848, came 
to Jasper, and in 1854 bought a farm of seventy acres. He now owns about 200 
acres, and also has sixty-three acres in Addison. He has been constable, overseer 
of the poor, and collector of taxes during the war. He is a member of the Jasper 
Grange, No. G19, and was a member of the Sons of Temperance. In 1843 he mar- 
ried Mary A. Marlatt, by whom he had one child, Julia, who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Swan died July 2, 1854, and March 9, 1856, he married Loviua E. Joy of Chenango 
county, N. Y., by whom he had these children: Thomas O. , born August 22, 1857; 
Abel D., born February' 17, 1861, and died July 13, 1864; Emery F., born De- 
cember 10, 1863, and died July 10, 1864; Anson, born March 26, 1865, deceased; 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 455 

Carrie D. and Cora B., twins, born July 13, 18G7, and Carrie died in 
September, 1874. Thomas O. has been proprietor of a hotel in Jasper and in Green- 
wood, and is now a farmer in Jasper. He married Sarah Conlin, by whom he had 
one son, Andrew B. Cora is the wife of W. L. Goodsell, son of Joel S. Goodsell. 
Mr. Swan has been trustee of Five Corners Cemetery for forty years, the same being 
deeded to the trustees and their successors in office. 

Sharp, Abram V.. was born in Amsterdam, St. Lawrence county. March 27, 1828, 
son of Lawrence S^iarp, who was also born in Amsterdam, and came to the town of 
Howard in 1836, where they cleared a farm of 150 acres. He married Judith O'Con- 
ner of Amsterdam, and they were the parents of the following children: Burney O., 
of Howard; Jane M., now Mrs. C. C. Graves; John G., a farmer, now living on the 
homestead; Thomas E., a farmer in this town; and Abram V., also a farmer in the 
town of Howard, who owns a farm of 210 acres on the Turnpike. He married Fidelia, 
daughter of Daniel M. Bennett of Howard, one the descendants of the pioneer family 
of that name. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are the parents of two children : Clara, now Mrs. 
George Edgett of Howard, and Lawrence. The grandchildren are: Lena, Abbie, 
and Ellen Sharp, Vinnie and Fidelia Edgett. Mr. Sharp has filled the office of as- 
sessor for six years. In politics he is a Republican. 

Smith, Alonzo, was born in the town of Hornellsville, March 3. 1848, son of Abra- 
ham T. Smith, who was born in Schuyler county, N. Y., May, 1817. This family was 
originally from Schuyler county, but came to Howard and settled on a farm, and 
now resides in Hornellsville. He married EIraira Nicholson from the vicinity of 
Scranton, Pa. They were the parents of eight children: Ira, George, deceased, 
Lucinda, Alonzo, Malissa, Flora, Hubert, and Thaddeus, now a doctor in Cameron. 
Alonzo is a fanner by occupation and owns a farm of 117 acres. First, he married 
Electa, daughter of Henry Formon of Howard, and they have four children: Ada, 
Nellie, Flora, and Ella. Flora died at the age of sixteen. The second time he mar- 
ried Sarah, daughter of John R. Southerly of Hornellsville, and three children were 
bom to them: Rosco S., Alonzo, jr., and Bertha. They are members of the M. E. 
church. 

Stowell, Marcus, was born in ihe town of Afton, Chenango county, March 1, 1847, 
a son of Richard S. and Almira (Vinton) Stowell, who .settled here in 1871. They 
had four children: Emily J., Mary Young, Marcus, and Henry. Marcus Stowell 
married Helen, a daughter of Sterling Hart, by whom he has four children: Floyd, 
Arthur, Guy, and Frank. Mr. Stowell has been supervisor of the town for seven 
terms. He is a member of the Lawrenceville I. O. O. F., Lodge. No. 913. He is a 
farmer and owns 105 acres of land. He also carries on the merchandise business 
and was appointed postmaster of Lindley in 18!)3. 

Toby, Benjamin F., was born in the town of Addison (now Tuscarora), March 6, 
1846. He is a son of Alonzo and Margaret (Boyer) Toby, who settled in Addison in 
1840. They had five children: Benjamin F. , Adeline Hoff, Libbie, Katherine, 
Frances, and William A., of whom the four latter are deceased. Benjamin married 
Jennie A., a daughter of James L. and Samantha A. Lemunyan, residents of this 
county. They have four children ; Will, Maud, Harry, and Fannie. Mr. Toby is a 
member of the Maccabees Lodge of Lindley and wascommander for two terms. He 
was sent as delegate to the State Grand Lodge at Niagara Falls in 1893. 



456 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Sherwood, Henry F., was born in Tioga count)'. Pa., in 1849. Orrin Sherwood, 
father of Henry F., was born in Cameron, Steuben county in 1822, and isoneof five 
children born to Benjamin Sherwood, who was also a native of Cameron, born in the 
latter part of the eighteenth century, and was a farmer and preacher of the Freewill 
Baptist doctrine, and would often walk ten miles through the woods to preach on 
Sundays. He died in Pennsylvania, at the home of his son, Orrin. His wife was 
Hannah Rice, who died in June, 1895, aged ninety-eight years. At twenty-one years 
of age Orrin Sherwood went to Tioga county. Pa., where he purchased 130 acres of 
timber land, which he cleared. He later added seventy acres, the homestead of his 
wife's parents, where she was born, where they now reside. He married Lucy, 
daughter of Harvey and Fannie Seeley, by whom he had five children : William H. , 
of Hornellsville ; Camelia; Henry; George; and Cassie. Henry F. Sherwood re- 
mained wdth his parents until he was twenty-one years of years, when he engaged in 
the meat business in Bath, and two years later he embarked in the hotel business 
which he followed two years. In 1875 he removed to Pulteney and purchased his 
farm of eighty acres, where he has since resided, doing a general farming business. 
He is a member of the K. O. T. M., Pulteney Lodge, of which he is chaplain. In 
1874 he married Mary, daughter of Nathaniel and Lydia (Brush) Rice, of Pulteney. 

Sullivan, John W., was born in Pulteney, N. Y., February 11, 1860. His grand- 
father, John Sullivan, was a native of Ireland, who came to the United States with 
his brother Peter about 1820, coming direct to Pultene)^ where he located on wild 
timber land and lived under a bridge the first month while he built his log cabin. 
He cleared two lage farms, raised and dealt in stock, and became wealthy, and lived 
to be over eighty years old. His brother Peter was 101 years old when he died. 
Henry Sullivan, father of John W., was born in Pulteney, N. Y., in 1824. He began 
life as a farmer, but later owned and operated a flour and grist mill in Prattsburg 
for ten 5'ears, after which he removed to Pulteney and engaged in grape culture, in 
which business he spent his remaming days. He married Laura J. Cole, by whom 
he had four children: Laura, wife of William H. Taylor, of Pulteney; Sarah, wife of 
Frank Miller, of Pulteney; John W. ; and Fred M. His wife died in 1864, and he 
died in 1888. John W. Sullivan, when fourteen years of age, engaged in the flour 
and grist mill with his uncle, with whom he remained until he learned the trade. 
In 1881 he returned to Pulteney and engaged in farming for a year, and from 1882to 
1885 was interested in the grape culture. In 1885 he purchased his present farm of 
160 acres, with four acres of vineyard, which he has successfully operated since. He 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. , Pulteney Lodge, No. 573, and has filled several of the 
offices. In 1881 he married Alice, daughter of Ira Brownell. by whom he had two 
children: Floyd and Jennie. 

Selleck, John H., was born in Rathbone, N. Y. , son of Zeno C. and Wealthy (Baker) 
Selleck, both natives of New York. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Baker, 
fought in the Revolution. He spent his last davs in Cameron. Zeno Selleck was a 
farmer and lumberman. John H. Selleck is engaged in farming and lumbering and 
owns a farm of 350 acres, eighty acres of which is known as "Rathbone Flats." 
He began life poor but is now the second largest tax payer in the town. In 1855 he 
married ^Martha, daughter of Jonathan Pierce, of Westfield, Pa., by whom he had 
three children: Silva, wife of Moses Allen, of Cameron, and mother of four children. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 457 

Alvah, Ida, Ray, and Earnest; James E., educated in WoodhuU Academy and Hav- 
erling Union school,, and now in partnership with his father; and Norman, who 
died at the age of twenty-three years. The family attend the M. E. church. 

Saunders, Isaac M. , was born on a farm where his widow now resides, son of Row- 
land and Laura (Miles) Saunders, who were among the very first of the town, and 
died on the farm which Mrs. Saunders no\i' owns. Isaac M. Saunders was a farmer. 
He was a Republican ia politics, and was postmaster at West Addison for many 
years. In 1853 he married Kate, daughter of Rosannah (Duesler) Burlingame, of 
Montgomery county, N. Y. Her father was in the war of 1812, was wounded, and 
his widow received a land warrant. He died in 1840, and his wife in 1867. Mr. and 
Mrs. Saunders have five children: Elma, wife of Charles H. Peterson, of Savona; 
Eveline B., wife of John S. Wright, of Scio, N. Y. ; Mary, wife of John Kelley, of 
Harpersville, N. Y. ; John Saunders, of Hornellsville, an engineer on the Erie rail- 
road; and Thomas, who was killed June 29, 1885. 

Seager, William S. , was born in Bath, Steuben county, N. Y., June 12, 1834, son 
of Jacob and Mary (Hide) Seager; he was born in Orange county, N. Y., and came to 
Bath in 1830, where he lived until his death in 1876. His wife died in 1843. William 
S. was reared on a farm and educated in the common .schools, going to school only 
three j'ears, after which he engaged in farming, and now owns ninety acres of land. 
In 1866 he married Ehnore Creveling, of Thurston, who died in 1877, and in 1878 he 
married Elizabeth Trumbull, by whom he had six children: Willie L. , Irving J., 
Mary E., Ellen A., Bertie A., and Satie E. In 1862 Mr. Seager enlisted in Co. G, 
107th N. Y. Vols., and served three years. He was engaged in the battles of Antie- 
tam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Dallas, Buzzard 
Roost, Lookout Mountain, and Atlanta. He was wagonmaster for eighteen months. 
Mrs. Seager died March 20, 1892. Mr. Seager is a member of Loga Post, G. A. R., 
No. 469, of Merchantville, N. Y. 

Sutton, Oscar W., was born in Cameron, N. Y., October 32, 1850, son of Alex and 
Mary (Richtmyer) Sutton, he born in Pulteney, N. Y., January 29, 1826, and she 
in Tompkins county, N. Y., September 15, 1832. The gradfather of our subject was 
Peter Sutton, who early came to Pulteney, and later to Cameron, where he cleared 
a farm. He married Mary Decker, of Mohawk Valley. Alex Sutton, father of 
Oscar W., was a farmer and lumberman in Steuben county. He died January 21, 
1868, and his widow lives in the town of Bath, the wife of E. V. Look. Oscar W. 
was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Bath Union School. 
He is a farmer and a teacher of instrumental and vocal music, and is the leader of 
Sutton's Cornet Band of Cameron Mills. He is also a teacher of band music. He 
has eighty acres of land, on which he located in October, 1884, coming from Cam- 
eron. Mr. Sutton is a Republican in politics, and was constable for a number of 
years and deputy sheriff for eight years in succession. He is a member of the 
Cameron Mills Lodge, No. 547, F. & A. M., and Bath Chapter, No. 95, R. A. M., 
also a member of the De Molay Com., No. 22, Knights Templar, one of the highest 
orders of Masonry. He has been a member of Red Jacket Tribe, No. 13, I. O. R. M., 
and is also a member of the Good Templars of Risingville and Farmers' Alliance of 
Risingville and Merchantville Grange. June 7, 1872, he married Frances, daughter 

m 



458 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

of Brarlley Rurasey, who was born in Schuyler county, N. Y., by whom he had two 
children: Hattie M., born April 28, 1875, was educated in the common schools, and 
is a teacher of instrumental music; and Maud B., bom July 4, 1883. 

Smith, Z. C, was born in Tuscarora, N. Y., on the farm he now owns, February 
26, 185,5, son of Charles O. and Jane A. (Haight) Smith, natives of Oxford and Delhi, 
N. Y., respectively. The family is of English descent, and the grandfather, Zalmon 
Smith, died in Chenango count}', N. Y. Charles O. Smith, father of Z. C, came to 
Tuscarora in 1845 and settled on the farm now owned by his son, where he died in 
1894. ^ He was a great hunter and killed 1,164 deer and thousands of foxes and coons. 
Z. C. Smith was educated in the common schools. He has been dealing in nursery 
stock and horses, but his principal occupation is farming, and he now owns 120 acres 
of land. He is a Democrat in politics and has been trustee three terms. In 1884 he 
married Alice, daughter of George Manley, one of the earh- settlers of Tuscarora, by 
whom he had five children: Lena, Homer, Girard, Anna, and Henraen. 

Smith, Oscar D., was born in Tuscarora, N. Y. , June 7, 1848, son of Charles C, 
mentioned elsewhere in this work. Oscar D. was reared on a farm and educated in 
Knoxville Academy, from which institution he was graduated in 1867. He has been 
engaged in selling nurserj- stock and wagons, but his principal occupation is farming, 
aud he owns sixty acres of land and a village lot in Addison. He is a Democrat in 
pohtics and has been a member of the county committee about twenty years, and 
has also been inspector for several terms. He is a member of K. of H., No. 2415, 
and Angle Post, No. 372, of Addison, N. Y. July 2, 1870, he married Sophronia 
Whitley of Candor, N. Y., by whom he had four children: Ola R. , Guy A., Claude 
D., and Lee. Mrs. Smith died September 29, 1864. Februarys, 1863, Mr. Smith 
enlisted in the 2d N. Y. Vet. Cavalry, and served three months. He re-enlisted 
.September 25, 1864, in Co. G, and afterward in Company C, and served until July 
25, 1865. He \Vas at Bentonville, Averysborough, Atlanta, and many skirmishes 
and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was transferred from the 141st 
to Co. E, 60th N. Y. Vols., and was discharged. Andrew J., a brother, was in 34th 
N. Y. Vols., and was afterward in the 141st and served until close of the war. Sam- 
uel A., a brother, enlisted in Co. G, 141st N. Y. Vols., and died at Savannah, Ga. , 
January 6, 1865. Clark D. Smith married Maggie, daughter of Luke, and grand- 
daughter of Daniel Strait, one of the early settlers of Tuscarora. Guy A. Smith mar- 
ried Erva. daughter of Emmett, and granddaughter of Daniel Schoonover, who was 
also one of the early settlers of Tuscarora. 

Stid, Calvin, was born in Delaware county, N. Y., November 26, 1817, son of Fred- 
erick and Lydia Price Stid, he a native of Delaware county, N. Y., and she of New- 
Jersey, and they came to Cayuga county, N. Y., at an early date, and in 1854 located 
in Tuscarora, where he died in 1855, and his wife in May, 1874. Calvin Stid was 
reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and followed farming in 
Cayuga county until 1854, when he removed to Tuscarora and purchased the farm of 
100 acres, where he now resides. He has added to this purchase until he now has 
184 acres. In politics he is a Democrat. June 27, 1875, he married Elizabeth New- 
man, daughter of Archibald and Polly Baxter Manley. The grandfather of Mrs. 
Stid, George Manley, was one of the first settlers coming from England. The ma- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. i^O 

ternal grandfather of Mrs. Stid was William Baxter, who was born in Otsego county, 
and came to Tuscafora at an early day, where he died. Archibald Manley died July 
28, 1879, and his wife in December, 1871. To Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Stid have been 
born one daughter, Beatrice, who is the wife of Alfred Oakden, and they have two 
children: Leo S., and Luretta M. 

Stickney, Carl C, was born in Shorehani, Vt., May 1, 1837. Dr. Tyler Stickney, 
his grandfather, was a practicing physician in Shoreham, Yt., for many years, and 
was of the si.xth generation from William Stickney of England, who was the founder 
of the family in America in 1640. Tyler Stickney, father of Carl C, was an only son 
and a good farmer, but as a breeder of merino sheep he was most successful. He 
was a pioneer in this business, beginning in 1834, making it his life work, and in 
1876 was awarded first premium at the Centennial at Philadelphia, exhibited there 
by his son. Carl C. Stickney, for many years in partnership with his brother Jacob, 
carried on his father's farm, continuing extensively in the sheep raising, and in 1867 
came to the town of Wheeler and purchased his present farm of 169 acres, bringing 
with him his share of the sheep from his father's farm, where he has still continued 
to grow and improve his fine brand of sheep. He has always e.xhibited specimens of 
his stock at the town and county fairs, where he has been awarded many of the first 
premiums, and his flock generally numbers about 150. For some years he was inter- 
ested in the breeding of fast horses, having imported from Vermont, Lambert Chief, 
a son of Daniel Lambert, Vermont's greatest horse. Mr. Stickney is a member of 
the Prattsburg and Steuben County Agricultural Associations, and was for some 
years vice-president of the latter association. In 1881 he married Julia, daughter of 
Henry and Mary E. Squires of Bath, by whom he had eight children: Dora, Madge, 
Charles, Mallory, John, Grace, Wesley, and Elden. Henry Squires was a soldier in 
the late war, participated in many of the hardest battles, was taken prisoner while 
guarding property and died in Libby Prison in 1864. 

Thompson, Joel, was born in Wheeler, in 1833. Daniel Thompson, his grand- 
father, was a native of Rensselaer county, a farmer by occupation, and came to the 
town of Wheeler, where his sons had preceded him several years, and where he died. 
He reared nine children. Jacob, father' of Joel, was born in Rensselaer county, in 
1792, and came to Wheeler in 1820, settled in the forest, cleared two farms which 
contained 250 acres. In connection with his farming he manufactured large quanti- 
ties of lumber and filled -many orders by contract. He filled the office of highway 
commissioner many years, assessor, collector, etc., and laid out many of the new 
roads through the town. He married Susan Wheeler, by whom he had three chil- 
dren: William N., Elenore J., and George. He married for his second wife, Han- 
nah, daughter of Joel Raymond, a pioneer in Wheeler, by whom he had six children- 
Lydia, Calvin L., Orval, Joel, John W., and Catherine. He died in May, 1868, and 
his wife survived him five years. Joel Thompson began for himself when twenty- 
one years of age, and after a few years at farm work by the month, he purchased a 
farm on which he lived ten years. In|1809, after the death of his father, he moved on 
to the farm of 150 acres, where he has since made it his home, doing general farming 
and raising many sheep. In politics he has always been an ardent Democrat, and 
served as assessor four years, also collector. In 1858 he married Deborah A., daugh- 
ter of Henry Derick of Brunswick, Rensselaer county, by whom he had one child, 



460 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Henry. His wife died in 1869. Henry Thompson married Cora D., daughter of 
William Foster of Avoca, by whom he had three children: Murton J., Ethel, and 
Edna. 

Trenchard, William H., was born in the town of Waterloo, Albany county, N. Y., 
in 1819, son of John Trenchard, who was one of three children, John, William and 
Charity, born to John Trenchard, who was a farmer near Albany, and a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war, and who died in Albany county. John Trenchard, father 
of William H., was born in Albany county, in 1796. He was a soldier in the war of 
1812, and came to the town of Wheeler in 1822, and settled in the forest on wild, 
unbroken land. He hauled his few household goods and implements on an oxcart a 
mile and a half from the main road, and carried them a half mile farther into the 
woods on his back, where he erected him a log cabin and began to clear him a farm, 
and at that time wild game, such as bear, wolves, deer and panther, abounded. In 
1863 he sold this farm to his son William and went to Michigan, but returned and 
located in Hornellsville, where he died. He married Margaret, daughter of John 
Arnold, a wealthy farmer of Albany county, by whom he had these children : Esther 
M., William, Cornelia, Henrietta, Grattan H., Harriett, James R. and Margaret. 
William H. Trenchard has spent his life since three years of age in the town of 
Wheeler, and when twenty-two years of age began for himself at farm work by the 
month. In 1863 he purchased his father's farm and added to it until he owned 230 
acres, and for many years was extensively and successfully engaged in breeding 
Durham cattle, thoroughbred merino sheep, some of the latter he sold for eight dol- 
lars a head, and also bought and sold large numbers of cattle for beef. He was one 
of the original promoters and contributors to the Steuben County Fair at Bath, and 
has exhibited horses, cattle and sheep, never failing to exhibit but one year since 
its organization, and on his stock exhibits he has secured many first prizes and 
diplomas. He is also an active worker and stockholder in the Prattsburg Union 
Fair, and was one of its promoters. For many years he was purchasing agent for 
wool buyers, and in connection with his farming he was for forty winters engaged 
in logging, in 1863 getting out one million feet of lumber. He has served as inspector 
and justice of the peace for many years. In 1846 he married Mary Ann Peck, a na- 
tive of Bridgeport, Conn., by whom he had these children: Franklin, Delos, Will- 
iam H. and Mrs. Ida Houpt of Fergus Falls, Minn. His wife died in September, 
1863, and in April, 1863, he married Mary Peck, a cousin of his first wife and daugh- 
ter of John Peck. Mr. Trenchard is now assisted in operating his large farm by his 
son, Delos. 

Eydt, Louis, was born in Hershen, Germany, March 17, 1851, and came to this 
country with his parents when eighteen years of age. They settled in Canada, and 
his father, who was a brewer in his native land, started a brewery, which he has con- 
ducted until 1894, when he gave up the business on account of old age. Louis was 
given a good education, and, his father being a brewer, he was really reared in a 
brewery and followed the business all his life. He was in this country three years 
before his people came, and was employed as superintendent of Beck's brewery in 
Buffalo for nine years. He was employed seven months in Zeiglen's brewery, and 
in 1879 he started a brewery, which he conducted for one year alone, and then formed 
a stock company, of which he was superintendent for one year, and was then fore- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 461 

man in Manning's brewery in Coklen for one year. In 1891 he located in nornells- 
ville and leased the Leach brewery on River street, which he conducted for four 
years, and is now employed as sales agent for Camperinor Bros. Mr. Eydt devotes 
his whole time and attention to his business and family. In May, 1878, he married 
Anna, daughter of George Klein, the mason contractor of ButTalo. They have these 
children : Louis, John George, Martha and Fred H. 

Barber, Bert G., was born in Cameron, February 7, 1864, and was educated in 
Bath at Haverling Academy and Rochester University, and for several years was 
connected with Ross & Hastings' machine shops. In 1892 he married Carrie Grey, 
daughter of Grattan H. Brundage, whose ancestors were among the pioneers of 
Steuben county, and who married Clara Grey, daughter of Daniel Grey. 

Brundage, Grattan H., was born on his father's farm in the town of Bath, in No- 
vember, 1834. His father, Jesse Brundage, who died in 1S51, was one of the pio- 
neers of Steuben county; he married Sarah, daughter of Grattan H. Wheeler. Their 
children were; Monroe, who died in 1875; Grattan H., the subject of this sketch; 
Mrs. Aaron J. Nellis, who died in 1883, and Franklin, who died in 1890. Grattan H. 
Brundage married Clara, daughter of Daniel Grey, and their children were Fred 
H. G., and Carrie, wife of Bert G. Barber. Mr. Brundage was one of the wealthiest 
and most successful farmers in Steuben county. In politics he was a Republican. 
He served as supervisor of Bath in 1874 and 1875. In the latter year he was a can- 
didate for member of Assembly, but was defeated. In 1890 he was unanimously 
nominated, and was elected by a majority of 155 over his opponent. In the Assem- 
bly he was a member of the committees on banks. State prisons and the Soldiers' 
Home. On March 29, 1891, Mr. Brundage died from pneumonia, at Albany, where 
he was filling his place in the Legislature. He had contracted a cold on the 18th of 
March, which developed rapidly into a malignant ease of pneumonia. His only son, 
Fred H., with another relative, hastened to Albany to attend him, and on the 24th 
the former was forced to return home upon urgent business, and had scarcely arrived 
at Bath, when he was stricken with the same malady that prostrated his father. 
Mrs. Brundage and her daughter were in South Carolina, where they had gone for 
the benefit of the health of the former. It was truly a sad case, and all was done 
for the sufferers that the love and sj'mpathy of friends and neighbors could do; but 
all was in vain — the death of the son occurred on the 14th of April. The funeral 
services of both father and son were held at St. Thomas's church, unattended by the 
afflicted wife and daughter — mother and sister — for the condition of Mrs. Brundage 
was such that her physician assured them that her removal home would prove fatal. 
The following from the Albany Journal is expressive of the esteem in which Mr. 
Brundage was held: "No better testimonial can decorate a man than popularity 
among the people of his native town This was the verdict passed upon Grattan 
H. Brundage, who was one of the few Republicans who displaced a Democrat in a 
representative body at the election of 1890. . . . Were all the members of the 
Legislature men such as Mr. Brundage was, there would be little cause of complaint 

of the laws which would be enacted His death is a serious loss to the 

Assembly. He is mourned by both sides of the chamber, for those who knew him 
respected him as an honorable, fearless and thoughtful man." 



462 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Wentworth, William B., was born in Jasper, N. Y. , August 19, 1862, a son of 
George B. and Louise D. (Prentice) Wentworth, both natives of Jasper The grand- 
father of William B., Rice Wentworth, came to Jasper at a very early date, where 
he died. The maternal grandfather, William Prentice, was also an early settler of 
the county, coming here from New Hampshire. George B. was a farmer by occu- 
pation. He was killed by a bull; his widow now resides in the town of Jasper. Will- 
iam B. was educated in the common schools, then engaged in farming. He nowownsa 
farm of 100 acres. In 1885 Mr. Wentworth married Fannie L., widow of Herman 
H. Vaughn, and daughter of Allan Drake. They have an adopted daughter, Mabel. 

Waight, Frank L., was born in Jasper, on the farm he now owns, December 2, 
1862, son of George F. and Ellen (Murphy) Waight, natives of Barrington, Yates 
county, N. Y. , and Jasper, N. Y. , respectively. The grandfather, Thomas Waight, 
came to Jasper in 1833, where he died. The maternal grandfather, Andrew Murphj', 
was a native of Ireland, who came to Jasper at an early day, where he died. George 
Waight, father of Frank L., was reared by an uncle, William Moore, and came to 
Jasper in 1833, where he died in 1888, and his wife in 1871. Frank L. was reared 
on a farm, educated in the common schools, after which he engaged in farming and 
now owns a farm of 140 acres, and follows general farming. He is a member of 
K. O. T. M., Jasper Tent, No. 100. In 1889 he married Almira Pierce, a native of 
Troupsburg, by whom he had two children, George and Florence. 

Wilson, M. P., was born in Oxford, Chenango county, October 6, 1834, son of 
Alanson and Libbie (Simmons) Wil.son. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were natives of Che- 
nango county, and came to Troupsburg in 1843, where they both died, he at the 
age of eighty-two and she at the age of seventy-one. He was a farmer, and was 
also justice of the peace and highway commissioner for a number of years. M. P. 
Wilson was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Troupsburg 
Academy. He learned the wagonmaker's trade and blacksmithing when eighteen 
years of age, which trade he followed through life. He came to Woodhull in 1858, 
where he has since resided. He has been town collector, town auditor, and was for 
eight years postmaster. Mr. Wilson is a member of Restoration Lodge, No. 777, F. 
& A. M., Addison Chapter, No. 146, R. A. M., and also a member of E. A. U. In 
May, 1860, Mr. Wilson married Minerva Smith, a native of Woodhull, by whom he 
has one daughter, Ella. Mrs. Wilson is a daughter of Col. Jefl'ery Smith, who came 
to Woodhull in 1806, where he died at the age of eighty-six years. In 1863 Mr. 
Wilson enlisted in Co. G, Second Veteran N. Y. Cavalry, under Captain Sanford, 
and served two years. 

Wood, Lazon S., was born in Burlington, Otsego county, N. Y., Februarv 1, 1823, 
son of Thomas and Lucy (Cuttler) Wood, he a native of Rhode Island, and she of 
Vermont, who came to Otsego county in an early day and to Woodhull in 1831, 
where they settled on the farm now owned by Lazon S. He was a Whig in politics. 
Lazon S. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He married 
Adaline Edwards, by whom he had two children : Melissa, deceased ; and Thomas 
L., who married Estella Brown, by whom he has two children: Cassen and Vinnie. 
Mr. Wood has been a Whig, but is now a Republican, and has been highway com- 
missioner of this town. He owns 100 acres of land, and his son also owns 100 acres, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 463 

and they make a specialty of tobacco. Mr. Wood is a member of Restoration Lodge, 
No. 777, F. & A. M. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. K, 86th N. Y. Vols., and served 
until April, 1863, and re-enlisted in Co. H, 161st N. Y. Vols, and served three year.s. 
He was at Port Hudson, with Banks on the. Red River expedition, Sabine Cross 
Roads, Pleasant Hill, at Fort Morgan, Mobile, Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort. He 
is a charter member of J. N. Warner Post, No. 565, G. A. R. 

Wolcott, George, was born m Chemung county in 1838, and came to Corning in 
1848 with his parents, Frederick and Panthe (Bennett) Wolcott. The father was 
born where Mr. Wolcott resides, where he spent his boyhood days, and when twenty- 
one years of age moved to Chemung county, but returned in 1848 and died in 1872, 
aged sixty-seven years. Mr. Wolcott's grandfather, Capt. Charles Wolcott, was a 
native of Massachusetts and came to Chemung county about 1775. In 1863 Mr. 
Wolcott married Amanda Ferenbaugh, who died in 1869, by whom he had two chil- 
dren : Nettie, now Mrs. George W. Bedell of Jamestown, Va., and Ida A. In 1871 
he married Mrs. Mary Fuller. He has fifty acres of land, being a part of the orig- 
inal purchase made by his great grandfather from the government. 

Welch, Thomas J., farmer and proprietor of the Riverside Hotel, four miles below 
Corning, on the south .side of Chemung River, was born in Orange county, and in 
1874 came to Steuben county. He has farmed his present place of 200 acres for 
eleven years, and in 1894 built his present house, arranged both for the accommo- 
dation of the public and as a dwelling. He is located near the suspension bridge, 
one of Coming's most delightful and picturesque driveways. 

White, Courtland, was born in Troupsburg, December 27, 1853. Hiram White, 
his father, was a native of Chenango county and came to Addison when a young 
man, where he engaged in farming and lumbering, which he followed the greater 
part of his life. He was a pioneer of Chenango Settlement, Troupsburg, and finally 
settled northwest of Troupsburg, on a farm which is now occupied by his son. He 
married Lorinda Vickory, a native of Massachusetts, by whom he had fifteen chil- 
dren. The paternal grandparents were pioneers of Chenango county. Hiram White 
died December 19, 1886, and his wife August 7, 1891. A brother of Courtland was 
a member of Co. H, Eighty-sixth N. Y. Vols., taken prisoner at Wilderness, and 
died in Andersonville rebel prison. Courtland White was educated at Woodhull 
Academy, after which he engaged in farming on the homestead farm of 100 acres, 
which he now owns. In 1877 he married Flora, daughter of R. L. and Melissa 
(Perry) Alvord of Greenwood, by whom he had two children: Lee and Harold. 

White, Edward M., was born in Troupsburg, August 10, 1843, and is the sixth .sou 
of eight children born to Bradshaw and Penelope (Leach) White, both natives of 
Massachusetts, he born November 29. 1806, and she August 18, 1808. The grand- 
father, Amos White, was born at Spencer, Mass., February 6, 1776, and married 

Sarah , who was born at Granville, March 12, 1785. The maternal grandparents, 

Ephraim and Sarah (Conant) Leach, were both natives of Bndgewater, Mass., he born 
April 7, 1779, and she February 12, 1784. Amos White was an early settler of Mad- 
ison county where he followed farming. Bradshaw White came from MadLson 
county to Troupsburg, where he engaged in farming, and from here he went to West 
Union. He died in Greenwood, March 1, 1886, and his wife, August 30, 1893. Mr. 



464 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

and Mrs. White were pioneers in the Baptist church of Troupsburg, helping to organ- 
ize the hrst church in town. Edward M. White was reared on the farm in West 
Union, where he commenced farming. In 1868 he sold out and removed to Troups- 
b;irg where he engaged in farming. In 1804 he married Margaret, daughter of 
Thomas and Almeda Nye of West Union, by whom he had one son, Bradshaw 
While, and they have also one adopted daughter, Abigail White. Mr. White en- 
listed, September 18, 1861, in Co. H, 86th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged 
May 10. 1862, re-enlisted March 10, 1864, in Co. B, 179th N. Y. Vols., and served 
until the close of the war, and was at Cold Harbor and Petersburg. He is a member 
of Post Baily, No. 351, G. A. R., and McClellan Lodge, No. 649, F. ^- A. M., of 
Troupsburg. 

Waight, Edward M., was born in Jasper, October 20, 1844, and is the oldest of 
nine children born to George F. and Ellen Murphy Waight, the former a native of 
Barrington, Yates county, N.Y., and Mrs. Waight of Jasper, N.Y. Thomas Waight, 
the grandfather, came from Barrington to Jasper, being one of the pioneer settlers 
of the town. Andrew Murphy, the grandfather, was born in Ireland, and came to 
Jasper when a young man. George F. was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in 
politics, and in religion a Universalist. Edward M. was reared on a farm, and farm- 
ing has been his principal occupation, and now owns 213 acres of land, and makes a 
specialty of dairying. In 1887 he and his father built a saw mill on the farm, which 
burned in 1895, but has been rebuilt. He manufactures about 160,000 feet of rough 
lumber, and 200,000 shingles yearly. In 1879 he married Lucy, daughter of Joseph 
Jasper, by whom he had nine children: Mai-j', Charles, deceased, Alice, Clarence, 
Ellen, Carrie, Edward, Ross, deceased, and Alma. 

Wilcox, Fred D.. was born in Oxford, Chenango county, N.Y., September 28, 1832. 
and is the second of eight children born to Felander and Betsey (Kinney) Wilcox, 
both natives of Oxford, he born October 30, 1807, and she February 28, 1813. They 
came to Troupsburg in 1838 where they followed farming, and he died in December, 
1883, and she January 3, 1834. The grandparents, Harrington and Charity (Rath- 
bone) Wilcox, came from Rhode Island to Connecticut, thence to Chenango county 
where they died. He was a lumberman and run a carding machine. Fred D. Wil- 
cox has always been a farmer, and in 1857 he purchased a farm of 209 acres and has 
made a specialty of dairy farming. In 1865 he married Hannah L. Olmstead, by 
whom he had eight children: Whitman W., born July 31, 1860, and died December 
18, 1880; Libbie, born August 23, 1863, wife of C. Plaisled, a farmer of Troupsburg; 
Jennie, born August 23, 1863, wife of Charles Marlatt ; Hulda M., born March 23, 
1867, wife of Rev. William Gates, pastor of the First Baptist church, Hornellsville; 
Nina R., born September 5, 1869, wife of Nelson Fish, a farmer of Troupsburg; 
Bertha L., born October 9, 1872; Fred C, born March 21, 1875; and Jessie, born 
December 7, 1877. Mrs. Wilcox died February 21, 1894, and August 18, 1894, he 
married for his second wife, Edith Griggs, widow of AVilson Griggs, a carriagemaker 
of Troupsburg who died in 1883. 

Wilkes, Miss A. J. — Bartholomew Wilkes was born in County Mayo, Ireland, June 
10, 1806, and came to the United States in 1831. He settled in Bath and engaged in 
the mercantile business, and afterwards purchased a farm, remaining there for eight 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 465 

years and then returned lo the village of Bath and again entered the mercantile busi- 
ness. He married Ann Shannon, by whom he had two children, Robert B., who 
died in 1876, and Miss A. J. Wilkes. Mr. Wilkes was for years one of the leading men 
of the town, whose honesty and integrity commanded the respect of all who knew 
him. 

White. Dapiel L., was born in Campbell, April 22, IS.IO. Daniel White, his father, 
was born in Bath, September 24, 1812, his parents being among the earliest settlers 
in the town of Bath. Daniel White married Xabby, daughter of Major Parsley Sea- 
mans, and through life was identified in the advancement of his town, holding vari- 
ous positions of honor and trust, dying March 12, 1895, aged ninety-four year.s. 
Daniel L. married Nancy, daughter of S. T. Sanford, in 1876, and by whom he had 
two children, Florence and Carrie May. 

Warren, George C, was born in Saratoga county, N. Y., January 26, 1828, and 
came to Steuben county with his father, Dwight Warren, in 1834, settling at War- 
ren's Settlement, named after his grandfather, Phineas Warren, who came to Bath 
about 1820. Dwight Warren married Maria C, daughter of Chester Butler. He was 
identified through life as a successful farmer, dying m 1886, aged eighty-seven years. 
George C. Warren married Polly, daughter of Jonathan Bennett, by whom he has 
three children: Joseph B., A. C, and G. Frank. Mr. Warren is one of the leadmg 
farmers of the town, taking an active interest in school and church work. 

Winegar, Clay and Peter, were natives of Cayuga, where their father, Samuel K., 
was an early settler. Their grandfather, Phihp Winegar. was one of the first settlers 
and prominent men at Union Springs, both as a merchant and mill owner. Samuel 
K. married Cornelia, daughter of Peter Yawger, and through life was identified as a 
farmer. Clay and Peter came to Steuben county in 1876 and purchased one of the 
Constant Cook farms, and are making a specialty of dairying, carrying on a large 
dairy which produces 450 quarts per day, through the year. 

Wolf, Franz S., was born in Xenia, Ohio, January 19, 1857. Carl Wolf, his father, 
was a native of the duchy of Baden, Germany, and came to the United States in 
1849. He was a graduate of Heidelburg University, aud through political complica- 
tions was forced to leave Germany, and was professor of music at Xenia. He died 
in 1862 at Bath, to which place he came in 1860. He married Anna C, daughter of 
Hon. Schuyler Strang, and granddaughter of Gen. Daniel Cruger, district attorney, 
speaker of assembly in 1816, and member of congress. Franz Wolf was educated at 
Buffalo, after which he entered the Dansville Bank as bookkeeper, and in 1872 came 
to Bath and entered the employ of the Steuben County Vineyard Association, of 
which he is now president, and which was founded by Henry T. Seeley. In 1890 he 
married Dr. Agnes Seeley, who died in 1892. He is one of the leading men of his 
town, elected member of assembly in 1885, just sixty years after his great grand- 
father was speaker of that body, and has received and merited the respect of his 
associates. 

Wood, S. W., was born in Middleville. Herkimer county, in 1850. Anson J. Wood, 
his father, was also of Middleville and the family were among the pioneers of Herki- 
mer county. Anson J. married Maria, daughter of B. Watson, and his life was iden- 
eee 



466 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

tified as a manufacturer of boots and shoes. S. W. Wood was educated in the com- 
mon schools, after which he gave his attention to. farming, and in 1871 came to Bath 
and entered the employ of James Parris and F. Whedon. In 1892 he began business 
for himself and to-dajr is carrying the largest stock of imported and domestic 
groceries in Bath, with a full line of crockery and glassware. In 1875 he married 
Fannie Small, daughter of Hiram Small, by whom he had five children: Benjamin, 
Joseph, Raymond, Minnie, and Nellie. Mr. Wood is one of the representative men 
of the town. 

Windsor, Jlrs. L. F. — Rev. Lloyd Wmdsor was a native of New York city, where 
he spent his earlier years. A graduate of Columbia College in 1834, and of the 
General Theological Semmary in 1836, ordained dean by the bishop of New York on 
July 3, 1836, he began his rninistry in missionary work in what was then the "far 
west" at Madison and New Albany, Ind., in the jurisdiction of Bishop Kemper. 
Receiving private orders there, he returned after two years to New York State, and 
on All Saints' day, 1838, began at Fayetteville his long course of parochial work m 
the diocese, on the very day on which the original diocese of Western New York 
came into existence. On the "iSd of December following he took charge as rector of 
St. Michael's church, Geneseo, and three years later, in January, 1842, removed to 
the charge of Grace church, Lockport, which he held four years and a half. From 
October, 1846, to the end of 1853 he was rector of Trinity church, Cleveland, O., 
and in 1855-56 otiiciated in Grace church, Brooklyn, N. Y. In 1856 he returned to 
the Western New York diocese and became a missionary at Whitney's Crossing, 
near Canaseraga, where he organized Trinity church. He was then residing on his 
farm in the town of Grove, and January 1, 1859, he accepted the call to the rector- 
ship of Christ church, Hornellsville, after the resignation of Rev. James A. Robinson. 
When Dr. Windsor came here they were worshiping in Washington Hall, a building 
that stood where the residence of Walter G. Ross now stands. This building 
burned soon after Mr. Windsor's arrival and it was owing to his efforts that 
the beautiful and substantial church edilice at the corner of Main and Center streets 
was erected in 1860. Grown old and feeble in the service, he was stricken down in 
the pulpit of the Presbyterian church while delivering a farewell address to Dr. W. A. 
Niles, June 30, 1889. Mr. Windsor was twice married, first to Elizabeth Battin of 
New York, who died in this place in 1865, by whom he had one child, L. Frances, 
who now resides on the old homestead farm in the town of Grove, and second, to 
Marianna Charles, of Hornellsville, who still survives him. 

Wickham, Charles H., is a native of Tioga county, Pa. His first connection with 
Steuben county interests was with the Rochester, Hornellsville & Lackavt-anna Rail- 
road Company as civil engineer, and his acquaintance with some of the projectors of 
the electric railway led to his employ as chief engineer of construction, and on the 
completion of the road he was made superintendent of the road, which position he 
now occupies. 

Wheeler, Norman O., was born m the town of Exeter, Otsego county, N. Y., No- 
vember 8, 1843. Horace Wheeler, the father of our subject, was a native of Otsego 
county; he is nov7 a resident of this town. He had two sons- Elan E.. died at six- 
teen years of age ; Norman was given a good common school education and one 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 467 

term in Rogersville Seminary and remained with his father on the farm until the 
breaking out of the war. August U8. 1864, he enlisted in the 189th N. Y. Vols., and 
served with them till the close of the war. He was at Appomattox at the time of 
Lee's surrender. He was in several of the important engagements of the Army of 
the Potomac, in the campaign of 1804, besides in several minor engagements. Re- 
turning home he bought forty-four acres of the Ryeres tract, which land was in its 
normal condition, and he has made a garden of a wilderness and cleared it of the 
stumps and undergrowth, now working one of the best farms of this section, con- 
ducting it as a dairy farm, furnishing milk for Willitte creamery. He also conducts 
a piece of twenty acres and his father's farm of 130 acres. He was married January 
22, 1873, to Miss Ida Everett of Cooper's Plains, who died September 4, 1888, leaving 
one child. Miss Ada Wheeler, who is the mainstay of his house. 

Wellever, David, was born in Lycoming county, town of Moreland, Pa., January 
5, 1822, a son of David, sr., of New Jersey. The latter removed to this State in 
1827, and bought a farm of 100 acres south of the city which he owned fifteen years, 
then bought 120 acres on the northern line of the town, w-here he spent the balance 
of his life. His wife was Jane Lowe, of Penlield, who died January 28, 1874, aged 
eighty-two. Of their si.x children three survive: Philip, of Michigan; Samuel, also 
of that State; and David. The latter remained on the farm until his majority, when 
he was employed in the brick business in Rochester for three summers. In 1846 he 
returned to this place and buying a clay bed began the manufacture of brick, which 
he followed four years, establishing a business which gradually increased, and he 
made at least half of the brick used in building while engaged in the manufacture in 
this city. Mr. Wellever has served as highway commissioner and assessor for the 
city, and has the reputation of being one of the best judges of real estate in the city. 
In 18.50 he married Olivia A., daughter of Uriah Stephens. 

Wolfanger, William, was born in Wayland, June 17, 1850, son of Nicholas 
Wolfanger, who was born in Germany in 1815, emigrated to America about 1836 and 
settled in Wayland, where he purchased 131 acres of land, partly cleared, which he 
improved. He married Catherine Bill, in Dansville, who was born July 10, 1817, by 
whom he had these children: Henry, deceased; Mary, deceased; Catherine Griese; 
Nicholas; Maria Schutz; Adam, deceased; William, born June 17, 1850; and Jacob. 
Mr. Wolfanger died in 1852. William was educated in the public school of Perkius- 
ville, and has always followed farming. He has held the offices of constable, high- 
way commissioner, and excise commissioner .six years, and in 1894 was elected asses- 
sor for three years, as a Republican, the town having a Democratic majority of 100. 
He is a member of Liberty Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M., also a charter member of 
Wayland Lodge No. 177, I.O.O.F. In 1870 he married Margaret Hoffman, who was 
born November 27, 1849, by whom he had these children: Maggie, born December 
25, 1871; William, born in 1872, died in 1875; Nicholas, born in 1874, died in 1875; 
Ida, born in 1875, died in 187- ; Ella, born March 24, 1876; Frank, born in 1878, died 
February 17, 1888: Hattie, born March 8, 1880; Henry, born October 17, 1882, died 
January 30, 1888; and Anna, bom April 5, 1884, died February 8, 1888. 

Whiteman, George E. — His paternal grandfather, Jacob Whiteman, was born in 
Pennsylvania, and died in Sparta, N.Y., in 1862, aged seventy-three years. He was 



468 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the father of seven sons. The father of George E. was Edward Whiteman, born in 
Pennsylvania, and died in Wayland in 1888, aged seventy-three years. In 1822 he 
settled in Wayland on a farm at the Toll Gate and built a log house and afterwards 
a saw mill on Mill Creek, where he manufactured lumber until 1855, when he put in 
a circular mill which was burned in 1885. He purchased real estate at different 
times until he was the possessor of 700 acres of land. He took a leading part in the 
organization of Wayland and held the offices of supervisor and assessor for several 
years. He married Juity Shoemaker, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1815, and 
died in Wayland in 1878. They were the parents of nine children: Joseph, who died 
in infancy; Marj' A., who is now the widow of Conrad Bill; Lydia, wife of Owen 
Rowe ; Susan A. , who married Jacob Schmingle and died in 1891 ; Phianna, who 
married Joseph Kidd, and died in 1868; Jacob, born in 1846; George E., as above, 
born April 22, 1848; Juity A., wife of A. W. Hawk; and Sarah J., wife of Samuel 
Bower. George E. was educated in the common schools of Wayland, and Dansville 
Seminary, and engaged in farming and lumbering, and now owns one of the finest 
farms in Wayland, and also owns a half interest in the hardware store. No. 8 North 
Main street, the firm name of which is Whiteman & Co. He was assessor of Way- 
land six years, and was elected supervisor in 1881 and served three terms. In the 
fall of 1884 he was elected a member of assembly and re-elected in 1885, was elected 
president of the village of Wayland in 1894 and re-elected in 1895. He is a member 
of Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M., of Cohocton, N. Y., and of Wayland Lodge No. 176, 
L O. O. F. In 1870 he married Delilah Retter, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., 
September 22, 1853. Her father, Aaron G. Retter, enlisted in 1862, and was taken 
prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness, and died from effects of prison life, after 
being exchanged, in 1865, aged thirty-four years. Her mother was Mariah Romig, 
who was born in Pennsylvania, and died in January, 1861, aged twenty-nine years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Whiteman were the parents of three children: Emm Juetta, born Sep- 
tember 5, 1877, died February 10, 1878; Esther Arietta, born July 9, 1884; Ruth 
Ritter, born September 26, 1891. 

Wood, Edward C, was born in Prince Edward county, Canada, September 9, 1860. 
He was educated in the common schools and when twelve years of age he went to 
learn the shoemaker's trade with William Richardson in Hornellsville, whence his 
father, Ambrose Wood, removed in 1870. He was for a number of years employed 
in shoemaking, and was elected sheriff; he was appointed deputy sheriff and jailor. 
He remained in Bath for one year, with the succeeding sheriff, Mr. Baldwin, and in 
the spring of 1887 he bought the J. Buxon crockery store and china hall on Seneca 
street, where he has since engaged in business, and with success. He has always 
taken an interest in the fire department and in the Babcock Hook and Ladder Com- 
pany, now serving his second term. He was married in 1879 to Nora, daughter of 
the late Horace Hunt, who was a native of this county. They have one infant son, 
six months old. 

Wilber, Gilford D., was born in Bath, N. Y., December 17, 1846, son of Hoxie and 
Patience (Legro) Wilber, he born in Yates county, a son of Samuel Wilber, who came 
from Rhode Island and settled in Yates county early, anel in 1824 came to Bath, 
where he died. He was a farmer by occupation, and he had .seven children : Polly, 
who married Mr. Gifford, of Ohio; Samuel K. , who lived and died on the farm our 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 469 

subject now owns ; Lucinda, who married Edward Chapin, and died in Bath in sight 
of the homestead; Hoxie H., father of Gilford D. ; John; Reuben and Griffin, twins; 
and Eliza A. Hoxie H. Wilber, father of Gilford D., was a farmer by occupation. 
He died in December, 186T, and his widow now lives on the homestead, and is 
eighty years of age. Gilford D. was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools. In 1864 he bought thirty-one acres of land in Thurston, and he now owns 
286 acres of land in Thurston, and a house and lot in Bath. He is a Republican in 
politics, and has been assessor six years, highway commissioner three years, and 
supervisor one year. In 1871 he married Rose Ules, of Bath, by whom he had two 
children: Hoxie S. and Maud M. 

Wood, Lewis, was born in Otsego county in 1824, son of Josiah and Polly (Newell) 
Wood, who in 1841 came to Steuben county, purchasing the farm where Lewis now 
resides. He is one of five children, his sister, Mary A. , wife of Norman Berry, being 
the only survivors. Mr. Wood's first wife, Lavina Martin, died leaving four sons and 
two daughters. He afterwards married Mary Shoemaker, a native of Pennsylvania. 
He has eighty acres of the original home place, and has added thirty acres to it; 
also owns fifty acres in another place. In an early date he was prominent in the 
State militia. 

Walden, James, was born in Chenango county in 1822, and in 1837 came to Caton 
with his parents, John and Dorcas (Barnes) Walden, natives of Rhode Island, who 
were pioneers in Chenango county. Mr. Walden has lived here since 1837 and on 
his present farm since 1852, in which year he married Sarah Cram, a native of Che- 
nango county. They have three children : Ruby, wife of James Brace, Henry, and 
Wilson R. Mr. Walden is a staunch Republican. He has a farm of sixty-five acres 
and follows general farming, 

Wellman, James R., West Caton, was born in Greene county in 1835 and came 
to Steuben county in 1861, locating in the towm of Caton, and to his present place in 
1864, purchasing it in 1874. He follows general farming making stock raising a 
specialty. In 1863 he married Charlotte E. Spencer, daughter of Smith Spencer, 
and their children are as follows: John S., Mary J., wife of Jerry Kies, J. B., Jennie 
L. , wife of Emmett Swarthout, Julia E., Joseph L. and Joseph and Jessie, deceased. 

Wolever, Daniel, was born in Hornby in 1837, son of Andrew and Eliza Grover 
Wolever, who were married in Columbia county, Pa., and came to Hornby in 1836. 
Both parents died here and are buried in the Oldfield burying ground. At the age 
twenty Mr. Wolever spent one year in Michigan and Illinois. In 1860 he purchased 
his present farm adjoining the old homestead. He has 165 acres, and follows gen- 
eral farming and stock raising. In 1862 he married Panny Hendrick, who died in 
1864, and he afterward married Augusta Hendrick, his present wife. 

Wilcox, Frank C, was born in Painted Post, October 2, 1857, son of Amos Wilcox, 
a native of Chenango county, N. Y., who came here m 1844, and married Aurinda 
Remington. They were the parents of two children : Ella and Frank. Amos Wil- 
cox died in the town of Erwm, February 21, 1895. Frank C. married Anna Claphan. 
He IS commissioner of highways of the town of Erwin, and is the owner of a farm, 
which consists of 220 acres, which is well adapted to the raising of tobacco and 
grain. 



470 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Webb, Lee R., was born in Tuscarora, September 5, 1859, son of George W. Webb, 
a farmer of Tuscarora, now a resident of Michigan, and during his residence at Tus- 
carora he held the office of postmaster at South Addison. Lee R. was a partner in 
a general store at Elkland, Pa., afterwards supplementing his education by a year's 
assiduous work at Binghamton. In 1886 he embarked in business at Addison, estab- 
lishing a co-partnership with S. A. Hill, and five years later he purchased his part- 
ner's share and operated the business alone until recently when he associated with J. 
B. Knisely. In 1885 he married Laura M., daughter of John Hill of Addison, by 
whom he had two children, Harry E. and Ethel L. 

Wilson, Robert K. , was born in Cani-steo, January 22, 1849, son of Eben and Mary 
J. (Brown) Wilson, who settled in Canisteo in 1840. Their children were Warren, 
Susan, J. Eben, Franklin N., Robert K., Philetus, Willie, Jane, and Sylvia A. In 
early life Eben followed shoeniaking in East Troy, but after moving here he followed 
farming. He was one of the organizers of the M. P. church of Gravel Run and was 
intensely interested in all educational affairs. Robert K. married Nancy, a daughter 
of Myron Clark, by whom he had one child, Myrtie. His first wife dying, he mar- 
ried Bettie. a daughter of William and Helen Howland, who lived on the farm where 
Mr. Wilson now resides. Their children are: George H., Minnie D., Harry A., and 
an adopted child, Hiram Howland, whose father was killed in New Mexico. Robert 
K. Wilson taught school for a number of years, but is now engaged in farming. 

Wilcox, John, was born in Curtis, April 28, 1849. Isaac Wilcox, his father, was 
born in Oxford, Chenango county, in 1810. He was a tanner in Curtisville, and 
when he came to Campbell he first worked for Mr. Balcom. He married Margaret, 
daughter of John Tanner, one of the old settlers in the town, by whom he had three 
children : Bradford, Jane, and John, who was educated in the common schools of Cur- 
tis. He was a lumberman, and is now devoting his time to carpenter work.' He is 
justice of the peace, and has held other minor offices. In politics he is a Republican. 

Wixson, Leroy, was born in the town of Campbell, February 15, 1860, son of Lewis 
Wixson of Campbell, who married Julia A. Jordan, by whom he had seven children; 
Fidelia, William, Margaret, James, Alfred, Albert, and Leroy, who is a farmer, and 
owns a farm of sixty acres, on the Mead's Creek road. He married Minnie B., 
daughter of Harmon Stevens, by whom he had three children: Flora M., Charley L., 
and Ida M. In politics he is a Republican. 

Waggoner, Albert J., was born in Dansville, N. Y. , September 30, 1851. His 
grandfather, John Waggoner, died on the farm where Albert J. now resides. May 28, 
1865, aged seventy-seven years. He married Sally Ann Van Alstine, who was born 
in Holland, and died on the farm January 24, 1865, aged seventy-seven years. Thej- 
had eight children: George J., Lambert, John S., William H., Harriet Bilson, Abi- 
gail Davis, Catherine Cranmer, and Jane Wallace. George J. Waggoner, father of 
Albert J , was born in Canajoharie, N. Y. , November 7, 1808, and died January 25, 
1894. In 1840 he settled in Dansville, and 1846 purchased the farm where his son 
now resides He was also a shoemaker by trade, and worked at that until his eye- 
sight failed, when he gave it up. April 30, 1828, he married Laura Ann Degolia, 
who was born in Galway, Saratoga county, N. Y., October 25, 1808, and died Febru- 
ary 2, 1854, by whom he had five children; George W., born February 6, 1831, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 471 

(lied April 23, 1838; Lucinda M., born March 11, 1833, wife of Thomas Cotton; Nel- 
son v., born March 10, 1835, deceased; J. Degolia, born July 17. 1842, and died May 
29, 1856; and Albert J., as above, Albert J. received his primary education from his 
step-mother, Cornelia Wadhams, and at twelve years of age attended the district 
school three terms and subsequently attended the Rogersville Seminary for four 
years, from which institution he was graduated June 22, 1871. In 1872 he went to 
California for his health, returned and taught school for nine years, and is now the 
owner of the homestead. At Canadice, N. Y., July 5, 1879, he married Martha A. 
Hartman, who was born in Canaseraga, N. Y., February 8, 1863, by whom he had 
six children: Charles J., born May 25, 1880, and died December 7, 1894; George A., 
born June 7, 1882; Henry E., born November 19. 1885; Laura E., born April 14, 
1889; Gale, born June 13, 1891; and May, born January 31, 1894. 

Wagner, Augustus Charles, was born in Wheeler, Steuben county, February 13, 
1835, son of James Wagner, who was born at Fort Plain, Montgomerj' county, N.Y., 
January 19, 1805, and came to Steuben county in 1810. settling in the town of 
Wheeler, where he purchased land and cleared a farm of fifty acres. He married 
Sallie Charlesworth, of Steuben county, and they were the parents of nine children : 
Eliza, Clark H., Susan. Augusta, Nancy, John, James, Abraham, and Harriet, de- 
ceased. Augustus was educated in the town of Wheeler, and is a farmer, now own- 
ing 170 acres of land, and his principal crops are wheat, rye, and corn. He married 
Elizabeth, daughter of John Van Wie, a farmer of Avoca, and they have three chil- 
djen: Ina Sager, Fred, and Floyd, who married Rose Willis, of Avoca. Mr. Wag- 
ner now holds the office of assessor. 

Wightman, Noah, was born in New Berlin, Chenango county, October 4, 1837. 
George Wightman, his father, was born in Chenango county, and came to Steuben 
county where he died. He married Nancy, daughter of Noah Mathews, by whom 
he had three children: Tracy, Delia, and Noah, who was educated in Plymouth and 
Preston, and came to Steviben county in 1883 and settled on the farm of 150 acres 
which he now owns, and which is most all under cultivation. He married Minerva, 
daughter of Henry Scott of Chenango county, by whom he had six children : Flora, 
Anna, William, Lillie, Cora, and Merritt. 

Pratt, Aaron G., was born in the town of Bath. N. Y., May 13, 1868, the youngest 
of a family of three children born to Sylvester H. Pratt, who was also a native of 
Bath, and a farmer by occupation. Aaron G. was educated in Haverling Union 
school of Bath, and his first position was as assistant bookkeeper of the First Na- 
tional Bank, where he remained about five years, and then spent five years as head 
bookkeeper of the George W. Hallock Bank in the same town. August 20, 1894, he 
formed a copartnership with John J. Frey, and purchased a half interest in the Bank 
of Hammondsp<)rt,of which he is cashier and Mr. Frey president. Heisa Republican 
in politics, and is now trea.surer of the village. December 16, 1891, he married Cora 
Louise, daughter of Lyman Aulls, of Wayne, by whom he has one son, Preston 
Powell, w'ho is now two and one-half years old. 

TuUy, Hon. W. J., was born m Corning in 1870, and was educated at Corning Free 
Academy, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, Columbia College, and in 1892 was grad- 
uated from the New York Law School. He studied with Judge Bradley and in 1893 



472 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COITNTT. 

was admitted to the bar at Buffalo. He is counsel for the excise commissioners, and 
was elected recorder in 1894. He is the oldest son of Joseph J. Tully of the Corning 
Glass Works, who located here with the works from New York city in 1868. 

Barlow, Rev. Arthur R., was born in Ireland, December 27, 1854, and was reared 
and pursued his studies in his native country until 1873. He then came to America 
and entered Niagara University, but very soon was sent to Genoa, Italy, where he 
entered the Propaganda College, and where he was ordained to the priesthood in 
July, 1877. He returned to this country and was assigned to various charges, being 
assistant in the cathedral in Buffalo, assistant pastor of St. Patrick's church. Lock- 
port, and assistant pastor of St. Joseph's church, Batavia, N. Y. In 1881 he was 
appointed pastor of the Catholic church at Belmont, Allegany county, where he at- 
tended the missions at Angelica, Scio, and Belfast. A year and a half later he re- 
moved to Belfast, and became the first resident pastor of the church there. In Oc- 
tober, 1889, he was transferred to Ellicottville, N. Y., and in June, 1893, was appoint- 
ed pastor of St. Ann's church, Hornellsville, of which Rev. William H. Darcy became 
his assistant at the same time. Rev. Mr. Darcy is a native of Ireland and was 
ordained to the priesthood at the Catholic University in Washington, D. C. , in June, 
1893. 

Schwingle, William F., son of Henry, a native of Germany and now a retired 
farmer in the village of Cohocton, Steuben county, was born in Cohocton on October 
31, 1868, and received his education in the public schoolsof that town. He remained 
on his father's farm until the age of twenty-two, when he learned the trade of cigar- 
maker in Cohocton, and followed it there for about four years. In May, 1894, he 
came to Hornellsville, and engaged m the restaurant business, in which he has since 
successfully continued. He was for five years an active member of the Cohocton 
Hook and Ladder Company and is now an honorary member of that organization. 

Rosenkrans, Hamilton Stillman. — The first American ancestor of the Rosenkrans 
was Herman Hendrickszen Rosenkrans, who came to this country from Bergen, 
Norway, in 1649, was married in the First Dutch Reformed church in New York city 
on March 3, 1657, to Magdaleen Dircks, widow of Cornells Caper, and had eight 
children, of whom Alexander, the eldest was baptized April 12, 1661. Alexander 
Rosenkrans married Marretjen Du Puy (or Depue), and about 1735 settled at Wal- 
pack, Sussex county, N. J., upon nine hundred acres, which was later increastid to 
sixteen hundred acres, on the Delaware river, where he and hissonjohn kept slaves. 
This is now known as the "Shapneck farm," and the stone house built there by Col. 
John Rosenkrans in 1770 is still standing, an interesting landmark of colonial days. 
Alexander had six children, of whom Johannis, or John, was born May 18, 1724, and 
in 1751 married ilargaret De Witt, who was born April 18, 1731. John Rosenkrans 
was a British colonel in the colonial army, had fourteen children, and died in 1786. 
His sons Joseph and Benjamin, twins, were born at Walpack, N. J., March 31, 1770. 
Joseph married September 17, 1790, Jemima Emmons, had seven sons and a daughter 
and died June 24, 1832. Levi, son of Joseph, was born April 30, 1793, married June 
19, 1831, Nancy Jane Leach, and died July 2, 1861. She was born in Massachusetts 
on September 19, 1802, came with her father, Stephen Leach, with horses and wagon, 
to Monterey, Steuben county, in the spring of 1816, and died December 29, 1889. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 473 

Joseph Rosenkrans, mentioned above, left New Jersey soon after his marriage, and 
came to Owego, N. Y. , whence a few years later he moved to Bully hill, near Ham- 
mondsport, Steuben county. About 1835 he came to Avoca and settled on the farm 
now occupied by his grandsons, Aubert and Byron Rosenkrans, where he and his 
wife died. Levi Rosenkrans, their son, first located on a farm of five hundred acres 
near Ann Arbor, Mich. , but two years later returned to Hammondsport, whence he 
moved in the spring of 1836 to Wayland, settling on the farm now owned by his son, 
Hamilton S., where he died in 1861 and his wife in 1889. He first learned black- 
smithing, but during his active life was a farmer, carpenter, millwright, and cabinet 
maker. His children were Samantha, born April 4, 1832, married Dr. H. G. Fay, 
March 16, 1864, and died September 12, 1873; Hamilton S., of Wayland; Elmma L. 
(Mrs. George W. Pope and afterward Mrs. William Rosenkrans), born July 30, 1S3.J, 
married George W. Pope, December 28, 18T3, has one son, E G. Pope, and resides, 
a widow, in Buffalo; Harriet E., born August 9, 1839, married Thomas A. Abrams, 
March 6, 1857, had children Glen D. and Minnie, and died February 21, 1869; Nellie 
J., born December 25, 1842, married John Hassler, December 14, 1876, and is now a 
widow, of Buflfalo; and John A., a furniture dealer and undertaker of Wayland, who 
was born September 22,' 1845, and on May 24, 1886, married Elizabeth Newsome. 
Hamilton S. Rosenkrans was born November 21, 1833, in Hammondsport and has 
lived in Wayland since 1836, having been engaged in farming, lumbering, manu- 
facturing cider and vinegar, etc. He succeeded his parents on the homestead, which 
became a lage part of the village corporation in 1877. He has served as town clerk, 
justice of the peace several terras since 1862. assessor three years, supervisor three 
terms, and for two years was the first president of the village of Wayland, which he 
has since served as trustee. He was also for two years the first president of the 
Board of Education and later for two terms a member. October 1, 1862, he married 
Helen Mar, daughter of Dan H. and Elizabeth Davis, of Cohocton. They have had 
six children: Maynard H., Luzerne D. , Merton J., Lee Verne, Jennie J., and Hattie 
I. Maynard H. was born August 16, 1863, married Rose Ryan, January 8, 1889, and 
has children Paul and Hugh. Luzerne D. was born March 8, 1864, and died May 2. 
1888, from the effects of a gunshot wound caused by the accidental discharge of his 
gun while hunting. Merton J. was born May 2, 1869, and is now a telegraph opera- 
tor. Lee Verne was born September 22, 1870. Jennie June was born August 8, 
1872, married April 1, 1889, Burt Goodno, and has one son, Robert. Hattie Irene 
was born February 24, 1881. 

Stoddard, Philo K., M. D., whose English ancestor settled in Northampton, Mass., 
was born in Jerusalem, Yates county, N. Y. , September 28, 1825. His great-grand- 
father moved to Danbury, Conn., and of his seven children five sons were fit for 
military duty in the Revolutionary war, viz.: Benjamin, Joel, Mosely, Cyrenus. and 
Darius. Cyrenus served in that struggle, became a pensioner, married Candace 
Mix, and removed from Greene county to Cherry Valley, N. Y. His children were 
Sabra, Philo, Cyrus, Benjamin, Orra, Olive, and Esther. Benjamin Stoddard, born 
in Cherry Valley in 1796, was the first settler in 1817 on lot 12 in the town of Jerusa- 
lem, Yates county, purchasing his farm for SO per acre. He was a lieutenant and in 
1828 a captain in the 103d Regt. Inf. militia, held several town offices, and died June 
4, 1878. In 1818 he married Hannah Kelly, and their children were Chester, Survina, 



474 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Charles, Philo K. , Susan, Ann, Esther, and Thomas F. Dr. Philo K. Stoddard was 
educated at the Frankhn Academj- and taught school seven terms. When twenty- 
one he began the study of medicine with Dr. Elisha Doubleday, of Italy Hill, and 
later studied with Dr. Andrew D. Voorhees, of Prattsburg, with whom he also learned 
dentistry. He attended lectures at Geneva Medical College in 184.5^6 and was 
graduated as M. D. from Buffalo Medical College in June, 1848. The same year he 
commenced the practice of his profession in Prattsburg, where he has ever since fol- 
lovifed medicine, surgery, and dentistry. After the battle of Second Bull Run he 
became a volunteer surgeon in the Union army, was stationed for a time at Armory 
Square Hospital, D. C, and in September, 1883, was commissioned assistant surgeon 
in the 161st Regiment, in which he served until the close of the Rebellion. In 1875 
Dr. Stoddard introduced the first thoroughbred Jersey cattle and in 1879 the first 
thoroughbred Holsteins into Prattsburg. July 4, 1850, he married Sarah Jane, 
daughter of Sebastian Lewis, of that town, who died July 4, 1854, leaving one son, 
Philo L. , who was educated at Franklin Academy, studied dentistry with his father, 
was graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College in March, 1882, and practiced 
in Prattsburg and Geneseo until his death, Nov. 26, 1887. Sept., 1856, Dr. P. K. Stod- 
dard married Sarah, daughter of Albert Cowing, of Jerusalem, N. Y., who died August 
13, 1892. On November 29, 1894, he married Mrs. Ella R. Foster, daughter of Luther 
and Martha M. (Allen) Foster of Prattsburg, who had one son, William F. Crossman, 
born June 17, 1877, by her first marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Foster were natives of Yates 
county, where their parents were very early settlers, and in March, 1857, came to 
Prattsburg, where both died, he on August 26, 1890, and she December 29, 1891. 
Their children were L. Myrvin, Ella R. (Mrs. P. K. Stoddard), Alice L. (Mrs. Sam- 
uel P. Cogswell), and Martha Anna, all of Prattsburg. 

Shults Bros, and Andrew E. — Andrew E. Shults was born in the village of Cohoc- 
ton, December 14, 1864, son of Conrad Shults, and grandson of John Shults, who 
was a native of Germany and came to America in 1848 and settled in the town of 
Wa^'land, engaging in farming. He married Mary Brill, and were the parents of four 
sons: John, who settled at Dansville, and later at Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Peter; 
Conrad; and Andrew, who was a shoemaker in Cohocton, where he was in business 
for many years, afterward settling in Rochester, N. Y. Peter Shults settled in Wis- 
consin, but two years later returned to Wayland settling on the homestead, and has 
always followed farming. He married Sophia Eiman, and they had one son, John F. 
For his second wife he married Elizabeth Graves, and their children are Maggie, 
Conrad, who is a farmer in Wayland, Andrew L. , and Mary. John F. and Andrew 
L. early engaged in mercantile pursuits, holding clerkships in Wayland for several 
years. They came to Cohocton and engaged in the mercantile trade, where they 
have built up a profitable trade. Andrew L. is president of the Cohocton Fire De- 
partment and of the C. M. B. A. He married Susie Stephany. John F. married 
Mary Herbst. Conrad Shults settled in Cohocton, and was for several years engaged 
in farming. In 1867 he engaged in the grocery trade and later in the hardware busi- 
ness, which he conducted until his death, which occurred December 16, 1886. He 
was one of the founders of the R. C. church at Cohocton, and a member of its first 
board of trustees. He married Catherine Weiand and their children were Elizabeth 
(Mrs. P. J. Rocker) of Cohocton, Rose, Julia M., Andrew E., William J., and Mary, 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 475 

deceased. William J. Shults was born February 6, 1867, and was educated in the 
Cohocton Union School and Rochester Business University, and for several years was 
employed in his father's store, and upon the death of the latter he closed up the busi- 
ness. In 1889 he established the Banking House of William J. Shults and Company. 
He married Anna Zweigle of Rochester, who survives him. Mr. Shults died in 1892. 
Andrew E. Shults was educated at Cani.sius College, Buffalo, N. Y., and was gradu- 
ated in 1880, from which time until 1884 he was in his father's store, at which time 
he entered the office of the L. R. Harris Cigar Company, as bookkeeper, and in May, 
1886, upon the formation of the Cohocton Valley Cigar Company, he became its sec- 
retary and treasurer, filling that office until 1892, when at the death of William J., 
his brother, he became the manager of the W, J. Shults & Company Banking House, 
which position he holds at the present time. He is a Democrat, and was a member 
of the first board of trustees and was elected president of the village in 1893, and has 
also been town clerk. He is a member of St. Pius R. C. church of Cohocton, and is 
a charter member of Branch 105, C. M. B. A. of Cohocton, having been its first re- 
cording secretary, and president for two terms, and is district deputy for Steuben 
county. In 1883 Mr. Shults married Mary Bockstahler. 

Shults, John A., was born in Arnot, Pa., July 28, 1870, son of Nicholas and grand- 
son of Andrew Shults, who came from Germany to America about 1850 and settled 
at Syracuse and was foreman of the Onondaga Salt Works until 18G0, when he 
came to Steuben count)', purchasing a farm in the town of Cohocton, where he has 
since resided. He is a prominent member of St. Pius R. C. church, of Cohocton. 
He has four sons: Nicholas, who settled in Arnot, Pa., in early life, engaged in the 
lumber trade, and married Margaret Kuntz, by whom he had five children: Frank, 
Laura, William, Raymond, and John A. ; John, who resides in Chicago; Casper, who 
is in Cohocton; and Jacob, also of Cohocton. John A. Shults came to Cohocton in 
1890 and entered- the banking house of W. J. Shults & Co., as clerk, and the follow- 
ing year, with W. T. Shiefen, engaged m the mercantile trade at Cohocton. In 1894 
Mr. Shults married Elizabeth Shiefen. 

Sick, 2d, Philip, was born in Prussia, in 1841, and is a son of Philip Sick, whose 
father was also named Philip. The subject of this sketch came to America with his 
father and grandfather in 1845, and settled in the town of Wayland. In the old 
country the father was a weaver, but upon his settlement in Wayland, became a 
farmer. He married Christiana Keiflfer, by whom he had seven children: Chris- 
tiana, Caroline, Philip, Rhoda, Louis, Christian, and Louise. Christiana married 
Paul Knodle, and settled in Michigan. Caroline married Thomas Jones, and .settled 
in Castile, N. Y. Rhoda married John Gearing, and settled in Livingston county. 
Louis settled first in Wayland, and later at Canaseraga. He married first, Melissa 
Haynes, and for his second wife, Diantha Higgins. Christian married Louisa Bill, 
and settled in Wayland. Louise died unmarried. Philip Sick enlisted in 1863 in 
the 38th Independent Battery, and served until the close of the war. For several 
years before and following the war Mr. Sick was engaged in lumbering. In 1807 he 
engaged in farming and in 1870 purchased a farm in the northwestern part of Co- 
hocton, where he settled, and is one of the prominent farmers of the town. He mar- 
ried Louisa Sick, by whom he had two children: Elizabeth L., who married John 



476 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Ream, of Cohocton; and John H.. who is a farmer in Cohocton, and he married 
Lura Newfang. 

Strobel, John G., was born in the town of Cohocton, February 18, 1855, son of 
Jacob Strobel, a native of Germany, who came to this country about 1830, and first 
located at Dansville. He settled in the town of Cohocton soon afterward, purchas- 
ing a farm on Lent Hill and became an extensive and prosperous farmer. He died 
in 1879. He was one of the founders and prominent members of the Zion Lutheran 
church of Cohocton. He married Elizabeth Bolster and to them were born ten chil- 
dren: George, a farmer, who married Libbie Switzer; John G., a farmer and a 
staunch Democrat, who married Caroline, daughter of Philip Zimmer of Cohocton, 
and they have si.'i children: Edwin, Frank, Paul, Arthur, Walter, and Sarah; 
Charles, who married Mary Bettinger; Jacob, who married Minnie Fogel; Henry, 
who married Annie Fogel; Peter, who married Annie Zimmer; Christopher, who 
married Sophia Zimmer; Fred; Louis; and William. 

Schiefen, William F., was born in Germany, in 1865, son of Joseph and Anna 
(Sable) Schiefen. Josephs Schiefen came to America in 1868, and settled in the town 
of Cohocton, three miles west of Cohocton village, where he resided until 1888, when 
he settled in Cohocton village. Their children were Mary (Mrs. James Conly) of 
Newburg, N. Y. ; Anthony, deceased; Gertrude (Mrs. Frank Gherig) of Cohocton; 
Lizzie (Mrs. John A. Shults) of Cohocton ; Peter, who settled at Elmira and married 
Mary Bower; and William F. , whose early life was spent on the farm. In 188'1 he 
entered the employ of Shults Brothers, of Cohocton, as clerk in a store, where he 
remained until 1890, when, with John A. Shults, he engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness at Cohocton, and is recognized as one of the enterprizing business men of the 
town. He is a member of the St. Pius R. A. church, and the C. M. B. A. In 1893 
he married Louise Mang, of Rochester, N. Y. 

Wilcox, A. H., was born in Springwater, Livingston county, N. Y., February 9, 
1844, son of David H. Wilcox, who came from Homer, N. Y., and settled in Spring- 
water Valley, where he was engaged in the milling business, and he also had mills 
at Slab City and at Perry, N. Y. In the spring of 1850 he came to Cohocton and 
purchased a grist mill, which he enlarged, and in 1856 added a saw mill, and was 
actively engaged in business until 1867, when he sold out. His death occurred in 
June, 1868. He was a Republican, and held the office of supervisor seven times. 
He was one of the founders and prime movers in the formation of the Univei-salist 
Society and the building of the church. He was a member of Liberty Lodge, No. 
510, F. & A. M., and also of the I. O. O. F. He married Delia A. Hopkins of Spring- 
water, and they were the parents of nine children, all of whom are living: Carlos H., 
Albert H., Luther H., Harriet (Mrs. Oscar Johnson), Martin H., and Alice A. Al- 
bert H. Wilcox came to this town with his father in 1850, where he was educated in 
the public schools. In 1868 he became superintendent and manager for the late 
Thomas Warner, continuing in that capacity until 1882, when he became a partner 
with Mr. Warner in the lumber business at Kanona, continuing until 1885. In 1883 
he became a member of the firm of Turner, Warner, & Wilcox, lumber dealers at 
Elmira and Pennsylvania, continuing until May, 1885. In 1886 Mr. Wilcox returned 
to Cohocton and engaged in the coal and wholesale and retail lumber and shingle 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 477 

trade, also running a saw and planing mill. In 1892 his son, Henry P. Wilcox, be- 
came a partner, the firm becoming A. H. Wilcox & Son. Mr. Wilcox is a Republi- 
tan, and was supervisor in 1891-92, and has held numerous minor offices. He is a 
member of Liberty Lodge, No. 510, F. & A. M. He was a member of the first board 
of water commissioners and was president of the board for two years, and has been 
president of the Cohocton Dime Loan Association since 1892. In 1864 he married 
Fannie, daughter of Edward A. Parmenter, and their children are Alice L., Henry 
P., Helen L., and Edward. Martin H. Wilcox was born May 17, 1851. He is a Re- 
publican and in 1895 was elected highway commissioner. He is a member of Lib- 
erty Lodge, No. 510. F. & A. M., and a member of the Universalist church, being 
one of its trustees. He married Phebe Root, and they are the parents of four chil- 
dren: Edith, lone, Guy, and Archie. 

Wallace, James, was born in the town of Cohocton, January 8, 1860, and is a son 
of Gratton H., and grandson of James Wallace, whose father was a native of Scot- 
land and came to America at an early day. James came from Massachusetts, and 
settled in the town of Wheeler, N. Y., in 1820, and .soon after removed to Cohocton 
and located on the road between Atlanta and Wayland, where he engaged in farm- 
ing. He married Margaret Aulls of Wheeler, and their children were William, who 
was a physician in Steuben county; Jay, who located in Iowa; James, who is a 
farmer in Cohocton, married Alice A. Burris, and they are the parents of three chil- 
dren: Lelia, Mabel, and George; Samuel, who lives in Churchville, N. Y. ; Porter, 
Barney, and Warren all settled in Iowa; Amorette; and Eliza. Gratton H. Wallace 
settled in Cohocton, where he was a successful farmer. In I8.08 he married Mary 
A. Andrews, and their children were James; ]\Iargaret (Mrs. George Seymour) of 
Cohocton; Francis (Mrs. William E. Otto) of Atlanta, N. Y. ; and Mary (Mrs. Almond 
H. Plumb). Mr. Wallace died March 17, 1881. In 1887 Mrs. Wallace married J. D. 
Hendryx, who was born in Cohocton village. May 20, 1843, son of Thomas Hendryx, 
who was born in 1807. He came from Connecticut about 1813 with his father, who 
settled in the Cohocton Valley, south of Clelaud's Mills, where he took up a farm. 
Thomas learned the cabinetmaker's trade, and from 1836 to 1857 engaged in the 
mercantile business at Cohocton, where he was one of the leading business men. He 
married Harriet Bishop, and their children were Charlotte (Mrs. Albert Campburn) 
of Michigan; J. D. ; Mary (Mrs. Eugene Campburn) of Michigan; Hattie; Charles; 
Adella; and Edorn. J. D. Hendryx was engaged in the mercantile trade at Cohoc- 
ton from 1856 to 1858, and in 1869 he removed to Atlanta, where he continued for 
sixteen years. He was appointed postmaster at Atlanta under Hayes's admmistra- 
tion and held that office for eight years, but is now engaged in farming. For his 
first wife he married, in 1859, -Eveline Hall, and they were the parents of three chil- 
dren: Frank H., of Bath, N. Y. ; Cora (Mrs. George Bancroft) of Madison, N. Y. ; 
and William W. of Avoca, N. Y. 

Wright, Mark, was born in the town of^^Springwater, N. Y., June 26, 1851, son of 
Sanford, whose father, Erastus Wright, came from England and settled in Onon- 
daga county prior to 1800, and afterward settled in Naples, N. Y. Sanford Wright 
came from Onondaga county to Springwater early in life, and afterward settled in 
Naples. He removed to Cohocton in 1876, where he engaged in farming. He was 
a licentiate of the M. E. Conference, and for many years preached in various places 



478 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

in Western New York. He married Lorinda Proctor, by whom he had thirteen chil- 
dren : Loomis, who married Mary A. Bartholomew, and settled in the town of 
Naples; Caroline; Emeline, wife of Thomas Hall, of Springwater; Mary, wife of 
Charles Briggs, of Naples; Chauncey, who married Marietta Walling, and resides in 
Wayland; Hiram, who married Margaret Goondry, and settled in Naples; Aaron, 
who married Ida Whitman, and settled in Naples, but who now resides at Atlanta; 
Newton; Horatio, who married Lydia Bryant, and settled at Hornellsville ; Loren, 
who married Ida Small, and settled in Springwater ; Mark ; Martha, wife of Clinton 
Walling; and Charles, who is unmarried. Mark Wright settled in Cohocton, and is 
a substantial farmer. He is a strong Republican, and takes an active part in party 
affairs. He married Ida Gardineer. of Cohocton, by whom he had four children: 
Dana, Clarence, Jennie and Archie. 

Webster, Lester G., was born on a farm in the town of L^rbana, September 6, 
1844. His father. Guerdon L. Webster, was a native of Herkimer county, born in 
1810. and came to Steuben in 1815. He married Jane Gartinghouse, a native of New 
Jersey, bj- whom he had three sons; Lester, as above: Byron, who lives in Wayne; 
and Dr. Webster, of Painted Post. Mr. Webster died February 26, 1889, but his 
wife is still living, and is eighty-one )-ears of age. Lester G. was educated in the 
common schools and at Hammondsport Academy, and has always been engaged in 
farming. In 1869 he started for himself and bought a farm of ninety-seven acres, 
where he made his home until 1876, when he came on to the old farm of 157 acres, 
which he has increased and improved until now he owns a farm of 180 acres of as 
good appearance as any in that part of the town. In 1869 he married Matilda, 
daughter of William Aber, by whom he had one daughter, Nettie A., a graduate of 
Haverhng Academy, who lives at home. 

Wright, Benjamin Jacob, was bprn in the village of Hammondsport, August 8, 
1852. His father, John Wright, was a native of County Kildare, Ireland, who came 
to this country about 1849. He was a gardener by occupation, and the most of his 
life was spent in grape culture. He died in 1881. He married Lucy Strong, by 
whom he had thirteen children, three of whom are living: Mrs. E. T. HoUis, of 
Woodhull ; Mrs. W. H. Edwards, of Bath ; and Benjamin Jacob, who was educated 
in the common schools and Hammondsport Academy, after which he spent three 
years in the study of law with his brother in Woodhull. May 17, 1874, he married 
Nancy Irene, daughter of George McLean of Prattsburg, and then settled on a farm 
in Woodhull, where he remained until 1884, when he returned to this village and 
engaged in the cultivation of grapes. In February, 1888, he was appointed to fill a 
vacancy as justice of the peace, and in February, 1889, was elected to the same office 
and re-elected in 1892 and 1895 without opposition. He has been admitted to prac- 
tice in all the government departments as a pension attorney. Mr. and Jlrs. Wright 
have three children: Nancy Irene, Grace, and Preston, 

Wheeler, Grattan H., was born in the town of Wheeler, March 12, 1813, grandson 
of Silas Wheeler, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and also of the war of 
1812. He was a native of Concord, and came to New York State about 1799 and 
bought a tract of land in what was later named the town of Wheeler, to which he 
and his son, Grattan H., added until the family were the owners of over 4,000 acres. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 479 

In connection with the name Grattan, an interesting story is told by Mr. Wheeler. 
Silas was taken prisoner by the British after the " Boston Tea Party," with which 
he was supposed to be connected, and made a prisoner in Kingsale Castle, Ireland, 
from which he was assisted to escape by Lord Henry Grattan, who requested that a 
son should be named after him. Silas was the father of three children, two daugh- 
ters, who were twins, one of whom married Nathan Rose, and the other married 
William Holmes, and the only son, who was named Grattan H. Grattan H. was 
nineteen years of age when the family settled in the town of Wheeler, and he always 
made his home there, cultivating the soil which was purchased by his father and 
himself. In politics he was a staunch Whig, and has been supervisor of the town, 
member of the State Legislature, and a member of Congress from this district. He 
married Fanny Baker of the town of Cameron, by whom he had three children : Mrs. 
Sarah Brundage of Bath ; Silas, who died in 1855, aged forty-four years ; and Grat- 
ton H., our subject. Grattan H., sr., died March 11, 1853, aged sixty-eight years, 
six months, and sixteen days. Mrs. Wheeler died March 22, 1813. Grattan H., our 
subject, was given a common school education in the schools of seventy 
years ago, and followed farming in Wheeler, raising wood and lumbering 
until December 9, 185T, when he removed to Hammondsport and engaged 
in the grape and wine industry, being the projector of the Pleasant Valley 
Wine cellar, the first wine cellar of this section. He was the president 
of the company for nine years and then established an individual cellar 
which was first known as the Hammondsport Cellar, and continued as such until 1880 
when it became the Hammondsport Wine Company. He was also engaged in farm- 
ing in Wheeler and L^rbana until 1880. In politics Mr. Wheeler was first a Whig, 
and upon the formation of the Repubhcan party espoused their cause. He has held 
nearly all of the town offices and was one term supervisor of the town of Wheeler, 
and was also a candidate for the State Legislature. March 30, 1837, he married 
Nancy D. Sayre, a native of Benton, Yates county, who died May 27, 1889. Ten 
children were born to them, nine of whom are living. 

Smith, Joseph Shepard, was born in Smithboro, Tioga county, N. Y. , April 15, 
1845, the second son of a family of seven children of David Smith, a farmer and 
lumberman, who died in the town of Barton, in 1809. Joseph Shepard was educated 
in the common schools of his native county, and his first occupation was farming, 
which he followed in Tioga county until January 13, 1872, when he removed 
to Hammondsport and bought a vineyard of nine acres on the west shore of Lake 
Keuka, where he has since been engaged in the culture of grapes. He also has a 
half interest in sixteen acres in the corporation limits of the village. In the fall of 
1893 he purchased the Judge Larrowe farm of fifty-nine acres west of the village, 
thirty acres of which is in vineyard and the balance he devotes to general farming 
and fruit. He is also connected with L. M. Lyon, of the firm of Lyon Bros., com- 
mission merchants of New York city, under the firm name of Smith & Lyon, packers 
and dealers in grapes, an establishment that employs from fifty to 100 hands. He 
also has a farm of 100 acres, the old homestead, which is devoted to dairy produc- 
tions. Mr. Smith has been prominently identified with local politics since coming to 
this town, and though not considered a politician, is a staunch Republican and a 
worker. He was for two terms president of the corporation, and was the loading 



480 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

spirit in the movement that resulted in the straightening and grading of the streets. 
December 27, 1871, he married Florence Taylor, of Barton, Tioga county, a native of 
Newfield, Tompkins county. 

Masson, Linn D, was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, October 10, 1860. His father, 
Joseph D. Masson, was a native of France. Lynn is the oldest of a family of four 
children. He was educated in Lima Seminary, and his first occupation was in his 
father's vineyard, where he remained until 1888, when he formed a copartnership 
with Joseph C. Freidell and established a hardware store in the Davis warehouse on 
Water street in Hammondsport, where he has since been located. He is at present 
a member of the Water Commission, and also has charge of the old homestead vine- 
yard of fifty-six acres. September 12, 1894, he married Lela C. Sackett, of Watkins. 

Layton, John R. — Isaac Layton was born in the town of Sandystone, Sussex 
county, N. J., May 9, 1804. Thomas Layton, his grandfather, was also a resident of 
New Jersey, where he was engaged in farming. In 1812 he sold his farm and came 
to Steuben county, N. Y., and bought a number of farms for his sons, and settled on 
100 acres of the farm now occupied by our subject where he died June 9, 1824, aged 
eighty-six years. Mrs. Layton, the grandmother, was of Scotch descent and was 
born in 1743, and died in 1835. They were the parents of ten children, of which 
John, the father of Isaac, was the fifth child. John Layton was born in New Jersey, 
May 3, 1771, where he remained until about 1850 when he removed to Bradford 
county, Pa., where he spent the balance of his days, and where he died May 4. 1865. 
He married Abby Brink of New Jersey, who was born January 7, 1779, and died Oc- 
tober 2, 1827, leaving ten children, of which Isaac was the fourth child. The second 
wife of John Layton was Sally Shay, who died without issue. November 22, 1820, 
he married Sally M. Snover of New Jersey, and they were the parents of three chil- 
dren, one of whom, the oldest son, acquired considerable prominence, being sheriff 
of Bradford county, Pa. Isaac Layton was given a common school education and 
followed in the footsteps of bis ancestors on the farm, making his home with his 
father until 1831, when he was married and removed to Steuben county, N.V. , where 
his uncles were living, and secured the farm of 176 acres, where his grandfather first 
settled. In early life he was a Whig, but later became a Republican, holding some 
of the minor town offices. January 22, 1831, he married Maria Rutan of Sussex 
county, who died February 4, 1888, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the 
parents of six children, two of whom died in infancy. John R. Layton is now the 
proprietor of the homestead farm. January 16, 1884, he married Jennie Wixom of 
this town. He is a Republican and has held some of the town offices. Abram and 
Lorenzo D. are farmers of this town ; and Allen Layton died in 1886, aged forty- 
seven years. 

Horton, John T.. M. D. , was born in the town of Howard, June 25, 1857. The first 
of the family to come to Steuben county was Thomas Horton, who was a native of 
Connecticut, and came to this county in 1835. He took up a tract of land in the town 
of Howard, where he spent the balance of his life. Lyman Horton, father of John 
T., was eighteen years of age when the family settled in this county. He learned 
the carpenter's trade and built a large portion of the residences of the town of How- 
ard. He died January 25, 1866. His wife was Cordelia Brasted, who was the oldest 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 481 

o£ a family of eleven children of John C. Brasted, one of the pioneers of the town of 
Howard. She died Jnly 22. 1883. John T. is the youngest of a family of five chil- 
dren, and was educated in the common schools of Howard, Hornellsville Union 
school, and Alfred University. When twenty-four years of age he took up the study 
of medicine with Dr. W. E. Hathaway, who was his preceptor for three years, dur- 
ing which time he attended the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital College, from 
Hammondsport. where he has since been engaged in regular practice, with the e.\- 
ceplion of si.x months in Mount Morris and eight months in Hornellsville. He is a 
member of the Southern Tier Society, Urbana Lodge, No, 459, F. & A. M., Knights 
of the Maccabees, Tent No. 316, also was ten years with the A. O. U. W. In politics 
Mr. Horton is a Republican, and in 1891 was elected coroner for the Northern Dis- 
trict, with a very large majority. March 25, 1884, he married Irene, daughter of 
George W. Lewis, of Hornellsville, by whom he had two sons: Ralph E. and Lv- 
man C. 

Hallenbeck, Orrin, was born in the village of Hammondsport, July 13, 184T. Jer- 
emiah Hallenbeck, father of Orrin. was a native of Montgomery county, who came 
to this town first in 1838, and went into partnership first and later was employed by 
the day, and then established a shop for himself. He died January 2, 1879, aged 
sixty-six years. He married Betsey Ann Conklin, a native of this county, who died 
in 1857. They had three .sons: William A., a mechanic of Binghamton; Henry A., 
a wheelwright of Hammondsport; and Orrin, who was educated in the common 
schools, and in his boyhood served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, but 
was really reared at the forge. April 25, 1873, he established a shop on the main 
street of this village and a year later moved across the park. In 1878 he bought the 
old Rosenkrans shop on Mechanic street, where he conducted business for seventeen 
years. It burned in 1894 and the same year he built the present building where we 
now find him. Mr. Hallenbeck has been a member of the village board for one term. 
In 1866 he bought a vineyard of five acres on the west side of the lake. In 1878 he 
married Emma A. Snow, of Brooklyn, N. Y., by whom he had two sons: Robert, 
who lives at home; and Edward Leroy, a student of Hammondsport Union school. 

Gleason, Ezra C, was born on a farm in the town of Thurston, N. Y., March 31, 
1862, and is the oldest son of Ezra and Sarah (Clark) Gleason. He was educated in 
the common schools and Haverling Academy, and made his home with his father 
one year, conducting a farm of 133 acres which he bought m the spring of 1883, where 
he remained about two years In 1885 he bought a piece of vinej'ard land on the 
east shore of the lake, where he now has seventeen acres of vineyard. In 1894 he 
had about forty tons of Concords and Catavvbas. Mr. Gleason is a Democrat in poli- 
tics and has held some of the minor town offices. In 1885 he married Ida Loveridge, 
who died in 1886, and in 1888 he married Estella Robinson, by whom he had three 
children: Carl R., Edmund, and Mildred V, The beautiful residence on the lake 
shore was erected by Mr. Gleason in 1890. 

Brown, John Randolph, was born in the town of Fabius, Onondaga county, N. Y. , 
March 24, 1821, son of Meigs Brown, who was a native of Massachusetts, and from 
that State removed to Ohio, where he remained for a short time, and then located in 
New York State, where he spent the balance of his days. He died in Naples, On- 



482 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

tario county, August 28, 1861, aged eighty-six years. The latter years of his hfe he 
was a shoemaker. Meigs Brown married Clarissa Goodrich, who was a native of 
Onondaga county. She died in 1827. John R., the second son of a family of five 
children, was educated in the common schools, and learned the shoemaker's trade 
with his father. When he was ten years of age his father married and took him to 
Yates county, where he resided until November 14, 1856, when he located in Hara- 
mondsport and bought the store which he now runs. Until 1865 he manufactured 
largely, but since that time has devoted most of his time to the store, with a small 
manufactory. In politics he was first a Whig, and at the formation of the Repub- 
lican party espoused the cause of John C. Fremont, and has since been a warm sup- 
porter of that party. He was justice of the peace of Hammondsport for si.K years, 
and trustee of the village for two terms. He has been an elder of the Presbyterian 
church for six years and a member for ten years. He has been a member of the 
Masonic fraternity since 1874, and was master of Urbana Lodge, No. 459, in 1879-80. 
May 14, 1841, he married Sarah Ann Peck of Penn Yan, who died July 4, 1889, at 
sixty-eight years of age. They are the parents of eight children: John Quincy, who 
is a commercial traveler of Denver, Col. ; Stimson Joseph, a professor in the Naval 
Observatory at AVashington, D. C. ; Llewllyn Harmon, who is the editor of the Ham- 
mondsport Herald; William Smalley, who is in the office with his brother, Llewllyn 
Harmon; Frank E., a printer; Edward E., who is an officer of the Weather Bureau ; 
Margaret J., who died in 1877, and Josephine, who died in 1878. 

Foster, Edwin M., was born on a farm in the town of Wheeler, N. Y., September 
17, 1844. His parents moved to the town of Urbana when he was but a child. He 
was educated in the Hammondsport village school and Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, 
after which he engaged in farming, and soon began to take an interest in the culti- 
vation of grapes. He first bought a vineyard in Urbana, and has since set out about 
thirty acres of vineyard. In 1880 he bought a part of the J. N. Crane property, 
known as the second section of the Depew place, and has cleared a spot in the woods 
and erected a fine residence, where he makes his home. He has now seventeen 
acres of vineyard in Urbana, nine acres in Pulteney, and the balance of his seventy- 
five acres is devoted to farming. Mr. Foster has been trustee of Urbana school since 
its formation, and was also justice of the peace in Pulteney. October 28, 1869, he 
married Ellen, daughter of Barnet Rupert, of the town of Pulteney, by wh6m he 
had three children: Jesse R., a student of Geneseo Normal school ; Nellie Estelle, 
and Edwin Carleton. Mrs. Foster died June 24, 1895, aged fifty years. 

Fawcett, Fred C, was born in the town of Norwich, Chenango county, N. Y., May 
10, 1862. The early ancestry of this family were New England people. William 
Fawcett, father of Fred C, was a millwright by trade. He died in 1874, at Mount 
Upton, Chenango county. Fred C. was educated in the common schools, and his 
first occupation was as a clerk in a general store in Laurens, Otsego county, where 
he remained for about three years. The year 1879 he spent in Morris, Otsego 
county, and in 1881 he came to Hammondsport and entered the employ of 
Delos Rose, who was then conducting a general store, where he remained 
four years, then returned to Otsego county, and was for two years in part- 
nership with his brother-in-law in the hardware business in Laurens. In 1889 
he bought the furniture and undertaking establishment of R. Beck, and has since 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 483 

about doubled the business, carrying a general line of furniture and undertaking 
goods, and is able to compete with the larger towns surrounding. His store is 25 by 
65 feet, with use of three floors. In 1886 he married Lillian, daughter of Robert 
Beck, by whom he had four children: Robert \\'., Bertha L., Charles B. and Ellis, 
who died in April, 1894, aged si.x months. 

Frey, Henry, was born in Rochester, N. Y., May 24, 1859. His boyhood was spent 
in attendance at the village schools of Hammondsport and assisted his father in the 
grape and wine business until he was sixteen years of age. In 1875 he made his 
first venture for himself in the conducting of an agency in Xew York city for the 
sale of wines. During this time he spent three years in the New York Evening High 
School, making a special study of business, and was graduated in the first degree. 
In 1881 Henry Frey &• Co. established a branch office in New York, which Mr. Frey 
conducted for six years, and then spent two years as a traveling agent for the Ger- 
mania Company. In 1889, in company with Seymour Hubbs, he bought the Colum- 
bia Wine Cellar, where we find him today conducting the business with the greatest 
success. Mr. Frey is a staunch Democrat, and he is now serving his second term 
as a member of the village council. January 5, 1882, he married Lina Mohr, of New 
York city- 

Champlin, Charles A., was born in the village of Hammondsport, N. Y., March 
27, 1862, youngest son of C. D. Champlin. He was educated in the common schools 
and Stanford Seminary. He also spent a year in Riverview Military Academy, after 
which he returned to the village of Hammondsport, and began his career as mer- 
chant in the store of W. H. Hastings. In August, 1887, he bought the store, which 
he conducted as a general store until 18S9, when he decided to divide the stock, and 
established a dry goods store and grocer)- in separate establishments. He has been 
a member of Urbana Lodge, No. 459, F. & A. M., for eight years. In 1884 he mar- 
ried Georgie M. Malburn, of Denver, Col., by whom he had three children: Charles 
D., Gladys H. and Malburn. 

Casterline, David, was born in Deckertown, New Jersey, April 12, 1820, and was 
the third son of Phineas Casterline, who located in Steuben county in December, 
1835, and bought the tannery in Pulteney of George King, and also followed shoe- 
making. David attended the common schools, and when a boy of nine years went 
to live with a prosperous farmer, who failed three years later, and David then went 
to live with D. D. Gould, until their removal to New York State, when he came with 
them, but lived at home only a few months. In the spring of 1836 he hired out with 
a farmer on Mount Washington for ten dollars per month, and continued in the em- 
ploy of different farmers until 1856, the spring of which year he entered the employ 
of Hastings & Nichols in their warehouse, being with them for twelve years, during 
which time he, in company with Mr. Nichols, bought fifty acres on the west side of 
the lake and set out a part of it to vineyard, and sold and bought in other places and 
set out other vineyards. He continued in partnership with Mr. Nichols until the 
latter's death, which occurred in 1884, and since 1885 has managed his vineyards, 
and is living a retired life. In politics Mr. Casterline was a Democrat until the 
formation of the Republican party in 1850, since which time he has been a Repub- 
lican. He was postmaster from October, 1884, until December 31, 1888, and has 



484 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

also been a justice of the peace, a trustee of the village, and a trustee of the 
Methodist church for six years. In December, 1870, he married Mrs. Mary Glann, 
daughter of Horace Atwell, of the town of Milo, Yates county, N. Y., and they 
have one adopted daughter. May. 

Cushmg, John, was born in Goshen, Orange county, December 18, 1852. His 
father. Rev. John T. Qushing, was a native of Boston, Mass., born in August, 1812. 
He was reared in his native town and educated in the college at Hartford, and his 
theological course was taken at New York Theological Institute, from which he was 
graduated. When thirty-three years of age he began to officiate, and was rector of 
the church of Meriden, Conn., for three years. From there he went to Goshen, 
Orange county, where he remained eight years, and during this time he built St. 
James church. He then went to the South for his health and preached at Baton 
Rouge, La., for six years; returning in 1860, he held the parishes of Speedsville 

and for four years, and the fall of 1863 came to Steuben county, locating in 

the town of Urbana. He continued to assist the clergy in this town up to the time 
of his death, which occurred December 27, 1891. He was a very deep student and 
a brilliant speaker, and a brother and friend to Bishop Coxe and other eminent 
divines. Of his ancestry we can say he was a descendant of such Cushings as 
Judge William Gushing and Col. John Gushing, celebrated in the history of the 
Indian wars of the eighteenth century. Mr. John Gushing married Hannah Ives Cur- 
tis, of Meriden, Conn. , by whom he had six children, five of whom are living ; Maud, 
wife of Medas Maxon, of Kentucky; John, as above; Frank C, a lawyer of the firm 
of Wright & Gushing, of Urbana; Pierre, rector of St Mark's church of Leroy, and 
Mary, an artist in music and painting, of Hammondsport. John has given his at- 
tention to the manufacture of wine and grape growing, with fifty acres of vineyard. 
December 17, 1893, he married Alice Jacobus. 

Amsworth, Henry C, was born in Prattsburg. January 1, 1854. His grandfather 
was Isaac Ainsworth. George R. R. Ainsworth, father of Henrj- C, was educated 
in Prattsburg Academy, after which he engaged in the mercantile business in Pratts- 
burg. which business he followed about forty years. He married Mary E. Smith, a 
native of Connecticut, by whom he had seven children, six of whom are now living. 
Henry C. was the second son, and was educated at Prattsburg Academy, after which 
he engaged with his father in the store, where he remained until 1874, when he went 
as cashier in his father's bank in Prattsburg. In 1876, in partnership with his father, 
he established the Bank of Hammondsport, Henry locating there and managing its 
affairs. He continued as manager until August 22, 1894, when he sold to the pres- 
ent owner. Mr. Ainsworth is now devoting his attention to the cultivation of grapes, 
his vineyard being located about one mile north on the west side of the lake. In 
politics Mr. Ainsworth has always been a Republican, and was treasurer of the vil- 
lage from 1877 until 1894. 

Champlin, Harry M., was born in Hammondsport, N. Y., Octobers, 1860. He was 
educated at the Hammondsport Academy, Bath Union School and Holbrooke Mili- 
tary Academy at Sing Sing, after which he engaged in farming and milling, and for 
a couple of years took charge of the homestead farm and mill. In the fall of 1894 
he built a flouring mill, box factory and lumber yard, employing from ten to fifteen 



4 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 485 

hands. He also has a vineyard at Rheims, and is one of the directors of the Pleas- 
ant Valley Wine Company, also owns a farm of 110 acres at Pleasant Valley, the old 
homestead. Mr. Champlin is a Republican in politics, and has always been a worker 
for the party. In 1894 he was elected to the office of supervisor, and is .serving in 
that office at the present time. He was also delegate to the County Convention in 
the fall of 1894. In February, 1891, he married Eva Drummer, of Bath. 

Tripp, Murry, was born in the town of Cohocton, N. Y., January 29, 1853, son of 
Charles Tripp, and grandson of Charles Tripp, sr., and great-grandson of James 
Tripp, who came from Clyde, N. Y. , to Patchinsville about 1835, where he was en- 
gaged in lumbering for a time, and in 1889 he settled in South Dansville, and fol- 
lowed farming. Charles Tripp, si"., located in South Dansville. and also engaged in 
farming. He was a great hunter, and up to his fiftieth year killed over 500 deer. 
In 1840 he shot a bear in a neighbor's garden in South Dansville, which he stuffed, 
and during the political campaign of that year he drove into Dansville to attend a 
political meeting with a large load of voters and with the bear standing erect on the 
wagon, which strange sight attracted much attention. His children were Daniel, who 
was a physician and practiced in Cohocton and the surrounding towns; Simon and 
Uriah, who settled in South Dansville. where they died; Elizabeth, wife of Henry 
Lane of Michigan ; Charles; and George, who was a farmer in Minnesota. Charles 
Tripp, jr., settled in the towi. of Cohocton about 1847. where he has since lived, and 
is a farmer bv occupation. In politics he is a Republican, and has been collector and 
deputy sheriff. He married Lorinda Munroe, and their children were Helen, who 
married Luther Wilcox of Cohocton; Murry; Charles, who died in early manhood ; 
Elmer E., deceased; and Myra B., wife of George Rocker of Cohocton. Murry 
Tripp is a farmer by occupation and conducted a meat market for some time at Co- 
hocton. He is a Republican and has held the offices of collector and highway com 
missioner. He is a member of Adair's Cornet Band. He married Nettie Hurd, 
of Honeoye, N. Y., and their children are; Leon D., Bessie, Floyd, deceased, and 
George. 

Clark, James P., was born in Fleming, Cayuga county, N. Y., October 5, 1822, son 
of Rev. Henry R. Clark (deceased), a Baptist clergyman. The family is of English 
ancestry, the pioneer of this branch being one of three brothers, who came to 
America prior to the Revolutionary war and settled in Westchester county. N. Y. 
Thomas Clark, the grandfather of James P., was a soldier in the Continental army 
during the Revolutionary war. James P. came to Livingston county when a boy 
and lived with an uncle for several years, and in 1836 they removed to South Dans- 
ville, N. Y., where he built a saw mill and engaged in that business for several 
years, and at that time pine lumber brought only §2.50 per thousand. In 1847 Mr. 
Clark sold out and went to Ohio, where he purchased a farm of Charles C. Paine, 
from whom the town of Painesville, O. , took its name. Three years later he re- 
moved to Wisconsin, and in 1854 returned to Steuben county and purchased a farm 
in the town of Wayland, near Loon Lake, and about 1867 he purchased a farm on the 
west side of the river in Cohocton, where he settled. He al.so purchased 1,000 acres 
of timber land in the western part of the town, and became one of the foremost 
farmers and business men, and at about this time engaging in the buying and 
shipping of hay and straw, soon e.\tending his business to grain and potatoes. He 



486 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

shipped the first carload of produce ever sent from Cohocton. In 1879 his son, A. H. 
Clark, became a partner, and has since been a member of the firm, and they are 
very largely engaged in farming and potato growing. Mr. Clark is an active Repub- 
lican, and was supervisor of the town of Wayland in 1863, '64, '65 and 1868 was 
elected supervisor of Cohocton. He is a member of Liberty Lodge, F. & A M., of 
Cohocton. He married Eunice Colton, and they were the parents of seven children: 
Sarah (deceased), who married H. C. Pierce; Albert H. ; Lydia, who died young: 
Huldah, wife of Orange McKay; Jennie, who married Charles Oliver; \V. H., and 
one that died in infancy. 

Fo.\, James, was born at Palatine, Montgomery county, N.Y., October 11, 1844, and 
is a son of Jesse Fox, and grandson of Daniel R. Fox, the family being of German 
descent. Daniel R. served in the war of 1812. In his native country he was a brick- 
maker, and also kept hotel, and in 1842 he came to Bath, N. Y., where he kept hotel 
for two years, and then removed to Illinois. Jesse Fox came to Steuben county in 
1855 and settled in Avoca, where he engaged in farming. He married Elizabeth 
Saltsman, and their children were Andrew, who married Catherine Wagner, and is 
a farmer in Avoca; Ann. wife of John A. Wagner of Avoca; Catherine, who mar- 
ried E. R. Brigleir and settled at Orleans, N. Y. ; Mary, wife of August Hoeffner of 
Newark, N. Y. ; James, and Fannie, wife of George W. Mark. James Fox was edu- 
cated at Franklin Academy, Prattsburg, graduating in 1868, from w-hich time until 
1874 he was engaged m teaching, after which he engaged in the drug trade at Cohoc- 
ton, and from 1875 to 1884 he taught school, and in the latter years he again engaged 
in the drug business, continuing it until 1895, when he retired from trade. Politically 
he is a Democrat and was elected town clerk in 1888. He took an active part in se- 
uring the incorporation of the village and was a member of its first board of trus- 
tees, and has been a member of the school board since 1891. He is a member of 
Liberty Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M. In 1885 he married Mrs. Louisa McDowell of 
Cohocton, and they have two children: Jessie C. and Fannie F. 

Fox, Christopher, sr., was born in Prussia in 1823, son of Christopher and Kalh- 
erine (Wergley) Fox, with whom he came to America in 1843. His father settled in 
the town of Wayland, where he engaged in farming. He was one of the founders of 
the Lutheran church at Perkinsville. His children were Nicholas, who settled in In- 
diana, where he died; Katherine, who married Nicholas Drum of Cohocton; Eliza- 
beth, who married Christopher Folts, and settled in Wiscon:in; Jacob, w-ho 
settled in Wayland; Adam, who settled Wisconsin; and Christopher, who has 
has always followed farming, settling first in Wax land in 1869, thence to Cohocton, 
where he has since lived. He married Catherine Fogal, by whom he had seven chil- 
dren : Christopher, who settled in Cohocton and engaged in farming ; Sophia, who 
married Charles Cross, of Dansville; Caroline, who married Christopher Fox, 
of Naples; Catherine, who married Henry Woodward of Cohocton; Barbara, who 
married John Weaver, of Cohocton ; Conrad, who settled in Naples, and married 
Elizabeth Fritting; and George, who is unmarried. 

Finch, Henry, was born in Cohocton, N. Y., December 21, 1853. Daniel, his father, 
was a son of Philetus Finch, who came from Orange county, N. Y., at an early day 
and settled at Benton, Y''ates county, and served in the war of 1812. In 1830 he re- 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 487 

moved to Cohocton and settled in the east part of the town. He was a shoemaker and 
also followed farming. He married Elizabeth Pettis, and they were the parents of 
seven children : Cornelius, who was a farmer of Cohocton and removed to Atlanta, 
where he engaged in the produce business, and died in 1894; Edward and Silas, who 
settled in Cohocton, where they died; William, who located at Atlanta; Thomas, who 
located at Adrian, Mich., where he died; Daniel; and John, who settled at Atlanta. 
Uaniel Finch, who is a farmer in Cohocton, married Mahala Showers, and their chil- 
dren are Harriet (Mrs. Mary Barney) of Cohocton; Lois (Mrs. Norman Crawford) of 
Wheeler, N. Y. ; Henry; Silas, a resident of Cohocton; and Charles, who is in the 
produce bu.siness at Wallace, N.Y. Henrj- Finch has always lived in Cohocton, and 
was in the grocery business for about eight years. In 1891 he opened a meat market, 
which he has since conducted. He is a strong Democrat, and a member of Liberty 
Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M. In 1893 he was he was elected town clerk. He married 
Angeline Fronk. 

Graser, Valentine, was born in Buffalo, N.V., June 11, 1854. His father, Valentine 
Graser, sr., was a native of Germany, who came to America about 1840, and .settled 
at Buffalo. Valentine Graser, jr., learned the cigarmaker's trade when a boy. He 
spent twelve years in St. Louis, and in 1878 came to Cohocton, where he has since 
resided. He entered the employ of S. H. Leavitt, and later the T. R. Harris Cigar 
Company. He was one of the organizers of the Cohocton Valley Cigar Company, 
of which he was vice-president and director. In 1888, with several others, he organ- 
ized the Cohocton Cigar Company. Mr. Graser is a member of Kanawha Lodge, I. 
O. O. F. , of Atlanta, and of Wayland Encampment. He is also a member of the 
Maccabees and the E. K. O. R. In 1879 he married Emma Wagner, of Cohocton, by 
whom he had three children: Jessie M., Lottie L. , and George W. The first of the 
Wagner family to settle in Steuben county was Jacob, son of Lewis Wagner, 
of Prussia. Jacob came to America in 1837 and settled in the village of Dansville. 
He was a cabinetmaker and cooper by trade, and in 1841 he removed to Patchinsviile, 
in the town of Wayland. where he resided until 1853, when he purchased a farm in 
the town of Cohocton, west of the village, and engaged in farming until 186G, when 
he settled in Cohocton village, where he died in 1871. He married Maria Grob, by 
whom he had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy: Mary (Mrs. Jacob Hart) 
of Cohocton; Elizabeth (Mrs. William M. Cridler) of Fremont; Catherine (Mrs. H. C. 
Tripp) of Cohocton ; Emma M. (Mrs. Valantine Graser) of Cohocton ; Nicholas J., who 
enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. I. 161st N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the 
war, was wounded at Sabine Cross Roads April 8 1864; Jacob, a farmer of Cohocton, 
who enli.sted in 1864, in Co. G, 189th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the 
war; Wallace, who is a carpenter by trade; and George E., who has been engaged in 
the produce business at Cohocton since 1877. Nicholas J. and Jacob are both charter 
members of R. E. Harris Post, G. A. R., of Cohocton. 

Gray, Clarence G., was born in Dansville, N. Y., December 17, 1857, son of Jesse 
Gray, whose father, Mahlon Gray, came from New Jersey and settled in Livingston 
county, and about 1840 came from Conesus and settled in the town of Dansville. 
Jesse Gray settled first in Dansville and later in Fremont, and still later at Wayland 
where he is engaged in farming. He married Hannah Faulkner, by whom he had 
six children: William, Clarence G., Robert E. (deceased), Herbert J., Sadie B. 



488 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

(deceased), and Bernica H. Clarence G. settled in Cohocton in 1886, on the Wayland 
Road, and is one of the enterprising farmers of the town. He is a member of Liberty 
Lodge No. 510, F. & A. M., also of North Cohocton M. E. church. He married Ida 
E., daughter of Lyman Shepard (deceased), bv whom he had four children: Jessie, 
Franc, Lyman, and Sadie V. 

Harter, Leonard, was born in the town of Howard, September 25, 1826, and is a 
son of Adam, and grandson of Jacob Harter, who was a resident of Herkimer, N. Y. 
Their ancestors came from Holland at an early day and .settled in the Mohawk Val- 
ley, and several of Jacob Harter's brothers served in the Revolutionary w-ar. About 
1820 Adam Harter came to Steuben county and settled in the town of Howard, 
where he engaged in farming, and in 1855 he took up 170 acres, at §5 per acre, in 
the southwestern part of Cohocton. He married Matilda Helmer, and their children 
were Jacob, who settled in McKean county. Pa ; Mary A. , deceased ; John A. , de- 
ceased ; Leonard; Lavina, wife of Mr.Van Wormer; Salome, who married Gilbert Glover 
and settled in Wayland; James H., who married Julia Clark, and located in Cohoc- 
ton, and later in Avoca; Samuel, who migrated to Wisconsin, and later to Dakota; 
and Solomon J., who was a farmer by occupation and died in 1894. Leonard Harter 
resides on the homestead and has always followed farming. September 1, 1864, he 
enlisted in Co. G, 189th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. He is a 
member of R. E. Harris Post, G. A. R., No. 240, of Cohocton. He married Sarah J. 
Ragey, and their children are David H., who is a farmer of Fremont; Ertane, a resi- 
dent of Wayland ; Dilla, wife of Harvey Teed of Wayland; Harriet, who married 
Henry J. Bill; May, and D. P. Mrs Harter died in 1892. 

Mehlenbacker, C. J., was born in the town of Wayland, September 13. 1850. .son of 
Conrad Mehlenbacker, who came from Germany in 1846, and settled in the town of 
Wayland, where he engaged in farming. He married Christine Smith, by whom he 
had nine children: Christine, wife of Conrad Cornbau, of Bristol, Ontario county, 
N. Y. ; Louis, who married Mar\' Cornbau, and settled on the homestead farm ; 
Catherine, who married Jacob Wolfanger, and settled in Springwater; Charlotte, 
who married John Pragel, and settled in Dansville; Augustus, who married Hattie 
Holcomb, and settled in South Bristol, N. Y. ; C. J. ; Conrad, who married Ivy 
Daniels, and settled in Michigan ; Jacob, who married Augusta Marvin and settled 
in Salamanca, N. Y. ; and Henrj-, who married Alice Fidler, and settled in Grand 
Rapids, Mich. C. J. Mehlenbacker settled in Wayland and began life as a farmer. 
In 1883 he settled in Cohocton village, purchasing the Cohocton Hotel, of which he 
was the proprietor for nine years, and in 1892 he engaged m blacksmithing and car- 
riage making. In 1876 Mr. Mehlenbacker married Hannah Fleischman, by whom 
he had five children; Bertha, Almina, Henry L., Alfred and Arthur. 

Moulton, Rice T. — The pioneer of the family in Steuben county was James Moul- 
ton, who came from Saratoga county as early as 1815, and first settled on the road 
betw-een Liberty and North Cohocton, and shortly after took up a farm on the Way- 
land road two miles west of North Cohocton, where he resided until his death, which 
occurred in 1843. He married Mary Crouch, by whom he had twelve children: 
Abbie, who married James Armstrong, and settled in Cohocton; Richard, who mar- 
ried Harriett Ellis, and came from Saratoga about 1818 and settled near his father; 



FAMILY SKETCHES 489 

Rice, who married Annie Cameron, and settled in Cohocton, where he died; Theda, 
who married William Tyler, and settled in Naples; Nelson; Cynthia, who married 
Asahel Tyler, and settled in Cohocton; Warren, who settled in Michigan, where he 
died; Maria, who died unmarried; Thomas, who settled in Michigan, and later m 
Alabama; Eliza, who married L. Ashley, and settled in Springwater; Hiram, who 
married Betsey Haight, and settled in Cohocton; and Myron, who settled first in 
Cohocton and afterward in Michigan. Nelson Moulton settled in Cohocton and about 
1852 removed to Tyrone, Mich., where he died. He married Triphenia Morehouse, 
by whom he had five children; Marilla, who died unmarried; Ireton, who died in 
early manhood; James, who married Mabel Van Wormer, and settled in Cohocton, 
where he died; Margaret, who married John Wheaton ; and Rice T., who settled in 
Cohocton, where he is a successful farmer. He is a strong Republican, and was 
elected highway commissioner in 189:i. He is a member of Kanawha Lodge, I. O. 
O. F., No. 506, of Atlanta. He married Elizabeth Wilson, by whom he had one son, 
James. 

Miller, Robert, was born in Norfolk county, England, January 17, lKi9, son of 
Robert Miller, who came to America with his family in 1843 and settled in the town 
of Seneca, Ontario county, and in 1850 removed to Steuben county, purchasing a 
farm on Lent Hill, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was a shoemaker 
by trade, which business he followed in his earlier years, and was afterwards a 
farmer. He was a leading member of the Lent Hill Wesleyan Methodist church. 
He married Martha Middleton, and they were the parents of five children; William, 
who married Minerva, daughter of John Bush, and settled on Lent Hill, where he 
has been extensively engaged in farming, and has been the minister of the W. M. 
church for many years; Martha, wife of William Caward, who settled in Seneca, On- 
tario county ; Robert, Ann, and John, who settled in Cohocton, and was extensively 
engaged in the produce business for about twenty-five years, and married Celia 
Hatch. He died in 1890. Robert Miller, jr., settled on Lent Hill, where he has 
large farming interests, and has done much toward the clearing of that part 
of the town. Since 1875 he has been engaged in the produce business and for sev- 
eral years was the partner of his brother, John. Several years since he settled in 
Jersey City and is engaged in the produce business at New York citv. He married 
Anna Bolles of Swains, N. Y. 

Roth, John, was born in Bavaria, (Jermauy, April 3, 1835, son of Andrew Roth. 
John Roth came to America in 18C0, and settled at Perkinsville, N. Y., and in 1866 
purchased a tract of land in the western part of Cohocton, which he cleared and en- 
gaged in farming, bringing it up to a high state of cultivation. He is a staunch 
Democrat and a member of Avoca Lodge,- No. 519, I. O. O. F. , also of Bath Encamp- 
ment. He married Margaret Grossman in Bavaria, by whom he had seven children; 
Barbara (Mrs. John Nash of Cohocton), Katie (Mrs. Louis Zeh of Cohocton), Libbie 
(Mrs. Farley A. Stamp of Thurston), Emma, Julia, who married Dwight Upton, and 
died at Bath; Jennie (Mrs. Bion Slayton of Cohocton), and Annie, who died in in- 
fancy. 

Newman, Andrew J., was born in Sidney, Delaware, N. Y., in 1835, son of Fran- 
cis A., who was a native of Otsego county, whose father. Rev. Francis A. Newman, 
ill 



490 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

was a prominent divine, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Francis A. New- 
man, jr., served in the war of 1812, and in 1855 came to Steuben county and set- 
tled in the town of Wayland, near Loon Lake, where he engaged in farming. He 

married Sarah , by whom he three children; John W. , Peter, and Andrew J. 

Peter first settled in Cohocton, where he engaged in the lumber business, and later 
settled in Avoca. Andrew J. has been for many years an extensive buyer and 
shipper of live stock, having also extensive farming interests, and for twelve years 
he carried on a market in Hornellsville. In 1888 he settled in the western part of 
the town of Cphocton. For nearl)- forty years he has been an official member of the 
Loon Lake M. E. church, and for nineteen years superintendent of the Sunday 
school. He married Catherine Mehlenbacker, by whom he had four children : Marv 
(Mrs. Frank Small), Samuel W., Charles P., and Gertrude. 

Lee, Harriet Gray. — Amos Graves, son of Jedediah Graves, was born at East Had- 
dam, Conn., December 10, 1753. The earliest ancestor of this family we find in this 
country was John Graves, who was a native of England and came to the L^nited States 
and settled in Concord, Mass., about 1640. His son Benjamin was born in l(i45, 
and was a soldier in the Indian war of 1675. The third generation was his son, also 
Benjamin, who was born at Concord, Mass., March 2, 1676. His son Jedediah was 
born in 1708,' and moved to East Haddam, Conn., about 1725, where Amos was 
born. He married Hannah Kennedy, who was born at Milton, Mass., March 11, 1766, 
by whom he had thirteen children. Amos Graves came to Steuben county in 1819 
where he made his home for five or six years, and while here his influence was felt 
in the first religious work m Hornellsville. He removed to Concord, Pa . in 1824, 
where he spent a few years and then located in Harbor Creek, Pa., where he died 
April 29, 183j6. Hannah Kennedy Graves was born m Lebanon, Chenango county, 
N. Y., September 7, 1803, and ^vas married in Concord, Pa., to Otis Thacher, of Hor- 
nellsville, N.Y., March 9, 1825. and died there August 4, 1891. Amy Wentworth Graves 
was born at Lebanon, Chenango county, N. Y., February 26, 1806, and September 
39, 1830, was married in Erie, Pa., by the Rev. Dr. Reed, to Dr. Patrick Wells Grav, 
who was the son of Judge John Gray of Sherburne, Chenango county. N. Y., and 
they had five children : Carroll Eugene Gray, Harriet Diantha Gray, Theodore Weld 
Gray, Rollin Birney Gray, and Ella Elizabeth Gray. Wellington Lee was born in 
Sheridan, Chautauqua county, Deceinber 18, 1816. He was a son of Joel and Amanda 
(Gray) Lee, and was educated for a civil engineer and had a varied experience, 
raising ships that were sunk in the Crimean war at the siege of Sevastapol. and was 
engaged in many other prominent enterprises. He made his home in New York city, 
and June 5, 1862, he married Harriet Diantha Gray, of Elmira. N. Y., in London, 
England, by whom he had three children, one of whom is living, Wellington Gray 
Lee, born- in New York city, April 11, 1869. He is a civil and electrical engineer. 
Mr. Lee was the inventor and manufacturer of the Hrst successful Steam Fire Engine m 
this country, and also manufactured them in England and France, a man of ac- 
([uaintance and intimacy with the greatest American and foreign mechanical and 
civil engineers. He was of the firm of T>ee & Larned, engine manufacturers of 
New York. He died in New York city, March 31, 1881, and is buried in the family 
lot in Greenwo<Kl cemetery. In the "Graves Genealogy." to be issued by General 
John Carl Graves, of Buffalo, in December, the Graves family is traced back in Eng- 
land 800 years. 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 491 

Babcock, Devolson I)., was born in the town of Pharsalia, Chenango county, N. 
Y., October 13, 1833, and was for many years engaged in the mercantile business at 
Warren, Pa., where he remained eleven years. September lij, 185y, he married Mary 
A. Browning, of Scio, N. Y., who survives him, and their tive children were: Ogden 
D. , Devolson D., jr., Kate H., Grace B. , and Mrs. Mary A. Weeks, of New York. 
When the great oil strike was made at Bradford, in IST.j, and the opening up of the 
immense Clark, Babcock & Hulins tract at Foster Brook occurred, Mr. Babcock left 
Pittsfield toassisthis brother, Krancis G. Babcock, one of the owners of the propertj', 
in its management. During the same year the Bank of Hornellsville was organized 
in this city bj' Francis G. Babcock, W. H. Johnson, and others, and Mr. Babcock be- 
came vice-president of the institution, a position he held continuously until his death. 
In 1878 he purchased with his brother a lar,ge interest in the prolific Moodv tract of 
oil lauds, of which he became one of the managers. In 1880 he took up his residence 
in Hornellsville on Center street, and after closing up his oil interests became associ- 
ated with his brother, Francis G., in an immense ranch at Terra Cotta, Kan., of 
which he became the manager. After the failure of A. B. Yorhis, at Canisteo, the 
sash and blind factory was purchased by Messrs. Babcock & Drake, and a year or two 
later Mr. Babcock became acting president of the concern, which position he held 
till his death. His only surviving relatives aside from his family, are Francis G. 
Babcock and Mrs. Elizabeth 8. Clark, both of Hornellsville. Mr. Babcock was a 
member of the Presbyterian church and had long been president of- the board of 
trustees of that society. Personally he was of a quiet temperament, but most genial 
and hearty of manner with his friends. He was a steady, persistent, and diligent 
business man of great ability. His domestic relations were unusually happy ; he was 
a good husband, an indulgent father, a loving son and brother, a consistent Chris- 
tian, and an honorable, honored citizen. He died in Hornellsville. 

Wood, Ira M., was born in Urbaua, July 16, 1842, and is the oldest of four sons 
born to Andrew T. and Catherine Holly Wood. Ira's great-grandfather, Jonathan 
Wood, was a pioneer of Orange county. Andrew T. was a farmer by occupation. 
He died July 12, 1894, and his wife October 20, 1885. Ira M. taught school nine 
terms and he enumerated the United States census of Wayne in June, 1880. May 
27, 1866, he married Sarah O. Fuller of Bradford and they have two sons, Marion A. 
and Edgar M., school teachers. Mrs. Wood died October 31, 1877. For his second 
wife, March 15, 1881, he married Anna E. Leonard of Orange, Schuyler county, by 
whom he has one daughter, Susie E. In 1869 he located on a farm of one hundred 
acres in Wayne where he has since resided, and besides general farming he is insur- 
ance agent and dealer in agricultural implements. August 25, 1862, he enlisted in 
Co. B, 141st New York Yohinteers and was honorably discharged June 29, 1865. 
He participated in the Siege of Suffolk, Ya., his regiment was in the battles of Chat- 
tanooga, Lookrmt Mountain, Missitmary Ridge and Sherman's March to the Sea. 
September 20, 1864, he was detailed as private orderly for Brig.-Gen. Hugh Ewing 
and April 20, 1865, was detached as clerk under Capt. John F. Herbert, chief of ar- 
tillery, department of Kentucky, Louisville, Ky. He is a member of Urbana Lodge 
No. 459, F. & A. M. at Hammondsport and of Chapter No. 95 R. A. M. at Bath, 
Pleasant Yalley Grange No. 408, at Rheinis and a charter member of Monroe Brun- 
dage Post No. 470, G. A. R. at Hammondsport and a charter member of Tent No. 



492 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

387, K. (). T. M. of North Urbana and a charter member of Schuyler Lodge No. 740, 
I. O. O. F. at Wayne. Henry S. Wood enUsted August 20, 1802, promoted to orderly 
sergeant, which rank he held at the time of his death, August 16, 186?), cause of death. 
typhoid malaria fever, at Warrenton Junction, Va. 

Moore, Hobart J. , second son of Walter Lull Moore (which see), was born in Morris, 
Otsego county, N. V., December 14, 1850, and came to Hammondsport with his pa- 
rents in 1863. Was educated in the academy there and in early life became a clerk 
for J. S. Thorp, with whom he remained six year.s. In 187,t he established business 
for himself, and in 1895, in company with others, erected a new store building on 
Mechanic street. He is a Democrat and has served as town clerk, collector, and in 
1886, 1887, and 1891-93 supervisor. He is a vestryman in St. James Episcopal church, 
a member of the board of education, and a member of Urbana Lodge, No. 459, F. & 
A. M. In 1877 he married Loretta, daughter of James Hall, and has two daughters 
and two son.s. 

Moore, Trevor, son of Walter Lull Moore, whose biographical sketch appears on 
another page of this volume, was born in the town of Morris, Otsego county, N. Y., 
April 13, 1846. At the age of seventeen he came to Hammondsport and attended 
the academy winters for three years. After teaching school two terms he engaged 
in viniculture and now owns a vineyard of twenty acres on the west shore of Keuka 
Lake. Since then he has been heavily interested in the grape business, both aspro- 
ducer and shipper. A Democrat in politics he has held several town offices and is 
president of the village of Hammondsport. He was one of the organizers and presi- 
dent of the Central New York Grape Growers Association, has been a member of 
Urbana Lodge, No. 459, F. & A. M., since 1887, and member of the building com- 
mittee in 1895 and vestryman of St. James Episcopal church for twenty years. No- 
vember 23, 1876, he married Anna, daughter of Luther T. Brink, a farmer and grape 
grower. They have three children: Walter L., Martha L., and Parley C. 

Acker, MiloM., was bom in Hartsville, N. Y., of German-American parcnta.ge, 
October 3, 1853. Until twenty-one years of age he worked at home during the sum- 
mers, and in the logging camps of Pennsylvania during the winters. During his 
leisure moments he studied and read industriously. After consideration, Mr. Acker 
decided to enter the legal profession, and accordingly returned to his home, took 
what little money he had and entered the school at Andover. By working for his 
board he managed to pay for his schooling. He was graduated with high honors 
and taught in all the departments of the school. A little later he attended for one 
year Alfred University, whose profe.ssors recently said of him; " We remember him 
as one with the power for work and the determination to make the most of hisoppor- 
tunities. Such young men will make their mark in the world, under whatever cir- 
cumstances." In 1879 and 1880 Mr. Acker was supervisor of the town of Hartsville, 
and in 1881 entered the ofhce of Judge Hakes, of Hornellsville, as a law student. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1883, became a member of the firm in 1885, and in 1886 
served as police justice of Hornellsville. He has risen rapidly in his chosen profes- 
sion, and is now counted one of the most prominent among the yoimger lawyers of 
Western New York, being often chosen to settle difficult cases where tact and sound 
judgment, both in regard to law and men, are required, and his success in such cases 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 493 

well warrants the choice, ^[r. Acker has served four consecutive terms in the As- 
sembly, and held many prominent positions on committees. In 1890 he was chan-- 
man of the judiciary committee, and in 1891 was Republican candidate for speaker, 
and therefore the leader of the Republicans in the house, where he was recognized 
as one of the best orators and debaters in the assemblies in which he served. 

Brownell. Charles S., was born in Bath, May 7, 1849. Hisfather. Morton Brownell, 
was a native of Otsego county, who came to Steuben county- in lSt4, and established 
one of the first hardware stores in Bath, being associated with Robert W. Church, 
and remained in the business for twenty-five years, when he retired. He married 
Cornelia, daughter of P. Ollendorf, of Otsego, and died in 1890, aged eighty-five 
years. Charles S. was educated in Haverling Academy, and in 1864 he went to 
Buffalo and engaged in the drug business, thence to Hammondsport in 1809, where 
he engaged in the hardware business, and in 1879 he removed to Bath and continued 
the same business under the name of C. S. Brownell & Co., carrying one of the larg- 
est stocks in Western New York. In 18G8 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. 
Saxton Bigelow, of Ashtabula, Ohio. Mr. Brownell is one of the leading bu.siness 
men of his town, conservative and upright in character, and has ever advanced the 
best intei'ests of his town and county. 

Rumsey, Hon. William, was born in Bath, in October, 1841. His father, the Hon. 
IJavid Rumsey, was for many years a judge in the same court and for the same 
district now honored by his son. Judge Rumsey, sr., left the bench December :^1, 
1880, and resumed his practice. He died March 13, 1883, aged seventy-two years. 
The son of an eminent jurist. Judge Rumsey possesses both by inheritance and bv 
culture, judicial abilities of high order, which have been disciplined and improved ' 
by close study and by experience on the bench. At an early age Judge Rum.sey de- 
veloped a comprehensive grasp upon all questions and prepared for college in a re- 
markably short time, entering Williams in 1857, when he was but little over fifteen 
years of age. In April, 1861, a few months before the commencement when he was 
to have been graduated, Judge Rumsey cast aside his books as others gave up their 
cherished plans and pursuits, to respond to Lincoln's first call for troops, with which 
to crush the Rebellion. In spite of this he was graduated by the college in June, '(il. 
He remained at Elmira as aide-de-camp to Gen. R. B. Van Valkenburg until Octo- 
ber 17, when he resigned and was appointed first lieutenant and adjutant in the 
First New York Light Artillery. Col. C. I>. Bailey commanding. On November 1, 
1861, he went with his regiment to Wa.shington and remained there in camp until 
April, 1862, when Colonel Bailey was assigned chief of artillery in Casey's Division, 
Fourth Army Corps, and Lieutenant Rumsey went with him. He reached Newport 
News, Va., with his division about the 7th of April, and went to the front. He was 
engaged in the siege of Yorktown till May 4. and on May .') participated in the battle 
of \Villiamsburg. He was in the Peninsular campaign from that day until May:!!, 
when, in the battle of I'-air Oaks, his horse was shot under him and he was severely 
wounded in the shoulder, and was sent North. On his return to the front he was 
promoted to the rank of captain and assistant adjutant-general for bravery at Fair 
Oaks. He participated in engagements too numerous to mention, serving under 
Gen. W. W. Averell. His promotion continued steady. On the 25th of May, 1865, lie 
was commissioned a major for gallantry at Moorefield, where he led one column of 



494 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

the 1,600 national troops under General Averell, who attacked and utterly muted 
3,200 rebel troops, killing and capturing one-half the entire command and dispersing 
the remainder. In further acknowledgment of his services, he received another 
commission from President Johnson, as brevet lieutenant-colonel, with rank from 
March 13, 1865, which commission stated that it was "given for distinguished ser- 
vices in the campaign of May, June and July, 1864," On the 7th of February, 1868, 
he received a commission from Governor Fenton as brevet colonel, "for meritorious 
services in the late war." It is the opinion of General Averell that Judge Rumsey 
should have been accorded a much higher rank than he attained. On the close of 
the war Judge Rumsey went with General Van Valkenburg to Japan, his former 
commander having been appointed Japanese ambassador. After a two years' sojourn 
Judge Rumsey returned to his native country and settled down to the serious work 
of his life. He studied law in his father's office and soon became a lawyer in good 
practice. He was chosen to the Supreme Court bench in 1880. In 1886 he was men- 
tioned prominently for a place on the Republican ticket as candidate for the Court 
of Appeals bench, but made way for Judge Daniels. In 1888 Judge Rumsey re- 
ceived the Republican nomination for the Court of Appeals bench, and was defeated 
by Judge Gray, by only 3.044 votes. Judge Rumsey led the State ticket and, it is 
said, might have been elected had he received projier support in New York citv. 
Judge Rumsey has written an exhaustive work on "Practice," and was one of a 
commission of three with the Hon. David Dudley Field and Hon, David L. Follett, 
appointed by Governor Hill to prepare and revise the code of evidence. Judge 
Rumsey resides with his family at Bath, but his mother and sisters live here, he is 
regarded as a Rochesterian. 

De Puy, Esther. — A. R. De Puy was born in Milo, Yates county, October 31, 1831, 
son of James, who came to Steuben county, and in 1837 settled on Barne)- Hill. He 
married Jane, daughter of Daniel De Witt. A. R. follow'ed in the footsteps of his 
father, and has been closely connected with the history of the town for forty years. 
In 1848 he married Esther, daughter of Henry Parr, of Big Flats, Chemung county, 
and they are the parents of two children: Henry F and Ellen. Mr. De Puy died 
May 16, 189.5, in his seventy-fourth year, a loss not only to bis family but to all who 
knew him. 

Dolson, Edwin L. — Dr. Joseph S. Dolson, father of Edwin L. and Charles A., and 
son of Rev. Charles Williamson Dolson, was born in Campbell, Steuben county, Feb- 
ruary 6, 1825, and died in Hornellsville, July 10, 1892. His father, John Dolson, set- 
tled in the town of Bath about 1790, and kept an inn at the mouth of Mud Creek, 
receiving a grant of land of 130 acres from Capt. Charles Williamson, in recogniti<m 
of services and kindness extended during a period of sickness, his deed bearing date 
October, 1793, and the words "consideration five shillings and kind oflices of party 
of the second part." John Dolson came hither from Dolson ville. Orange county, 
where a number of the ndme still live. Charles W. Dolson was a preacher in the M. 
E. church, and died on the homestead. Dr. J. S. Dolson was educated in the schools 
at Bath, Campbell, and Elmira, and at Cazenovia Seminary, and taught school sev- 
eral years. He studied medicine with Dr. Marsena Terry, of Savona, attended lec- 
tures at Geneva Medical College and in New York city, and was graduated from the 
Albany Medical College in 1848. In 1862 he entered the Union army as assistant 



I 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 495 

surgeon in the IGlsl N. Y. Regt., became acting surgeon at Baton Rouge. La., and 
had charge of a hospital there for one year, when he resigned on account of ilhiess. 
He was for many years connected with the Horuellsville Times, and long a local 
leader in the Republican party. He was postmaster of Bath from February 12, 1874, 
to March 4, 1882, and surgeon of the Soldiers' Home from March 1, 1882, to Septem- 
ber, 1887. He married Amelia A., daughter of Benjamin Smith, of Woodhull, who 
survives him and is a physician in Hornellsville, being a licentiate of the Steuben 
County Medical Society. Her family came from Pennsylvania to Woodhull, Steuben 
county, about the first of this century, and have been prominent in local affairs. 
Edwin L. Dolson was born in Bath, April 23, 1807, was graduated from the Haver- 
ling Union School in 1884. and attended Cornell College for three years. Coming to 
Hornellsville he was for some months city editor and business manager of the Morn- 
ing Times, and in January, 1888, began the study of law in the office of Dolson & 
Orcutt. He was admitted to the bar at Rochester in February, 1891, and in October 
of the same year commenced the active practice of his profession in Hornellsville in 
partnership with his brother, Charles A. He has been attornev of the citv since 
March,. 1893. 

Sutton, William L., was born in what is now the town of Redding, Schuvler 
county, November (i, 1828. John Sutton, the father of William L., w-as a captain in 
the war of 1812. He was a stone and marble cutter and came to Steuben county 
when a young man, locating in the town of Redding where he married Catherine 
Lyboult, a native of Ly.sander, Onondaga county. He removed with his familv to 
Penn Yan in 1831 where the boyhood of William L. was spent. At eighteen years 
of age William L. went on a whaling expedition and spent four years in the tropics. 
He came to Penn Yan where he spent one year and engaged in the machine shop 
and later moved to Fremont, in 18.")4 coming to Hornellsville to work at his trade of 
machinist. In 1857 he bought out the photograph gallery of George S. Young and a 
year later moved to Main street. He was located there until after the war and then 
went into partnership with Carl Myers, which partnership existed only two vears, 
when Mr. Sutton started alone on Seneca street and two years later moved to the 
building now owned by Charles Strack on Canisteo street. He was then fifteen 
years in the Griswold Block and in October, 1890, moved to his present location at 
731 Main street. At the time of his going in business he was the only one making pho- 
tographs between Elmiraand Buffalo and made the first photographs ever made in 
this county. He is one of the leading photographers of this section and has given 
his whole attention to his business. He also conducts a branch gallery in Andover. 
Mr. Sutton was two years trustee and the same length of time an alderman. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity of Hornellsville Lodge, No. 331, and also a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. In 1855 he married Mary Klla Eaton, by whom he had three 
children; Charles B. , who is in the gallery with his father; Mrs. Jennie Chubbuck of 
Proctor, 111. ; and Mrs. Joseph Burgess of Dansville. 

Doriance, Lester, was born in Elkland, Pa., June 11, 1833, .sou of (ieorge and 
Susan (Hammond) Dorrance, he born in Connecticut, and she in Chemung county. 
N. Y. The grandfather, George G. Dorrance, was born in Connecticut, where he 
died. George Dorrance, father of Lester, came to Elkland about 1822, where he 
died in 1883, and his wife, in 1888 Lester Dorrance was reared on the old farm in 



496 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Klklaiul. Pa. He came to Woodhull in ISaT, where he engaged in Uimbering for fif- 
teen years, and the farm he now owns was purchased bv his father in 1855; it con- 
tains 181 acres. He was a Republican in politics until General Grant's administra- 
tion, when he became a Democrat, but is now Independent. In 1856 he married 
Hannah M. Botton, of Elkland. Pa., by whom he had three children: One who died 
in infancy; Clark B., who died at three years of age; and Susan C , who resides at 
home. 

Partridge, Charles E., was born in the town of Prattsburg, March 31, 1854. His 
grandfather, Jonas Partridge, was a native of Vermont, and came to Barrington, Yates 
count}', N. Y., with his pai-ents, Jasper and Jemima Partridge, in 1815. Jonas Par- 
tridge came to Steuben county about 1826 and settled in the town of Prattsburg on 
Lent Hill. He was a shoemaker by trade. He married Amelia Wilson, by whom 
he had four sons: Wilson, Jasper, Erastus, and David. Wilson settled on Lent Hill 
and later at Wallace, where he is engaged in farming. He married Zilpha Olds. 
Jasper settled on Lent Hill and afterward at Cohocton. He was a blacksmith by 
trade. He married Elizabeth Stewart. David married Fannie Weld and settled on 
Lent Hill, where he died. Erastus was a carpenter by trade. He settled on Lent 
Hill, where he died. He married Julia Rynders, by whom he had five children : 
James, who settled at Wallace, and is a blacksmith by trade; Jonas, who is a farmer 
in Prattsburg; Jacob, who settled in Wheeler, N. Y., and engaged in farming; 
Frances, who died unmarried; and Charles E , who settled in the town of Cohocton, 
and who married Victoria Terry. 

Cook, Angeline. — John Cook was born in Steuben county, N. Y., January 17, 1815, 
son of Reuben and Philinda Cook, who were early settlers of,Steuben county. Reu- 
ben Cook laid out a road from Westfield to Wellsborough, and was highway com- 
missioner for twelve years. John Cook was reared on a farm, and was a stone 
mason by trade. In politics he was a Republican and was postmaster twelve years. 
He married Jane Forkenter, by whom he had five children: Philinda, Margaret, 
Edgert, John, and Charles. August 2, 1873, he married Angelina Gunn, a native of 
Jasper, aud daughter of Charles and Joanna Hulbert Gunn, who came to Jasper at 
an early date. He died March 28, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn were the parents of 
nine children, all of whom are living, except one son, Richard. They attended the 
Methodist church. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been born six children: Charles G., 
who lives in Woodhull; Emma, who died February 6, 1895; Mary J., who died June 
20, 1887; Minnie, wife of George Simmons of Nelson, Pa.; Reuben who resides at 
home; and Edna, who is also at home. Mr. Cook was a. soldier in the late war. 

Rogers, William J., was born in Troupsburg, December 4, 1842, and is the young- 
est of five children born to Matthew and Ann (Schoonover) Rogers, he a native of 
Vermont, and she of Pennsylvania. The grandparents, Jonathan M. and Elizabeth 
(Darrin) Rogers, came from Vermont to Barrington, thence to Troupsburg. They 
were one of the very first familes of the town, and went to Painted Post to mill. He 
died April 8, 1844, aged sixty-five years, and his wife February 22, 1860, aged seventy- 
five years. The parents of Elizabeth Darrin were Daniel and Martha Darrin, na- 
tives of Ireland, who came to Troupsburg at an early day, where they died, he No- 
vember 4, 1839, aged eighty-one years, and she October 16, 1861, aged ninety-five 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 497 

years. Matthew Rogers was a wheelwright and built the first mill in Troupsbur^;. 
He was town clerk twenty-two years and postmaster for many years at Troupsburg. 
He died February 19, 1884, aged seventy-three years, and .she April 15, 1872, aged 
fifty-nine years. William J. Rogers has always followed farming, and in 1864 he 
married Eliza, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Anderson) Mahoney, by whom 
he had these children: Florence A., wife of Frank Sherman, a manufacturer; Henry 
M., farmer and carpenter; Anna E., who died in 1887, aged fifteen years; James B., 
who enlisted in 1891 in the regular army, and was in attendance at West Point 
Military Academy; he was drowned on Hud.son river, while out with a skating party 
January 24, 1892, aged eighteen years; Edward E., farmer; Mary E., teacher; 
Bernard A., who died in infancy; Margaret, Dora V., and Genevieve. Mr. and Mrs. 
Mahoney were natives of Ireland and came to America during the. war of 1812 and 
settled in Canada and from there to Buffalo. He was at the battle of Lundy's Lane 
in the war of 1812. He also served in Co. H, 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, in which 
he enlisted in the fall of 1861, at sixty-four years of age, and was honorably discharged 
the fall of 18(>3 on account of sickness. He died in Bellevue Hospital, New York 
city, in 1874. Mrs. Mahoney died March 10, 1888. In 1861 Mr. Rogers enlisted in 
Co. H. 86th X. Y. Vols., and was honoralily discharged September 14, 1864. He was 
in first and second Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettys- 
burg, Snow Flake Mt., etc., and escaped without a wound. 

Sherwood, Franklin Dennis, was born in Wheeler, Steuben county, N. V., De- 
cember 25, 1841, the third .son of a family of eight children of James Sherwood, a 
Baptist minister. James Sherwood, the grandfather of Franklin D., was a soldier 
of the war of the Revolution, and after the war settled at Kinderhook, where he made 
his home until about 1820 when he brought his family to f ulteney in this coimty, and 
the family have ever since remained in Steuben county. In 1840, James Sherwood 
moved to Wheeler and lived there two years and then bought a farm in South Cam- 
eron where he spent the balance of his days, and died in 1851. Salina Sackett, the 
mother of Franklin D., was a native of Pulteney, and died at thirty-eight years of 
age. Franklin 1). was given a good common school education, and at Dundee 
Academy. Lima Seminary and Alfred University. He settled in Hornellsville 
where he became interested in the mercantile business and conducted a store tor 
nine years, when he engaged in the carriage business for seven years. In 1876 he 
was elected sheriff of the county, and at the expiration of his term he devoted his 
attention to the manufacture of acetate of lime and wood alcohol in Allegany county, 
a business he is still engaged in. He was one of the organizers of the Citizen's Na- 
tional Bank, of which he is nowadirector. In 1877 he became interested in the drug 
business with George T. Reed & Co. He was one of the founders of the White 
Goods factory of which he is the president. He is also vice-president of the Horn- 
ellsville Electric St. R. R. Co. Besides filling the office of sheriff, in the fall of 1891 
he was elected senator of the 27th district, and his seat with that body was contested 
on the ground of being one of the city park commisssioners, and the seat was given 
to Walker, although he was elected by a majority of over 1,600. He was also alder- 
man from the :id Ward for two years. In 1895 he became interested in the hotel 
property, now known as the Hotel Sherwood, the leading hotel of this city. In 1872 
he married Catherine, daughter of David Conderman, bv whom he had one child, 
Kate, who is a student of Hornellsville academy, 
kkk 



498 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

Sutton, Marvin C, was born in Marion, Wayne county, N. V., April 2"), 1830, son 
of Jason and Amanda (Case) Sutton, he a native of Homer, N. Y.. and she of Mar- 
ion, N. Y. The grandfather spent his last days in Homer, N. Y. Jason Sutton, 
father of Marvin, went to Palmyra, thence to Rochester, and finally settled in Marion, 
but died in Tioga county in 1881, and his wife died in 1854. He was a tailor by 
trade. Marvin O. was reared on a farm and educated in the common school. He is 
a wagon-maker by trade, and lived in Tioga county. Pa., and in 1882 came to Wood- 
hull, purchased fifty-seven acres of land, and makes a specialty of tobacco raising. 
December 4, 1859, he married Susan M. Smith, a native of Charleston, Tioga county. 
Pa., by whom he had three children: Ellen, George H., and Charles W. Mr. Sutton 
enlisted in Co. H, 45th Pa. Vols., and served fourteen months, and lost his fore- 
finger in an explosion at Otter Island, S. C, by a Harper's Ferry musket. 

Ostrander, Ervin, was born in Jasper, March 24, 1841, son of John and Marv A. 
(Babcock) Ostrander, he a native of Coxsackie, Greene county, and his wife of the 
same county. They came to Jasper in 1841, where he died January 25, 1888. Ervin 
Ostrander was reared on what is known as the Spaulding farm. May 16, 18(iH, he 
married Kate, daughter of Lewis and Abigail .Eastman) Huntington, natives of 
Greene county and Tompkins coimty, respectively. John Huntington, father of 
Lewis, died in Greene county, N. Y. The father of Abigail Eastman died in Alle- 
gany county, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Ostrander have two .sons ; Walter E., born May 
18, 1867, who married Eva, daughter of John Carter, and was educated in Canisteo ; 
and Merritt E., born June 11, 1870, and was educated in the common schools and 
Canisteo Academy. 

May, Henry R., was born in Bath, Steuben county, in 1828, son of James May, a 
native of Connecticut, who came to this county about 1815 and raised and reared a 
family of three sons and one daughter. He' was a chair maker and died in 1872, aged 
eighty-two years. When twenty-one years of age Henry R. May began civil engi- 
neering and followed it in the west about eight years, and in 1858 came to Corning 
where he was conductor on the Erie railroad from that date until 1886, when he es- 
tablished his present business as manufacturer aud dealer in confectionery. 

Patton, John Edwin Ruthven, was born in the town of Otsego, Otsego county. 
X. v.. May 4, 1826. John Patton (Paton), his father, was born in Perthshire, Scot- 
land, in 1778, and came to this country in 1800, and died in January. 1863. He married 
Aurelia Kibbe, born in Monson, Mass., Septemljer 23, 1785, and died in (Xsego, 
N. Y.. January 26, 1875. Her father, Jacob Kibbe, with two brothers served during 
the whole Revolutionary war. They had eight children, four of whom are living; 
one son, David, of the 44th MMs. Vols., dying in the service at Xashville, Tenn., in 
1864. John E. K. was educated in the common schools and Clinton Liberal Institute. 
In 1847 he engaged in teaching, which he followed until 1852, when he went to Cali- 
fornia via Nicaragua, where he was engaged as special writer on the Democratic 
State Journal of Sacramento, the Golden Era, Pacific Banner, and the California 
'I'emperance Organ, the first temperance paper published on the Pacific coast. Re- 
turning in 1858 via Panama, he studied dentistry with Dr. E. P. Byram, of Coopers- 
town, N. Y., and the next year engaged in the practice of his profession at Waverly, 
N. Y. He was also editor of the Waverly Advocate, superintendent of schools, and 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 499 

coroner of Tioga county, lu 1S59 he removed to Owego, N. Y., where he continued 
the practice of his profession. He became a member of the New York Slate Mihtia 
in 1S.57. and was successively, third, second and first sergeant in the 44th Regiment, 
May 24, 1859, he was commissioned by Governor Morgan second lieutenant in the 
50th Regiment. In May, 18()1, after the breaking out of the war and two companies 
(Captains Catlin and Bar.stow) had been sent from Owego, he was instrumental in 
organizing a company, and was conimi.ssioned, July l(i, 1861, as captain of it in the 
.")(Hh Regt.. N. Y. S. M. On the Ifith of July its services were tendered to Governor 
Morgan, and as indicating the general nature of public opinion as to the duration of 
the struggle just entere<! upon, the following extract from the reply may not be 
amiss: 

Adjutant-General's office, Albany, N. Y., July 22, l,S(il. 
Capt. J. E. R. Patton, ,50th Regt., N. Y. S M. : 

SiK — 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt to-day of yours of the Kith inst. 
containing a tender of the services of your company to the Governor. We have no 
means of knowing whether any further requisition will be made on this State for 
troops, — as New York has already furnished a much larger force than has been asked 
for, it does not seem probable that any additional call will be made on her for simie 
time to come. 

(Signed) 1). C.AMiiiEi.i., Asst. Adjt.Genl. 

Bull Run was fought the day before, the " ( )n to Richmond " cry was answered, 
members of Congress and others rode out as cm a gala day to see the back- 
bone of the rebellion broken, and one of them at least turned up in Richmond a 
prisoner, and the vision of the rebellion suppres.sed in 100 days vanished. July 23, 
on receipt of news of the result of the battle another tender of the company was 
made, and on the 14th of August it enlisted for three years or during the war, and 
singularly enough became Co. I, 50th Regt., N. Y. Yol. Engineers, in which he was 
commissioned captain by Governor Morgan, July 26, 1861. The position of lieuten- 
ant-colonel was offered to him by Col. C. B. Stuart, who raised the regiment as an 
independent one, but he preferred to remain with his company, and did so and 
served with it m Yirginia in ISfil, and through the Peninsular Campaign, and the 
seven days' fighting before Richmond, ending at Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862. Being 
wholly disabled he was given his discharge on a surgeon's certificate July 18, 1852, at 
Harrison's Landing, Va. July 15, 1863, he was appointed captain bv President 
Lincoln in the Veteran Reserve Corps, U.S.A., retaining his rank in the regular 
service, being equivalent to a promotion of two or three grades from the volunteer 
service. To entitle him to the appointment a certificate f>f his services in the field 
was required and was furnished as follows: ' 

Headquarters 50th Regt., X. Y. V. Engrs., 

Camp near Falmouth Va. , June 6, 186;?. 

1 hereby recommend Cajjt. John K. R. Patton, late of this Regt., and who was 
honorably discharged the service on surgeons' certificate of disability, in July, 
1862, as being capable of rendering good service in the Invalid Corps, and worthy of 
being thus provided for. Capt. Patton served zealou.sly and faithfully for about one 
year, when his failing health compelled him to retire. 

Wm. H. PF.rxr.s, Lt.-Col. Comdg. 50th Reg. N. Y. V. Engrs. 

(Endorsement.) Hd. (Jrs. Engr. Brigade near Falmouth, Va. , June 6, 1863. Not 



500 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

having been in command of this brigade during the service of Capt. Patton in it, 
I of course cannot testify personally as to his merit. I can state, however, that I 
have full confidence in the recommendation of Lt.-Col. Pettes now Conidg. the 50th 
N. Y. Vol. Engrs. H. W. Benham, Brig. Genl. Comdg. 

This service took him into ten or twelve different States of the Union, and much of 
the duty was of a delicate and important nature. He was also in service at the 
prison posts of Rock Island and Camp Douglas, Chicago, 111., and during part of the 
winter of 1864 he had command of his regiment, the Eleventh Vet. Res., at those 
posts. His health being permanently impaired, he was honorably discharged July 
31, 1864. March 1, 186.5, he bought a farm of 220 acres in the town of Hornellsville, 
where he has since made his home. In 1883 and '84 he and his son John E. visited 
Xew York, Philadelphia and Washington, spending most of the winter in the latter 
place. The following summer with his son Charles he went to Europe, spending 
most of the time in Scotland, visiting the birthplace of his father and other places 
of interest. He became a member of the Sons of Temperance in 1849, of Otsego 
Lodge No. 163, I. O. O. P., in 1851, of Rural Amity No. 70, F. & A. M., Athens, Pa., 
in 1854; and is also a member of Post Doty, G. A. R., Hornellsville, and Arkport 
Grange. During his army and other experiences he was necessaril)' thrown in con- 
tact with many now prominent in American history and among those whom he has 
met officially or socially have been Generals Sheridan. Logan, Rosecrans, Slocum, 
Arthur (President), Benham, Gresham ; Admiral Thatcher of the navy. Governor 
Curtin of Pennsylvania, Senators Preston, King and F. M. Cockrell of Missouri, and 
others, who without exception left the impression of not only sterling worth in their 
official position but as being men of courteous manner and kindly natures. He mar- 
ried, November 28, 1851, Sarah Maria Noble, daughter of William Taylor and Chris- 
tine Brower Noble of Newark Valley, N. Y., granddaughter of Capt. David Noble 
of Pitlsfield, JIass., who organized and equipped a company at his own expense in 
the Revolutionarv war, and was at the evacuation of Boston in 1776, and died at 
Skeensborough, N.Y. , Augusts, 1776. Her maternal gran<lfather, William Bogar- 
dus Brower of Long Island, also served throughout the Revolutionary war. They 
have five children. Christina Sophie, educated at Claverack College and Hudson 
River Institute, who resides at home. John Edwin, educated at Alfred University, 
and Cortland Normal School, who after spending some time in the west now resides 
at home, and conducts the farm. Charles Joshua, educated at Alfred University, and 
Cortland Normal School. He is a practicing lawyer of Hermqsa, Custer county. 
South Dakata, and a member of the State Legislature. He married, December 26, 
1890, Alta A. Tucker of Illinois, and has one child, Edwin J. J. Sarah Janette, 
educated at Alfred University, and Cortland School, who is a teacher in Lincoln 
School, Hornellsville: and Eva Marion, who died June 13. 1865, at Hornellsville, 
N. Y., twenty-one months of age. 

Ferrv, Mrs. llary M., is the widow of the late John Wesley Ferry, son of John 
Ferry, one of the pioneers of Almond. J. W. Ferry was born at Almond, Steuben 
countv in 1834. His sympathies were with the Reimblican party, but he sought no 
political preferment, being too busily engaged with his farming interests and stock 
dealing. He was farming at Tuscarora at the time of his death, which occurred 
July 22, 1892. In 1885 he married Mary M., daughter of William Bennett, of 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 501 

Iliiniellsville, who died A])ril 21, 1S7S,' having been a farmer, aud extensively en- 
gaged in the lumber business in Michigan at one time. His father, Thomas Ben- 
nett, was one nf the first settlers of Hornellsville, where he kept hotel for many 
years. Mrs. Ferry became a resident of Addison in 189;i, and has one son, John VV., 
born in 1886. J. W. Ferry had two children, Lester and Lena, at the time of his 
marriage with Mary M. Bennett, who are both living: his son in Tuscarora, ;uid his 
daughter in Hornellsville. 

Newman, Andrew J., was born in Sidney, Delaware county, N. V., in 183."), son of 
Francis A., who was a native of Oswego county, whose father, Rev. Bishop A. New- 
man, was a prominent divine, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. F"rancis A. 
Newman, jr., served in the war of 1812, and in 1816 married Miss Alger, and re- 
mained in Otsego county until 1819; there his wife died and left three children: 
Asseneth, Filinda and William ; after which he married his second wife, Sarah Per- 
hamas, by whom he had three children: John W,, Peter, and Andrew J. In 1855 he 
came to Steuben county and settled in the town of Wayland near Loon Lake, and 
engaged in farming. Peter first settled in Cohocton, where he engaged in the lum- 
ber business, and later settled in Wallace. Andrew J. has been for many years an 
extensiver buyer and shipper of live stock, having also extensive farming interests, 
and for twelve years he carried on a market in Hornellsville, In 1888 he settled in 
the western part of the town of Cohocton. For nearly thirty-seven years he has been 
an official member of the Loon Lake M. E. church, and for nineteen years superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school. He married Catherine Mehlenbacher, by whom he 
had five children: Mary (Mrs. Frank Small), Samuel W., Charles P., Gertrude, and 
Floyd W. 

Howe, William L. , and George W., jiroprietors and editors of the Prattsburg 
News, are the sons of the late Paul C. Howe, who was the founder, and editor to the 
time of his death, of this paper. Paul C. the only son of Rudolphus Howe, was 
born at Tnpknock Corners, in the town of Cohocton, Steuben county. November 26, 
1823, and upon the death of his mother when he was about seven years of age, he, 
and a younger sister, Emily, became members of the family of his father's sister, 
Mrs. Harvey Downs of Prattsburg, where he was reared on a farm. He was edu- 
cated in the Franklin Academy, and quite early in life became a teacher, and later 
engaged in farming and lumbering. For a time he was engaged in the mercantile 
business in the village of Prattsburg, but unfortunately lost all by fire, after which 
he erected a stone block on the same site and resumed business. December 12, 1872, 
he issued the first number of the Prattsburg News, and henceforth was known and 
recognized in a new capacity. When a young man he joined the Lyceum, which for 
several years was one of the valuable features of Prattsburg, and there Mr. Howe 
developed that fluency of speech and pen, which was one of his best known charac- 
teristics. Politically, Mr. Howe was a Whig, but one of the fir.st to identify himself 
with the Republican party upon its organization, and was always active in looking 
after the interests of that party. He was one of the first to give his time for the 
good of his country in its .sore need by enlisting and organizing a company, which 
went out a hundred strong. He was practically interested in agricultural pursuits, 
and was one of the original members and organizers of the Prattsburg Grange, hav- 
ing been actively identified with its work in the county, as well as at home. He was 



502 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

called upon in various waj's to serve the people, and. whether individually or on 
public occasions, he promptly responded. A,t the close of the war he became an etli- 
cient pension agent, and as such will be gratefully remembered by numerous house- 
holds in this vicinity. He was elected and ordained one of the ruling elders of the 
Presbyterian church, which office he held at the time of his death He was also one 
of the commissioners to the General Assembly at the reunion in Pittsburg in 1870, 
being elected by the Presbyter)- of Steuben. In April, 1H4S, he married Miss Abitha 
S. Alderman of Prattsburg, and they reared three sons and four daughters. Mr. 
Howe died February 26, 1886; his wife survives him. Since the death of their 
father, William L, and George W. , under the name of P. C. Howe's Sons, have ably 
continued the publication of the Prattsburg News, and have added to their plant a 
steam power and large late improved cylinder press. The following, relative to the 
Prattsburg News, is from the pen of Hon. John M. Francis: " The Prattsburg, N. Y., 
News was published by the late Paul C. Howe about a quarter of a century ago. 
Mr. Howe pushed the enterprise to success, overcoming discouraging obstacles, and 
working on to the end with a faith that never faltered. On his decease, several 
years ago, the interest passed into the hands of his two sons, W. L. and G. W. Howe 
— both indefatigable workers and 'chips of the old block.' And their efforts have 
been crowned with steady and progressive prosperity. The News takes rank among 
the best of country weeklies, bearing in each issue the news of the week, with local 
intelligence from villages, hamlets and neighborhoods, all of that section of Northern 
Steuben and Southern Yates and Ontario counties. The Messrs. Howe may well be 
proud of their journalistic achievements, as worthy successors of their indefatigable 
father. The Troy Times sends greeting to them from inspirations of personal inter- 
est, the ties of nativity, and refreshing recollections nf long ago, with its best wishes 
for continued prosperity. The local paper marks the progressive developments of 
its town and section, and from this point of view the citizens of Prattsburg may 
felicitate themselves upon the journalistic advances and creditable presentation of 
their wideawake News." 

Renchan, Charles M., is the leading lumber manufacturer and dealer of this part 
of the country, and owns the largest and best equipped .saw and planing mills in 
Western New York. In connection with his mill is a feed mill, and since 1882 he has 
dealth largely in sash, doors, blinds, and glass, and is al.so a dealer in agricultural 
implements. His education was begun in the common schools, and when fourteen 
years of age entered the school at Bath, and when seventeen vears of age, entered 
the Rochester Bu.siness University, after which he studied law two years in Bath, 
and in 1872* was called home by his father to take an interest with him in his large 
farm and lumber manufacturing business, he having full control of the business from 
the beginning. In 1878 he purchased from his father the lumber interest, and in 
188] took as partner, W. W. Allen of Bath, and the company was known as C. M. 
Renchan & Co., and they purchased two other large mills, and carried on an exten- 
sive business, their pay roll running some months as high as S9,00(). In 1885 they 
lost one mill by fire, and the same year a division was made, he retaining the 
Wheeler property. From 1881 to 1888 he resided in Bath, and was elected village 
trustee the'first six months there, and from 1888 to !8ytl he was general superintend- 
ent of the construction work on the Kanona 6k: Prattsburg railroad, furnishing a large 



I 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 503 

portion of the timbc-r. 1 )uring 1890 to 1893 he erected, by contract, some large plan- 
ing mills in Buffalo, \. Y., and Pennsylvania, and later engaged in contracting and 
building in Rochester, N. Y. In 1893 he returned to Wheeler and resumed his busi- 
ness. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Bath, an honorary member of 
the Edwin Cook Hose Company in Bath, and while residing there was a member of 
the Buffalo City Commercial Travelers' Club. In December, 1878, he married Leona 
M., daughter of Dr. Reuben F. Harkhill of Howard, by whom he had one child, 
Minnie. George Renchan, father of Charles M., was born in Wheeler. September 
2H, 1814, where he still resides on his large farm of 355 acres. He erected many saw 
mills throughout the county, and in 1852 erected the mill now operated by his son, 
which is known as Renchan Mills. He trained for forty years in the State militia, 
was jiromoted along the line to captain, and during the late war was enrolling officer. 
He married Sarah Rose of Wheeler. 

Fowler. — Among the early settlers of Cohoctou should be mentioned the name of 
Adijah Fowler, who was born in West Wintield, N. Y.. March 12, 1782, and was a 
farmer at Bridgewater, Oneida county, N. Y., until ISKi, wdien he moved to North 
Cohoctou, Steuben county, X. Y. , and engaged in farming, and the renting of oxen, 
cows and sheep, of which he rented to the early settlers of Cohocton and all the 
neighboring towns. He was a friend to the needy, and an enter[)rising man in 
building up the town, at which place he died in January, 1849, leaving a family of 
seven children of which Samuel G. Fowler was the only son who spent his life in 
York State; who lived at North Cohocton the whole of his life, with the exception of 
the years from 18(i4 until 1872 when he lived in Lima, Livingston countv, N. Y. 
where he went to educate his children. He was a farmer and owned some (iOO acres 
of land and was an active business man, and contributed liberallv to erect the M. E. 
church edifice in 1846 and was an active member of said church ; and was a trustee 
of the Union School when the school building was erected in the vear 1874; and was 
justice of the peace for a number of years. He died in the year 1877, and left a 
family of four children: Noyes K., Franklin C, George S., and Benjamin A., of 
whom Noyes K. and George S. are the only sons residing in York State, both being 
farmers; the forhier residing at North Cohocton and the latter at Atlanta, N. V. 
Franklin C.'s home being in Spartanburg, S. C, and Benjamin A.'s home in Chicago, 
111. All these children of Samuel G. are honorable citizens and held positions of 
public trust in the town: Noyes K. being the present justice of the peace, which 
position he has held for a number of terms. 

Shaut, Albert, was born in Herkimer county, November 11, 1842. George Shaut, 
his father, came to Avoca, Steuben county, about 1852, and settled near the village. 
He was a farmer by occupation and still resides in Steuben county. He married 
May, daughter of Joseph Bowers of Herkimer village, by whom he had these chil- 
dren: Albert, Sarah C, May J., and Orlando. -Mbert was educated in the towns of 
Wheeler and Avoca. and started in life as a farmer, after which he went to peddling 
tin, from this to hardware dealing, and has been in the grist mill business for fifteen 
years, and owns a mill which was first established about foity-five years ago, and 
which has a capacity of 500 bushels of wheat, etc., every twenty-four hours. He 
marrried Lucretia M., daughter of George Fox of Montgomery county, by whom he 



504 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 

had four children: Mary E., Irving \V., Charles A., and Ada C. Mr. Shaut has 
been collector of the town. 

Eveland, Daniel, was born April 28, 1837. His father, Jacob Eveland, was born 
in Pennsylvania, June 14, 180.5. and died in June, 1887. In his early day he was 
known as a river man, pilot on barges, rafts, etc. , which business he followed for ten 
years, after which he bought a farm on Oak Hill and moved there about 1832. In 
Pennsylvania he married Sophia Kreidler, who was born January 4, 1810, by whom 
he had nine children; William, Susan Phelps, Peter, Catherine Allen, Daniel, Wes- 
ley, Harry, Robert P., and Henry N. Daniel Eveland has always followed farming, 
and he and his wife now own 380 acres of land. In Rogersville, in 1874, he built a 
beautiful and commodious house, where he now resides. He was town clerk of 
Dansville in 1876, and has held the office of commissioner of highways for four years, 
which ottice he still holds. In Dansville, N. Y. , in December, 1858, he married 
Lydia Ann Bowers, by whom he had three children: Lizzie, who was born June 28, 
1860, and married Leroy Kingsley, and they have one child, Verna B. , who was born 
October 26, 1883; Frank U., who was born October 20. 1866, and married Ida May 
Hartman ; and Irwin B., who was born October 29, 1879. 

Shaver, Lorenzo, was born October 12, 1849. His grandfather, Pecer Shaver, was 
born at Camillus, N. Y., and died in March, 1882, aged eighty-eight years. He set- 
tled in East Wayland about 1819, where there were but two neighbors near, Dr. 
Warren Patchin on the place where Lorenzo now resides, and the Hesses. In 1810 
Peter married Eunice Tryon, who was born in Camillus, N.'Y. , in 1796, by whom he 
had four sons; Truman, Porter, Stephen, and Enoch, who died in 1880, aged fifty- 
one years. Stephen Shaver, father of Lorenzo, married Julana Shoots, born in 
Wayland, in 1828, by whom he had eleven children: Lorenzo, born October 12, 1849; 
Henry, born in 1850; Par.sons, born in 1851 ; Hosea, born in 1853; Martha Hunt, born 
in 1855; Electa Rowley, born in 1857; Freeman, borni n 1859; Jonah ,born in 1862; 
Deborah Cole, born in 1867; Bert, born in 1872 He was a blacksmith by trade. 
Lorenzo Shaver was educated in the district .schools of East Wayland, after which 
he engaged in farming and fruit growing, which business he still follows. He is a 
member of W^ayland Lodge No. 176, 1. O. O. F. At Wayland, N. Y., in 1872. he 
married Eliza, daughter of Foster Weld, born in Cohocton, January 17, 1851, and 
died in 1883. They had eight children: Viola, born June 5, 1877; Dale, born July 
21, 1879; and Alta, born July 1, 1881. Mr. Shaver married for his second wife, 
Louisa Hurzeler, born at Wayland, May 22, 1860, by whom he has one daughter, 
Pearl E., born November 12, 1888. 

Haag, Nicholas, was born in Avon, N. Y., November 9, 1856, son of Matthias 
Haag, a native of Germany, who came to America about 1855 and settled at Avon, 
where he was in the emplo)- of the Erie Railroad Co. as section foreman until 1861, 
when he came to Cohocton and in 1874 purchased a farm west of the village, where 
he lived until his death, which occurred in March, 1894. He was a prosperous 
farmer and a prominent member of St. Pius R. C. church of Cohocton. He married 
Catherine Ceiger. by whom he had one son, Nicholas, who is a successful farmer, a 
strong Democrat, and a member of St. Pius R. C. church. He married Margaret, 
daughter of Peter Shults, deceased, of Cohocton. 



II 



FAMILY SKETCHES. 505 

Manning, Stanley, was born in Ithaca, Tompkins county, February 23, 1832. John 
Manning, his father, was a native of Connecticut, and was among the first settlers 
in the town of Ithaca, and married Hannah, daughter of Daniel Brow of Tompkins 
county, by whom he had six children: Daniel, Lydia, Richard, Elizabeth, Van, and 
Stanley. Stanley Manning was educated in the district schools of Ithaca, after 
which he engaged in farming, and now owns a farm of 12.') acres. He married Clara, 
daughter of Daniel Williams, by whom he had five children: Andrew, Anna, Sidney 
J.. Oliver, and Edith. Mr. Manning has been assessor for three years, is a member 
of the M. E. church, and in politics is a Democrat. 

Goodrich, Franklin N., was born in Pulteney, N. Y., May S, 1857. Alonzo Good- 
rich, father of Franklin N., was bom in Naples, Ontario county, N. Y., in 1831. He 
was a carpenter, wagonmakef, and vineyardist, and came to Pulteney about 1852, 
where he died in 1888. He married Rachel, daughter of Peter McConnell, of Pulte- 
ney. by whom he had three children: Gertrude, George E., and Franklin N. His 
wife died in 1872. Franklin X. Goodrich was educated in the common school, and 
at sixteen years of age he found employment in a basket factory, and when twenty 
years of age, engaged as clerk in a general store, where he remained until 1887, when 
he purchased the store and continued the business. In 1888 he erected the fine two- 
story double brick store, .50 .\ 120 feet; in one-half of this building he carries on an 
extensive general merchandise business, in the other part a hardware business is 
carried on, and the upper portion comprises two large halls, and is leased by the 
Grand Army Post and Odd Fellows Lodge; he is a member and treasurer of the 
latter order. In addition to his mercantile business he owns and conducts two large 
vineyards. In 1880 he married Eugenie S. , daughter of Dwight Godfrey, of Pulte- 
ney, by whom he liad three children: Dwight, Grace, and Margaret. 

Eveland. Isaac, was born in Wayne, N. Y., May 13, 1848, son of Abel and Matilda 
(Houck) Eveland, he a native of New Jersey, and she of Wayne, N. Y. In early life 
Abel Eveland took to the study of law, and has made the practice of law and specu- 
lating his life work. He has spent a number of years in the West where he now 
owns considerable property. He now resides at Bradford. N. Y. Isaac Eveland 
was reared in the village of Bradford. He learned the carpenter's trade when 
young, which business he followed until 1875, when he bought the farm he now owns 
and where he has .since resided. In, 1875 he married Carrie, daughter of James and 
Eunice Loree of Tyrone. Mr. Eveland is a Democrat in politics, and has been col- 
lector and justice of the peace, and is now road commissioner. He is a member of 
Jersey Lodge. 

Rubright, C. A., was born in Meilhouseii, Prussia, May- 14, 1842, and came to 
America in 1845, locating in Maryland, where his father died on April 8, 1850. In 
the year 1857 he learned the bricklayer's trade. On December 5, 1865, he was mar- 
ried to Amelia C. Transue of Easton, Pa., whose grandfather was a Revolutionary 
soldier. They have three children. Carrie M., William C, and Dorman R. Mr. 
Rubright is at the present time president of the Corning Brick and Terra Cotta Co., 
and commander of the W. W. Hayt Post, No. 270, Corning. He enlisted in the 
United .States service July 12, 18G1, as private in Co. F, 10(ith Pa. Vol. Inft. to serve 
three years: re-enlisted on the field in the same company and regiment, wasassig;ned 
JU 



506 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

to Gibbons's Division, Second Corps, und participated iu the following battles; York- 
town, Va., April 5 to May 4, 1862; Fair Oaks, May 31 to June 1 : Gaines Mills, June 
27; Malvern Hill, July 1; Antietam, Md., September 17; Fredericksburg, Va., De- 
cember 11 to 15; Chancellorsville, May 1 to .i, 1863; Gettysburg, July 1 to 3; Mine 
Run, November 26; Petersburg, June 22, 1864. He was home on veteran's furlough 
during the Wilderness campaign, and rejoined his regiment in front of Cold Harbor. 
At Petersburg, June 22, 1864, he was wounded by a gunshot in the left leg and also 
taken prisoner; was at Andersonville prison, where he was confined until honorably 
discharged June 7, 1865, by reason of the close of the war. 

Lieders, O. F., was born in Berlin, Germany, October 31, 1859. His father, Lud- 
wig Lieders, was born in Germany, and died in New York city, in 1876, aged fifty- 
three years. He emigrated to this country in 1871. His wife Maria, was also born 
in Germany, and died in New York city in 1877. They had five children: Otto 
Frederick, as above; Julia, who was born in Berlin, in 1861, wife of John Wittoke, 
and resides in Detroit, Mich; Emma, who was born in Berlin, in 1862, and resides in 
Detroit, Mich. ; Carl, who was born in London, in 1864, deceased ; and Hugo, who 
was born in Freiburg, Germany, in 1866, and resides in Detroit, Mich. Otto Fred- 
erick Lieders conducted the hotel known as the Piersons House, at East Aurora. X. 
Y., one year, after which he became proprietor of the Bryant House, of Wayland 
from April 1, 1888, to April 1, 1892, and from July 15, 1891, to April, 1895, he con- 
ducted the Warner House, at Cohocton, N. Y. At that date he returned to Way- 
land and assumed the proprietorship of the Bryant House. At Wayland, X. V., 
May 3, 188"), he married Helena Wolff, born at Savona, N. Y., September 5, 1855, 
by whom he had four children: Otto, born June 3, 1886; Carl, born September 21, 
1887; Julia, born June 3, 1889; and Emma, born November 10, 1891. 



INDEX. 



Addison Advertiser, 'i'M) 
Hill, 307 
Record, 231 
Addison, town of. 39 

first officers of, 41 

first .settlers of, 40 

population of, 43 

present officers of, 42 

schools of, 44 

supervisors of, 41 
village of, 303 

incorporation of, 30.") 

schools of, 306 
Allison, William, 111 
Anti-rent convention, list of delegates to 

the, 28 
Arkport, 120. 3(17 
Atlanta. 3(IS 

Aulls, William and Thomas, l(i4 
Avoca Advance, 231 
Avoca, town of, 44 

first officers of, 47 

first settlers of, 45 

population of, 48 

present officers of, 47 

schools of, 49 

supervisors of, 47 
village of, 3119 

Baker, Samuel, Capt., 0(i 
Baldwin, John, 223 
Bank, First National, of Corning, 27") 
Bar of Steuben county, 214 

present, of Steuben, 22") 
Barnes, Washington, 220 • 

Bartlcs, Frederick, 171 

Hiilip, (13 
Bath (Gazette and Genesee Advertiser, 
328 

Plaindealer, 230 
Bath, town of, 49 

first officers of, .").') 
first settlers of, 51 
justices of the peace of, ,")(> 



Bath, population of, GO 

present officers of, 07 
schools of, 61 
settlement of, 49 
supervisors of, 56 
town clerks of, 56 
village of, 243 

agricullural society, 351 
banks of, 258 

centennial celebration, 254 
Davenport Home at, 253 
fire department, 248 
incorporation of, 247 
manufactures of, 357 
schools of, 349 
Soldiers' Home at, 353 
view of, in 1804, 245 
water works, 349 

Bemis, Horace, 334 

Benham, William, 150 

Bennett, Solomon, 1 18 

Benton, Daniel L., 234 

Berry. Charles H.. 322 

Biven, Joseph, 82 

Blake, Dominick Theophilus, 218 

Bonham, William E., 230 

Bonny. Luke, 154 

Bradford, town of, 63 

first officers of, 64 
first settlers of, 63 
population of, 65 
present officers of, 65 
. schools of, 65 
supervisors of, 65 
village, 311 

Brakley, Abraham. 213 
George B. , 215 

Brookins, Benjamin, HI 

Brotzman, sr. , Nicholas, 130 

Brown, Blisha, 118 
F. B. & Son, 233 
Llewelyn H., 336 

Brundage. Abraham, Capt., I.s7 
K. L., 323 



508 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Buchanan, William, 44 
Buena Vista, 311 
Bunnell. A. H., 335 
Burns, 311 

Calkins. Frederick, 8T 
Cameron, Charles, 49 
Cameron Mills, 312 
Cameron, town of, 66 

first settlers of, 66 
population of, b8 
present officers of, 69 
schools of, 69 
supervisors of, 68 
village, 312 
Campbell, Robert, Rev., 70 

jr., Robert, 219 
Campbell, town of, 70 

first officers of, 72 
first settlers of, 71 
population of, 72 
present officers of, 72 
schools of, 73 
supervisors of, 72 
village, 313 
Canal appraiser, 34 

commissioner, 34 
Canisteo Academy, 314 
Tidings, 231 
Times, 231 
Valley Times, 334 
Canisteo, town of, 73 

first officers of, 76 
first settlers of, 74 
hamlets of, 77 
population of, 7.5 
present officers of, 76 
schools of, 78 
supervisors of, 76 
villages in, 77 
village of, 313 

business of, 316 
incorporation of, 315 
public improvements of. 315 
secret societies of. 317 
Catawba, 322 
Caton, town of, 79 

first officers of, 80 
first settlers of. 79 
population of, 80 
present officers of, 80 
schools of, 81 
supervisors of, 81 
village, 318 
Champlain, Samuel de, 5 
Chatfield. Andrew G., 222 
Church, Advent Christian, Fremont, 259 
African Methodist Episcopal Zion, 
Bath, 373 



Church, Baptist, Addison, 374 

Bath, 372 

Bradford. 305 

Cameron. 360 

Campbell. 361 

Canisteo. 358 

Caton. 361 > 

Corning. 278 ' 

Dansville. 364 > 

Ea.st Troupsburg. 363 

Hartsville. 363 

Hornby. 377 

Howard. 364 

Jasper, 355 

Lindley, 378 

Painted Post, 377 

Prattsburg, 369 

South Bradford. 365 

Towlesville. 364 

Troupsburg. 363 

Urbana. 367 

Wayne. 365 
Catholic. Cameron. 360 

Cameron Mills. 378 

Campbell, 361 

Prattsburg, 370 
Christ Episcopal, Corning, 277 
Christ Protestant Episcopal, Hor- 

nellsville, 293 
Christian, Cameron, 360 

Greenwood. 357 

Ingleside, 370 

Wayland, 362 
Chnton, Thurston, 362 
Congregational, Corning, 278 
East Avenue Methodist Episcopal 

Hornellsville, 291 
Evangelical Lutheran. Avoca, 375 

Fremont Center. 3.59 

Zion. Cohocton. 376 
First Baptist, Hornellsville. 294 
First Presbyterian. Hornellsville, 291 
Free Baptist. Woodhull, 357 
Free Methodist. Atlanta, 376 

Caton, 361 

Corning. 278 

Lindley, 378 
Freewill Baptist, Troupsburg. 363 

Tuscarora. 378 
German Evangelical, Wayland, 362 
German Lutheran, Corning. 278 
Hartshorn Presbyterian. Hornells- 
ville, 292 
Independent. Lindley. 378 
Methodist Episcopal. Addison, 374 

Avoca, 375 

Bath, 371 

Cameron, 359 

Campbell, 361 



INDEX 



509 



Church, Methodist, Canisteo, 358 

Caton, 360 

Cohocton, 375 

Corning, 277 

Dansville, 364 

Fremont, 35'J 

Greenwood, 357 

Hartsville, 363 

Hornby, 377 

Howard, 365 

Jasper, 356 

Lindley, 378 

Painted Post, 377 

Prattsburg, 369 

Rathbone, 378 

Rexville, 357 

South Bradford, 365 

Thurston, 361 

Troupsburg, 363 

Tuscarora, 378 

I'rbana, 367 

Wayland, 362 

Wayne, 365 

Wheeler. 368 

Woodhull, 356 
Methodist Protestant, Arkport, 354 
of the Redeemer, Protestant Episco- 
pal, Addison, 374 
of the Sacred Heart, Catholic, 362 
Park Methodist Episcopal, Hornells- 

ville, 290 
Presbyterian, Addison, 373 

Arkport, 354 

Bath, 370 

Cameron, 359 

Campbell, 361 

Canisteo, 358 

Caton, 360 

Cohocton, 375 

Corning, 276 

Hammondsport. 367 

Hornby. 377 

Howard, 364 

Jasper, 355 

Painied Post, 377 

Prattsburg. 368 

Wayne, 365 

Wheeler, 367 

Woodhull, 356 
St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal, 

366 
St. Ann's Catholic, Hornellsville, 292 
St. Catherine's Catholic, Addison. 374 
St. Gabriel's Catholic, Hammonds- 
port, 367 
St. James' Episcopal, Hammonds- 
port, 366 
St. Joachim's Catholic, Canisteo, 359 



Church, St. John's Protestant Episcopal, 
Wayne, 365 
St. Joseph's Catholic, Wavland, 364 
St. Mary's Catholic, Bath, 372 
Corning, 278 
Rexville, 327 
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran, 

Hornellsville, 294 
St. Paul's German Lutheran. Cohoc- 
ton, 376 
St. Peter's Catholic, Cohocton, 476 
St. Peter's German Lutheran, Per- 

kinsville, 362 
St. Thomas's Protestant Episcopal, 

Bath, 371 
Seventh Dav Baptist, Hartsville, 363 
South Side Baptist, Hornellsville, 294 
South Side Methodist Episcopal. Hor- 
nellsville, 291 
Union Baptist, Woodhull, 3f,6 
Universalist, Cohocton, 376 
Dansville, 364 
Greenwood, 357 
Weslevan Methodist, Buena \'isla, 
365 ' 

Dyke, 377 
Fremont, 359 
Xorth Cohocton, 376 
West Jasper, 356 
Clelaud, Jonas, Capt., 187 
Cohocton Index, 332 
Cohocton, town of 82 

first officers of, 84 
first settlers of, 82 
population of, 86 
present officers of, 84 
schools of, 87 
supervisors of, 84 
\'alley Times, 232 
village of, 318 
Columbia Wine Company, the, 327 
Controversy between New York and 

Massschusetts, 21 
Cook, John, 221 

Constant, 258 
Cooper, George D., 213, 216 
Cooper's Plains, 320 
Corning Company, the, 260 
Corning, city of, 259 
banks of, 274 
Board of Trade, 274 
Brick and Terra Cotta Works of, 

272 
churches of, 276 
court house of, 276 
early developmenf of, 262 
glass industry at, 270 
incorporation of, 267 



510 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Corning, city of, iron works at. 271! 
manufactures of, 270 
officers of, 208 
schools of, 268 
secret societies of. 278 
Southern Tier Mills at, 273 
water works, 270 
village incorporation of, 265 
Democrat, 233 
Glass Works." the, 271 
Iron Works," 273 
Journal, 232 
Corning, town of, 87 

first settlers of, 89 
population of, 91 
present officers of, 92 
schools of, 93 
supervisors of, 92 
Coryell, Vincent Matthews, 221 
Cotton, Henry G., 222 
County clerks, 37 
divisions, 30 
judges, 3() 
organizations, 1 
treasurers, 38 
Court Chancery, 209 
Common Pleas, 212 
County, 210 
houses, 32 
of Appeals, 206 
Supreme, 207 

Supreme, general terms of the, 208 
Surrogate's, 212 
Courts, evolution of the, 2115 

Steuben count3\ 213 
Craig, Andrew, 157 
Crosby, Benjamm, 118 
Cruger, Daniel, Gen., 217 
Curtis, 321 
Cuyler, William Howe, 217 

Daily Press, Hornellsville, 236 
Dansville, town of, 9-1 

first officers of, 96 

first settlers of, 95 

present officers of, 97 

schools of, 98 

supervisors of, 97 
Davenport Home for Female Orphan 

Children, 253 
Dennis, Rodney, 224 
De Wolf, T. S., 233 
District attorneys, 38 
Donahe, Perrv S., 220, 228 
Dunn, William, 213 
Dyke, 321 

Earlv discoveries, 3 



East Troupsburg, 321 

Edwards, George C, 219 

Erwin, Arthur, Col., 99 

Erwin, town of, 98 

first officers of, 102 
first settlers of, 100 
population of, 103 
present officers of, 102 
supervisors of, 102 
village, 321 

Fairman. Charles G., 220 

Faulkner, Daniel P., 94 

Fay, Frank A., 231 

Ferenbaugh, 321 

Ferris, Alfred P. . 220 

Franklin Academy, 339 

Freeman. 321 

Fremont, town of, 104 

first officers of, 105 
first settlers of, 104 
hamlets in, 107 
population of, 106 
present officers of, 105 
schools of, 106 
supervisors of. 105 

French and English rivalry, 6 
influence, growth of, 11 
power, extinction of, 13 

Fulkerson, William M., 143 

Gang Mills, 322 

Gaylord, Asa, Major, 187 

Germania Wine Cellars, the, 32 

Gibbs, Anson. 221 

Gibson's Landing, 322 

Glass works at Corning. 270 

Goodhue Lake, 322 

Goodhue, Bert, 23(i 

Grants, conflicting, 5 

Graves, George R., 222 

Green, Phones, 66 

Greenhow, W. H., 234 

Greenwood, town of, 107 

first officers of, 108 
first settlers of, 108 
population of, 110 
present officers of, 109 
supervisors of, 109 
village, 323 

Hadlev, Richard. 66 

William. 150 
Haight, Samuel S.. 217 
Hakes. Harlo, 224 
Hale. John K., 223 
Hammond, Samuel H., 2I'.l 
Hammoudsport, 323 



INDEX. 



511 



Hammondsport, business of, 32S 
incorporation of, 325 
schools of, 328 
wine industry at. 32fi 
Hanimiiudsport Heralti. 236 
Hammondsport Wine Company, the, 327 
Harding. Oliver, lilt 
Harnionyville (I'ulteney P. O.), 32!l 
Harrison. Culhbert, 219 
Hart. Charles N'., 112 
Hartford Convention, the, 22 
Hartsville, town of. 110 

first officers of. 112 

first settlers of. 1 1 1 

population of, 112 

present oihcers of, 1 1:! 

schools of, 11 3 

supervisors of, 1 1 3 
Hartsville Center (Purdv Creek 1'. O.). 

329 
Haskinville, 330 

Haverling Union Free school, 2.il) 
Hawkes& Co.. T. G.. 272 
Hawlev, William M., 223 
Heerm'ans, Harry, 268 
Herridon. Isaac C., 222 
Herron, Joseph, 232 
Highup, 330 , 
Hoare& Co., J., 272 
Homeopathic Medical -Society, Steuben 

Countv, 241 
Hood, John, Capt., 113 
Hooker, Richard. 82 
Hornby, town of , 114 

first officers of, 11.5 

first settlers of. 1 14 

population of. 115 

present officers of, 116 

schools of, 117 

supervisors of, 116 
village, 330 
Hornell, George, 120 
Hornell Library, the, 296 
Hornellsville Academy of Medicine, 242 
Hornellsville, city of. 280 

banks of; 295 

churches of, 289 

early growth of, 2H1 

Forty-seventh Separate Co., N. 
G.'S. N. v., of, 297 

government of, 285 

Hornell Library at, 296 

hotels of, 300 

incorporation of, 285 

lighting companies, 298 

manufactures of, 298 

.St. James Mercv Hospital at, 
^86 



Hornellsville, city of, schools of, 288 

secret societies of, 301 

Steuben Sanitarium Association 
at. 297 

water works, 297 

Co-operative Loan and Savings 
Association, 297 
Hornellsville Medical and Surgical Asso- 
ciation. 242 
Hornellsville, town of, 118 

first ofiicers of, 122 

first settlers of, 118 

justices of the peace of, 124 

population of, 123 

present officers of, 125 

supervisors of, 123 

town clerks of, 124 
H.)rnellsville Tribune, 234 

village incori)oration of. 284 
Hough. E. H., 235 
Houghton, jr.. Amory, 271 
Howard, town of, 126 

first officers of, 128 

first settlers of. 126 

population of, 128 

schools of. 129 

supervisors of. 128 
village, 331 
Howell, Edward, 217 

William, 219 
Howe's Sons, P. C, 236 
Hull, Henry H.. 229 

Indian occupation, evidences of, 19 
Ingleside, 381 
Iroquois confederacy, 7 
Irvine, William, 222' 

Jamison, John, Capt.. 118 
la.sper, town of, 130 

first officers of, 132 
first settlers of, 131 
population of, 133 
present officers of, 133 
supervisors of. 133 
village, 331 
Jesuits, the, 9 
Johnson, Daniel, 182 
Sir William, 15 
Thomas A., 214 
Jury districts, 33 
Justices of the Supreme Court, 36 

Kanona, 333 

Kersey, William, 213, 228 

Keuka, 333 

Leland. Ziba A., 217 



512 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



Lieutenant-Governor, 34 
Liiidley. town of, 134 

first officers of, 138 

tirst settlers of, 136 

population of, 139 

present officers of, 138 

schools of. 139 

supervisors of, 13S 
village, 3J3 
Lindsley, Eleazer, Col., 135, 213 
Longwell, Azariah, 222 
Lynn, 333 

McCall, A. Ellas, 230 

Ansel J., 50, 221, 228 
McConnell Company, the, 298 
McMaster, David, 218 

Guy H., 220 
Masten, Joseph G.. 219 
Matthews, Vincent. 218 
Maxwell. Hugh, Col., 25 
Maynard, John, 222 
Medical science, evolution of, 237 

Association, Southern Tier Homeo- 
pathic, 242 

Society, Steuben County. 239 
Members of assembly, 35 
Middlebrook, George N., 222 
Missionaries, earlv, 12 
Mitchellsville, 333' 
Morris, Robert, 26 
Mowers, C. B., 231 

Nash, Asa and L'riah, 114 

Neil's Creek, 333 

Newell, H. B., 236 

Newspaper, the first, 228 

New York and Genesee Land Company, 

23 
Niagara Genesee Land' Company, 22 
North Cohocton, 334 
North Urbana, 334 

Olm.stead, Abraham V., 175 
Osnicup, James N., 231 

Painted Post, 333 

"Painted Post," the, 19 

Park, R. C, 236 

Patterson, Ephraim and Ichabod, 87 

Pavne, Alvin F., 222 

Pefkinsville, 337 

Phelps, Oliver, 23, 24 

Phelps and Gorham Purchase, the, 23 

Piatt, Henry N., 224 

Pleasant Vallev Wine Companv, the, 327 

Port Glen Wine Company, 328" 

Pratt, George W., Dr., 232 



Pratt, Harry H., 233 

Joel, Capt.. 140 
Prattsburg News, 236 
Prattsburg, town of, 140 

first settlers of, 14) 

population of, 143 

present officers of, 143 

schools of, 144 

supervisors of, 143 
village, 337 
Presho, 341 

Presidential electors, 34 
Proctor, Clarence C, 231 
Pulteney and Hornby titles, the. 27 
Pulteney, town of. 145 

first officers of, 147 

first settlers of, 146 

population of, 149 

present officers of, 147 

schools of, 149 

supervisors, 147 

Rathbone, town of. 150 

first officers of , 150 
first settlers of, 150 
population of, 150 
present officers of , 150 
schools of, 151 
supervisors of, 150 
Rathboneville, 341 
Rathbun, Job B.. 104 
Read, L, H., 219 
Reed, James, Capt., 188 
Regiment, Twentv-third, 191 
Thirty-fourth,' 192 
Thirty-fifth, 193 
Seventy-eighth, 193 
Eighty-si.xth, 194 
One Hundredth, 196 
One Hundred and Second, 197 
One Hundred and Seventh. 197 
One Hundred and Fortv-first, 199 
One Hundred and Si.\ty-first, 200 
One Hundred and Seventy-fifth, 201 
One Hundred and Seventy-ninth, 

202 
One Hundred and Kightv-eighth, 

202 
One Hundred and Eighty-ninth, 

202 
First Artillery, 204 
Fourth, Heavy Artillery, 204 
First Veteran, Cavalry, 203 
Second Veteran, Cavalry, 203 
Sixth Cavalry, 203 
Twenty-second Cavalry, 203 
Second, ^[ounted Rifies, 203 
Representatives in Congress. 34 



IXDEX. 



513 



Revolution, after the. 20 
Revolution, events preceding the. 15 

the Indians in the. \<> 
Rexville. 34'> 

Reynolds, Thomas J., a28 
Rhodes. William C, 23IS 
Rice. Samuel. 40 
Risingville, 343 
Roberts, Amos, 231 
Robinson, Anson, 107 
Rochester, William B., 217 
Rogers, Henry W., 219 
Rogersville. 343 

Academy, 343 
Root, William, 141 
Ross, Stephen, 213 
Rowley, Isaac, 79 

Jonathan, 188 
Riiggles, William H., 220 
Rumsey, David, 215 

William, 215 

St. James Mercy Hospital, 286 
Sanford, James, Capt., 187 
Saturday Herald, Horuellsville, 235 
Savona, 344 

Review, 230 
School commissioners, 38 
Shannon, William E., 188 
Shapley, John P., 222 
Shattuck S D., 232 
Sheriffs, 37 

Sherwood, Henry, 222 
Silsbee. George C, 231 
Simpson, Andrew, 157 
Smead, Benjamin. Capt.. 22S 
Soldiers' Home, New York State, 2.52 
Sonora, 345 
South Addison, 346 

Bradford, 346 

Howard, 34fi 

Pulteney. or Bluffport. 346 

Troupsbnrg, 346 
Southern Steuben Rejiublican, 236 

Tier Homeopathic Medical Associ- 
ation, 242 
Spencer, Ebenezer, 157 

George T., 222 
State senators, 34 
Stephens, Alexander H., 107 

Uriah, 118 

Mills, 346 
Stephenses, the, 74 
Steuben and Allegany Patriot, 228 
Steuben, Baron, 31 
Steuben county civil list, 34 
creation of, 2 
first officers of, 32 



Steuben County Homeopathic Medical 
Society, 241 

in the war of 1812, 187 
in the war of the Rebellion, 190 
Medical Society, 239 
organization of, 32 
population of, 189 
poorhouse. 33 
jjress of, 226 
the Indians in, IS 
Courier, 229 
Democrat, 229 
Farmers' Advocate, 228 
Messenger, 229 

Sanitarium Association, the, 297 
Stevens, James H., 224 
Strong. -Schuyler, 217 
Sullivan's expedition, 17 

Thomson, Charles H., 221 
Thornton, Presley, Major, 58 
Thurston, town of, 153 

first officers of, 155 

first -settlers of, 1.54 

population of, 155 

present officers of, 155 

schools of, 156 

supervisors of, 155 
village, 347 
Towlesville, 347 
Tripp, V. L. & R. M., 232 
Troup, Robert, Co!., 30 
Troupsburg, town of, 156 

first officers of, 158 

first settlers of, 157 

population of, 159 

schools of, 160 

supervisors of, 1.58 
village, 347 
Tuscarora, town of, 160 

first officers of, 163 

first settlers of, 161 

population of, 163 

present officers of, 163 

schools of, 163 

supervisors of- 163 
Tiittle, Russell M., 235 

Underbill, A. L., 328 

Union Advertiser, Wayland, 236 

Urbana, town of, 164 

first officers of, 166 

first settlers of, 11)5 

population of, 167 

present officers of, 167 

schools of, 168 

supervisors of, 166 
Urbana Wine Company, the, 327 



514 



LAJJDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



Van Valkeiiburg, Robert B., 220 

Wall, T. C, 3S(I 

Wallace, 348 

Waterman, C. N.. 222 

Wavland Depot, 357 
'Register. 23f) 

Wavland, town of, 16H 

first officers of, 170 
first settlers of, Kii) 
])opulation of, 171 
present officers of, 171 
schools of, 171 
supervisors of. 170 
village, ::i4S 

Wayne Four Corners, 3.")1 

Wayne, town of, 171 

first settlers of, 172 
present officers of. 17o 
supervisors of. 173 
village. 351 

Welles, Henrv, 218 

Wellington. Q. W., 275 

West Caton. 351 

West Union, town of, 174 
first officers of, 17() 
first settlers of, 175 



West Union, town of, population of. 177 

present officers of, 176 
Wheeler. Silas, Capt.. 177 
Wheeler, town of. 177 

first settlers of. 178 

population of, 180 

present officers of, ISO 

schools of, 181 

supervisors of, 180 
village, 351 
Whittemore. M. F., 329 
WiUiamson. Charles, 2(i,' 27, 31. 49. 50. 

53, 58. 228 
Woodhull, town of, 181 

first settlers of, 182 

population of. 184 

present officers of, 183 

supervisors of, 183 
village. 3.52 
\yoods. William, 217 
Woodward, James and Arunah, 82 
Wombaugh. William, 161 

Young Hickory. 353 

Zimmerman, Adam, Ki'.l 



PART II. 



Adams, William W.. 47 
Baldwin. Henry, 7fi 
Heecher, Fary B., 17 
Bradley, George B. , 55 
Colgan, Peter, Very Rev 
Conderman. John 1)., 6 
Cowan. Nelson, 77 
Davis, John W., 15 
Davi.son. Lorenzo, 78 
Day, Franklin E., 31 
Deuison, Charles (!., liO 
Drake, Frankhn N.. 53 
Faulkner. William, ti(i 
Fuller, D wight A., 46 
(Gardner. Furman. 9 
Gibson, tleorge, 30 
Gorton. William K., .58 
Hakes. Harlo. 22 
Hargrave. James 1'.., (i'J 
Hatch, Hiram W.. 20 
Hawkes. Thomas G.. 48 
Hayt. Stephen T.. 57 
Heeimans. Harrv C. ,43 



Hoare. John, 52 
Hollands, George, ■'< 
Houghton, sr. , Amory, Ii2 
Houghton, jr., Amory, 64 
Houghton. Charles F., 65 
Hulbert. Lorenzo. 28 
Jamison, John S.. M. D.. 37 
Keeler, John H.. 20 
Kelly. John G., M. D., 5 
Kimmel Martin, 22 
Lamson, Leonard S. . 74 
Larrowe. Albertus. 70 
Lewis, Jacob H., 19 
McNett, George B.. M. D.. 11 
Maltby, Jerome B., 75 
Marshal. Franklin J.. 5 
Marshal. Otto F.. l.'^ 
Moore. Waiter L. , 16 
Murdock, James B,. 69 
Parkhill. Clair S., M. I)., 24 
Ferine. Henry W. . 12 
Finney. Martin. 7 
Pratt, George W.. 72 



INDEX. 



Pritchard, Hiram. (!7 
Renchan, Cieorge, 45 
Rogers. William F. , 3 
Shepard. Lyman, ;{2 
Stephens, Alanson, 13 
Stevens. James H., 34 
Thorp, Calvin E., 25 
Tuttle, Russell M.. 23 
Waite. David S., 29 



Walker, J. E.. M. I)., 33 
Wellington. Ouincy W.. 47 
Wheeler, sr., Grattan H.. 41 
Wheeler. Crattan H., 42 
Wheeler. Monroe. 43 
Wheeler, Silas, Capt., 38 
Willets, Edward F., 14 
Wood, Allen, 61 
Young, Daniel F., 73 



PART III, 



AUDI. SON. 



Ainsworth, H. R.. Dr.. ;!1() 
Aldrich, Loren B.. 316 
Ames. Charles. 6 
Baldwin Family, The, 162 
Baldwin, Henry, 162 
Baldwin, Horace Dyer, ilS 
Baldwin, James, 162 
Barron, William E.. Dr., 317 
Blakeslee. D. A.. Prof., 8 
Bliss. Frank, 317 
Brewster, C. A., 120 
Coburn, L. D.. 16 
Crane, Ferrel J.. 347 
Daniels, P. C, 202 
Darrin, Delmar M., 24 
Dininny, Sarah J.. Mrs.. 355 
Farnham. George. 29 
Feenaughtv, William (^., 154 
Ferry, Mary M., Mrs., 500 
Gee. Theodore, 286 
Gillet. Charles W., 35 
Harden. T. E., 45 
Harrison, ]. S , 234 
Hickey. D. D.. 383 
Hinman, John, 46 
Hogue, Patrick, 382 
Hooker. Fred S., 383 
Horn, Edwin J., 109 
Howard, (ieorge C. 281 
Hubbs, M. B.. Dr.. 382 



Arnold, Alex J.. 3 
Bartlett. James, 317 
Bauter, Marcus, 288 
Billings, Oscar, 317 
Bozard, Earle W., 107 
Brown, Merwin E.. 105 
I'.rozitskv, E., 153 



84 

Mrs. 



229 



409 



James, John P., 30 
Jones. J. B., 108 
McKay, Annie. Mrs., 409 
MacDowell, Sidnev Darrio, 19K 
Merrill, Levi, 160 " 
Miller, Charles L., 
Mitchell, Alma B.. 
Moore. T. V., 409 
Mullen, Seth. 19s 
Northrup, John M. 
Orser, Frank B., 420 
Owen, Cortland. 419 
Parker, J. Elliott. (i2 
Paxton, E. C, 429 
Phillips, Mrs. Margaret. 62 
Reynolds. Charles D.. 421 
Rial, John, 158 
Roberts, Amos, 155 
Shockey. Charles O., 451 
Stewart, Oliver Dwight. 101 
Stratton, (ieorge W., 70 
Stratton. Oscar B., 451 
Swon. Oren L.. 220 
Thomas, A. L , 81 
True, (ieorge 1., 80 
Underwood, (ieorge W., 437 
Webb, Lee R.. 470 
Westlake. Harrison. 91 
Young. Peter, 124 



AVOCA. 



Buck, Moses E., 9 
Chase, Thomas C. 19 
Cook, James E., 15 
Cornue, M. C, 17 
Cotton, Thomas, 15 
Cotton, William U.. 22 
Doud, John C. 26 



516 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Dutcher, James R., 115 
Faults, William H., 376 
Fox, Daniel A., 31 
Fox, G. Albert. 376 
Hall, Jeremiah, 187 
Hennis, Benjamin, 382 
Hyna, John, 382 
Mackie, Frank G., 165 
Mathewson, Lemuel. 220 
Olmstead, Jeremiah, 418 
Olmsted, John E., 188 
Olmsted, Milton, 122 
Oxx. Ripley. 418 
Pixlev, Frank. 429 
Redhead. Thomas J., 422 



Ackerson, Charles N... 130 
Alden, M. J., Mrs., 110 
Aldrich, J. C, Dr., 380 
Aldrich, Stephen, 253 
Allen, William W., 807 
Allerton. Dudley D.. 380 
Allison, Charles S.. 5 
Averill, Helen, Mrs.. 3 
Averill, W. W., Gen., 331 
Baker, John K., 155 
Balcom, Samuel, 9 
Barber, Bert G., 461 
Barber, T. W., 11 
Barton. Jeremiah C, 252 
Bedell, J. D., 331 
Beekman, Abram, 21 
Bowes, Martin. 331 
Bowlby, George K., 119 
Bowlby, John A.. 253 
Brown, H. S., Mrs., Ill 
Brownell, Charles S., 493 
Brundage, Grattan H., 461 
Brundage, H. W., 86 
Brundage, Sarah. Mrs., 332 
Brundage, Smith, 262 
Bryan, ludson, 332 
Burleson, Ten Eyck O., Dr., 
Burns, William S., Capt., 12 
Burt, Abram F., 332 
Calkins, Jetferson W., 326 
Campbell, Frank C. , 19 
Campbell, William M., 127 
Chamberlain, Jesse Mark, 14 
Clough, Winfield S., 327 
Collier, Richard A., 327 
Conine, GamaUel T., 273 
Conley. Edward, 13 
Cook, Charles C, 327 
Cook, Edwin Constant, 18 
Coss, D. M., 57 



Rosenkrans, A. D., 244 
Saltsman Hiram, 451 
Saltsman Lawrence, 78 
Shaut, Albert, 503 
Shaver, M. H., 451 
Shults, Elias, 208 
Shults, R., Mrs., 202 
Silsbee, George C, 105 
Stephens, Hiram A., 70 
Sutton, W. R., 161 
Tucker, Smith, 207 
Van Scoy, Margaret, Mrs.. 86 
Wagner, Augustus Charles. 471 
Wightman. Noah. 471 
Ziellev. Alex L.. 381 



BATH. 



333 



Crook, Andrew, 17 

Crura, W. G.. 326 

Cruttenden, Alexis H., Dr., 291 

Cushing, Adolphus W., 327 

Davenport, Ira, 25 

Davison, M., 305 

Davison, William H. and Robert J. 

Decker, George M., 23 

de Peyster, Augustus. 27 

De Puy, Esther. 494 

Donnelly, E. B., Mrs., 338 

Dudley, Henry C, 111 

Durnian, Richard, 163 

Dygert, Peter, 133 

Ellas, Charles A. , 26 

Fancett, James, 33 

Fancett, Samuel R., 164 

Ferris, James M., 34 

Frost, Frank Pomeroy, Capt., 31 

(liffin, James H., 35 

Gillette, Herbert S., Ill 

Gould, Talcott W., 378 

Grant. B, F., Dr., 378 

Gray, William S., 394 

Hallock, William H., 40 

Hardenbrook, Frank. 399 

Hardenbrook. George H.. 188 

Hewlett, Emery T.. 277 

Hmds. O. W.. 42 

Hunter, George. 277 

Huston. John S., 399 

Joint. William E., 399 

Jones. Horatio E. . and Horace D., 

Jones, Wilson J., 396 n 

Joy, Lewis B. , 47 

Keyser, James F. , 111 

Kingsley. Charles F. . 156 

Klock, James N., 4K 

KnitTen, John, 305 

Lawrence, F. H., Dr., 166 



23 



111 



INDEX. 



t 

517 



I^eavitt, S. H., Major, 50 
Lindsay, W. W., Capt., 40(i 
Little, John F.. 40(i 
Little, Philip M.. 40fi 
Longwell, William \'., 4tlG 
Lyon, Reuben R., ol 
McCall, Anson J., 415 
McChesney, Moses, 102 
McConnell, Frederick, 4 Hi 
McCorniick Bros.. 54 
McElwee Bros., 415 
McNamara, John, 41(j 
McXett. George C, Dr., 205 
Miller, L. L)., Dr., 54 
Miller, Martin Runisev, 50 
Moore, John D.. 415 
Myrtle, Rebecca. 275 
Nichols, William H., 59 
Ni.xson, Joseph, 58 
Noble, Henry M., 410 
Noble, Martin W., 58 
Nowlen, George F., 59 
Ostrander, E.'E., 417 
Parker, Z. L., 142 
Parkhurst, John F., 102 
Parks, James, 4iJ5 
Pawling, Thcmias H.. Dr., 434 
Peck, George W.. 188 
Ferine, H. W.. 04 
Peterson. Charles H.. 434 
Phillips, W. H., 01 
Pi.xley, Emery C, Dr., 253 
Poole'. James. 278 
Richardson, C. W., 127 
Robie, Charles H., 420 
Robie, Reuben Edward, 05 
Rogers, William Findlay. 00 



Armstrong. Joseph P.. 304 
Bartholomew, John. 33S 
Carman. Ale.xander. 205 
Carman, foseph W.. 348 
Chrisler. William, 303 
Conlev, Henry. 229 
Elyeal William H., 213 
Eyeland. Isaac. 505 
Gilmer. Joseph B., 193 
Gillmor. James M.. 199 
Havens. Thomas. 384 
Hedges, Benjamin Y., 192 



Allen, Alfred T., 339 
Allen, Alvah J., 255 
Angel, Prentis, 120 
Barrett, William W., 120 



Smith. 
Smith, 
Smith, 
Smith 



Rowe, Lewis, 420 
Rumsev, William. 493 
Rutherford. T. R.. Mrs., 208 
Sanderson. Benjamin Smith. Key. 
Saltsman, (J. E.. 214 
Sedgwick, William P., 279 
Shannan, M. E., 69 
Shannon. Thomas, 77 
Shepard, William H., 72 
Shoemaker, Daniel, 445 
Shults, Arnold, 157 
Sin Clair, William A., 239 
Smith, Bessie D., 28 

Hessel, 445 

OH., 268 

Thomas N., 139 

Zidaiia, Mrs., 125 
Sftocum, John, 09 
Sutton, A. O., 445 
Sutton, Orlando W. , 
Tiffany, E. O., 445 
Timmerman, H. A., 
Tolbert, George W. , 
Tolbert, John F., 133 
Tomer, Charles J., 252 
\'an Housen, Israel A. 
\'an Wie, Martha, Mrs. 
Warren, George C, 465 
Wheeler, Andrew Jackson, 
White, Daniel L., 405 
Wilkes, A. J., Mi.ss, 404 
Wilkes, Harriet M., IGO 
Willis. Clarence. 89 
Winegar, Clay and Peter, 
Wolf, Franz S., 405 
Wood, S, W., 405 
Young, Benjamin F. , 124 



, Dr. 

,377 
79 



384 

82 



2(i8 



405 



BRADFORD. 



King, Hammond A.. 228 
Knapp. William S. . 228 
Longwell. Hosea. 305 
Ney. Charles. 420 
Sanford. John, 236 
Stedge, Harrison, 205 
Walling, Daniel L., 230 
Walling, Edgar L., 190 
Yawger, Philip, 438 
Zimmerman Bros.. 294 
Zimmerman, Svlvanus A. 



187 



CAMERON. 



Bromley, Frank, 219 
Brown. Charles A.. 102 
Bundy, (Jeorge W.. 7 
Campbell. Thomas. 15 



518 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Dickey, Mathew, 112 
Fairbanks, George. 'i^lH 
Goff, H. S., :i: 
Jack, Allan T., 142 
Mason. Phineas P., 52 
Ordway, Enoch. 61 
Rumsey, Ad.son J., 274 
Rumsev. Peter B., 64 
Selleck'. Zeno C, 452 



Anmiller, George, 4 
Beckwith. C. K., Mrs., 155 
Beckwith, Philo, 7 
Carlton, James L., 245 
Clawson, Jacob, 112 
Clawson, John M., 2U4 
Cleveland, Shepard A., 343 
Cody, Frank A., 348 
Curtis, John S., 343 
Dibble, I. F., Mrs., 23 
Dunkee, Ellis, 107 
Eygabroat, Jacob, 373 
Hamilton, W. L., 44 
HoUenbeck, George A.. 39 
McKay, James S. , 56 
Manning, Stanley, 505 



.Smith, James A., 452 
.Stewart. George W., 154 
Stuart. Morey, 119 
Waters, Almon, 90 
Wheeler, John U., 159 
White, Royal S., 173 
Wilder, Josiah, 227 
Wilson, Robert K., 470 



CAMPBELL. 



Peterson, Frank, 489 
Peter.son, Willard. 224 
Pierce. Byron. 115 
Rising, Isaac A.. 112 
Ross. Bruce E., 422 
Ross, Emmet B., 128 
Ross, John W. , 421 
Scott, Adelbert A., 106 
Smith, Eugene, 29 
Smith, Warden, 4.52 
Stevens, Ralph, 71 
Switzer, Marv A., 452 
Velie, Frankfin, 20 
Wilcox, Bradford, 87 
Wilcox. John, 470 
Wixson, Lerov, 470 



CANISTEO. 



Allen, Edward, 113 

Bassett, Fred L., 10 

Bassett, Will C, 10 

Bennett, Alonzo, 11 

Bertnni, F. M., 319 

Bowles, Thomas W., 319 

Brown, Perrv, 319 

Brown, William H.. 148 

Buck, Hermon E.. 205 

Burrell, Allen M.. 166 

Burrell. Alphonso H., 12 

Cameron. Duncan Cameron, Rev., 151 

Carter, Erastus A., 239 

Carter, jr. , George W. , 1 62 

Clarkson, Edgar, 326 

CoUer, B. M., 326 

Crosby, Hiram, 211 

Croyzier, George H., 304 

Davis, George L. , 365 

Davison, Lorenzo, 26 

Dennis, George, 364 

Dickey, John E., 364 

Granger, Leverett, 240 

Hadlev, Henrv. 41 

Hadley, Jefferson, 399 

Hargrave, James B., 44 

Haves. William, 39 



Jamison, D. Stearns, 201 
Jamison, jr.. William. 399 
Kmg. Philip. 400 
Dvon. 1. Edward. 51 
Marsh. S. P.. 55 
Mead, Charles H.. ,52 
Millard. Morgan R., 179 
Moore, Edward B.. 3M 
Moore, John D.. 411 
Ordway, William H., 417 
Peck. George L., 134 
Peterson, Jeremiah M.. 206 
Porter, William Gordon, 209 
Robinson, Frank H., 381 
Smith, Enos, 72 
Soule, Eli, 125 
Stanton, Eunice M.. 77 
Stephens, Adsit B.. 69 
Stephens. Emmett L., 209 
Stephens. Joshua Chapman, 164 
'I'honias, Daniel C. . 79 
'I'ravis, James. 447 
Travis. Wesley and Nelson, 447 
Tucker, Daniel A., 447 
X'lckers, Jacob, 83 
Waldo. Lucius A , 91 
Voung, Christopher, 220 



INDEX. 



519 



CATON. 



Haniard. C. D.. :ii:i 
Barnard. F. E.. 313 
Barnard. G. F.. 29.T 
Bower. Charles E.. !)(> 
Brace. William H., :il:{ 
Chuniard, (Icorge W l;{ 
Clark. A. B. ■,'!!» 
Cram, Duty S.. 240 
Cram. Permelia. Mrs.. Hi." 
Davis, Daniel, 16.5 
Davis. Edwin F., 120 
Davis. X. D.. H70 
Davison. C. A., 371I 
De)(), Alon/.o, 204 
Farran, H. ].. 377 
Gorges, Anton. 381 
Hamlin, Ja.snn B. , 2!) 
Hellabv, lolin, 384 
Holmes, j. S., 384 



Adair, W. E., 294 
Adams, Asa, 298 
Beecher, Farv B., 269 
Boone, C. E.^ 334 
Bush, W. L., 341 
Clark. James P., 485 
Cornish, Thomas J., 304 
Finch, Henry, 486 
Fowler Family, the, :')03 
Fox, sr., Christopher, 48() 
Fox, James, 486 
Graser, Valintine. 487 
Gray, Clarence G.. 487 
Haag, Nicholas. .i04 
Harter, Leonard, 488 
Hatch, Hiram W., 310 
Jackson, William W.. 3o0 
Ketch, Cyrus, 302 
Kiefer, Charles, 400 
Land, Fred, 2">7 
McDowell. Asa, 350 
Maichle. Henry. 311 
Mehlenbacker. C. J., 488 
Miller. Robert, 489 
Moore, H. D. and Robert S. 
Moulton, Rice T., 488 



Honness, James E., 215 
Honness, Melvin M., 384 
Hunt, William, 384 
Lewis, Christopher E., 101 
Marcv, James L.. 408 
Powe'l. M., 432 
Rhodes, Halsey A , 105 
Smith, Fremont C, 453 
Thompson, J. W., 78 
Tobey, Christopher, 453 
Wagner, Anton, 161 
Walden, James, 469 
Wellman, James I^., 469 
Wellman, John R., 240 
Wilcox, Aurin, 110 
Wolcott. A. S., 227 
Wolcott, John E., 89 
Wood, Lewis, 469 



COHOLTOX. 



292 

476 
292 

442 



474 



352 



Newman, Andrew J., 501 

Partridge, Charles E., 496 

Pierce. Henry C, 2(;(l 

Fritting, John, 340 

Rommel, W. E., Re 

Roth, John, 489 

Schiefen, William F., 

Schubmehl, Nicholas, 

Shattuck, Stephen D. 

Shults Bros, and Andrew E. 

Shults, John A., 475 

Sick 2d, Philip, 475 

Sick 3d. Philip, 372 

Stanton, C. W., 307 

Stanton, Jacob and Stcjihen T., 3li6 

Strobel, John G.. 476 

Tambling, Benjamin W., 292 

Tripp, Murry, 485 

Tyler, M. ]., 349 

Wager, Michael, 284 

Wallace, James, 477 

Walther, Fred C, 292 

Wilcox, A. H..476 

Wright, Mark, 477 

Zeh, Melchor andKilian, 341 



Adams, William W., 285 
Appleby, T. H., 6 
Argue, IlenrvA., Dr., 335 
Arthur, Arthur C, (i 
Bradley, (jeorge B, , 12 
Bradley, Thomas, 167 



C()RNIN(;. 



Brown, Daniel F., 7 
Brown, (ieorge R,, 6 
Brvan, E. W., Dr., 334 
Burt, John M.. 119 
Carj)enter, E. J., Dr.. 22 
Caulkiu, J. W., 322 



520 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



Clark, William H., 18 
Cook. A. S.. 322 
Covenhoven, Daniel R.. 102 
Cummings, Robert F. , 22 
Drake. Charles E.. 301 
Drake, D. S., 2.5 
Drake. (leorge W.. :!G1 
Drake, J. A., 2.5 
Edger, Benjamin K., 37 
Edger, William F., 3fil 
Ellison, Curtis B., 'iii'> 
English. E. C. 361 
Farlev, Philip, 32 
Fedder, John W., 375 
Fero, David F., 375 
Foster, William A., 238 
Franz, Jacob, 376 
Frazer D. , 375 
Freeman, Charles H., 34 
Fuller Bros., 32 
Gamman. Alfred M., 379 
Gillette. William, 35 
Gorton, William, 149 
(iorton. William E., 38 
Graves, Edward P. , 38 
Greenfield, Charles E., 38 
Haischer. Fred, 399 
Havt, Charles W., Dr., 399 
Hayt, Stephen T., 46 
Heermans. Harry C, 93 
Hitchcock, George, 46 
Houghton, jr., Amorv. 4ii 
Houghton, C. F.. 159 
Howell. Christeon G. , 38 
Huv. Abram D.. 256 
Kendall, A. A., Dr., 103 
Kennedy, John S., 49 



Lane, George W., Dr., 52 
Lang, John H.. 338 
Lathrop, Austin, Gen., 112 
Lathrop, Charles K., 405 
Lower, Samuel J., 405 
McNamara, William F.. 50 
Maltby, Jerome B., 100 
Mathewson. Russell. 203 
Mav, Henrj- R., 498 
Milis. E. D., 411 
Moore. Joseph F.. 410 
Xicholson, William, 59 
Northrop, W. H.. 59 
Olcott, Marvin, 182 
Park. Robert F , 432 
Patchill, O. C, 62 
Pease. Frank L. . 64 
Pratt, Jared, 250 
Pritchard, Hiram, lid 
Reynolds, Charles A., 423 
Reynolds, H. J.. 65 
Robbins, Myron W., 64 
Robertson, S. C. 99 
Robinson, O. P., 66 
Rubright. C. A., 505 
Sebring, James Oscar, 272 
Sly, Robert J.. 249 
Smith, Justin M., 112 
Spencer, George T. , 73 
Stanton. Jerome I., 73 
Tully, W. J., 471 
Tuppcr. Benjamin S., 449 
Tuthill, Henry G., 82 
Welch, Thomas J., 463 
Williams, Francis A., 90 
Wolcott, George, 463 



DAXSVILLE. 



Acomb, Fred D., 340 

Cook. Andrew W., 345 

Curray, Charles C. 345 

Day. Ira G.. 2.56 

Driesbach, Henry, 306 

Eveland, Daniel, 504 

Fritz, Clark C. and Alice C. 302 

Fritz. Elias. 217 

Hall, Daniel B.. 210 

Harter. Lafayette, 385 

Healv, Joshua. 385 

Healv, William W. 384 



Badger, Herbert L., 7 
Campbell, George W., 346 
Cooper, John E., 346 
Erwin, Francis, 207 



Kershner. E. L., Mrs., 21(( 
Kershner, Maria. Jlrs. . 401 
Kreidler, Addison E., 401 
Lamont, Henry C. 278 
Lander. Frederick, 402 
Levers, G. Frank, 402 
Oliver, Gale, 269 
Rau, John, 423 
Scherer. John P., 2.58 
Swink, Nelson H.. 271 
Waggoner. Albert J., 470 
Williams, John J., 216 



ERWIX. 



Erwin, W. Scott, 36 
Gavigan. Edward, 381 
(JofF, Robert H., 207 
Goodsell, Isaac PI, 37 



^ 



INDEX. 



521 



Gray, Andrew, 37 
Havens. James, 213 
Minier, Thornton F., 57 
Morse, Willard C, 409 
Orcutt, James D., 147 
Orr, jr., James C, 419 
Piatt, Francis C, 207 
Remington, Washington B., 422 



Babcock, Stanton, C, 314 
Bardeen, Jennie, 143 
Bowen, Juliza C, 313 
Bronson, James S., 203 
Buck, Charles Albert, 314 
Burdin, T. D., 183 
Cotton. Samuel S., 202 
Dartt. Burton, 243 
Davis, Lewis A., 248 
Dunn, ilelvin, 3.54 
Huganir, Charles, 181 
Huguanir. David A., 282 
Huguanir, Leonard N. , 386 
Huibert. Freeman, 243 
Kilburv, Andrew, 273 



Smith, Edward H., 71 
Spoor, Fred C. , 75 
Tobias, James S., 453 
Townsend, Frederick J.. 80 
Wakeman, Joel. Rev., 107 
Wilcox, Frank C, 469 
Wood, Augustus H. , 236 



FREMONT. 



Kilbury, Joel, 340 
Lake, Charles G., 185 
McCoUum, Finley, 410 
Nipher, Melvin. 420 
Orr, Ira, 419 
Osborn, A. D., 182 
Osborn, L. M., 419 
Pinchin, A. A., 428 
Rider, Myron H., 191 
Robison, Simeon, 423 
Shepard, George W. , 453 
Stephens, J. D., 282 
Travis, Leroy, 291 
Van Keuren, James, 194 



GREENWOOD. 



Atkins, jr., Jesse T.. 113 
Blair, William, 98 
Burton, Lynn G., 114 
Campbell, William H., 344 
Cole, Hiram L., 150 
Coston, N.Ji., 173 
Covert, Reuben, 207 
Ferris, David, 34 
Hartrum, John S., Kill 
Hartrum, William L., 38 
Kellogg, Silas, 299 
Lewis, Benjamin, 403 



Comstock, Charles, 176 
Corbett, George R., 348 
Donaldson, William R., 355 
Hemphill, George, 386 



Adams, H. De Loss, 338 
Armstrong, James E., 4 
Duvell Bros., 354 
Easling, Minor, 354 
Easterbrooks, Samuel, 203 
Erwin, Samuel C, 354 
Ferenbaugh, John H., 33 
Ferenbaugh, Lyman G. , 377 



161 



Mallory, H. H., 29 
Mead, A. R,, 409 
Mead, Sanford, 113 
Mead, W. F., 54 
Northrup, Jesse D.. 
Pease, Randall A., 439 
Reynolds, Norman, 67 
Rodgers, Thomas D., 114 
Scribner. L. D., 71 
Smith, Clarence F., Dr., 453 
Swarts, William O., 454 
Webster, George M., 151 



HARTvSVILLE. 



Hendee, Clark L., 40 
Powell, Edmund K.. 60 
Zeliff, Samuel J,, 121 



HORNBY. 



Ferenbaugh, Willis S.. 156 
Fero. Albert, 377 
Hathaway, James V., 203 
Hoffman, A. H., 39 
Jewett, Amos, 47 
Jimerson, Hibbert T., 47 
Lake, Isaac, 404 
Lane, A. Eugene, 114 



522 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



Lilly, Willis S., 196 
Masters. Herbert J., 408 
Oldfield, Thomas, 209 
Rogers, David S., 431 
Roloson, Alfrefi, 223 
Roloson, Sylvester, 421 



Sly, Robert 0., 74 
Townley, Edward L., 454 
Van Alstine, George W., 437 
Wheaton, J. Henry, 286 
Wolever, Daniel, 409 



HORNELLSVILLE. 



Acker, Milo M., 493 
Alley, Frank Bennett, 5 
Alley, Samuel M., Col, 30 
Armsted, Charles H., 3H7 
Ashbaugh. William, 351 
Avers, Nelson, 137 
Babcock, Devolson D., 491 
Baker, Milton J., Dr., 103 
Bardeen, Charles E., 330 
Barlow, Arthur R. Rev. , 472 
Barney, Richard W. , 167 
Bennett, Hiram, 212 
Bennett, Omer. 320 
Bennett, Robert M., 328 
Bentley, John I., 118 
Berry, Alvin L., 321 
Betts, Henry, 333 
Billings, Henry S. , U 
Bingham, William C, 8 
Boardman, Louis S. , 251 
Bowen, Edmund I., 7 
Boylan, Harris Bert, 321 
Braack, Jacob, 12 
Brasted, Charles M., Dr., 2.50 
Brickman, Samuel H., 10 
Brown, Anthony W., 215 
Burch, Orrin H., 31 
Butler, Ephraim Y., 328 
Buvinger, H. Edward, 247 
Cadogan, Charles, 22 
Cameron, Joseph, 18 
Chapman, James W., 287 
Chapman, John K.,15 
Christie, Amelia A., 312 
Clark, Charles J.. 19 
Cleflin, Edwin J., 21 
Colgrove, Henry, 343 
Collins, Clayton Naham, 347 
Conderman, Charles, 343 
Conderman, George, Dr., 17 
Cone, Eleazer T., 157 
Cook, EmmettA.,241 
Cooley, Charles, 118 
Curry, Daniel W., 350 
Davenport, George. 310 
Davenport, Henry L., 3.59 
Davidson. Adam, 20 
Day, James B. , 359 
Deister, John J.. 359 
Deutsch, John M., 359 



Dolson, Charles A., 360 
Dolson, Edwin L., 494 
Downs, Simon S., 23 
Dunham, Roy, Dr., 24 
Dunning, Marcus E., 299 
Eiband, Anthony M., 857 
Ellis, Hiram, 37 
El well George B., 3.58 
Emery, Ashabel W., 357 
Emery, Frank H., 127 
Evans, jr., Charles E., 358 
Evdt, Louis, 460 
Faulkner, Dorr, 31 
Faulkner. Robert K., 171 
Ferry, Adelbert, 33 
Finch, John M., 198 
Fleming, David E., 374 
Foster, G. Watson, 30 
Frank, Henry M., 374 
Gilbert, Horatio, Dr., 381 
Gillette, Harrv L., Dr.. 35 
Glazier, Flora A., Mrs., 36 
Goff, LucianH., 178 
Goff, W. Blake, 270' 
Gray, Harriet Lee, 490 
Green, Charles C, Dr., 30 
Griswold, George W. , 341 
Hagadorn, Hiram, 398 
Hall, Alexander, 165 
Hall, Isaac, 396 
Harris, Joseph, 148 
Hartshorn, Charles H., 41 
Hathaway, William E., Dr., 397 
Healy, Llewelyn Clark, 397 
Hesseltine, Eugene A., 120 
Hicks, Alfred E.,45 
Higgins, H. Delos, 394 
Higgins, Justin V. R., 141 
Hill, Austin C, 395 
Hoffman, Edwin S. , Rev., 42 
Hoffstetter, Louis, 244 
Hollands, George, 218 
Hopkins, Daniel C, 313 
Hotchkiss, A. Leroy, 395 
Houck, Peter P., 398 
Hubbard, Chauncev G., Dr., 44 
Hunt, Horace, 396 ' 
Huntlev, Seth M., 138 
Hurlbut, John, 43 
Hurlbut, Myron, 39 



INDEX. 



523 



Hurl but, William S., 43 
Hutchinson, Frank J., 41 
Kellison, Robert N. , 137 
Kelly, John G., Dr., 49 
Kimball, William A., 47 
Kinne, James B., 401 
Koyle, Frank H., Dr., 48 
Labour, Jacob, 267 
La Grange, Edward E. , 40S 
Loomis, Frederick H.. 51 
Luther, Byron J., 104 
McBeth, Robert, 408 
McConnell, Asa, 100 
McDougall, John, 20(i 
McGill, Charlie W., 414 
McGuire, Charles F., laii 
-McMichael, Ira, 53 
McNett, James, Dr., 413 
Mark, Alfred, 56 
Merrill, Fred P., 416 
Merriman, La Frone, '258 
Mitchell, Samuel, Dr., 415 
Morris, George W. , 414 
Mosher, Fred R., 55 
Murray, William H., 174 
Nelson, Edward H. , 101 
Newman, Smith H., 57 
Nicholson, J. William, 28 
Nicholson, Wesley, 417 
North, Truman S., 58 
O'Connor, William, 360 
Olin, Frederick Marshall, 246 
Orcutt, George N., 200 
Page, De Merville, 63 
Page, Ebenezer, 163 
Palmer, William Everett, Dr., 137 
Parker, Delia, Mrs., 432 
Parkhill, Clair S.,Dr., 53 
Patten, John Nelson, 431 
Patton, John Edwin Ruthven, 498 
Peck, James Milton, 61 
Phillips, Charles Robert, Dr., 430 
Pierce, William O., 62 
Pierson, Horace G. , 140 
Powers. Edward, 138 
Prangen, George D., 430 
Pratt, Orson W., 222 
Prentice, Jonathan R., 139 
Prentiss, Anson A., 257 
Prentiss, George A., 432 
Prentiss, Harvey, 158 
Preston, Henry C., 431 
Preston, Othaniel, 63 
Prmdle, Albert T., 431 
Ranger, Henry R., 20 
Rewalt, William, 221 
Reznor. Lot, 64 
Rice, LeroyD.,42o 



Rishel, George P., Dr., 66 
Roberts, Wallace, 434 
Rockwell, L. Wilson, 65 
Rose, Walter G., 67 
Ross, Edmund C, 425 
Ross, Lyman A., 215 
Ross, Lyman R., 424 
Ryan, Thomas, 425 
Santee, Isaac, 443 
Santee, Jerry E. B. , 77 
Santee, Rachel, Mrs., 443 
Schwingle, George, 440 
Schwingle, William F.. 473 
Shattuck, S. E., Dr. 439 
Sheldon, John R., 78 
Sherwood. Franklin Dennis, 497 
Sherwood, Micajah V., 75 
Sims, William H., 75 
Smith, Andy L., 71 
Smith, Elmon D., 235 
Smith, Frank S., 442 
Smith, Hobart Clinton, 440 
Smith, Lyman B. , Dr., 76 
Smith, William K., 440 
Spink, William H., 137 
Starr, Clarence L., M.D., 135 
Starr, Samuel F., 448 
Stephens, Walter A., 73 
Strack, Charles F., 72 
Swarts. Ross H., 263 
Sweeney, James M. , Dr., 441 
Sylvester, Franklin E., Dr., 441 
Sutton, William L., 495 
Tadder, Charles, 81 
Taggart, George F. , 444 
Taylor, John D., 443 
Taylor, Thomas, 283 
Terry, George D.. 97 
Thacher. T. J. O., 129 
Truesdell, Joseph R.,94 
Tschachtli, Rudolf, 79 
Tubbs, George L., 81 
Tuttle, Erasmus D. , 444 
Tuttle, Martin A., 246 
Van Delinder, Martin ()., 214 
Van Scoter, Monroe D., 437 
Van Sickle, John M., 87 
Wagner, Hiram R., 123 
Wakeley, Benjamin C. Dr.. 136 
Wakeman, Bertis Rupert, Dr., 88 
Waldorf. George A., 91 
Waldorf, William E., 163 
Walker, J. E., Dr., 149 
Wellever, David, 467 
Wettlin, William A., 90 
Wheeler, Norman O., 466 
Wheeler, Oscar, 88 
Wheeler. R. M., 159 



524 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



White, William W., 139 
Wickham, Charles H., 466 
Willetts, Edward F., 90 
Windsor, Francis, 87 
Windsor, L. F., Mrs., 466 
Withey, Diana, 407 



Bennett, George, 10 
Bennett, Oscar F., 123 
Brasted, Orlando W., 152 
Bross, Joseph E., 337 
Burdin, James Henry, 176 
Carroll, Jackson, 346 
Coats, Thomas, 346 
Cole, Alvah N., 346 
Fisher, George W., 222 
Hoagland, John C, 238 
Horton, Luther T., 3«6 
House, Aaron, 387 
House, Frank, 387 
House, Henry, 29 
Jones, Emanuel, 248 



Baker, Isaac, 335 
Brown, L. L., 335 

Bruen, Arthur N., 93 

Campbell, Martin B., 322 

Chatfield, Ezra, 323 

Cornell. Hamilton, 323 

Deck, Hiram, 201 

Deck, John, 364 

Dennis, Albert L., 363 

Dennis, Andrew F. , 147 

Dennis, Boardman, 363 

Dennis, Seymour W., 98 

Drake. M. L., 146 

France, James H., 373 

Goodsell, Joel S., 380 

Haynes, Rowland, 393 

Hunter, Nathaniel Perry, Dr., 393 

Hunter, D. C, 393 

Hutchinson, C. G., 153 

Ingersoll, E. W., 394 

June, William A., 235 



Withey, Sylvester, 250 
Wood, Edward C, 468 
Woodbury, Joseph B., 242 
Woodruff, John B.,141 
Young, Clement H., 439 



HOWARD 



McAdam, Henry, 237 
Meeks, William A.. 408 
Parkhill, R. F., Dr., 429 
Roberts, A. L., 421 
Sharp, Abram V., 455 
Sharp, Andrew, 106 
Sharp, John G., 74 
Sherer, Sylvester, 190 
Smith, Alonzo, 455 
Smith, Ira, 246 
Stewart, George Edmund, 
Stewart, William H., 238 
Van Order, Lyman H.. 20 
Van Wie, Alonzo, 176 
Willis, William H., 88 



122 



JASPER. 



Knapp, Franklin L., 225 
McMindes, Prescott, 83 
McMindes, Uzal, 413 
Mavhew, JohnC, 413 
Miller, J. B., 95 
Ordway, Franklin D. , 85 
Ostrander, Ervin, 498 
Robinson, John, 107 
Schenck, Charles, 262 
Schenck, J. E., 309 
Swan, Orrin, 454 
Talbot. Lorenzo S., 202 
Timerman, Milton, 226 
Vail. Anna R., 436 
VanOrsdale, Fitch Henry, Dr., 
Wallace, Edwin E., Dr., 186 
Wallace, Joseph W., 92 
Waight, Frank L. , 462 
Wentworth, William B., 462 
Whiteman, J. C, 98 
Whiting, Leslie D., 263 



436 



LINDLEY. 



Brennin, John, 338 
Elmer, Sanford. 355 
Hill, Henry Franklin, 46 
Orr, Joseph J., 420 
Morgan, S. Maurice, 121 



Pepper, George, 152 
Stowell, Henry, 208 
Stowell, Marcus, 455 
Toby, Benjamin F. , 455 
Vastbinder, Nelson H., 437 



INDEX. 



525 



PRATTSBURG. 



Ainsworth, Addison, 5 
Allis, Henry Elisha, 4 
Armstrong, George, ;528 
Austin, Benjamin, 241 
Avery, John D., 214 
Bardeen, Henry B., 329 
Bailey, John S.', 126 
Blodgett, William D., 329 
Boon, Abram, 330 
Borden. Aaron Porter, 103 
Brown, Charles Stewart, 329 
Clark, John J., 14.5 
Cook, U wight S., 14 
Crean, James, 322 
Curran, Michael C, 2«9 
Dean, William G., 144 
Dearlove, Charles Wilber, 147 
Drake, Edward, 225 
Dunn, George C, 356 
Flaherty, James. 145 
Flvnn, Thomas T., 374 



Alexander, James, 339 
Argus, Philip. 339 
Bacon, John S. , Rev., 253 
Ball, Edward J., 150 
Brush, Horton L., 184 
Cross, Edward D., 348 
Dean, John, 362 
Depew, William M.. 3<i2 
Goodrich, Franklin N., 5fl5 
Horr, Samuel D., 387 



Beckwith, James T., 315 
Blades, John W., Dr., 315 
Campbell, George, 344 
Chapell, F. S., 266 
Cole, Jesse F. , 345 
Cole, John S., 265 
Cook, Ezekiel, 397 
Crawford Bros. , 344 
Draper, Nahum. 354 
Fults, Henry, 171 
Fults, Spelman L. , 377 
Llovd, George M., 285 
Lyon, Kitchen, 309 
McCaig, Alexander, 410 



Alderman, J. M,, 183 
Angst, Lorenz,, 173 
Collson, J. W., 286 
Coston, Charles, 348 



Foster, George, 378 

Fulkerson, William Morgan, Dr.. 283 

Graves, Hart D., 145 

Havner, Eugene, 392 

Higbv, John C, 108 

Hopkins, Mark H.. 146 

Howe, William L. and George W. , 501 

Miller, Curtis, Prof., 412 

Perry, William. 217 

Pipe, James B., 174 

Pipe, Samuel, 435 

Pratt Family, The, 223 

Putnam, Aaron H., 122 

Quigley, James, 133 

Ringrose, Thomas, 95 

Rosa, Andrew Yates, 164 

Stoddard, Philo K., Dr., 473 

Trant, Eugene J., 448 

Tuthill, David, 132 

Waldo, James A., 95 



PULTENEY 



Horton, Menzo L. , 170 
Retan, Nelson, 185 
Sanderson, Robert, 248 
Schoefller, Henry, 193 
Sherwood, Henry F., 451! 
Stewart, Richard F., 109 
Stone, James D., 166 
Sullivan, John W., 456 
Watkins, James Edward, 



284 



RATHBONE. 



Merring, Henry C. 170 
Northrup, Alfred, 144 
Northrup, James, 268 
Northrup, Moses, 279 
Northrup, Norman, 179 
Potter, Walbridge, 428 
Richtmyer, J. H., 2.58 
Saunders, Isaac M., 457 
Selleck, John H., 456 
Stewart, Edmond, 244 
Stickney, Wilson, 264 
Young, N. P., 438 
Yoimg, Thomas J., 438 



THURSTON. 



Creveling, William V., 262 
Decker, William H., 8,53 
Dickinson, Francis A., 371 
Eddy, J. F., 371 



526 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY. 



Filkins, John A., 376 
French. J, W.. 276 
Helm, Henrv M.. 286 
Holden, Jacob B., 387 
Jerry, Emron J., 388 
Northrup, Asher S., 181 
Peck, Fernando, 229 
Peters, David S. , 438 
Phillips, Lyman H. , 428 
Richtraver, Charles E., 234 



Atwood, Uriel, 333 
Austin, Erwin H., 3 
Baily, Devoe, 85 
Boult, Charles E., 273 
Brooks, Noah M. , 226 
Carr, George A. , 231 
Clark, Almon P., 96 
Clark, William B., 324 
Clarkson, David, 259 
Cornell, Franklin, 325 
Cornell, Levi S., 324 
Cornell, Nathan, 325 
Cornish, Alvah Z., 325 
Davis, Richard, 356 
Edwards, Jerome, 366 
Fisher, Perry W., 375 
Ford, Benjamin P., 32 
Hall, Roval A.. 118 
Hill, H. B., 149 
Hober, Derias W., 392 
Holt, George, 391 
Hubbard, William H.. 3'.»1 
Jordan, M. V., 392 
Leach, Ephraim, 85 
T-ewi.';, Truman W,. 4'J 



Andrus, Jacob S., 31S 
Bates, Daniel, 319 
Beers, Christopher S. . 319 
Beers, George G., 318 
Casson, John C, 347 
Casson, Mordecai, 297 
Dignen, Patrick, 361 
Dininnv, Daniel E.. 361 . 
Hurd, Joel, 388 
Mather, B S., 216 



Rising, Wilhs H., 227 
Seager William S., 457 
Shauger, Andrew, 196 
Stamp, B. F., 266 
Strong, Munson J., 267 
Sutton, Oscar W., 457 
Weaver, Daniel, 245 
Wilber, Gilford D., 468 
Wilber, Murray. 256 



TROUPSBURG. 



Lewis, J. S., 407 
McCullough, Ralph, ,52 
Marlatt, Charles, 104 
Metz, William, 159 
Minard, J. H., 137 
Morgan, George E., 411 
Murdock, James B., 55 
Olmsted, Hiram, 148 
Olmsted, Samuel, 59 
Owens, Alonzo, 418 
Paddock. John N., 345 
Paul, John, 60 
Revnolds. Chauncev E., 
Rogers, William J. ,'496 
Sanford, Howard, 448 
Scott, John, 153 
Seeley, Norris, 68 
Simpson, Andrew J 
Symonds, T- H., 74 
Tanner, John H., 86 
Waight, Edward M., 464 
White, Conrtland, 463 
White, Edward M., 463 
Wilcox, Fred D., 464 
Williams, Mercv C. , H4 



448 



TUSCARORA. 



Nichols, Samuel K., 209 
Oakden, Alfred H., 418 
Perkins, Samuel O. , 257 
.Smith, C. J., 233 
Smith, Oscar D., 458 
Smith, Z. C, 458 
Slid, Calvin, 458 
Stratton, George B. , 366 
Thompson, George, 313 
Van Vliet, Levern H., 257 



URBANA. 



Ainsworth, Henry C, 484" 
Alden, Philo L., Dr., 312 
Argus, Martin, 353 
Babcock, Moses Treat, Dr. , 306 
Babcock, Oliver H., Dr., 353 



Bailev, Adsit, 297 
Bailev, Charles L., 270 
Bauder, De Witt C. 281 
Braueulich, Albert E., 303 
Brink, Franklin Johnson, 342 



527 



INDEX. 



Brown, John Rat^dolph 481 
Brundage Fam.ly. the. -30 
Casterhne, mvid. 48.^ 
Casterlme.P^neasH 3W 

Champlin, Harry M..48-t 

Crance, J"^e*, -'1 

Gushing, John, -Ihi 

Damoth, George -9- 

Dimon, John, 309 

Drew lames, .«» „„,. 

SfeV, ivalter Schuyler 2,b 

Duck, Thomas, Rev.. •«•! 
Fairchild. Henry 0.^^'« 
Fawcett. Fred C., 4»- 
Foster Edwin M-. ■'»- .,.,- 
Ifeidell.Josepl^.C""^^'^'^**' 
Frey, Henry, 48d 
Frey, John J., 2>S 
Gleason, Ezra. 301 
Gleason, E«aC., 48' 
Hallenbeck, Orrin, 481 
Halsey, Charles R^ • -»% 
Horton, John T., Ui., -if^" 



Hubbs, George W 311 
Subbs, J. Seymour 2,0 

Moore, Hobart J. 4J. 
Moore, Trevor, 49. 
Mvrtle, Benjamin, 290 
>ieel, James. 3.~ 

Talmadge. DavW "•. 
Taylor, Walter, 2^o 
Webster, Lester G- . 4 8 
Wheeler, Charles GrattM 
Wheeler, Graham H.-- 
Wheeler, Giattan n., 

Wixom, A^b'rrt' ff,^,ob 478 
Wright, Benjarnn Jacob, 

Younglove, O- H.. ~o 



WAYLAND 



Abrams. Glen D., 330 

\verv, Chauncy, 1»J 
mgelow.Ell.336 
Bill. Christian C,n- 
Bill, G. Jacob, 211 

Bricks, Stephen. -/I 

Capron,W,W.,1.5 

Clark, William \\ -. 1^_^ 

Clay son, Robert H., 3- 

Conrad, George, 324 

Day. Pan] E.. 192 

Deitzel. George U. oh.. 

g^^haJ?X|n.ew,s,180 

Hoag, Perry C 18^ 

Holden, Joseph -o* .^^^ 

Holliday, Frank and Amos . 

H«ber, A'Sf^^wmiam R-chard, 23r 
Krause, IreQericK 
Ueders,O^F;.o06 

Marlette, P. W-. 19* 

Marvin, Albert CI. •', 

Morlev, Addison b.,^4i- 

Morsch, JohnP-.l" 

Nold, George, 14.1 
Patchin, Gordon M., 434 

Patchin, Ira, Ul ^33 

Peabody George M Dr. 

Peet, Wilber O., Rev-. '"" 



Piatt, Alvah A., nr. 433 
Rauber, JfCoblS-. ];> 
Rauber, Nicholas, 4.6 
Raufenbarth Frank, 4 , 

^'^^^^ 

Rosenkrans, JohnA.. 4-, 

Rowe. Peter J.. 4~. 

St. John, NorthrupN..D>-. 

Schu, Jacob E., 449 

Ichu, r., Nicholas 449 
Schutz, William, 142 
Schwingle, JohnA.,18h 

Shafer, Jacob, 2.4 
Shaver, Lorenzo ..04 

Shults, Conrad D.,1.'" 

Shults. Gertrude 169 

Skinner, G. M., Dr 24.) 

Souerbier, Albert, 1 - 
,Thompson,JacobW.,ReN.,4. 

Thorp, Andrew, 4.3O 
Walker, Frank E_. 264 
Weinhart Bros..-id.l 
Whiteman. George E . 4(>. 
Wolfanger. William. 46, 

Wolfe, Anton. 1.0 
Yocum, Nicholas, 1^' 
Zimmerman, Petei H., l.>. 



628 



LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 



WAYNE. 



Beeman, Herbert, 'iW 
Castner, Charles A., 321 
Dean, William D., 181 
Earnest, George D., 350 
Ellis, Benjamin F., 357 
Elyea, John H., 313 
Genung, N. E., 379 
Hall, John H., 200 
Hoover, David E., 262 
Horton, John, 391 
Houck, Alonzo, 195 
Houck, Dillazon S., 390 
Jacobus, Henry, 208 
Knapp, Marsena \'., 400 



Lord, J. P., 40 7 
Matoon, James, 411 
Plaisted, R. Frank. 280 
Raplee, H., Mrs., 424 
Schmokcr, Adolphus, 312 
Schmoker, Fred, 277 
Smith, Charles R., 180 
Stanhope, John G., 278 
Svvarthout, D. E., 450 
Swarthout, Minor E., 197 
Thompson, E. H., 308 
Wixson, Solomon R., 388 
Wood, Ira M., 491 
Wood, Israel, 236 



WEST UNION. 



Barnev, Alvin C, 337 
Barney, Will H., 235 
Failing, Lucian J., 227 



Ackerson, David H., 116 
Allen, James, 104 
Banter, Dewitt Clinton, 83 
Banter, John M., 287 
Beckerman, Herman D., 128 
Bellinger, George N., 99 

Briggs, Joseph L. , 338 

Bufl,"^George R., 219 
Clark, Eugene K., 263 
Cook, Adam P., 347 
Derick, Dennis, 369 
Derick, E. K., 370 
Dillenbeck, Stephen, loll 
Eckler, John, 308 
Ellis, Jerome B., 368 
Everett, Charles H., 129 
Everett, Charles W., 369 
Everett, John, 369 
Foster, E. L., Mrs., 124 



Sluyter, Alonito F. M., 68 
Smith, D. D., 115 



WHEELER. 



Fox, Oliver R., 117 
Gardner, William, 131 
Gibbs, Darwin Z., 380 
Hyna, Samuel, 204 
Kilburv, Eli C, 131 
Lewis,' George W., 402 
Lewis, Lemuel H., 403 
Olmstead, James E., 117 
Overhiser, Andrew Peck, 183 
Raymond, Joel, 188 
Renchan, Charles M., 502 
Sedam, Henry S., 274 
Shader, William Henrv, 116 
Stickney, Carl C. , 459 ' 
Stickney, Julius, 99 
'Thompson, Joel, 459 
Thompson, Murray, 293 
Trenchard, William H;, 460 
Wheeler, Orlando D., 109 



WOODHULL. 



Barrett, Samuel H., 271 
Baxter, Amelia, 261 
Bebout, Stephen, 261 
Blain, Samuel W., 334 
Brooks, Marion H., 336 
Brown, Joseph B., 351 
Candy, George A., 324 
Carpenter, William, 134 
Castle, Eri, 201 
Clark, Eleazer, 266 
Colvin, E. & D., 296 



Cook, Angeline, 496 
Dates, Henry, 365 
Dorrauce, Lester, 495 
Everitt, James S.. 26 
Fenton, Ira S. , 373 
Foster, Albert B., 281 
Gee, Edward, 236 
Gere, William N., 379 
Grant, George E., 234 
Harrington, Earl, 389 
Herrington, Samuel, 226 



INDEX. 



529 



Hoaglin, Leroy, 339 
Hollis, E. T., 389 
Hurd, Eugene, S88 
Husted, Jerome C. , 267 
Judd, Madison, 390 
Kent, Henry F., 199 
Lamson, Leonard S. , 92 
banning, Henry L., 40.5 
Lathrop, Matliias, 404 
Lattiraer, John C. 193 
Lawrence, May, Mrs., 295 
Leach, I. Van Courtland, 404 
Leach, James H., 404 
Loper, James A,. 234 
Lunger, A. R., 405 
Miller, James JJ., 411 
Miller, William J., 83 



Odson, Lobelia, Mrs., 261 
Park, JohnM., 152 
Park, Rufus C, 63 
Potter, Edward J., 435 
Prutsman, R. D.", 435 
Sanford, William R., 193 
Smith, Edwin F., 299 
Stroud, Jacob P., 74 
Stroud, William, 446 
Sutton. Marvin O.. 498 
Symonds, Radclitf F., 446 
Tallmadge, Andrew M.. Dr., 44'! 
Williams, Miles, 237 
Wilson, M. P., 462 
Wood, Lazon S. , 462 
Young, Robard W., 283 



PORTRAITS. 



Adams, William W., facing 267, Fart I 
Baldwin, Henry, facing 306, Part I 
Beecher, Fary B., facing 17, Part H 
Bradley, George B., facing 216, Part I 
Colgan, Peter, Very Rev., facing 278, 

Part I 
Conderman, John D., facing 24, Part I 
Cowan, Nelson, facing 40, Part I 
Davis, John W. . facing 327, Part I 
Davison, Lorenzo, facing 78, Part II 
Day, Franklin E., facing 31, Part II 
Denison, Charles G. , facing 56, Part I 
Drake, Franklin N., facing 72, Part I 
Faulkner, William, facing 06, Part II 
Fulkerson, William M., Dr., facing 143, 

Part I 
Fuller, D wight A., facing SK, Part I 
Gardner, Furman, facing 10, Part II 
Gibson, George, facing 322, Part I 
Gorton, William E., facmg 58, part II 
Hakes, Harlo, facing 8, Part I 
Hargrave, James B., facing 69, Part II 
Hatch, Hiram W., facing 26, Part II 
Hawkes, Thomas G., facing 48, Part II 
Hayt, Stephen T., facing 273, Part I 
Heermans, Harry C, facing 270, Part I 
Hoare, John, facing 52, Part II 
poo 



Hollands, George, facing 8, Part II 
Houghton, Amory, facing 104, Part I 
Houghton, jr. , Amory, facing 64, Part II 
Houghton, Charles F. , facing 65, Part II 
Hulbert, Lerenzo, facing 28. Part II 
Jamison, John S., Dr., facing 237, Part I 
Keeler, John H., facing 120, Part I 
Kelly, John G., Dr., facing 242, Part I 
Kimmel, Martin, facing 350, Part I 
Lamson, Leonard S., facing 352, Part I 
Larrowe, Albertus, facing 319, Part I 
Lewis. Jacob H., facing 19, Part II 
McCall, Anson J., facmg 221, Part I 
McNett, George C, Dr., facing 340 Part I 
Maltby, Jerome B., facing 75, Part II 
Marshal, Franklin J., facing 5, Part II 
Manshal, Otto F., facing 136, Part I 
Moore, Walter L., facing 152, Part I 
Murdock, James B., facing 346, Part I 
Parkhill, Clair S., Dr., facing 238, Part 1 
Ferine, Henry W., facing 256. Part I 
Pinney, Martin, facing 168, Part I 
Pratt, George W., facing 232, Part I 
Pritchard, Hiram, facing 184, Part I 
Renchan, (leorge, facing 45, Part II 
Rogers, William F., facing 253, Part I 
Shepard, Lyman, facing 32, Part H 



V 



530 LANDMARKS OF STEUBEN COUNTY 

Stephens, Alanson. facing 13, Part II Wheeler, sr., Grattan H., facing 41, 

Stevens, James H., facing 224, Part I Part II 

Thorp, Calvin E., facing 25, Part II Wheeler, Grattan H., facing 42 Part II 

Tuttle, Russell M., facing 284, Part I Willets, Edward F., facing 285, Part I 

Waite, David S., facing 29, Part II Wood, Allen, facing 61, Part II 

Walker, J. E., Dr., facing 297, Part I Young, Daniel F., facing 73, Part II 
Wellington, Ouincy W., facing 275, Part I 



"^ 



)l 



/■ 



^ 



